This second album, Fireproof, is such a well-adapted-title album for the music you’ve given. So the first question is: What kind of fire influenced you in the conception of this album? Is this fire could be considered as a light?
There are many kinds of fire behind this record, I think destructive, warm, sometimes small and sometimes a bit out of control. . . It was recorded in an old fire-station in Red Hook Brooklyn in a studio called Fireproof.
There’s much hope than gloomy feelings in it……. So… Rather up, or rather “dawn”?
Ha! Both!
A song like Twilight refers (Tell me if I’m wrong) to irish songs, in vocals parts. Is that a huge part of your musical education? I mean… European music, the mayflower’s tradition, the fact that Us built theirselves with influence of European’s cultures…
Interesting, I never thought about it in that way- for me Twilight (like most of my songs) just kind of arrived in a flash and announced itself- not really referencing anything specifically I do love Irish folk music though, so I’m flattered. As far as the harmony singing goes, I actually learned basic harmony in church (I was raised Catholic!) It was the one part of the mass that I liked, and I loved freaking people out by singing a different part.
In France most of the folks artists (most of times some girls…) are often considered as such a boring thing, cause of their painless lyrics with acoustic guitars and all that stuff… Something for the elite, to be played close to chimney in winter. How did you succeed in escape from all that type of “clichés”? At what time did you decide to bring some swing like in Kids in A play or Private little hell?
Its less of a decision, more of a disregard, maybe, for convention-I just don’t like rules in art , C’est Nul! When I create something there’s no telling where it will end up - it could end up in a champagne reservoir, or on top of a mountain, or by a chimney somewhere.
By the way, the A of Kids in A play is the tone of the song? Do you
think than all Kids play in A? (Strange question, it’s true…)
Yes! (?)
The instrumental, Toy piano, is a nice transition. How did decide from that? Are you trying to make albums made of eclectism, searching for the cheapest instrument? The story about the 8’dollars guitar.. is it true?
For some reason I love cheap things, and “found” things. Clothes and instruments, just somehow end up in my life. They find me, almost. I bought my first guitar for 1 and most of the other instruments I’ve used on record have just fallen into my hands! Presents from friends, or on loan from a friend of a friend, or maybe just left over from a family that used to live in the space. The story with this particular Toy Piano is funny, I was working in a recording studio on someone else’s session and the toy piano was in a hallway between the live room and the control room, that one day I passed through the hallway maybe 50 times, and each time I would hit a note of the piano when I passed. After the session finished, I stayed late into the night and recorded the song.
You moved into NY, as I can read it, but what’s your feeling about playing a rural music into a big city? Is this the feeling of being alone with everybody (You alone on the latest song)?
Didn’t John Lenon write Look at all the lonely people looking out at New York from his central park apartment window? In New York (and Paris too, I think) its easy to get lost in the constant hum of the city, you forget sometimes that you’re humming too
One of the song is called I’m in love with the night. What’s your feeling at this moment, when night is coming on…. Is this the perfect to compose? Perfect moment to listen to this album? (For me it is..)
What is it about Night? Im just seduced by it all the time.
The “briography” talks about your daily job, as producer, with many artists like Joseph Arthur or Philipp Glass. Talk about him. He’s quite far from your own universe, what kind of things did you succeed in steal from him?
I learned a lot working in Philip Glass’ studio- he was doing a lot of music for film at the time, and the way that he worded with images was really amazing* I’ve been making music for films too, and I’m sure I’ve stolen something from him- hopefully his humility- he’s a fascinating musician and human.
To end, I’ve read you were working with Ryan Adams, … And so the question is…. do you think that folks singers can cheat with their own music? Is it possible?
Hum… Folk music began as an oral storytelling tradition, and the story changes a little bit every time you tell it. Is that cheating?
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