Hi Mark and how are you today?
Keeping on the down-low.
New
To be honest, I’m not really that engaged in that process for the most part. Typically the label will listen and work with a radio plugger to determine what they think is best. ‘
Your fifth full-length album, ‘Thumbtacks + Glue’, is out on 25th February. What do you feel is the biggest difference between that and your last LP Die Stadt Muzikanten, for you personally and, for us the listeners?
Last time around I really wanted to push out as much pop music as I possibly could to make one last kind of pop statement. This time around I wanted the resonances of instruments to matter more than the actual notes sometimes, to find new ways to make beautiful sounds like rubbing wineglass rims and old bits of tapes and such. There’s a bit more noise and grit here for sure. Song-wise, there’s far less of a verse-chorus-verse mandate going on (although there are still examples of that, of course).
Content-wise, I’m really trying to focus on the idea of how 1,000 things hold you back vs. just one or two major elements in your life. For ages I kept living in the same city because I had a piano, and I thought things like, “I can’t move – I have a piano!” Putting all of those things together like jobs, obligations, hobbies, etc. can be a pretty terrifyingly concrete barrier to your ever moving on or breaking free. Think of Gulliver’s Travels – 1,000 little strings held by those Lillipudlians, holding down a giant who just can’t get anywhere because there are so many small things keeping him immobile.
Photo by Paolo Calamita
Are there any particular stories you would like to share behind the new songs on the record?
I’ve heard from more than one person that the record sounds a bit lonely, and that wasn’t really my intention. I know there’s a song called ‘Hermit’ and all, but I think the most important message I was thinking of is one of breaking free into the life you truly want, and also the one you truly deserve.
As for stories behind the songs on the record, this is the first time I’ve ever put lyrics in there, so I’m not really so into fully giving anything away. I think it’s nice when people make their own connections and interpretations of things. I do remember one moment, though, where I was writing the middle bit of ‘The Saddest Music in the World’ and asked one of the keyboard players on that particular tour what the chord was (since I never know). He looked at it for a while and said, ‘Wow. A 13th.’ I’ve always been kind of proud of that.
Who designed the artwork on the album cover?
The artwork was done by a couple of people – the graph-like drawings are by Ben Chyzyk, who is an amazing fellow and has books and books and books full of these things. The photographs and the layout is by the amazing Elyron team in
We have seen you perform solo and with a sizable band. What drives that decision and how would to describe your sound for people yet to hear your songs?
I consider each and every adventure carefully, and then put it out to some folks I’m excited to work with (either again or for the first time). I think for opening tours, for the most part, it’s nice to do them solo as you’re most often introducing yourself and your songs to the audience. For big headline things or festivals, it’s usually nice to have the troops out and behind you.
As for the second part of this question, I have to admit that I’ve never figured out an answer to that. In fact, I think that as a question I might actually be allergic to it! I wrote about music for 10 years for a few magazines, and quit doing that once I started making my own stuff. Since then, I’ve never been able to sort out a suitable mash of words to describe my sound ...
What is your song writing process and where do you tend to write. Any particular places you draw inspiration from?
This changes constantly. There’s no real rhyme or reason as to the way I write songs, or the how. I can write just about anywhere – I’ve even written in buses and walking down
From all your travels, where would you like most to play a concert that you haven’t managed to yet?
I’d love to go to
What was the music you listened to back in School/College days that blew you away and you still play today.
I’m not afraid to say I’ve been digging on those Smashing Pumpkins re-issues. Also always and forever still into The Beatles (and definitely back into a White Album phase these days). College-wise, I’ve definitely been having a resurgence listening to things I loved then like Arab Strap and Bedhead.
How is the Canadian music scene these days anyone we should be looking out for?
Living in
You have toured and played festivals with other artists already, anyone you particularly learned anything from, that stuck with you?
I received some pretty great lessons from the fellows in Calexico, and had some pretty great talks with Sam Beam of Iron & Wine. A lot to do with expectations and boundaries and doing what fits within your comfort zone.
Is it music 24/7 or is there downtime and how do you like to spend it?
For some time I’ve been desperate for some downtime, and so this spring I’m going to take it. I want to ride my bicycle around
Photo by Paolo Calamita
Thumbtacks + Glue, is released on 25th February 2013.