Envy 13 interview

I want to ask you about some recent collaborations. I interviewed Jason Molina [Songs: Ohia]; he mentioned that you are on his upcoming record. What was it like doing that?

I think I read that. That was cool, I was like "Ooh, they’re talking about me!" That was very cool. I was honored that he asked me. It was fun to do. I only had to go in for an hour or two.

Where did you do it?

At Truckstop in Chicago, which is in the south end, right where I live now. Mike Krassner recorded it, who’s somebody I’ve been playing with since I’ve been in Chicago.

Did he have parts written already for you, or did you make it up?

No, they would play it in the control room, and I’d sing something, and they’d go "Yeah, yeah, do that!" Then I’d go in and do it.

Are you happy with the way that came out?

Well, I haven’t heard it yet. But it sounded good when we were recording. I like what they said in the interview. Who said it was his favorite Songs: Ohia record?

I think Max.

Yeah.

You recorded your new record with Neil Hagerty in Virginia. Was it at his house?

No. He has a studio, but at the time it was broken up. It wasn’t all hooked up, so we did it at a studio called Stillness, that’s a town or two over from where he lives. It was cool. He would stay at his house, and we would meet him at the studio.

Did you hang out? Did you work the whole time, or did you have fun, too?

The night we got there, we went to Neil’s house and chilled for a couple hours. We had been driving so much. Just to shoot the shit and get familiar with each other. Other than that, we’d just hook up, go to the studio at one or two, work until two or three in the morning, go back to the hotel and sleep, then go back. There wasn’t much time for much else.

Was Jennifer involved?

She wasn’t in town during the time, so I didn’t see her then. But the credits say Adam and Eve.

I didn’t realize who that was until I saw it on the Make-Up record, and I knew that was produced by him- or both of them.

I think in that case it was both of them, very much so.

So, how long have you been in Chicago now?

I moved in November ‘96. Almost two years.

Are you planning on staying? Do you like it there?

Yeah. I don’t know where else I would want to live right now. It seems to be the happy medium. There’s a pretty low cost of living, even compared to Austin. The standard of living’s not bad. The people are very cool; the music scene is great.

What do you have tonight for a band?

It’s a trio. I’m playing guitar and singing. Ryan Hembrey is playing bass and a little accordion, and Steve Doorocke is playing pedal steel and a little bit of dobro.

Sounds nice.

Yeah. There’s no drums this time, because the drummer I’ve been working with lately had another tour, he had to do some other shows.

Do you like playing with a lot of different people?

Yeah, it keeps me on my toes. I keep doing the same songs, and they come out differently depending on who I’m playing with. Even though I’m pretty much playing the same thing, it’s a way to keep myself entertained. Every show is usually different, it sounds different.

Have you been happy with the way it’s been going thus far?

Yeah. The first night, in Detroit, we had never played a show together as that particular trio; we were a little bit nervous. But the second night we were just on. We got used to it fast. Cleveland was so great. The audience was great. We played at this place, Speak in Tongues, which I really like.

Do you do a lot of home-recording?

Yeah, that’s how I write. I can’t write in a studio, or on stage. That’s how I remember what I’m working on. When I’m in the middle of a song, I’ll do a little teaser take of it, little bits and pieces of it. Because I’ll never remember things. I come up with stuff, and then it’s gone. If I had a nickel for every great tune I’ve lost that way.

Do you write the words independently of the music?

No. I have all these notebooks of junk. Words. Usually it’s just phrases, or a paragraph. When I construct a song, usually the melody and the chords come first, and I try to fit the words in there. It’s just like a puzzle. I can’t really write a whole song and put it to music. It’s almost impossible for me to do that.

Do you still play the cowboy songs?

Yeah, I do. Almost every day. When I practice, I practice with the old country tunes. It’s a better workout. I want to keep my voice in shape, and with my own tunes, it’s pretty quiet, and I don’t want to play those songs. The only time I play those songs is either rehearsal or onstage.

Did you grow up listening to that stuff?

Not country, no. Neither of my parents was into country.

Where did you get into it?

It was later. I think when I was 19 or 20. At first I had heard Janis Martin, who is a female rockabilly queen from the fifties. A friend of mine turned me on to one of her records, and I freaked over it. It was so great. And I started buying other rockabilly, and anything like female country form the fifties and earlier.

Is it hard to find?

Not in Austin. That was when I lived in Austin. All my whole life I’ve been into more obscure stuff that was out there, and wasn’t on major labels. Austin’s a good place for that.

Did you send a demo to Drag City?

Yeah, I did. I sent four or five demos to different labels at the same time. One label called me back, and I was kind of talking to them. Then Drag City called me, and I ended up deciding to go with them.

Are you happy with them?

Yeah. Really. I can’t imagine. I would’ve fucked up so bad if I had not done that. It totally changed my life forever.

Can you see yourself doing the same things five years from now, or have you ever thought about that?

I don’t know. Because five years ago, I would’ve imagined it, but I never thought it was going to be a real deal. I don’t know. I’m going to follow my nose, do what I want to do, whatever that may be. I know I’ll be playing music one way or the other.

Do you ever have the desire to be in a band?

Yeah, I have been, back when I was doing country and rockabilly. And that definitely has its appeal, because you have consistency. There are things about it that can be very cool. But being independent can be very cool, because I can play with whomever I want, whoever can play with me. Whoever wants to play with me, I should say. But a band is cool, too. There are drawbacks to both as well. I do miss it a lot; I miss rockabilly so much. If I were going to do any crazy stunt, it would be to start a rockabilly band, and just do it exclusively.

Have you played with anybody in that respect since you were in that band? Do you ever just jam with people?

Not really, no.

You just write your songs.

Yeah. I do country songs sometimes as an encore or something, but it’s always like an afterthought. Sometimes I feel like a traitor.

I think it’s okay, I’m just asking…

I’m just telling you my innermost… my fears.

Who are your favorite singers?

I love Danielle Howle so much. She’s amazing. I like Elliot Smith a lot. I love so many singers. We were listening in the van today to Della Reece, live at the Playboy Club in 1964; it kicked ass. I can’t wait to hear the new Gillian Welch. I don’t have that yet. I really loved the first one. I love the Danielson Family. I worship the Danielson Family. No, not really- they wouldn’t like me to say that. I think they’re really, really great. And U.S. Maple. They’re from Chicago. I think you should see them live. Their records are good, but live, they’re just mind-bogglingly great.

Is it funny or is it not funny?

I don’t think there’s any joke at all with them. The singer, he poses you know. He makes faces at people, and people either laugh or they’re just really into it, go along with it. I think if people found it just funny, and that’s all they saw about it, they’d totally be getting it wrong. I think they’re really serious. I think Danielson is funnier than U.S. Maple is funny. Like I know Danielson wants to be fun, but I don’t know if U.S. Maple would say the same thing.

Do you read a lot?

Eat a lot?

No, I said read.

I eat a lot! [laughs]

Do you cook?

No. I don’t cook at all. I can make macaroni and cheese. I can make popcorn. Do I read? I used to read a lot, more than I do now.

I go in and out of phases when I’m reading. I bought a couple books the other day. I’m committed to reading them. I read stuff on the web.

Do you spend too much time on the computer?

Yes, way too much time. I’m bad because I’m pretty much a homebody anyway. Before I had a computer, it was pretty much with records or I don’t know what. So, if your tendencies run that way anyway, it can be kind of dangerous. It can marginalize the rest of your life.