By: Alejandra Gil M.
Q) How would you describe your sound?
A) Melodic. Lyrical. Maybe massive. Sometimes hypnotic. With hues of plum purple and pistachio green, soft oranges and all shades of blue.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) Pink Floyd, The Doors, Depeche Mode, Morrissey, Jeff Buckley, The London Suede, Underworld, Massive Attack, Portishead
Q) Your solo debut album Many Faces is out now. What are some themes you explore on it now?
A) Multiple personalities, rebellion, self doubt, indigenous rights, unconditional love, revolution, radiation, isolation, existential defeat and joy.
Q) Consisting of twelve impactful tracks (including covers of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” and Porno for Pyros’ “Pets”). Is there a song from the album that challenged you the most creatively or emotionally?
A) I played an acoustic cover of Bowie’s “Space Oddity” on my 1889 Steinway grand piano, which I was fortunate enough to acquire about ten years ago from Patti Page’s estate. Sadly, it perished in the Altadena fire earlier this year. I wrote dozens of songs on it. I miss her.
“This Life Is” was emotionally difficult to write. POV: genocide victim.
Q) What’s the song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) I don’t have a go-to process. I like bending genres, so each song has a life of its own. Often the music comes before the lyrics, but not always. Generally, I believe the melody needs to serve the lyric.
Q) Many Faces also features contributions from trip-hop producer Bei Ru and nu-disco impresario THCSRS. Talk about working with them.
A) I love writing over my good friend Bei Ru’s beats — lo-fi yet high-tech productions with vinyl static, funky beats, jazz and world music — experimental and accessible at the same time.
I’ve worked with THCSRS for many years. They co-produced a number of tracks for Capital Cities as well. The music video to “Edge Of Nowhere” is a home video of Marco — one of the members of THCSRS — skydiving in Italy.
Q) Do you have a favorite song from Many Faces? If so, what makes it such a standout for you?
A) Each song represent a certain side of me. It’s hard to pick. But my kids love “Standing Rock,” so I’ll go with that.
Q) What do you hope people take away from listening to this album as a whole – either an emotion or message?
A) The album is a journey through a rapidly changing landscape. It’s a headphones album that occasionally gets groovy.
Q) With the album out now, will you be headed out on tour?
A) I’m preparing for the live show as we speak. I will be doing a residency in Los Angeles in the fall. Details soon.
Q) We loved the music you made as Capital Cities with “Safe And Sound” being a continued repeat single still to this day. What did the success of that song mean to you?
A) It meant I could travel the world and perform in front of numerous types of people. It allowed me to experience world culture in ways that I never imagined I could. I’m extremely lucky.
Q) What are the chances for Capital Cities to come back together some day to make more music?
A) We’re actually working on new music now. We released a new single in July. It will be the first of a bunch of singles from our forthcoming album Making Up The Rules, which will be out in the early part of next year.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) Snoop
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why?
A) Tonga Conga. They opened for Capital Cities in Mexico City on July 12.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and the music that you make?
A) Thank you for supporting me and my various bands over the past twenty-five years. Please join me on this new musical path, one that is a bit more isolated, more vulnerable, more individual — I hope you like it.