INTERVIEW : 2013-10-03 Q&A (by The Mouth Magazine)
JOSEPH ARTHUR DESCRIBES BOOGIE CHRIST, THE CENTRAL CHARACTER OF HIS NEW ALBUM, AS “EQUAL PARTS INSANE AND ENLIGHTENED” – QUALITIES ARTHUR HIMSELF HAS DISPLAYED ACROSS NINE PREVIOUS DISARMINGLY WIRED, WEIRD AND WONDERFUL “PSYCHEDELIC SOUL” ALBUMS…
Released by Real World Records, long-term mentor Peter Gabriel says of Arthur’s distorted autobiography in double album THE BALLAD OF BOOGIE CHRIST: “Jo’s words rattle and rumble and prise open the cage”.
The unique New York (by way of Ohio) renaissance man works at a frenetic pace, whether in his frequently inventive singer-songwriting or in his distinctive painting, digging in the dirt to locate the essence of who or what he is – and exposing the resulting finds in all of their bloody beauties and crimes.
In this brief new Q&A, Arthur (who is about to embark on a three-show mini-tour in the UK – see below for dates) describes his approach to his work, reveals a little of the genesis of THE BALLAD OF BOOGIE CHRIST and discusses his exceptional recent cover version of Peter Gabriel’s SHOCK THE MONKEY…
WHAT IS THE BALLAD OF BOOGIE CHRIST?
It’s a story about Boogie Christ – a character who is equal parts insane and enlightened… The concept arrived while I was taking mushrooms and riding with my then girlfriend to Salem to look for witchcraft and salvation. I wrote it (the lyrics to BOOGIE CHRIST) as a poem on that drive. And the rest is history…
AS A SONGWRITER THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF YOU THAT YOU PUT INTO THINGS, EVEN IF YOU’RE WRITING IN CHARACTER, BUT IN THIS CASE IS THERE MUCH AUTOBIOGRAPHY?
Yes, much of it is based on my own journey. I feel that in many ways I’ve evolved through – and out of – much of what I wrote about on this record. Nevertheless, it all still feels vital to ma. And I’m not out of the woods just yet…
I WAS PARTICULARLY TAKEN WITH I USED TO KNOW HOW TO WALK ON WATER. THAT TRACK FEELS LIKE A SORT OF ANTHEM FOR THE DISAPPOINTED…
Yes! That’s one of my favorites too. It came from extreme disillusionment and actual pain. But now, as with all things – or most things – of that nature, I can laugh at it… and even at myself. The song has humour in it as well… as do many of the songs on the record.
YOUR SONGS TEND TO BE RAW – FEELINGS EXPOSED. DO YOU EVER LISTEN BACK AND FEEL LIKE YOU’VE PERHAPS PUT TOO MUCH INTO THEM? OR IS THAT JUST THE BARGAIN TO BE MADE WHEN YOU MAKE ART ..?
Well, in many ways it’s the point of art. True power, as Nietzsche said, is the ability to express yourself – so, in that way, is it even possible to put too much of yourself into it? I suppose for everyone it’s different, and it really depends on what or who you are doing this for…
WHAT KEEPS YOU ARTISTICALLY MOTIVATED?
Spirit and survival in equal parts. “I’m lucky but I’m not that lucky. And for that I’m really lucky”.
YOU’RE EXTREMELY PROLIFIC – BOOGIE CHRIST IS YOUR THIRD ALBUM IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS… I’M GUESSING THERE’S ALWAYS AN OVERLAP IN TERMS OF THE SONGS YOU STORE UP?
Yes, many are stored and few are abandoned…
… AND YOU’VE BEEN KNOWN TO BEGIN WRITING AND RECORDING A NEW ALBUM IN THE MIDDLE OF WRITING AND RECORDING ANOTHER… YOU MUST WORK CONSTANTLY, OR AT LEAST VERY QUICKLY?
Constantly, yes. And sometimes quickly. But I’m someone who is lucky to be able to sing for my supper, and someone who is lucky to not be comfortable enough to relax. The fire burns within and without. I gotta shake my moneymaker, baby ..!
YOUR PREVIOUS ALBUM – REDEMPTION CITY – WAS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FOR FREE, AND THE BALLAD OF BOOGIE CHRIST WAS INITIALLY LAUNCHED THROUGH AN ONLINE PLEDGE CAMPAIGN. YOU’RE OBVIOUSLY OPEN TO NEW APPROACHES TO THE MUSIC BUSINESS MODEL – BUT, AS AN ARTIST WHO’S SPENT TIME ON MAJOR LABELS, WAS THAT SHIFT DIFFICULT?
Well, anyone who has been in the music business from the mid-1990s onwards has had to get used to being comfortable with change and invention, you know? I love both of those things, and I’ve never been so successful that any of this change has freaked me out. Rather, I see the whole thing as one continual struggle to get up the mountain – and I’m still working my way up. I embrace the new paths and try many directions.
HAS THE NEW APPROACH FREED YOU UP, THOUGH? WORKING SO QUICKLY AND HAVING A LOT OF MATERIAL STOCKPILED, YOU CAN GET STUFF OUT THERE WITHOUT OPERATING AT THE TRADITIONAL GLACIAL PACE OF THE INDUSTRY CYCLE…
Yes, I believe there’s something deeply liberating about working without strict structures or guidelines… But, ironically, getting back with Real World Records has felt very freeing as well. Taking some of the stress of always doing it myself is a relief. It’s also just awesome to be back with the label that started everything for me.
YOU ACTUALLY LEFT REAL WORLD ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, SO HOW DID YOU END UP BACK THERE?
Well, it started with them re-releasing my early records, and in doing that we were beginning to work together again. It felt good so I asked them if they’d be interested in putting out my new record. I wasn’t sure what they would say, but they came back with a lot of enthusiasm. It’s been better than ever, ever since…
YOUR ORIGINAL DEMO FOUND ITS WAY TO PETER GABRIEL, BUT WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THAT MOMENT AND PUTTING OUT THE DEBUT IN 1997 ..?
That was almost twenty years ago… I can’t even remember twenty minutes ago, ha ha.
PETER’S IN THAT TOP TIER OF ARTISTS… SO WAS IT INTIMIDATING TO MEET HIM?
I was in awe, of course, yes… I’d worked at minimum wage jobs and here was not only a great artist but also someone who represented the possibility of my dreams coming true. And a true mentor… That being said, the surreal does become normal after it has become reality – and so then my brazen self-obsessed self kicked in… And freaked everybody out… Hopefully in a good way, ha ha.
COINCIDENTALLY ENOUGH, PETER’S AND I’LL SCRATCH YOURS ALBUM HAS ALSO RECENTLY BEEN ISSUED, THE ALBUM OF ARTISTS COVERING HIS SONGS. YOU’RE ON IT, OF COURSE, BUT HAVE YOU HEARD THE OTHER MATERIAL ON THERE – BON IVER, REGINA SPEKTOR AND SO ON?
Actualy, no, I haven’t heard it yet – but I aim to check it out soon. I’ll be seeing the folks at Real World in Bristol in about a week – so I’ll angle for a copy then…
YOUR VERSION OF SHOCK THE MONKEY, A SONG ABOUT JEALOUSY, BRINGS OUT A LOT OF THE ANGER IN IT. IT’S A REAL HIGHLIGHT…
Well, thank you! That was actually the first 45 record I ever bought, when I was a kid. I always really loved that song – for both the production and Peter’s amazing voice on it. It wasn’t actually until I started playing it myself, with my guitar feeding back, that I discovered just how dark a song SHOCK THE MONKEY actually is. I guess that’s what makes Peter’s songs so strong – the fact that they’re layered with many different emotions… hiding each other… and turning into revelations…
HAS PETER LET YOU KNOW WHAT HE THINKS OF IT?
Yes, he has. He wrote me a nice note about it…
FINALLY, JOSEPH, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, THE ‘CAMPAIGN’ FOR BOOGIE CHRIST?
Well, I’m actually in Paris as we speak – right at the beginning of a five week European tour (see below for UK dates). And then, after that, it’s more dates in America. And then, after that… well, we’ll just have to see… But that is a LOT!
Well, anyone who has been in the music business from the mid-1990s onwards has had to get used to being comfortable with change and invention, you know? I love both of those things, and I’ve never been so successful that any of this change has freaked me out. Rather, I see the whole thing as one continual struggle to get up the mountain – and I’m still working my way up. I embrace the new paths and try many directions.
HAS THE NEW APPROACH FREED YOU UP, THOUGH? WORKING SO QUICKLY AND HAVING A LOT OF MATERIAL STOCKPILED, YOU CAN GET STUFF OUT THERE WITHOUT OPERATING AT THE TRADITIONAL GLACIAL PACE OF THE INDUSTRY CYCLE…
Yes, I believe there’s something deeply liberating about working without strict structures or guidelines… But, ironically, getting back with Real World Records has felt very freeing as well. Taking some of the stress of always doing it myself is a relief. It’s also just awesome to be back with the label that started everything for me.
YOU ACTUALLY LEFT REAL WORLD ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, SO HOW DID YOU END UP BACK THERE?
Well, it started with them re-releasing my early records, and in doing that we were beginning to work together again. It felt good so I asked them if they’d be interested in putting out my new record. I wasn’t sure what they would say, but they came back with a lot of enthusiasm. It’s been better than ever, ever since…
YOUR ORIGINAL DEMO FOUND ITS WAY TO PETER GABRIEL, BUT WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THAT MOMENT AND PUTTING OUT THE DEBUT IN 1997 ..?
That was almost twenty years ago… I can’t even remember twenty minutes ago, ha ha.
PETER’S IN THAT TOP TIER OF ARTISTS… SO WAS IT INTIMIDATING TO MEET HIM?
I was in awe, of course, yes… I’d worked at minimum wage jobs and here was not only a great artist but also someone who represented the possibility of my dreams coming true. And a true mentor… That being said, the surreal does become normal after it has become reality – and so then my brazen self-obsessed self kicked in… And freaked everybody out… Hopefully in a good way, ha ha.
COINCIDENTALLY ENOUGH, PETER’S AND I’LL SCRATCH YOURS ALBUM HAS ALSO RECENTLY BEEN ISSUED, THE ALBUM OF ARTISTS COVERING HIS SONGS. YOU’RE ON IT, OF COURSE, BUT HAVE YOU HEARD THE OTHER MATERIAL ON THERE – BON IVER, REGINA SPEKTOR AND SO ON?
Actualy, no, I haven’t heard it yet – but I aim to check it out soon. I’ll be seeing the folks at Real World in Bristol in about a week – so I’ll angle for a copy then…
YOUR VERSION OF SHOCK THE MONKEY, A SONG ABOUT JEALOUSY, BRINGS OUT A LOT OF THE ANGER IN IT. IT’S A REAL HIGHLIGHT…
Well, thank you! That was actually the first 45 record I ever bought, when I was a kid. I always really loved that song – for both the production and Peter’s amazing voice on it. It wasn’t actually until I started playing it myself, with my guitar feeding back, that I discovered just how dark a song SHOCK THE MONKEY actually is. I guess that’s what makes Peter’s songs so strong – the fact that they’re layered with many different emotions… hiding each other… and turning into revelations…
HAS PETER LET YOU KNOW WHAT HE THINKS OF IT?
Yes, he has. He wrote me a nice note about it…
FINALLY, JOSEPH, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, THE ‘CAMPAIGN’ FOR BOOGIE CHRIST?
Well, I’m actually in Paris as we speak – right at the beginning of a five week European tour (see below for UK dates). And then, after that, it’s more dates in America. And then, after that… well, we’ll just have to see… But that is a LOT!
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