How has music changed your life for the better?
Music has given my life meaning in a way nothing else does. It is always given me inspiration and solace
Do you pull from culture, or try to create in a vacuum?
I pull from culture all the time for the subject matter of my songwriting. I try to combine it with my personal experiences in interesting ways. Whatever type of music you play, whether it is folk music or avant-garde noise, it’s a part of a tradition and a broader cultural conversation.
What would you say is the most distinctive thing about your new release?
I think the most distinctive thing about Rainmaker is the way it combines straight-forward rock songs with more adventurous musical ideas.
If you could be creating music in another decade – the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, etc.… – which decade would you choose and why?
I’d probably choose the 1960’s. I think it was the most exciting decade for popular music. Rock music was evolving quickly in so many interesting ways.
What is the most inspiring thing you have heard/seen recently?
When I saw the band Bodega I was really blown away. Their shows are so kinetic and high energy. Their drummer plays just two drums standing up and is amazing.
What is one thing we are likely not to learn about you from listening to your music?
I listen to a lot of jazz
How do you blow off steam?
Playing music and getting out into nature.
Ever tried skateboarding? Any history with Skate culture?
I skated quite a bit in the ’80s and ’90s. Skateboarding and post-punk music were my two biggest inspirations when I was growing up. They both helped me learn to be myself. To be a good skater or a good musician you must be a good improviser
What is the best thing about being an artist in 2020?
The ability to share your work with so many people online
What is the next big thing?
I have no idea. I hope it’s a renaissance in music that sounds more human and less synthetic
