MARK KOZELEK (sun kil moon) - Interview
Posted by shut on 18.06.2008, 04:45 | Last update: 18.06.2008, 07:42
Sometimes a musician comes along and produces something that is just... them. And it's even better when whatever it is that makes them unique, is also actually good. And better still when whatever it is that's unique and good, is combined with that ever elusive element - consistency. And then manages to remain consistent for a long time too. I like that.
Mark Kozelek is that type of musician - the moody country leanings, the melancholic lilt, and a crystal clear voice so rich and upfront it has an almost tangible physicality to it - all traits that have become synonymous with his distinctive style. Whether he's playing his own music or other people's (oddly, he has recorded two albums of AC/DC covers and, more recently, one of Modest Mouse covers), he has the musical nous to make everything absolutely his own, which is quite appropriate because to use a modern coloquialism - he 'owns'. When he plays live, he single-handedly 'owns' the room... Christ, he's even 'owned' AC/DC.
Not many people can do that.
Shut: You've got a new Sun Kil Moon record coming out soon, and the first for a while which is made up of original material. What was it that made you want to do those previous cover albums, and what reverted you back to writing your own songs again?
MK: With 'Tiny Cities', I was just in a place where I wanted to take a break from myself, take a break from some things that were happening in my life. 'Tiny Cities' was an escape from it all. I go back and forth between covers and originals a lot, it's nothing new.
Shut: You've also been putting the last couple of records out through your own label, Caldo Verde Records. Was that born at all out of previous experiences with majors? And does running your own label make life less or more stressful for you?
MK: Life is better now. It gives me something productive to work on every day. And yes, it was an accumulation of previous experiences that got me to the point of doing it myself, but I see a lot of artists are doing it themselves now. It just doesn't make sense to give up so much power and potential profit to a label, not for me. Most of the labels I was on were good, I'm not knocking them, but times have changed and I'm better off doing it myself.
Shut: When you toured over here a few months ago, your set was made up of Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon, as well as your own solo material, and it all worked beautifully together. Do you see your music as one body of work or are they more separated projects?
MK: I'm not a 'project' guy. These are all just my songs. I've given each work a different name for one reason or another, but when I play live, they're just my songs. There's no reason to separate them.
Shut: Talk us through the Hatton/Mayweather fight in December. Who were you backing?
MK: I watched the HBO documentary closely, and had switched my bet from Mayweather to Hatton somewhere in their training. Hatton was punching so hard, and Floyd seemed to be hiding something, but when I saw the fight I couldn't figure why I ever thought Hatton could win; Floyd is too smart, slippery, hard to beat. I like Ricky Hatton and wanted to see him win, but it made sense that he didn't. It happens a lot with English fighters when put to the test - Frank Bruno, Prince Naseem, etc.
Shut: I was recently arguing with a friend about 'The Razor's Edge' by AC/DC - he was saying it sucks. I disagree. Where do you stand on the issue?
MK: I like the early stuff. Haven't followed the new stuff.
Shut: You've been touring as a solo performer for a while now. Do you ever miss the aspect of touring as part of a band?
MK: A little. I miss Red House Painters. That's the best alternative to me playing acoustic. We have a lot of history, play well together, get along... I'm going to play with some different musicians this year, and hopefully have a band together for a tour later in the year.
Shut: Your new record comes out on April 1st... what's the best trick you played on anyone??
MK: I won't say names, but I had a friend worried that a more famous friend I know was gonna steal his girlfriend, hire her as his personal assistant. She was in on the joke with me - we had a lot of fun with that.
Interview by Charles J. Pritchard
Amazing interview, amazing dude
Posted by Joe on 19.06.2008, 04:17 | Reply | Quote