THE JACKETS…Garage Rock from Switzerland.

ABOUT THE JACKETS…

Since 2008, The Jackets have been touring internationally with their distinctive blend of Garage Psych Punk music and attitude, performing across Europe, the UK, the USA, Japan, Mexico, Canada and just recently Australia and New Zealand! Known for their explosive live performances, infectious music, and striking visual identity, the trio have earned a reputation as one of Europe’s most compelling Garage Punk live acts.

The Jackets were founded by creative heads, singer and guitarist Jackie Brutsche (aka Jack Torera) and drummer Chris Rosales, with Omar Fra currently completing the lineup on bass.
Their music — released on labels such as Voodoo Rhythm Records, Soundflat Records, and Chaputa! Records — spans five albums and multiple singles, each marking a new chapter in their evolution.

ABOUT JACKIE BRUTSCHE …

Jackie Brutsche (aka Jack Torera) is a Swiss-Spanish multidisciplinary artist based in Bern. She grew up in Zurich and works across film, art, design, performance, and music.

She graduated from the Zurich University of the Arts with a degree in fashion design in 2001 and completed her studies in film directing in 2006. Jackie produces her own films, theatre pieces, and artistic projects, exploring the concept of happiness in life in its broadest and most diverse forms.

As a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, she has performed with multiple bands, releasing recordings and music videos that showcase her creative versatility.

Her latest film, Las Toreras, exemplifies her DIY artistic approach, uncovering her mother’s hidden past and pursuing reconciliation and healing within her divided family across Spain and Switzerland.
Currently, Jackie is developing a new film project while continuing to perform and create music with her band… The Jackets!

INTERVIEW – JACKIE BRUTSCHE …

Athenscalling.gr: We were truly impressed the first time we heard you play, especially by your incredible energy on stage. The next step was obvious — to get in touch with you. Jackie, welcome to our circle.

Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): Thanks for your kind words and for reaching out! Hello everybody!

Athenscalling.gr: So, here we have you, Jackie — artist, musician, and filmmaker — all of that in one package. Is it truly easy or difficult for all these roles to coexist, even if they are all pieces of a puzzle called Art?

Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): I can understand that it might seem like a lot from the outside, but for me it all goes together and it feels very natural to be and work in a multidisciplinary way. That’s how I live, work, and think.

Athenscalling.gr: Artist, musician, and filmmaker — which of the three marked the beginning of your artistic journey?

Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): That’s a hard question, because looking back now, I can say that it all started very early in my childhood. I can’t tell whether I first sang, drew, put on costumes, or told stories. And music was definitely always essential — even existential — to me. Growing up, socially and educationally, I knew — once I discovered that it existed — that I had to go to art school, no matter which department. Even then, it was hard to choose one direction. I made art, I was interested in storytelling, performing, building costumes, and playing music.

Athenscalling.gr: Is there any separation between them? For example, could you see yourself in the future following only your path as a musician and putting an end to filmmaking, or vice versa?

Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): No. I see myself as an artist who creates new ideas, visions, and stories through my very unique perspective on life and the world. I put the world and relevant matters into a new light and a new perspective. I transform something existing — a feeling, a theme, a problem — into something accessible, something powerful, something useful, something meaningful. That’s what I do. I create, translate, and transform.

Then I turn this content into art, using the tools I have and developing a form that fits best, depending on the idea and the content. The form follows the idea and remains flexible. Every idea can have a different form, translation, or expression. The form is a way to communicate with the world, to deliver a message, express a feeling, or question things.

For example, if I want to deal with or look at something difficult in life and society, I can make it accessible through a funny story and one woman theatre, or I can transform it into an energetic rock ‘n’ roll song if that is what I feel or what makes more sense. Or I make a movie, if the content is too complex and I want to reach a wider audience.

That doesn’t mean I’m a genius or perfect in every department. Absolutely not. I’m not looking for perfection — I’m looking for imperfection, for authenticity. For do-it-yourself. For making new experiences and always putting myself into an unknown situation to see what I can do with my possabilities. Working as independently as possible, and making the most out of what I can do on my own, is my dogma. Being limited means staying creative, finding new solutions, and constantly learning and discovering.

Athenscalling.gr: Now, about The Jackets… how did the idea for their creation come about?

Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): The drummer Chris and I were a couple a long time ago, and after playing in many bands we wanted to start our own. At first we were a duo called The Trash Department. After a year of songwriting, we added a bass player for the live shows and changed the name.

Athenscalling.gr: From your beginnings until today, if I’m not mistaken, you’ve all stayed together for so many years. That’s truly admirable — how did that happen?

Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): Not exactly. We started with another bass player, and one year ago Schmidi left the band, so now we play with a new bassist. But staying together with the same three people for 16 years is indeed quite an achievement, especially for a band. It’s not easy, of course, and it’s a big challenge, because everybody has different ideas and expectations towards the band and priorities in life.

What definitely helped was being only three people in the band. Playing live, and travelling the world were always the main driving forces and what kept us together. Playing in a band on this level is more than just playing music — it’s your business, your social life, a way of living, an ongoing adventure and challenge, a structure, a passion, and a path.

Athenscalling.gr: How would you describe the musical genre you follow?

Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): I listen to a wide range of preferably analogue music. When it comes to the genre I play, I guess it’s garage. It’s a very broad and often overused word. But I can relate to its original idea. It comes from a culture when kids suddenly had access to cheaper musical equipment because of the hype around bands like The Beatles. So it was all about “do it yourself”, everybody can play in a band. Take your instrument, take the car out of the garage, and make music as well as you can — maybe with just a couple of chords, but with a lot of personality and expression. Raw, direct, and authentic.

Punk also has this DIY approach, but with a more rebellious side, and psych is more experimental with sounds and space. So garage psych punk feels quite right to me for what we do, or for what I’m looking for in making music. It’s more about the attitude and the framework than a specific musical style.

That’s how I started — by accident, by trying something new with a couple of chords and friends. When I was suddenly thrown onto a stage in front of an audience with a guitar and a microphone, a huge and powerful rock ‘n’ roll beast came out of me — an incredible, freeing and healing energy, which makes sense considering my story. The rest is history. I learned by doing, on stage. I never really thought about genre or why I’m doing it. It’s just what feels right and what comes out. It’s energy.

Athenscalling.gr: Out of the six albums you’ve created, is there one that holds a special place in your heart?

Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): It’s hard to say… Every album represents an important stage in our journey as a band. I think Queen of the Pill was the album where we really brought together all our strengths and fully defined our own sound and style. Otherwise, I always tend to like the latest recordings the most, because you are constantly developing.

Athenscalling.gr: As a filmmaker, how did the idea for Las Toreras come to you?
Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): It was a hidden personal story from my childhood that wanted to come out after 30 years. It was the untold story of my mother, who committed suicide when I was ten. She suffered from mental illness, and of course her moving story had a huge impact on me. In art I found a way to make something positive out of it — she became an inspiration, and art became a connection. But at one point, the many questions and an unresolved conflict in my family were blocking me. I had to find the truth before it was lost. So I decided to make a movie involving my art figure, my family, and my mother’s diaries.

Athenscalling.gr: How was it received by the audience, and what kind of messages did you get, beyond the many awards and honors?
Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): The feedback was just incredible and beautiful. It’s the most difficult project I have ever done in my life, but then I knew that it had all been worth it — not only for me and my family, but also for the audience. To connect with so many people through my own story and share experiences, pain, and tears was a new, extremely positive, and healing experience.

Athenscalling.gr: In the end, we wonder — how much strength does it really take for someone to bring a story from their childhood to the big screen?

Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): Strength like a toro and a torera! I’m an extremely hard-working person, but this topped everything on every level. It took me seven years to make it and a couple more to recover. The pressure was gigantic, with such a personal and delicate story and such a small budget. But I feel enormously thankful that I was able to make it, and I learned so much. I’m really glad that it turned out well and that I could tell the story the way it needed to be told. But I definitely took a lot of risks, and I’m proud that I had the courage to go on this journey. I can only recommend it, if it’s something that feels necessary.

Athenscalling.gr: Moving on, we want to tell you that we truly admire your stage presence, your overall appearance in concerts, and the strength and passion you radiate — it’s all magical for those of us who watch you! But what about you, Jackie — how do you feel?

Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): Thank you so much for your kind words! I always feel very thankful that I can do what I do, but at the same time I also know that I probably never had much choice other than making art. It’s something existential for sure. I’m proud that I stuck to my multidisciplinary approach at a time when it was very unusual. Now a lot of things are coming together and seem logical and successful, with me winning some prizes, but it was definitely not an easy or straightforward path. But that’s exactly what makes everything interesting and unique and I was never looking for the easy way anyway.

Athenscalling.gr: Let’s take a trip to the past — we often do that with our guests… Do you remember at what age you bought your first record, and what the first concert you ever attended was?

Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): My first record was Who Made Who by AC/DC when I was ten, and my first concert was Aerosmith when I was 13, before they became big. I was a heavy metal girl, heavily influenced by my older brother — wearing cowboy boots, playing guitar and football, and riding a Puch moped as soon as I was able to.

Athenscalling.gr: Since we’re talking about art, and of course you must be familiar with Greek theatrical culture — have you ever considered adapting a Greek theatrical work, always through your own perspective?

Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): Of course I’m familiar with Greek theatre culture. I’m surely heavily influenced by it, consciously or unconsciously — how could you not be? 😉
I always develop and tell my own stories, but I would never say never!

Athenscalling.gr: Jackie, we truly enjoyed everything you shared with us. We admire you as an artist — and also, allow us to say, as a very beautiful woman. Stay well!

Jackie Brutsche (THE JACKETS): Thank you so very much for your questions and your interest in my work and in me as a person. I really hope The Jackets can come and play a tour in Greece one day. I just love the culture, the country, and the people!