• achtergronden
• DE 7EVEN
• video's
• agenda

ernaast

Willard Grant Conspiracy

Robert Fisher and Paul Austin form the core of WILLARD GRANT CONSPIRACY, a Boston band taking their name from streets in their hometown. Not alternative, not country, they've been compared to such illustrious artists as Johnny Cash, Tindersticks, Leonard Cohen, and Nick Cave. Flattering, sure. However, WGC's sound is one completely their own. Time for a chat with Robert Fisher.

Tekst: Alex Tobin

Publicatiedatum: 29 juni 2001

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that Willard Grant Conspiracy started out as a project with an ever-changing line-up of hundreds of musicians. Do you consider Willard Grant Conspiracy as a real rock band nowadays, or do you still see this as a Paul Austin and Robert Fisher project?
"I don't know how you are defining a real rock band. WGC is a band that allows people to participate as they can and want. The flexible lineup comes from a band tradition and is an integral part of the experience, both in playing for and listening to the band. The collaborative and always changing nature of the band is as much a creative element of the band as its songwriters or musicians. I can't imagine a situation where I would want it to be any different."

You've been working together for a long time. How did you exactly meet?
"We met in Portland, Maine. I had moved there from California where I grew up, and Paul was already there, having grown up in South Portland. We were both part of a small but potent music scene there and were playing in separate bands. When those situations ended we started playing with each other. We haven't always been in the same band but seem to have worked together more often than not."

Your latest release is called 'Everything's Fine'. Musically, it seems to be less dark than your previous releases, but a certain darkness remains in your lyrics. Even in a song like 'The Beautiful Song' the happiness seems to be more or less cynical. Do you agree with that?
"I have always thought our music had a balance of light and dark in it. I leave it to the listeners to bring their own interpretations, perceptions, and experiences to the song. Everyone brings a part of themselves to a listening experience."

Another great song on 'Everything's Fine' is 'Wicked'. You sing the line "low as low can get", which is, I believe, a reference to Townes van Zandt's 'Rex Blues'. Did his music influence you a lot?
"I didn't consciously reference Townes in this song. It must have leaked in after years of listening to his remarkable catalog of songs. I'm glad you pointed it out."

Americana, alternative country, or whatever you like to call it - it's very popular right now in Europe. How do you feel about this whole alternative country scene, and do you think that there is a difference between the scene in Europe and the USA?
"I believe people think it's a lot more popular than it really is. There was a statistic in Billboard recently that says that 92 percent of the records released sell less than 1000 copies, and of the remaining percentage less than 85 percent sell more than 3000. There are a great many records released during the year, and the percentages may be a little deceptive, but it still makes a point that the record business is struggling. The best part of being considered a part of the alt country group of bands is that we fly below the radar of the big industry hype and manage to make our way in the business with a minimum of the bullshit and payoffs it takes to get records on radio, in stores, and in front of people. The word of mouth aspect of this scene is very powerful and has resulted in our music being heard all around the world. Obviously the internet is one of the most potent methods of spreading the word. Before the internet, someone would tell their close friends about a new record that they liked. Now they can tell hundreds and thousands of people over mailing lists and web magazines. All sorts of artists that exist in the margins of the business owe a great deal to the Internet. That said, I don't consider ourselves a country band. I think there are a lot of bands that are put in this category because they use traditional acoustic instruments combined with electric instruments. If you look at all the bands lumped together in this category, there is a world of difference between them. The best description for our music lays somewhere between the labels."

Do you listen a lot to country music yourself, and are there any other genres that you are interested in?
" I listen to all sorts of music including some country. Folk, rock, pop, jazz, improv, and songwriters are all part of my collection of music. I try not to be exclusive."

Is there a record that you listen to that surprises people, because they don't expect it?
"I don't know... My friends are never surprised at what I listen to. I guess there are probably some, but I couldn't even begin to guess what they would be."

I've seen you live a couple of times, but it always amazes me how you can reach such a high level of emotion that creates a beautiful silence among the crowd that is almost scary. Does this professionalism come from the fact that you've been working together for such a long time?
"It is kind of you to say that, but I don't know if it is something we can credit for. I think it's a collaborative experience between the band and the audience, and they share in the creation of that feeling in the room. I always feel like there is something beyond us that takes over in those situations. It's an amazing thing. I think Patti Smith calls it "Rock and Roll Church", and if she didn't say it, she should have."

What are the best moments to write songs in for you?
"It happens all the time. There really isn't an optimum situation."

When reviewers talk about a new Willard Grant Conspiracy album, they compare the music to Nick Cave, Townes van Zandt, Leonard Cohen, and Lambchop, but how would you best describe the music of Willard Grant Conspiracy?
"I leave that to listeners."

What would you been doing if you weren't in a rock'n'roll band?
"I currently work in a mastering studio when I am not on the road."

Looking back, what are you most proud of?
"This is a scary question. Sort of like the old American game show "This is Your Life". A completely depressing show where they make you examine your history as though there isn't a future left. I am very pleased that we have made music that touches some people."

Is it hard to receive a lot of critical acclaim, but just little airplay on radio?
"No. If your record company doesn't have an enormous budget to spend on buying your way into radio, it isn't likely that your music will be heard. Also, most contracts have a recoupable portion of that money as part of the deal; a portion if not all of what they spend is charged back to the artist. We have been very lucky that certain folks on the radio have the ability to play what they like and are respected enough to get away with it. Those DJs are rare in commercial radio, and quite a few of them have been good to us. The hard cold fact is that out of the hundreds of thousands of records released, there are only a few ways to make programmers care about playing yours. It takes a great deal of money to make that happen."

You've toured with Jess Klein and the Walkabouts recently. What other bands would you like to tour with if you had the chance?
"There are all kinds of folks I would love to play with and hope to someday. We have also toured with Edith Frost, Matt Ward, Mary Lorson, the Silos, Over The Rhine, Vic Chesnutt and Kristin Hersh, the Handsome Family, and Swell. When we are in the UK in June we will have Deanna Varagona from Lambchop supporting us and promoting her new solo record. I think it is important to play with people you respect and like. The audience benefits if I try to make sure the bills are the best and most interesting we can make them. We have a great booking agent in Mike Leahy at Concerted Efforts in the US and all sorts of agents around Europe who are instrumental in making a great deal of this happen."

What does the future hold for Willard Grant Conspiracy?
"I hope our music continues to attract great musicians to play in the band, that people will want to hear us play, and that I can continue to improve as a songwriter and musician."

http://www.kindamuzik.net/interview/willard-grant-conspiracy/willard-grant-conspiracy/415/
Meer Willard Grant Conspiracy op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/willard-grant-conspiracy