erasing clouds
 

100 Musicians Answer the Same 10 Questions

Part Twenty-Seven: Jason Gough of Coastal

instigated by dave heaton

The Utah-based band Coastal plays a patient, graceful style of slow-motion dream-rock/pop, as heard on their excellent second album Halfway to You. Released by the Minneapolis label Words on Music, the album is spellbinding and gorgeous. Songs and information can be found on the Words on Music website, the band's website and their MySpace page. Founding band member Jason Gough sings, plays guitar, and drums with Coastal.

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

It takes me to a place that I'm not at right now. I'm not sure about these singer/songwriters that do music exclusively, but for me I have a wife and two kids and I'm in the middle of my professional career. Sitting on hillsides staring at clouds looking for inspiration is something I no longer have time for. When I do find time to make music I like to get lost in it and have it take me out of my daily routine. I imagine that is a goal behind Coastal's music. I also like starting a song with no end in sight. Adding layers. Seeing it develop. I suppose that is one plus to being more of a studio band than a live one.

What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?

Lack of inspiration. Having it feel forced. I must say when you are happily married with a family it is really hard to write sad love songs. It was a lot easier when I was single and getting dumped.

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

Trying to muster the enthusiasm to get off my behind and write something. I've been retooling the studio (this makes it sound like I actually have a studio and that I know what I'm doing) and tinkering with recording via laptop to make it easier to move around since the band is dispersing a bit geographically these days. I've toyed with the idea of some solo stuff; singing more falsetto which I can do but never have with Coastal. We still have hopes of playing festivals in Europe in the fall.

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?

The Salt Lake City New Years Eve party which was about as weird a match up as you can imagine for a sad, slow band like us. I thought it fitting for me since I had a few breakups on New Years Eve. It was usually a sad time. Recording in a dingy garage. In a strange way it was kind of intimate I suppose. I actually hate recording in a proper studio. Too much pressure and not enough un-pressure.

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?

Living in France had a profound effect on me. I lived there for two years. When I first got there I felt very alone and rejected. It was right around Thanksgiving. I was missing my family, it was cold, and I didn't speak the language very well. My flat mate was a jerk. Life basically sucked, but I tend to wallow in sadness, so in a way I enjoyed it. The song 'Paris Radio' is about that experience. Same with visiting London for the first time – not all the sadness, just the profound experience. 'London in February' was about that.

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

It's been awhile. I think I'm experiencing writer's block at the moment. Maybe I need my wife to break up with me.

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?

In some ways when I stared writing songs I became a bit disenchanted with it all. I used to be a big collector, rarities, the whole bit. I can't remember the last time I bought a new CD. I pay more attention to production details these days when I hear new music. That stuff never used to occur to me. A suppose a bit of the magic gets removed when you do that. I hear stuff and think I'd like to sound like that, but when I sit down with a guitar it always ends up sounding the same.

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?)

For the longest time I was stuck in the shoegaze movement of the early '90s. In many ways I'm still there. Sarah Records era stuff lingers with me still. I imagine it's all about the memories you make whilst listening to music that makes it stick with you.

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?

Right now I'm pretty into Magnet.

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

"The Ghost in You," Siouxsie and the Banshees always gets me. "Claire de Lune" by Debussy makes me sad.

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


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