Unsigned Wolverhampton group Jump the Shark talk ahead of city gig

With their roots firmly entrenched in Wolverhampton, they have five years of creativity behind them and see 2018 as the year they can finally hop into the big time.

This four-piece alt-rock collective have a schedule laid out they hope can push them forward in their quest for mainstream recognition. And if their musical output can match the determination of frontwoman Tasha Jones, then it shouldn't be too difficult.

"We've got to the point now where people are contacting us for shows, people request us," she tells us. "We're trying to stretch out of the Midlands now, we tend to play a lot of independent venues and these opportunities come from working with other bands."

Nationwide acclaim is a long way from where the band started in 2012, jamming together in a music room they rented at Claregate Primary School.

Schoolfriends Theo Williams and Matt Gregory attended Thomas Telford School, and met Wolverhampton Girls School pupil Tasha in social circles. The band was then completed when they met St Edmunds pupil Jon Murphy through music group projects.

They've been part of a city that in recent years has been quietly spawning the Wolftown scene that gives young aspiring rockers a platform to perform. It's a place where strong friendships can be formed that can pass on those shows and tips to newcomers.

"People have been really pushing the Wolftown scene," adds Tasha. "It seems really good, but some people are more supportive than others. Some seem to keep to themselves and do what they do. But we push other bands a lot and support all our friends.

"We've created a playlist on Spotify of all our favourite music from other bands," she reveals, which you can find by visiting their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JumptheSharkOfficial/

They have support slots for the likes of Little Comets, The Primitives and Irish group The Riptide Movement behind them, but Tasha has her eyes on bigger prizes still.

"We want to hit the big festival stages," she says. "But it's so difficult as so many bands apply each year. We've only played small festival slots before but we think we can get bigger slots by getting our music more exposure.

"The internet on the one hand can be a huge help, but it can actually be the worst thing for bands. It's just so saturated.

"Facebook for example, you have to pay for any post that you want to reach more than 100 people. So we have to budget a lot of things. We go quiet on social media for a while then get noisy again when we release something.

"All of us are so committed to this that we'll pay whatever it takes. We've always had a vision to make music from day one. If it makes us money then great, but equally we just enjoy what we do."

So with that in focus, it's time for the band to release their first full-length album. They have been working with local company RML Studios at Newhampton Arts Centre and are looking towards the autumn for a full release.

With three EPs behind them recording isn't entirely new, but it will be the largest single project they have undertaken as a band.

"It's just about time we did it," Tasha adds. "We are just putting everything out there and it will be cool to create a piece of art we can be proud of."

And it wouldn't be the first time they have made an impression. Back in 2015, they won the Young Brit Award for Best Newcomer which opened the odd door for them - including a trip to Molineux to show off their (old) golden prize to the Wolves faithful before a match.

"It was so cool, and as part of the prize we got the chance to record at Abbey Road Studios," says Tasha. "We recorded a track called Hazy Eyes there. We're yet to release it, but we are looking to do so some time in the future."

Last year, too, their single Sooner Said was again picked up by the Brits team and added to the awards show's official playlist on Spotify.

Tasha herself also grabs attention. Frontwomen themselves are now more commonplace in the rock scene, and rightly so! But what is unusual for Tasha is she provides her vocals from behind the Jump The Shark drumkit, Phil Collins style.

And on top of this, she continues to fight gender stereotypes by working as an engineer in Coventry in her day job.

"I guess my whole lifestyle defies stereotypes," she laughs when we brooch the subject. "To be honest it has just happened, it wasn't a grand plan.

"And it is an extra motivation knowing you could be paving the way for others. I guess my message to other female musicians is just do what you want to do and don't be put off by stereotypes.

"If you want to, you can do anything you put your mind to."

And that is why chart success may just be round the corner for this determined band of rockers. With a busy 2018 ahead, it could be the year to look out for Jump The Shark.

*Jump The Shark have a hometown gig lined up for Tuesday, supporting INHEAVEN at Newhampton Arts Centre. Then next Friday, they appear at Birmingham's much-lauded Actress & Bishop venue to support Youth Man, before backing up Nuns of the Tundra at the second city's O2 Institute on March 3. As well as their Facebook page, you can follow the band on Twitter @JumptheSharkUK