Joe and Jake biography and interview
Interview with Joe and Jake, whose debut track You’re Not Alone will be the UK's entry into Eurovision 2016.
Published: 25 April 2016
The song is an up-tempo anthem that is all about togetherness and love, and it really fits in well with this year’s Eurovision theme, which is Come Together.
Joe and Jake are a brand new musical duo whose debut track, You’re Not Alone, an anthemic pop song with a universal message, won the BBC selection show, Eurovision: You Decide, and will represent the United Kingdom at the 61st Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm.
Joe Woolford, 21 from Ruthin in Wales, and Jake Shakeshaft, 20 from Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, first met as fellow competitors on The Voice UK, where they quickly bonded over their love of music, followed by a shared love of peri-peri chicken and football.
Joe and Jake have been passionate about music since an early age. Joe has experimented with various sounds over the years, including rap, while Jake has always wanted to follow his dream of performing on stage, even teaching himself guitar at the age of 14.
Both Joe and Jake have an eclectic musical taste, citing Bob Marley, Måns Zelmerlöw and Rudimental as their musical influences.
Joe and Jake are a fun-loving duo with a natural rapport and a firm friendship. They are extremely proud and excited to be representing the United Kingdom in Stockholm this year.
How did you get together as a duo?
Joe: We first met when we both took part in series four of The Voice UK. We met backstage and got on really well, so kept in touch after that and decided that we wanted to form a duo, so it all started from there.
Jake: We had a few options of what to do, and our management suggested trying out for Eurovision and we just went for it. We didn’t have to think twice.
What is your song, You're Not Alone, about?
Jake: The song is an up-tempo anthem that is all about togetherness and love, and it really fits in well with this year’s Eurovision theme, which is Come Together.
Joe: It’s energetic, it’s fun and it’s about friendship.
Are you a fan of the Eurovision Song Contest?
Joe: It’s a great night for music and I loved last year’s show. After Måns won last year I went out and bought his album, so I am definitely a fan.
Jake: We are both fans of the show and always have been. If we weren’t taking part we’d be at home back in the UK watching with our families. I’m a big fan of Loreen and, even though she won back in 2012, you still hear the song everywhere today and it still sounds fresh.
Since winning Eurovision: You Decide back in February you’ve been very busy promoting the song not just in the UK but abroad too. What has been the highlight of your Eurovision journey so far?
Joe: It’s all been brilliant but my highlight so far was when we went on The Graham Norton Show. Being on a show with a line-up including Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant was just something else!
Jake: We’re both fans of that chat show and have watched it for years. To sit on the couch after performing and just have a laugh with people of that calibre was awesome. We announced on the show that we wanted people to send in their selfies to be part of our staging on the night of the final so we kicked things off by getting a selfie with Hugh Grant, Meryl Streep, Keeley Hawes and Graham Norton. Crazy!
When you have been on your travels, have you met any of the other Eurovision contestants from other countries?
Joe: We’ve met a lot of the contestants now and as well as seeing them off stage, it is great to see everyone perform. The thing about Eurovision is that you can easily forget it’s a competition, as everyone is so friendly.
Jake: It’s true, everyone has been really cool and we’ve loved having the chance to meet everyone along the way.
The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the biggest televised events on the planet. What has been the biggest surprise so far?
Joe: To see how committed and passionate the fans are is just incredible. They are so engaged with the competition and the show is their life.
Jake: I think it’s fair to say that you don’t get fans like it anywhere else. They are brilliant, and definitely help make the show the success that it is.
How does competing in Eurovision differ from competing on The Voice?
Joe: On The Voice you are representing yourself, but on this you are representing your entire country so there is so much more weight on your shoulders.
Jake: On The Voice, you go through the motions of a TV talent show and record what you are told when you are told to do it. With this, you tour different places, visit fans, see different countries and get to see the world too. You get to experience different types of people and cultures and it really is amazing.
Joe: The other great thing is that with this we have each other, so we are sharing the experience. We get on so well and have a great laugh and it’s great to have each other.
You’ve met many people along the way so far. What do you think is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Joe: The best advice we have been given is to cherish every moment and enjoy the Eurovision experience. It’s amazing to think that it will go down in history that we have been part of the biggest music show on the planet.
Jake: Emma Bunton told us to enjoy it and feed off the energy of the crowd. After the You Decide show, Katrina who won for the UK in 1997 told us that we are going to absolutely love it and that is what we intend to do.
Do you have any rituals before going on stage?
Joe: We always pace together and try to channel any nervousness into adrenaline. I am also quite superstitious, but I am not revealing what my superstition is as that will jinx it!
Jake: We always try to make each other laugh before a performance as that helps to calm our nerves!
Why is the Eurovision Song Contest important to you?
Joe: We can’t overestimate what an honour it is to be representing the UK in the biggest musical contest ever. It’s like a dream come true. The impact of Eurovision is huge, far ranging and it touches so many fans around the world - to perform on that stage will be the highlight of our career.
Jake: It blows our minds to know that millions of people will be tuning in. We can’t wait to get to Stockholm and experience the atmosphere for ourselves.
