erasing clouds
 

100 Musicians Answer the Same 10 Questions

Part Seven: Carey Lander of Camera Obscura

instigated by dave heaton

The Scottish band Camera Obscura has released three gorgeous albums that show an immaculate understanding of pop history, of how to craft a song that sounds good, is infectious, and at the same time is filled with emotion. Their new album Let's Get Out of This Country, on Merge and Elefant, is to me their best – an affecting, mesmerizing batch of songs which touch on Country & Western, '50s 'girl group' vocal sounds and gentle pop balladry while at the same time conveying the group's own distinct style. Songs can be heard on the Elefant and Merge sites, and the band's own website. Carey Lander contributes piano, organ, and vocals to the band.

**************************

What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?

Well, I suppose right now we are most excited about the US tour in July. We're going over for a month. We had a great time on our last tour and we are covering even more places this time. There are lots of highlights on the road to recording and releasing records; the first time a song comes together in rehearsal, or the first time Tracy walks in with an amazing new demo and the hair stands up on the back of your neck. Generally speaking though, although we enjoy playing live much more than we used to, the recording process is probably the most exciting part - getting to hear the songs begin to fulfill their potential. It's pretty special and we feel lucky.

What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?

As a band we are pretty self-doubting, and there are lots of moments of discouragement: a bad show, a bad rehearsal, listening back to recordings and spotting mistakes and flaws, and of course getting bad responses from people. We all respond differently to negative reviews. Most of the band don't really mind and shake it off but I find it hard to deal with. It makes me feel a bit sick, probably because it's in my nature to find that the criticism rings truer than praise. Hopefully I'll toughen up soon.

What are you up to right now, music-wise? (Current or upcoming recordings, tours, extravaganzas, experiments, top-secret projects, etc).

The new album was released two weeks ago, we have just completed our second ever UK tour and will soon be packing our suitcases for North America. There are also shows and festival appearances planned for Sweden, Germany and Spain. We are happily anticipating all of this but I also can't wait till there is time to start working on new songs. I've heard a few demos from Tracyanne and they sound amazing.

What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a recording? How did the qualities of that place affect the show/recording?

I'm not sure we have many exciting tales to tell. I think the band's second ever gig was at the legendary Bowlie weekender in 1999, they were totally terrified. (This was before my time; I was an overwhelmed 17 year old punter back then). The first two singles were recorded in Gavin's house on a humble four track and there are certain domestic noises audible that form part of their ambient charm. Sometimes I walk into a particularly filthy, gloomy venue and wonder what on earth inspires people to claim such miserable places for rock and roll.

In what ways does the place where you live (or places where you have lived), affect the music you create, or your taste in music?

I think Glasgow is pretty important to the band and the music we make, particularly with Let's Get Out of This Country. All the band live here. I'm not a native but have been here a quarter of my life and it is definitely home. Before that, the desire to escape suburban hell in Kent inspired me to flee to Glasgow. I think we all feel pretty much the same as anybody does about the place they live, a mixture of disgust and fondness. It's something we talk about a lot when we're on tour, because you compare new places to your home and imagine what it might be like to live somewhere completely different. It would also be foolish not to mention the influence of the Glasgow music scene on us. Glasgow is famous throughout the world for the bands it has produced in the last 30 years: Orange Juice, The Associates, Teenage Fanclub, Belle and Sebastian, The Pastels, Franz Ferdinand, and hundreds more. While we're not out to emulate any of these bands, they have shown us that it's possible to come from here and make it.

When was the last time you wrote a song? What can you tell us about it?

This isn't really a good question for me to answer as I am hopeless songwriter. Tracyanne writes nearly all of the songs for the band, but Kenny the guitarist has come up with some crackers too. I would love to be able to write good songs, but I don't believe it is a talent everybody has, and there is plenty of evidence around to back me up. I really enjoy my role in the band though. I love hearing the songs in their raw, basic state and helping to develop them and dress them up. It's amazing.

As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other people...and why do you think that is?

During really intense periods of music making, silence becomes very important. When you've been mixing all day, hearing the same few minutes of music over and over full blast, listening to more music is so undesirable. We are all music fans though, and discovering new bands is so exciting. I tend to be a little lazy with contemporary music. Because we are fed so much rubbish from the media, most new music is rubbish to my ears. I also don't have much money to purchase new records. I really enjoy scouting the charity shops for older records. I have a particular penchant for old country compilations. I bought an amazing 8-disc treasure at the weekend.

Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener? (Old or new music? Music like yours or different from yours?)

I think it is important to mention that all of the band are influenced by different records and genres. Tracyanne is really enthusiastic about a lot of new bands at the moment, but I am still wallowing in my old LPs. They sound so great. I have bought some rockabilly records as well as all the country stuff and I do find it inspiring. It is also amazing to hear records that sound like something you could never produce yourself. I don't think any of the band particularly listen to the kind of contemporary bands we are compared to by the press.

Name a band or musician, past or present, who you flat-out LOVE and think more people should be listening to. What's one of your all-time favorite recordings by this band/musician?

My current favourite artist is Richard Hawley. I wouldn't like to say he's underrated, because he's doing really, really well and breaking into new markets all the time, but he definitely deserves even greater success than he has at the moment. I love all of his songs; he hasn't made a bad record. My favourite song of his is "You Don't Miss Your Water (Till Your River Runs Dry)" from Lowedges. It pops into my head all the time and gives me stomach ache. I love the lyrics.

What's the saddest song you've ever heard?

This is the kind of question I want to obsess about for hours. I would normally go and scan the shelves and spend the night weeping on the carpet, spinning the heartbreakers, but unfortunately most of my record collection is in boxes ready for me to move out of my flat. So I will reveal what might appear as a lack of imagination and chose another Richard Hawley song. "It's Over Love" from Coles Corner is tragic, heartfelt simplicity.

To check out the rest of the Q&As, click here.


this month's issue
archive
about erasing clouds
links
contact
     

Copyright (c) 2006 erasing clouds