Earth<\/strong> and I have Milky Burgess playing electric guitars and doing harmonies. He actually plays on the new record. Some of those songs are pretty complicated and I was looking for something specific. Members of Muscle & Marrow are filling out the live band and I love that band so much.<\/p>\nOne of the things that really struck me as I was digging through the articles on you is that you seem to be really happy right now…<\/b><\/p>\n
(Nervous laughter) I think I do a good job of it. I’m okay. That’s a tricky word. Who is ever really happy? I’m alright. I’m better than I have been. I have some major ups and downs like everyone else. I think I am doing okay because I am trying to live life day by day as opposed to thinking about the future. I think that living in the moment has helped my psychological issues. I’m a real worrywart and the more I can stop my brain from freaking out the better.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I totally sympathize, I’ve had to come to a similar realization in recent months…<\/b><\/p>\n
I’m never going to be like Pharrell Williams!<\/p>\n
Do you think he’s actually happy?<\/b><\/p>\n
I think that’s an ironic song! (Laughter)<\/p>\n
To circle back… you said ‘Is anyone truly happy?’ and that was just too real for me… DO you think that being sad is an inherent part of the human experience?<\/b><\/p>\n
Yes I do. Even when you watch babies learning how to emote it’s pretty fascinating. Humans are born with complexity. Animals also! There is so much middle ground in between happy and sad though, I would never go so far as to simplify those emotions…<\/p>\n
Are you a nihilist?<\/b><\/p>\n
Let me think about that one! I don’t know. I think I’m more of a realist, which is weird for someone who writes such mystical songs. I’m a little bit of a nihilist I think, but I’m not totally negative all the time.<\/p>\n
There’s a very human sadness to your music that draws a lot of people to it…<\/b><\/p>\n
I think that’s because I try to be as unpretentious as possible. I believe that one of the greatest unifiers of humanity is music. I don’t want to play music that is pretentious that no one can relate to. I want to be sincere. I can’t stand heavily ironic music that talks down to audiences. I’ve had a lot of people tell me that my music helped them through a hard time and that’s enough for me.<\/p>\n
That must be really empowering…<\/b><\/p>\n
Sometimes it makes me feel better, especially if I’m playing a smaller show. If someone says something like that it’s like \u201cOkay, there is some meaning to my life I suppose!\u201d<\/p>\n
Do you have difficulty finding meaning outside of music?<\/b><\/p>\n
A lot of people have day jobs that don’t let you think about everything because you are so fucking tired. Because I go on these tours and then go home and there’s nothing I have a lot of time, too much time even, to think about why I’m here. That’s why I picked up stop motion animation!<\/p>\n
How is that going?<\/b><\/p>\n
My last two music videos I did myself with stop and slide motion animation. I have a fine art background so it’s kind of a natural thing to do, but man is it fun. I’ve been having a whole creative breakthrough.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I know that you had a hard time with fine art for a while because you were being graded on it…<\/b><\/p>\n
It took some of the joy out of it when everything you do is critiqued.<\/p>\n
Don’t you run into the same problem being a professional musician?<\/b><\/p>\n
Sometimes! I guess I’ve reached a point where I stopped taking record reviews to heart. I’m doing it for so many different reasons other than to get a good grade or be famous. Those are the least of those goals. I never thought I would be a pop star. The fact that I’m successful is just a cool plus. I don’t know what I would do with my life if I wasn’t making music or art. I do both and it’s a big part of my life and without it I don’t think I would have much identity…<\/p>\n
So I saw a quote from you saying that your art is best when you are at your most manic. Do you think that now that you are less manic your art will fundamentally shift?<\/b><\/p>\n
I think that I may have said that a long time ago. I really don’t believe that anymore. I wrote Strangers <\/i>in a fine mindset and July <\/i>as well and I think they are my two best records. That quote is from an older version of myself. I don’t believe that you have to be self destructive to make good art. I used to believe that firmly and I feel like my life used to reflect that. I don’t want to feed into the \u201cI went to the woods and mountains and isolated myself.\u201d There are people who wrote music as a day job and wrote some of the best songs ever. You don’t have to be Townes Van Zandt or Jeff Buckley.<\/p>\n
But at the same time you have collaborated with Xasthur who is the definition of crazy tortured artist…<\/b><\/p>\n
But look at the timeline. There was a distinct departure in my mindset and personality from 2009 when I was just a mess. When I collaborated with Xasthur I was drinking a lot. After 2009 I signed to two great labels and got a job as a special needs art teacher. Scott Connor… I really like him. He’s really legit. He’s not a fucking hipster. A lot of people put on the cape and claim to be black metal, but one thing I will say about Scott is that he’s the real deal \u2013 a dark motherfucker! That was fun. He was chain smoking watching me sing and letting me do whatever I wanted. He was pretty rad.<\/p>\n