Trembling Blue Stars

1)First of all I'd like to know how things are going with your label Elefant records of Spain. This is the second album which comes out for that label. Are you satisfied? How they promote your previous record? And how they’re planning to promote the new one?
 
 
I'm very happy with Elefant.First and foremost the bottom line with them is ALWAYS the music.Ultimately that's all they care about. Also,it's such an aesthetically pleasing label.A beautifully designed technicolour world!
 
As for promotion we can't complain at all.Since being on Elefant we have had access to both radio and press promotion that we never experienced in the past.You have to take into account that we are not the easiest group to promote; we don't play live, we don't like having photos taken and we would much rather let the music speak for itself than talk about it :-)
 
Another area that is new to us because of Elefant is that of videos. Beyond approving the initial idea and saying that we don't want to be in them,we're happy to let the director have their artistic vision.The less involved we are the happier we are.
 
As long as Elefant are happy to have us on the label and as long as they don't lose patience with us then I'm happy for us to be on Elefant. I do think we've ended up artistically in an enviable position. We have complete creative control and don't have to do anything we don't want to do.
 
 
 
2)There are rumours over the internet that this could be your last record? Is there anything true? And Why?
 
I've heard that too! I think it came about because we stopped playing live and there was some talk of us making just one more record.This didn't come from us! In a sense every record could be the last one. I never look beyond the current record being made.I try to use every idea I have and treat it like my last chance to make a record. Nothing is held back.Therefore, once it's finished you feel pretty empty.Like you've nothing left to say.Also, the next EP ends with a song called 'And Then Silence' which was written in a state of wanting to  musically disappear....I got over it!
 
We started recording the new album almost exactly a year ago and finished it in October 2006 so by now new ideas are rising to the surface.I just have to wait around for them. I do have an idea now for another record although it'll be some way off in the distance. But as long as Elefant are willing to let us make another album this new one won't be our last.
 
 
 
3)Do you think that there is still something worth writing music for? And what is?
 
That's a difficult question to answer and therefore one that is well worth asking!
 
Because I'm happy to wait for ideas and not force songs I assume that when things occur to me they have some value. Even if it's only to me in terms of something I want to articulate or a world I want to create or a musical landscape I'd like to build so I can enter into it for awhile.
 
Ultimately, I'm writing songs for me initially. Then they're released into the world and they're no longer mine.If people pick up on them or derive something from them then you can't ask for more.But the initial thing goes back to a sense of: "I was here and this is what I thought" which then leads to asking the listener "how about you?". Or "I have this feeling inside me that I need to articulate so I can somehow feel lighter...like I've dealt with it". Sometimes you just want to create a beautiful world. Something perfect. A world away from the world.
 
 
 
4)Is your way of writing and recording music during the years changed? Or everything is almost the same?
 
It's the same. Even the more experimental things begin on guitar. I fill in all the details in my head. Based on the words and chords I imagine how the song should sound.This is due to two things really 1) It works for me and 2) I don't have the equipment to do it any other way so there has to be a lot of imagination involved before I enter the studio to turn the ideas into reality.
 
 
 
5) Your new album is full of beautiful songs, influenced by 80’s new wave. It seems a conscious development of your music since the last record (which had a 80’s sound as well). Do you agree? Was it really conscious? Is it only my opinion?
 
Well, that's the music I grew up with.The music you listen to when you're 13, 14, 15, really stays with you and almost becomes part of your DNA. So on the one hand it comes to me very naturally whilst there is also a conscious decision to reference certain things; a primitive drum machine through a guitar amp in order to conjure up the ghost of early OMD, a guitar setting that more than hints at The Cure circa 81!
 
I like to feel that those post punk sounds are mixed with contemporary influences so that it doesn't become merely a retro thing or pastiche.I'm as much influence by clicks and cuts and glitches from current electronica. As much as I love the early 80s my main concern is what's happening now even if it means being regularly disappointed!
 
 
 
 
6) What’s the reason behind the two records (an album and an ep) in so short time? And what’s the criterion behind the choice of which song had to be on the proper album and which one had to be on the ep?
 
Going into the recording I was adamant that the single would not be on the album.I wanted to champion the idea of the stand alone single which was very commonplace when I was growing up. We recorded 16 songs and treated them all equally.There was no notion of'b-sides' everything commanded the same care and attention. Then I set about compiling an album and an ep.Now I know this is kind of pointless in a world where people download individual tracks but I live in the hope that we still have fans who will listen to the album as intended from beginning to end. We're Old Skool!!!!
 
Anyway, it was decided that 'Beautiful Blank' would be the single so that was left off the album  and then I came up with a track listing for the EP that seemed to work as a record in its own right and so those tracks were no longer contenders for the album. It was all about compiling two records that worked.It was also a reaction to the creative dead end of taking single after single from an album which I always find disappointing. I have no business sense!!!!
 
There's actually going to be a 7" of 'Beautiful Blank' which will feature an edit of that track along with an alternate mix of 'Say Goodbye To The Sea' During the mixing of the latter there was a point where it was really stripped down and sounded gorgeous and I'd like to capture that. We're going into the studio next month to work on the edit and the remix.
 
 
 
7)When we spoke last time you said you’d like to work with other producers, but Ian Catt produces this record as well. Do you think that he's the only one who can help you in finding the sound you want for your records?
 
I think it would take a very long time to go over all the ground with a new producer that Ian and I have already covered. The relationship just works so well. I write a song and have a vision for it which Ian helps me to transform into reality. I feel that there's nothing I can't ask for and the more comfortable you are with someone the easier it is to take risks or experiment with something that may not work. Also, vocally I'm confident that Ian will tell me when I can do something better.
 
Although I'd be interested to see what someone else would make of our music I worry that it would be less interesting as I'd shy away from experimentation due to feeling inhibited.
 
I guess we could gain a freshness but you'd have to weigh up what would be lost. Also, Ian and I are aware that we have to continually introduce new things to keep it fresh anyway.
 
 
 
8)The sound of this record (as well as the last one) is quite analogic and  the electronic side of the project is a bit less evident than in your  previous productions. Maybe your involvement in the “Future Conditional” project and in the album with “The Occasional Keepers” gave you the opportunity to satisfy your “electronic” side. How you were involved in those projects and did you enjoyed them?
 
There are a lot of electronic sounds and textures on this record but maybe they are more subtle; more interwoven. You could certainly do an interesting ambient mix of the whole album to bring out all the electronics!
 
There wasn't any sense of having dealt with that side of things with the two projects you mention.In Future Conditional I was simply the singer. I had no writing or production input.I learnt the songs and sang them which was something new for me and is the reason I did it.I'd never done anything like it before.
 
The Occasional Keepers was something I was totally involved in. It grew out of a series of e-mails between myself and Caesar.We realised we both had a fondness for minimal/experimental music and the opportunity arose to do an album together.Neither of us knew what the other was going to do. I had my five ideas and Caesar and Carolyn had there five ideas.I think it was a very successful experiment.I tried to do things that were different to Trembling Blue Stars whether it was instrumentals or experimenting with lyric writing.It was important that the approach was different.Making it in nine days meant that it was incredibly focused and had to be pretty minimal which suited us as we wanted a lot of space on the record.There has actually been a knock on effect with the new TBS record as I've continued to incorporate field recordings and less obvious instrumentation.A track like 'Schnee, Gletscher, Glas' is to my mind very Occasional Keepers.
 
 
 
9) It seems to me that this record has some lighter moments (and the first two songs of the ep are maybe the poppiest songs I had written in times), but the mood is quite resigned, unhopeful, melancholic (even the wonderful and upbeat Idyllwild has nostalgic lyrics). And what does the continuous reference to religion (Sacred Music – A pale blue Rosary – The last Holy Writer…) mean? Growing older are you closer to spirituality? Or is it a metaphor of any kind?
 
 
 
Maybe it's just the sound of my voice or the chords I use but even the happy songs have an undercurrent of melancholy to most people.I would argue that there is as much optimism on the new record as sadness.November Starlings,This Once Was An Island, From A Pale Blue Rosary are not sad songs. Things are balanced out by 'Darker, Colder, Slower' and 'The Coldest Sky' and others are a mixture of both;'A Statue To Wilde' for instance.
 
A song like 'Idyllwild' is sad and nostalgic but it's not my sadness or nostalgia. It belongs to the two girls in the song. I'm not always writing about me even in songs in the first person.'The Tenth Of Always' is not about me.
 
The religious theme is an accident. Honestly! Basically, the pale blue rosary is just something that represents the start of the relationship in the song.An item found in the early days.'Sacred Music' is based on the idea of being transported by Sacred Music and the ensuing train of thought that centres around the idea of longing for more but the search being met with silence.
 
The album's title is a reference to Franz Kafka described by John Updike as "the last holy writer". The phrase stuck and became the album title.I do see that when all these words are put together; sacred, rosary, holy and we then put stained glassed windows on the sleeve you can't be surprised that people will jump to conclusions. Even with the sleeve, the fact is that while the image and title undeniably fit it wasn't planned. It just fell into place. Our friend was photographing churches for us before the album was titled.We were interested in the imagery.
 
 
 
10) Is it only an opinion or you are giving Beth more space than before? Is she involved in writing songs more than before?
 
An unwritten law in TBS is that they are my songs so Beth isn't involved in the songwriting.As for her increased vocal presence - I think she's just more confident about singing lead vocals on TBS records now.On 'Alive To Every Smile' it was as much as I could do to get her to sing two unaccompanied lines.Then on 'The Seven Autumn Flowers' I asked if she'd sing some lead vocals and she agreed to do two both of which turned out wonderfully.This time around I pushed for more!I asked for four and Beth's only proviso was that they didn't all go on the album.This was easy to agree to as one of them turned out to be the single and wasn't going to be on the album anyway.
 
I think the truth of the matter is that Beth no longer feels like the new member and so is happier to sing more lead vocals.
 
 
 
11)Do you still find interesting music in the "indie-pop" world, you’re often associated with? Is there any band you fancy? I know you listen a lot to reggae and dub, but this music doen’t seem to influence you in any way.
 
Erm...I guess this depends on how broad ones definition of "indie pop" is.I buy lots of records released on independent labels but as for the archetypal 'indie pop' sound I don't listen to much music like that.Then again, people like Bright Eyes and Keren Ann, both of whom I like a lot, are on major labels but seem to have an indie sensibility.Something that could also be said of Jeff Tweedy.
 
As well as Wilco, Keren Ann and Bright Eyes some contemporary favourites are:Laub, Hanne Hukkelberg, Colleen,Rhythm & Sound and Burial.I was very fond of 'Grab That Gun' by The Organ which I guess is fairly traditional indie.
 
As you say, I listen to a lot of reggae, dub, dancehall etc. It's one of my main interests and nearly half of what I buy is reggae related. You're right to say that it doesn't seem to influence what I do.It's something I'm passionate about but I don't feel the need to try to make reggae influenced music.I'd be more tempted to follow the example of Rhythm & Sound who have found a wonderful meeting point between what they do and reggae.It only influences me in very subtle ways....occasional dub techniques or a sonic quality.To be honest I'd love to see what a reggae producer would make of us.Beth met Dennis Bovell recently and although it was only momentarily maybe we missed a chance there!
 
 
 
 
 
12) Looking back are you satisfied with your musical production? Is there any record or song you love more than others?
 
I try not to look back.It's the kiss of death to creativity!.There have certainly been errors of judgement.I think the Northern Picture Library started great but I wish we hadn't done the last two eps. The Field Mice is very much like baby pictures...growing up in public.Bearing this in mind I think The Field Mice are pretty good :-) As for Trembling Blue Stars it's certainly the era that I'm most happy with which is why it continues.I know that by withdrawing at crucial moments I've held the band back; after our first US tour whilst we were on Sub-Pop I basically hid away instead of going back to the States and touring again - we've missed opportunities because of me but in the end the music is all that matters and I think we've consistently made good records.For me each album is better than the last and I truly believe we've yet to make a bad album !
 
The general picture that emerges is of me disappearing from time to time which has ruined any chance of a career that builds and builds but so what!
 
 
 
13)Do you still think that you’re not going to play live again? Any requests to support the new record?
 
We do get asked to play live - sometimes very tempting offers.Not in a financial way but more in terms of travelling to interesting places.
 
But having said that we aren't going to play live again I'm loathed to go back on that. I don't want to come across as someone who says one thing and then does another.Of course if we got asked to support Wilco on a Japanese tour all principles would go out the window :-)
 
 
 
14)What are your plans for the future in music?
 
At some point Caesar, Carolyn and I would like to make a second Occasional Keepers album.This is in the very early planning stages. As you know TBS have a new EP recorded  that will be issued in the Autumn along with a 7" version that will incorporate two exclusive mixes.
 
I'm starting to think about a new TBS album too. I know what I'd like to do but it's really early days especially as 'The Last Holy Writer' has only just been released.I have a couple of new songs that would make for a good single but we have no plans to record yet.

AQUÍ