Music / Spotlight
Spotlight: Bingo Fury
Jack Ogborne AKA Bingo Fury can only be described as multi-faceted; he is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
Originally from North Bristol but now based in Easton, the musician is currently signed to Bristol label Spinny Nights.
2022 was a good year for the singer who performed at Green Man festival in August, released his debut EP Mercury’s Cut in October and then supported psychedelic dream-pop duo Robbie & Mona on tour that same month.
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Jack was also included in NME’s ones to watch – ‘The NME 100: essential emerging artists for 2023’.
Bingo Fury’s sound ricochets between stark ballads and polished jazz, experimenting with the classical jazz sound and creating something completely unique.
We catch up with the musician for our monthly Spotlight feature.
What got you into the music industry?
I spent my late teens going to four or five shows a week, I became pretty obsessed with music around that time.
Bristol is densely populated with exceptional musicians and songwriters. I really aspired to be a part of the whole Howling Owl / The Bristol Germ movement when I became aware of it around 2016/17/18.
Going to those shows and becoming a part of the music community here really encouraged me to pursue my own creative endeavours in music.
What artists did you grow up listening to? Who inspired you?
My dad used to play Tom Waits in the car. Although I hated his voice at the time, I was very intrigued by him and he would become a huge inspiration to me.
Getting into The Strokes in my early teens was a very formative experience too, what’s what inspired me to play guitar. The Strokes put me onto all those New York bands like The Velvet Underground and Television, which then led to people like James Chance and John Lurie.
How would you describe your sound?
There’s a few comparisons that get thrown at the project a fair bit: Scott Walker, The Lounge Lizards, Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart etc.
I hope that the music lies somewhere within that realm.
Your latest EP, Mercy’s Cut, was released last year – what’s the response to it been like?
The response has been good! Everyone’s been very enthusiastic about it.
We got to do our first proper UK tour to promote it in October. Seeing a positive reaction from people who are from a different city has been encouraging.
What inspires your song-writing?
I first started Bingo Fury during the first Covid lockdown. During that time I spent 4-5 hours a day walking around Bristol thinking up ideas for the project.
I’d leave the house after dinner at about 9pm and come back in the early hours. A lot of Bristolian places and road names crop up in the lyrics as I tend to write while I’m out at night.
Where does your pseudonym come from?
I found a page in my phone notes which just read ‘Bingo Fury’. I can’t remember why I wrote it down or where it originates from, I just thought it sounded good as a character name.
Where’s your favourite place to perform and attend a gig in Bristol?
Difficult question. The Cube is probably my favourite venue in Bristol – that room has so much character. I really respect the community that runs the venue and the values they hold.
Crofters Rights and The Louisiana are also very important to me. I’ve played most of my favourite shows there over the years & even work at The Louisiana now.
What was your reaction to being included in NME’s ones to watch for 2023?
Very humbled and confused. I never thought Bingo would be featured in the NME. It feels like a big step up for the project.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnFDMKltzR9/?hl=en
What are you up to at the moment and what have you got planned for the next few months?
Myself and the band who I play with (Rafi Cohen, Megan Jenkins, Henry Terrett, Harry Furniss) are recording the first Bingo Fury album at the end of this month.
We have free reign of a Cotham Parish Church for 8 days to record it. The songs are sounding solid, I’m looking forward to sharing them.
I’ve also started putting on a monthly night at The Cube which I’m excited about. The first one is February 17th with BUFFEE, N.O (Squid x Minor Conflict) and The Dolebury Warren Movement. All exceptionally talented artists.
Main photo: Holly De Looze
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