Passremarker
on Songwriting
at The
Pineapple Lounge at Brisbane Writers Festival 2012
Interview
on Songwriting with Dave Graney
Name (not for zine):
Pineapple Lounge
performance name:
AKA (if you want this included in your
interview):
How
would you describe your current musical style, and how did your music journey
take you there?
Rock Music. Done properly. Everybody else does it
wrong
Which
songwriters from the past or present do you respect and influence you?
Syd Barrett, Bert Jansch, Robyn
Hitchcock, Paul Westerberg, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams,
Leon Russell
What
is one particular song that has really stood out for you, remains a favourite;
and what is it about this song? (the lyrics will be included in the zine at the
end of your interview)
The Waters of March or Quiet nights of quiet stars by
Jobim. More for the music than the lyrics.
How
do the words come out and get onto the page? Do you carry a notebook at all
times? Scrawl as you awake in the middle of the night? Need to spend a lot of
time alone?
None of the above. I don't sweat
it.
As
in all creative professions, you must have at some stage, experienced creative
doubt: how did/do you deal with it?
Never, only disappointment in the
organized music world really.
If
you write your own music, do you consider the music to be equally as important
as the lyrics? And which comes first the music or the lyrics?
Music. Lyrics are for sooks.
Do
you keep your songs a secret until you perform? Or do you bounce your work off
fellow musicians and friends?
I like music and words that are
dirty and grubby with the fingerprints of many people on them. When I play
them, I want people to take them away and do what they like with them.
How
do you feel about reactions to your songs? Please elaborate on a prominent
incident of this from your past.
I like people dancing , really. I like grooves.
The
music industry, like publishing, is in a time of great transition: what has
changed for you, and what excited you about the future, and what is pissing you
off?
People love technology, and its going to do them
in.Suckers. The war has been lost. End times are here for life on earth.
As
a songwriter do you feel connected to poetry? How?
I love poetry, but I wouldn't let it near any songs. I
hate "spoken word" bullshit. Poetry is to be read. In your mind.
Musics about voices and luck.
Who
are your favourite authors and poets? And which of their works in particular?
Guillaume Apollinaire for his book of poems Alcools
and also Blaise Cendrars.
Paul Bowles, William Burroughs, JG Ballard, James M
cain, Paul Cain, Delia Falconer, David Foster, Hal Porter, les Murray, Robert
Grey. Joyce carol Oates, Walter raliegh, AE Coppard and many more.
Why
do you write songs? What does it do for you emotionally?
Just for the thrills really. I like the ephemeral
nature of it. I hate shit like leonard Cohen . Give me Lil Wayne any day.
Have you had
any premonitions with your future? Do you think you’ll continue song writing
and music? If so, what direction?
Rave to the Grave!
One more
thing: please include four full song lyrics you will be performing during your
set.
No! people can hear them, I sing
proper! Also, I didn't even know I was playing!
Post
Script ? further correspondence (thought this might be interesting. I try hard
to be nice. This exchange all happened just after a lot of travelling-
including our night of HELL on the GOLD COAST which is a fulcrum upon which I
have spun and which has determined my attitude and trajectory for THE REST OF
MY LIFE!
yo Dave,
I'm not meant to write to you, but I'm writing the zine for BWF, and
need your answers by the morning, because my deadline with them is tomorrow.
If you can fill it out... that would be sick.
I've attached it again, and need a pic of you also.
Be great if you could possibly not mention to them that I wrote to you,
cause I was given strict instructions not to. ha! Strange world with all that
bureaucracy.
I sent my answers last week in an email
to the BWF person
yeah they just sent them to me today... thanks. ( :
you definitely don't want any lyrics included?
all good if not, just checking.
no, I'm not sure what or how long I have
to play. Will make up my mind on the day I guess. I was trying to say I'm more
of a musical focussed person. And pretty much all rock lyrics- except mine- are
fucking rubbish.
except for led zeppelin, rollingstones, talking heads. there's a number
that have some good lyrics I reckon.
anyway Mr. Graney, see ya on the 9th.
those are all very good musical acts.
lyrics pretty good for the Stones , terrible for zeppelin but the best is by
Steely Dan , Paul Westerberg, Bonnie Billy and August Darnell.
'll have to check em out one day.
My favourite lyricist of all time... well two acts: Cake and
Butterfingers.
hey, just bear in mind
that you're talking to a fucking expert in this matter. I know everybody has an
opinion , but I have the skills and the experience and have written 25 fucking
albums and two books. Cake are (1) shit and (2) yanks...
...being
yanks means they get a free ride from colonials...
I ran into the young lady who put a bit
of time into making the fanzine at the festival. It was lovingly tied with a bit of string. I have a phobia about cds and papers
tied up with string. It creeps me out.
I said hello and also that I was being a
little bit funny in my responses. Little bit. The fanzine included some lyrics by Jobim.
Someone else had done my bit, she said. She was a bit excited – I guess - and
cried out that she had read my responses and thought “wow! Who is this guy? Who
the fuck does he think he is?” I only regret that , once again, I didn’t
express myself HARD ENOUGH! I was dave FUCKIN" Graney!
Friday 21st September - Palais- Hepburn Springs
Saturday 22nd September - NEWPORT SUBSTATION -NEWPORT book tickets here
Thursday 04th Oct Clancys Fish Pub (solo), Fremantle
Friday 05th Oct – Clancy’s Fish Pub (indoors), Dunsborough
Saturday 06th Oct – the Bird - Northbridge - Perth
Sunday 07th Oct – Mojos - Fremantle WA
This tour is supported by the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria
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