| CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE / What’s in a name? |
| Written by Elle Hunt |
| Sunday, 27 September 2009 20:18 |
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Ashworth’s lyrics paint pictures of everyday life that we can all relate to: the walk of shame (‘New Year’s Kiss’), rodent infestations (‘We Have Mice’), misguided tattoos (‘Baby, It’s You’), and being broke (‘Seattle Washington’). Within these domestic scenes are vignettes of failed romances, chipped shoulders, and missed opportunities that are heartbreaking in their subtlety and their simplicity. Ashworth shows, and doesn’t tell, in the delicate and poetic manner of lyrical heavyweights Sufjan Stevens and Death Cab For Cutie... and although his dry baritone is not what one would call classically beautiful, his slow and frank delivery is undeniably moving. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone is chicken soup for the soul; served up in a minimalistic, synthesised package. CFTPA is touring Australia and New Zealand in November, in support of 'Vs. Children'; his fifth studio album, which was released in April of this year. In 'Vs. Children', Ashworth explores more complex arrangements than in his previous works (his first three albums were recorded on battery-powered keyboards, with a four-track cassette), and as a result, some are hailing this as his most accessible release yet. That said, he has preserved the sense of reflective melancholy that infuses his earlier works, ensuring that while the more user-friendly sound of 'Vs. Children' might win him some new fans, it certainly won’t disappoint his old faithfuls. "I run my own mail order, so all of the packing and walking to the post office leaves me lots of quality podcast listening time."
COUP DE MAIN: Your songs are about relationships and events; how much of what you write about is imagined, and how much is directly lifted from your own experience? Equally, how important is it to you that the truth is embellished, so that people don’t recognise themselves in your lyrics? CFTPA – OWEN ASHFORTH: It's mostly imagined. My songs are sometimes inspired by real things, but it rarely occurs that I should be trying to write true stories. I enjoy fiction too much to go around singing about my boring life. The first song on 'Vs. Children' [‘Tom Justice, The Choir Boy Robber, Apprehended at Ace Hardware in Libertyville, IL’ - which tells the tale of a bank robber who stole from 11 banks in the Chicago area], might be the first thing I’ve written that is 100% true. Tom Justice’s story just seemed too fantastic to not write about. CDM: What kind of person do you have in mind when you write your songs? Who do you picture listening to CFTPA? CFTPA: I have no idea. Myself, I guess. I think I used to write music with my friends in mind, but not so much anymore. The audience is a shadowy figure at the other end of a DSL connection. CDM: Your brother Gordon is also a musician, making experimental noise records under the title of Oscillating Innards, and ambient works as Concern. Is there a collaboration in the works? CFTPA: Gordon and I collaborated on the two Bruce Springsteen covers that wound up on 'Advance Base Battery Life' [a collection of singles and rarities], and he has played as part of Casiotone for the Painfully Alone on a few tours. We’ve talked plenty about working on more music together, but we both tend to over-commit ourselves to too many projects. One of these days we’ll get around to making another record together, and it will sound totally terrifying. CDM: In addition to Bruce Springsteen, you also covered Missy Elliott and Paul Simon on Advance Base Battery Life – and your song ‘Killers’ references David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’. Your musical influences are obviously diverse; what other artists inspire you, and why? What modern music have you been listening to lately? CFTPA: Lately, my contemporary musical idol has been the rapper DOOM. I think he is just insanely talented, and I'm fascinated by the way he balances anonymity and total vulnerability; fantasy and humble reality. He is my hero. CDM: You once stated in an interview that the meaning of life was ‘experiencing local cuisine’ – so, can we take it that food is another interest of yours? What else keeps you busy, outside of your musical exploits? CFTPA: I like to cook when I’m at home – tonight I made sweet potato fries with nutmeg and they were delicious. I watch a lot of movies and I like reading books. I usually end up finishing more movies than books because movies are easier. I watched 'Doubt' on DVD last night and it was the best movie. I wish more movies were that good. I’ve been trying to finish all of Lorrie Moore’s books before I buy her new one. I like her a lot. What else... I've been listening to a lot of podcasts lately. I like 'This American Life', 'Too Beautiful To Live', 'Jordan, Jesse GO!' and old-time radio thrillers the most. I run my own mail order, so all of the packing and walking to the post office leaves me lots of quality podcast listening time. CDM: You’ve also got a background in film studies – how would you say that this has influenced your songwriting? CFTPA: I’ve certainly been inspired by some really great movies. I’m interested in people and stories... and I think music sounds better in movies. I don’t think I have any special insight into the art of film-making, though. CDM: One of your EPs, 'New Year’s Kiss', was released for free download – long before Radiohead pulled their 'In Rainbows' stunt. What was your reason for this, and how do you think technology will shape the sales of albums in the future? CFTPA: It wasn’t really an EP. I just made an alternate version of a previously released song available as a free MP3 as a New Year's present a few years ago. It just seemed like a nice thing to do. I don’t have any insight into the future of techno album futures. I don’t have anything to say about that. I just make records and pray that someone will want to listen to them.
CFTPA: Willie Nelson’s album 'Red Headed Stranger' was a big inspiration, as was an interview I saw Mr. Nelson give on TV once. He was talking about his outlaw persona, and how touring all of the time had basically ruined his home life. Also, I read a New Yorker article about a bank robber who told everyone he was a travelling salesman and had lived a quiet, suburban life with a wife and kids for years before his wife stumbled across some robbery plans or whatever and turned him in. Then I found out a former movie theatre co-worker was in prison for robbing a shit ton of banks and the next thing I knew, I was writing songs about criminals and terrified young parents. CDM: 'Vs. Children' is also quite a marked progression from the minimalist arrangements of your early albums (bar 2003’s 'Etiquette', which also utilised live instruments). What were your reasons for expanding on your sound? CFTPA: I didn’t want to make the same record over and over again. There are lots of different kinds of instruments and sounds that I’d like to play around with. I like experiments. I should put some of those nutmeg sweet potato fries on the next album. CDM: You gave up your studies at university to pursue with CFTPA. What inspired you to make the choice you did, and where did you find the courage to act on it? Would you recommend others faced by a similar decision to do the same? CFTPA: I stopped going to school because I was a terrible student and I didn’t want to be there anymore. I wouldn’t advise anyone to follow my career path. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone has a pretty lousy health benefits package. CDM: You’ve toured with Xiu Xiu, The Rapture, and David Bazan (of Pedro The Lion fame), among others. Where is your favourite place to perform? Have you any expectations of New Zealand audiences – or, indeed, New Zealand in general? CFTPA: Playing in San Francisco always feels really special, because that’s where I’m from. I’ve played more shows in San Francisco than anywhere else, and it’s always a city that I always look forward to returning to. I don’t really get much press there, and it just feels like a direct and friendly connection between me and the super nice people who have come out to see me over and over again: what’s up Brenna, what’s up Brian? New York makes me nervous. London makes me nervous. Berlin makes me nervous. I like those cities a lot, but whenever I play there, I always feel extra self-conscious about the inevitable show reviews. I end up worrying a lot about my set-list and what shirt I’m going to wear. I remember really enjoying my last trip to New Zealand. I’m glad I’m going to have a longer visit this time. I’m glad about coming back to Auckland and Wellington, and I’m glad about seeing Dunedin and Christchurch for the first time. I’ve had some really nice emails from people in New Zealand who are looking forward to the shows, and that’s always a nice feeling. I’m glad that my brother and I, aren’t the only ones who are excited about the tour. David Bazan is a super cool guy and I really like his new record, by the way. CDM: And finally, if this isn’t too frightening a question to ask: where do you see yourself in ten years’ time? What does the future hold in store for CFTPA? CFTPA: I will probably have a kid or two and hopefully I will still be making records that people want to listen to. Writing and recording music is one of my most favourite things and I don’t see any reason to stop any time soon. CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE is touring New Zealand this November! Catch Owen Ashworth at any of the following dates...
17th November - DUNEDIN @ Chicks Hotel - tickets from utr.co.nz 19th November - CHRISTCHURCH @ Al's Bar - tickets from Real Groovy & utr.co.nz 20th November - AUCKLAND @ MUM Clubnight - tickets from Real Groovy & utr.co.nz 21st November - WELLINGTON @ SFBH - tickets from Slow Boat Records & utr.co.nz
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