Tips to create: Be 'confused and freaked out'
By Chris Nixon
For The Union-Tribune
January 25, 2007
A cold dark winter in a small Oslo apartment might not fit neatly into most people's vacation plans, but for singer/multi-instrumentalist Kevin Barnes, the unpleasantness of Norway's stark, dark wintry landscape turned out to be a pleasant place to create art.
Under the moniker Of Montreal, the 32-year-old Barnes spent his winter of discontent writing the 12 songs on his eighth full-length disc “Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?”
Tiptoeing between the vocal symphonics of Queen and the early nu-wave pop of Flock of Seagulls or Gary Numan, “Hissing Fauna” is a gorgeously crafted album of pretty pop songs. But take a closer look and the lyrics reveal the pain behind the process: I spent the winter on the verge of a total breakdown while living in Norway / I felt the darkness of the black metal bands / But being such a faun of a man / I didn't burn down any old churches / Just slept way too much, just slept.
With the release of “Hissing Fauna” on the horizon, Barnes now sits in his cozy living room in his home in Athens, Ga. He's playing with his daughter, Alabee, before embarking on an extensive tour to support the album, including a stop at Soma Tuesday night in San Diego, talking openly about the winters in Norway and his career in music.
“Quality of life is obviously important,” said Barnes. “But the more comfortable and at peace you are, probably the less desire you have to be creative. It's always good from an artistic standpoint to be confused and freaked out.”
Playing almost all the instruments on “Hissing Fauna,” Barnes sequestered himself to piece the album together: “The first half was done in Oslo on a laptop and a MIDI keyboard, just me in a tiny little room working on stuff by myself. Then, I came home to Athens and I had more instruments lying around so I was able to flush things out and do some more interesting stuff.”
The solitude resulted in a stunning pastiche of humming synths and layered vocal harmonies, making “Hissing Fauna” Of Montreal's best effort to date.
You may have heard Of Montreal without knowing it. A few tunes from his 2005 album “Sunlandic Twins” ended up in TV ads for Outback Steakhouse, NASDAQ and Garmin GPS. The album was also a critical success, giving Barnes a broader stage to stand on and a wider audience.
“We definitely reached a larger audience with 'Sunlandic Twins,' but hopefully it will continue to progress,” said Barnes. “I don't really have ambitions to become the next David Bowie or anything, to become a superstar. I just want to make interesting music and be able to support myself that way.”
Chris Nixon is a San Diego music writer.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Up from the ashes
Everclear's Art Alexakis: He can see Everclearly now
By Chris Nixon
For the Union-Tribune
January 25, 2007
Everybody loves a rock star on the rise: young, rail-thin and good-looking with a guitar slung over the shoulder and an earnest look in the eyes.
But rarely do you hear about the journey to the stage: a father skipping out on his family, poverty in the projects, a teenage brother dying of a heroin overdose, a failed suicide attempt.
You don't hear about the tribulations brewing behind the platinum records and sold-out shows: two divorces and drug abuse. And you certainly don't hear the story when the stage lights dim: bankruptcy and another broken marriage.
You don't hear these stories unless you're talking with Art Alexakis, lead singer of Everclear and rock 'n' roll survivor.
Whether speaking candidly about his single parent upbringing in the Mar Vista Gardens housing projects in Los Angeles, his band's startling rise to fame in the late-1990s on the back of three-straight platinum albums or the slow rebuilding of his life after the songs stopped paying the bills, the 44-year-old Alexakis remains a storyteller.
His stories make for an entertaining conversation. More importantly Alexakis' stories give his songs a timeless appeal, pulling the listener into his world.
As with a lot of musicians driven to perform, Alexakis knew early on he had to write songs: “I realized I was never going to be a Wall Street banker. I'm never going to be the guy that's going to be successful the way that the world deems the normal way to do it. I play rock 'n' roll. That's what I do.”
Everclear started as a trio in 1992, after Alexakis, disillusioned with the Bay Area music scene, left San Francisco. Along with bassist Craig Montoya and drummer Scott Cuthbert, Alexakis penned some of the most memorable singles of the 1990s: “Santa Monica” (from 1995's “Sparkle and Fade”), “I Will Buy You a New Life” from 1998's critical and popular success story “So Much for the Afterflow” and “Wonderful” from 2000's “Songs From an American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning How to Smile.”
Everclear provided an accessible alternative to grunge bands, trading the snarling guitar riffs of Soundgarden for Alexakis' crisp, compact songwriting. The threesome received an unfair branding by some critics as Nirvana-lite, but Alexakis' songs simply contained more pop sensibilities than the metal-driven Soundgarden or the punk-influenced Nirvana.
The sudden success caused some emotional jarring for Alexakis, which he had to battle through despite the accolades and dollar bills thrown at him.
“To be honest with you, I grew up poor,” said Alexakis. “I grew up in a housing project. So when all that stuff was going on, it was like a whirlwind and I made a lot of bad choices. I think I was one of the few that got to live the rock 'n' roll dream. And I'm still standing.”
After Everclear's disappointing sixth album, “Slow Motion Daydream,” Capitol Records dropped the band in 2004. Alexakis parted ways with Montoya and Cuthbert, taking a break from recording to reassess his career and his life.
“I still wanted to do Everclear, but I wanted it to change,” said Alexakis. “I knew it was going to be a long process. I didn't know I was going to lose my wife and go through bankruptcy along the way. But looking back now, I couldn't get to where I'm at now if I had still been in that place.”
It took a year or two, but Alexakis rebuilt his life and started the current incarnation of Everclear as a five-piece group. Now, the band returns with a new album, “Welcome to the Drama Club,” finding a wiser Alexakis writing songs on a par with the band's heyday.
“We appeal to a lot of kids as well, but mostly we appeal to people who have grown up with our music or alternative music and have gone on to something else: People who don't listen to alternative radio anymore,” said Alexakis. “People who have lived a lot of life and can connect more with someone who writes songs about failure and hope and heartbreak and trying to make sense of it all.”
Everclear may never reach the dizzying heights of the late-1990s, but the group rolls into San Diego's House of Blues Monday as the headliner of the Van Wilder Tour with a renewed sense of purpose.
“I'm 44 and I get to play guitar in a rock band and I have a healthy kid,” said Alexakis. “I love the music I'm making. I love talking to my fans on Myspace. I just put my heart out there. I have a great job.”
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ART ALEXAKIS
Even rock stars have chores when they're not on tour. As Everclear lead singer Art Alexakis talked via phone to help preview his upcoming San Diego show, his hometown of Portland was digging out from a rare snowstorm. This complicated his daily schedule, which usually consists of driving his teenage daughter Annabella to high school before settling down to talk with management and press.
“This is what I do in the morning: I take my kid to school, I come home and I do press,” confessed a deadpan Alexakis, poking fun at his non-glamorous lifestyle while not on tour. “Today, I have to take my kid to school because it's a snow day. It snowed in Portland, and when it snows in Portland people loose their minds. The whole city shut down for three days. I have one four-wheel drive vehicle and my girlfriend took that to work. And now I have this rental car, this hoopty Chrysler, and I have to take my kid to school.”
Before skipping out the door into the rain, sleet and snow, the bleach-blond singer admitted that he might consider a change of scenery: “I love San Diego. I almost moved there (when I was younger). When my daughter graduates from high school, I'm probably going to move to San Diego.”
– CHRIS NIXON
DISCOGRAPHY
“World of Noise” (1993)
“Sparkle and Fade” (1995)
“So Much for the Afterglow” (1997)
“Songs From an American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning How to Smile” (2000)
“Songs From an American Movie, Vol. 2: Good Time for a Bad Attitude” (2000)
“Slow Motion Daydream” (2003)
“Welcome to the Drama Club” (2006)
LINEUP
Art Alexakis – vocals, guitar
Dave French – guitar
Sam Hudson – bass
Josh Crawley – keyboards
Brett Snyder – drums
By Chris Nixon
For the Union-Tribune
January 25, 2007
Everybody loves a rock star on the rise: young, rail-thin and good-looking with a guitar slung over the shoulder and an earnest look in the eyes.
But rarely do you hear about the journey to the stage: a father skipping out on his family, poverty in the projects, a teenage brother dying of a heroin overdose, a failed suicide attempt.
You don't hear about the tribulations brewing behind the platinum records and sold-out shows: two divorces and drug abuse. And you certainly don't hear the story when the stage lights dim: bankruptcy and another broken marriage.
You don't hear these stories unless you're talking with Art Alexakis, lead singer of Everclear and rock 'n' roll survivor.
Whether speaking candidly about his single parent upbringing in the Mar Vista Gardens housing projects in Los Angeles, his band's startling rise to fame in the late-1990s on the back of three-straight platinum albums or the slow rebuilding of his life after the songs stopped paying the bills, the 44-year-old Alexakis remains a storyteller.
His stories make for an entertaining conversation. More importantly Alexakis' stories give his songs a timeless appeal, pulling the listener into his world.
As with a lot of musicians driven to perform, Alexakis knew early on he had to write songs: “I realized I was never going to be a Wall Street banker. I'm never going to be the guy that's going to be successful the way that the world deems the normal way to do it. I play rock 'n' roll. That's what I do.”
Everclear started as a trio in 1992, after Alexakis, disillusioned with the Bay Area music scene, left San Francisco. Along with bassist Craig Montoya and drummer Scott Cuthbert, Alexakis penned some of the most memorable singles of the 1990s: “Santa Monica” (from 1995's “Sparkle and Fade”), “I Will Buy You a New Life” from 1998's critical and popular success story “So Much for the Afterflow” and “Wonderful” from 2000's “Songs From an American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning How to Smile.”
Everclear provided an accessible alternative to grunge bands, trading the snarling guitar riffs of Soundgarden for Alexakis' crisp, compact songwriting. The threesome received an unfair branding by some critics as Nirvana-lite, but Alexakis' songs simply contained more pop sensibilities than the metal-driven Soundgarden or the punk-influenced Nirvana.
The sudden success caused some emotional jarring for Alexakis, which he had to battle through despite the accolades and dollar bills thrown at him.
“To be honest with you, I grew up poor,” said Alexakis. “I grew up in a housing project. So when all that stuff was going on, it was like a whirlwind and I made a lot of bad choices. I think I was one of the few that got to live the rock 'n' roll dream. And I'm still standing.”
After Everclear's disappointing sixth album, “Slow Motion Daydream,” Capitol Records dropped the band in 2004. Alexakis parted ways with Montoya and Cuthbert, taking a break from recording to reassess his career and his life.
“I still wanted to do Everclear, but I wanted it to change,” said Alexakis. “I knew it was going to be a long process. I didn't know I was going to lose my wife and go through bankruptcy along the way. But looking back now, I couldn't get to where I'm at now if I had still been in that place.”
It took a year or two, but Alexakis rebuilt his life and started the current incarnation of Everclear as a five-piece group. Now, the band returns with a new album, “Welcome to the Drama Club,” finding a wiser Alexakis writing songs on a par with the band's heyday.
“We appeal to a lot of kids as well, but mostly we appeal to people who have grown up with our music or alternative music and have gone on to something else: People who don't listen to alternative radio anymore,” said Alexakis. “People who have lived a lot of life and can connect more with someone who writes songs about failure and hope and heartbreak and trying to make sense of it all.”
Everclear may never reach the dizzying heights of the late-1990s, but the group rolls into San Diego's House of Blues Monday as the headliner of the Van Wilder Tour with a renewed sense of purpose.
“I'm 44 and I get to play guitar in a rock band and I have a healthy kid,” said Alexakis. “I love the music I'm making. I love talking to my fans on Myspace. I just put my heart out there. I have a great job.”
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ART ALEXAKIS
Even rock stars have chores when they're not on tour. As Everclear lead singer Art Alexakis talked via phone to help preview his upcoming San Diego show, his hometown of Portland was digging out from a rare snowstorm. This complicated his daily schedule, which usually consists of driving his teenage daughter Annabella to high school before settling down to talk with management and press.
“This is what I do in the morning: I take my kid to school, I come home and I do press,” confessed a deadpan Alexakis, poking fun at his non-glamorous lifestyle while not on tour. “Today, I have to take my kid to school because it's a snow day. It snowed in Portland, and when it snows in Portland people loose their minds. The whole city shut down for three days. I have one four-wheel drive vehicle and my girlfriend took that to work. And now I have this rental car, this hoopty Chrysler, and I have to take my kid to school.”
Before skipping out the door into the rain, sleet and snow, the bleach-blond singer admitted that he might consider a change of scenery: “I love San Diego. I almost moved there (when I was younger). When my daughter graduates from high school, I'm probably going to move to San Diego.”
– CHRIS NIXON
DISCOGRAPHY
“World of Noise” (1993)
“Sparkle and Fade” (1995)
“So Much for the Afterglow” (1997)
“Songs From an American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning How to Smile” (2000)
“Songs From an American Movie, Vol. 2: Good Time for a Bad Attitude” (2000)
“Slow Motion Daydream” (2003)
“Welcome to the Drama Club” (2006)
LINEUP
Art Alexakis – vocals, guitar
Dave French – guitar
Sam Hudson – bass
Josh Crawley – keyboards
Brett Snyder – drums
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