Ladies and gentlemen, folks and friends...on Aug. 27th, 2009 history was made. The worlds first twinterview (that is, an interview done solely through Twitter) was conducted between myself, and singer-songwriter/label owner/one man media machine Kasey Anderson. Well at least we thought it was the first. Come to find out we were not, according to the Google search I did that returned 40,000 hits. Of course, in google terms that's barely a ripple in the ocean, so I will still consider us pioneers. And as Kasey said in response to the news "if we weren't the first twinterview, we were the best". (he also said at the very least we were historically annoying for the folks following us.)
Presented here is a slighty edited version (for continuities sake) of the twinterview (you can read the transcript on Kasey's blog). Other than a few cases of the twinterviewer (that'd be me) getting a little ahead of himself, it worked out fairly well.
If you are unfamiliar with Kasey, then head on over to his site and listen to the killer killer track "I Was A Photograph (Blake's Song)", a song inspired by the famous photo of Lance Cpl. James Blake Miller...oh hell, just read Kasey's own blog post about it to get the story from the horses mouth. This song folks.....this song is one of the best songs of the year....well I guess technically next year. Regardless, it's an incredible song that needs to be heard, and story that also needs to be told (so be sure to read his blog post too).
So without further delay, here is the groundbreaker twinterview. (of course, our first order of business was figuring out what to call it)
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Truersound: Ok, so first question, Twitterview, or Twinterview?
Kasey Anderson: Oh man. Pulling no punches. The tough questions right out of the gates. Twitterview. Yes.... no. Yes. Twitterview.
TS: too bad, I like Twinterview better.
KA: You're right. It's Twinterview. Just the hard-hitting nature of that first question really had me on my heels. Twinterview.
TS: 09 has been a big year, Way Out West, The Seeker EP, Red River Records, and new album. You must have a big work ethic
KA: Some of it is work ethic, some of it is feeling like lightning struck - repeatedly - for the first time in about three years.
TS: Striking while the iron is hot so to speak. The Seeker EP came out this Tuesday, correct? tell me about it.
KA: Yeah, digital only, just like its companion piece Way Out West. All home-recorded covers done on my laptop between gigs...
KA: I wanted to hold people over until Nowhere Nights was released, and I've been playing these tunes for years. Seemed obvious.
TS: a companion EP to Way Out West so to speak. I guess I'm not the first to say Way Out West doesn't sound like a covers album
KA: No, you're not, and that was the point. I had been playing these tunes for years so it was only natural to sort of inhabit them.
TS: I love the way you reworked the songs into your own. What are some of your favorite cover songs?
KA: Wow, too many to list. John Cale's "Hallelujah." Pearl Jam's "Fuckin' Up," Cat Power's "She's Got You." Yours?
TS: I really love complete reworkings, such as Vanilla Fudge's "Keep Me Hangin' On", and Steppenwolf's "The Pusher"
KA: Vanilla Fudge! Well played. I don't love that new Dead Weather record, but their take on "New Pony" is pretty cool.
TS: So what actually made you decide to record Way Out West and The Seeker on your laptop, and do an all digital release?
KA: Necessity for the laptop. I'm living and touring in Europe for most of this year and wanted to make a record on my own, for fun.
KA: Digital-only: Nowhere Nights is gonna get the all-hands-on-deck PR treatment, and these were just stopgaps for fans...
KA: so it was quick and easy to put them out that way. I'm one of a dying breed who still likes to unwrap a record when I buy it.
TS: Well I think it was a good play for you, you seem really tuned in to finding a niche in the changing music biz
KA: Thank you. People really seem to dig the covers thing. I was shocked, frankly. It was a gas to record. As for the business...
KA: people who don't/won't/can't adapt get left behind. I love the way blogs have changed media. You've seen that firsthand, right?
TS: Definitely. I like to think of music bloggers as the new DJs and Zines all rolled into one. Although a little more chaotic
KA: But it has really opened things up. People interact instead of just being told that something is good or bad, y'know?
KA: Used to be, "oh DeRogatis hates this record, it sucks or he sucks or whatever." Now there's dialogue.
TS: Yes, such as what we are doing now. The lines between fan, artist, and media are getting a little blurry
KA: How is Twitter going to change things for everyone? People can critique shows as they happen, post MP3s hours later, etc.
KA: To my knowledge, this is the first Twinterview. Blurred lines can mean more of a community, or more bickering and backbiting.
TS: Twinterview pioneers, going down in history!
TS: It's certainly an exciting time to be a music fan, how do you feel about the internet/blogs/mp3's/etc.. as an artist?
KA: I think it's great. Anything that gets people involved in making or discussing art is great. I still listen to records, but...
KA: the iPod (or any MP3 player) has changed the way people listen to music. Anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves.
KA: And blogs and Twitter allow for the dialogue I mentioned, so it's great. The more people listening, free or not, the better.
TS: very nice insights. I also still enjoy records...vinyl records. That is my favorite trend in music nowadays....
TS: Vinyl records with digital downloads. Such as what your doing with your upcoming LP
KA: Mine too. One of the first things I bought when I moved over here for the year was a portable turntable and some records.
KA: Weird to see vinyl at those big box stores now, though. Vinyl is one of those things, they got it right the first time, y'know?
TS: Haven't any records at the box stores around here yet, but nothing like the record experience in my opinion
KA: Yeah, it's a whole ritual, unwrapping the record, dropping the needle. Such a warm sound. I saw vinyl at Barnes and Noble.
KA: Since we're using Twitter now, I gotta ask: who are your five favorite follows?
TS: 5 Favorite follows, I would say you, @kellywrobison, @JasonIsbell, @ThatKevinSmith, and @donttrythis. That was hard, yours?
KA: 5 favorite follows. Damn. For music, I love yours, @autopsy4 and @Rockstar_Aimz. @SarahKSilverman and @michaelianblack kill me.
TS: Yep, I enjoy all those too. So yeah, tell me about the new album Nowhere Nights
KA: and I'm adding two other favorite follows. In terms of people who "get it," @shaneheadboy (great blog, too) and @ERIKAjaneC.
KA: Recorded Nowhere Nights at Jackpot! in Portland, with Eric Ambel who produced Dead Roses and The Reckoning.
KA: Essentially, it's about all of the personal wreckage I left behind when I moved back to Portland from Bellingham, WA.
KA: It's the first record I've made that's entirely about my own shit, with one exception...
KA: The song "I Was A Photograph" is about Lance Cpl. James Blake Miller. Look him up. I'm incredibly proud of that song.
TS: as you should be. That's an incredible song, one of your best in my opinion. Glad to hear it will be on the new one
KA: Album comes out February 2010, but we'll be sneaking out a few vinyl copies this fall as a warm-up
KA: Thank you. Highlight of my life as a musician was learning that Blake heard that song and liked it.
TS: I think it's one of those career defining songs. Has NPR called yet?
KA: Ha. Not yet. But here's hoping they get wind of it. More people should hear Blake's story. Those words are his as much as mine.
TS: so what made you decide to start your own label, and where does the name come from?
KA: I was pretty fed up with working with labels. I figured if somebody was going to fuck things up for me, it might as well be me.
KA: The name comes from a Dylan song, "Red River Shore" which was unreleased until he put out Bootlegs Vol. 8.
KA: I'm excited about the label. We're putting out records by Chip Robinson (Backsliders) & Eric Ambel next year, along w/ mine.
TS: I did not know that. Dylan, Waits, Springsteen, I also hear a lot of Steve Earle, who else are you major influences?
TS: oops, did not know that about the Dylan song,never heard it. Let's talk about Chip and Eric before getting to your influences
KA: Sure. Chip's record is phenomenal. Just phenomenal. I loved the Backsliders and it's an honor to be putting out his record.
KA: Eric Ambel played guitar w/ Joan Jett, he was a Del Lord, played in Earle's band, produced the Bottle Rockets, Blue Mountain...
TS: Those guys are legends in my opinion. Been a Backsliders fan from way back & Eric has been involved with many of my favorites
KA: Exactly. They're legends. Especially in the circles I travel in. I'm ecstatic to be releasing their records.
TS: I'm excited to hear them. Just hope their record label doesn't f' them over
KA: "Red River Records: Take the Money and Run."
KA: Influences: Dylan, Waits, Earle, Springsteen, Townes, Prince, Redding, Cooke, Tom Russell, Pearl Jam.
KA: I grew up listening to Earle, Dylan, Pearl Jam and the Stones. I got real lucky with my folks' record collection.
TS: so who or what made you actually want to start writing and recording songs?
KA: My grandfather played in a big band - The Many Sounds of 9 - in the 40s & 50s. He died when my mom was 18, before I was born...
KA: so music was sort of a way to get in touch with that. And the other thing that made me really want to write songs was...
KA: hearing Earle and Dylan at such a young age, knowing exactly what songs could be when done right
KA: Oddly enough, this may be the most enjoyable interview I've ever done. I gotta split soon, though, it's 2:30 AM in Germany...
KA: And I've been getting up at 5 to make my girlfriend breakfast before she goes to work.
TS: understand, I've been enjoying it too. In closing, summarize yourself in 140 characters
KA: Define myself in 140 characters. "Kasey Anderson: A man among other, different men." Hey, look at that, characters to spare.
TS: Hey, I'll let you go and thanks for your time. Twinterview history.....made
KA: Thank you, man. It was really my pleasure. Holler soon.
As promotion for his upcoming album Nowhere Nights, Kasey Anderson is giving away 3 LP/T-Shirt bundles and he asked a few of us bloggers to help him out. But Kasey doesn't want to just give them away, where is the fun in that, he wants you to earn them. So somewhere in this post, and in the other blog's posts (hint: Start at Red River Records) are a series of clues that will lead you to the prize.
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