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Crushed Stars has been called lush, intricate, and fascinating. Check out our exclusive interview below and be on the lookout for the new album Farewell Young Lovers, out on January 21
We are all anticipating your upcoming album Farewell Young Lovers. Can you tell us about the process of bringing this album to fruition?
After the last record In the Bright Rain I needed some new inspiration. I began reading at an accelerated pace. I probably read more in that year than I had in the previous five. I also bought a new guitar which always helps. The first song I wrote was Fantastic Birds on a toy guitar, the next one was Flowerbomb. Once you get a couple done the direction comes into focus and others come more quickly.
What made you decide on the title Farewell Young Lovers?
It was originally going to be called Hello Young Lovers which is the great title of the rather odd Rodgers and Hammerstein song. Then it occurred to me that Farewell Young Lovers would be more poignant. There’s an underlying theme of loss of innocence through some of the tracks and there’s always an element of sadness to Crushed Stars, so it seemed more fitting.
You have established a very good working relationship with Grammy winning producer Stuart Sikes, can you tell us about working with him on this latest album?
I met Stuart through our drummer Jeff Ryan who had worked with him on other projects. We first worked together on Gossamer Days. He and Jeff have a great rapport so they can work quickly and efficiently together. I track most of the material beforehand so with Stuart the focus is on getting the drum sound, mixing the record and talking me out of a few things he disagrees with. Stuart recently relocated to Austin so we went there to finish the record.
Can you tell us about the creative process and inspiration behind the track “Haters”?
That was the last song written for the record which needed a harder, more upbeat track. The bass line has an R&B flavor and I was going for a Jesus and Mary Chain guitar sound, so I overdubbed a variety of amps and distortion pedals, which is not something I use very often. The song is about people who consider themselves “religious” but reveal themselves through their statements to be quite hateful. They seem to think it’s all okay as long as they attend service on Sundays. This is especially apparent on social media. So I wanted to call these people out and the sound had to be more abrasive.
Can you tell us about the day you wrote “Flowerbomb”? What was going through your mind? What were you feeling?
I thought the word Flowerbomb was an interesting dichotomy, so I tried to describe a girl who would have both of those qualities. I wrote the intro and the middle bit in a hotel giftshop, the rest was from another song I was working on which the lyrics happen to fit perfectly.
Who would you like to collaborate with in future?
I would love to be produced by Richard Hawley or Jamie Candiloro who produced those great Lisa Germano records, Christian Fennesz.There are other people I admire but would be too intimidated want to collaborate with – Steve Kilbey, Johnny Marr, Peter Milton Walsh.
How has it been working with Simulacra Records?
I started Simulacra initially to release my electronic side projects (most recently Sonogram). Crushed Stars was originally on Portland’s Arena Rock Records. Once they closed shop it made sense to release Crushed Stars on Simulacra since the structure was already in place. I also like the control that running your own label provides.
What people, places, and books inspire you?
I am often inspired by literature – Jean Cocteau, Robert Desnos, Hermann Hesse, Ingmar Bergman films, Cocteau’s films. My favorite place to visit is Memphis, so much musical culture and history there. Sitting on a barstool in Memphis anything seems possible.
Could you share some life advice with us?
Create, create, create. Even when there seems to be no reason to create, create anyway.
After the release of Farewell Young Lovers, what will you be focusing on? Is there a tour in the works?
We have a few live dates scheduled for January, then I will finish the next Sonogram record.
