Duncan Shiek – Interview [2002]

It’s his life. Duncan Sheik speaks.

How’s everything going?

Hectic and busy, but good. I’m finding it difficult to stay focused.

Is going into writing and recording a solitary business for you?

The initial stages are usually solitary. That is how I like it. I don’t really collaborate much with people directly.

Do you find yourself writing a lot of songs?

It’s funny, my average seems that about 60-70 percent is writing and then a record is released in some fashion. So there isn’t much material there. If a song doesn’t seem to be working I just sort of chuck it. There were probably twenty or so songs recorded for this record.

Do you ever go back and listen to songs you had laying around in the past?

Occasionally I will go back and extract for any good bits that might be there. A couple of the songs that didn’t seem appropriate for this record I gave to my friend Samantha Ronsen. I gave her some music and she wrote lyrics. Some of it finds another home, which is cool.

Are you too busy trying to find your own stuff to giveaway anything you wrote?

I don’t usually write for other people, actually, I’ve never done it before until this recent collaboration. I enjoy it, but I’m not the kind of songwriter that writes super-conventional songs, which don’t make sense for other people to perform them.

When you approach an album or idea, does one song set the tone?

The approach to this record was more of a structural thing. I wanted to think about the existing framework of pop and rock music. Within that framework I wanted to write songs that would be interesting and moving to me, but not outside of the what people think of as pop music. I think it was a personal challenge and a device to get the record started.

Was it tough?

It’s such a subjective thing. When I think something I’ve written is straight down the middle it may sound to the left to someone else, and vice-versa. I think my writing is out there and ends up being hooky and catchy to others. You have to subject your views and compare them to other views. The idea this time was to make something that was instantly gratifying and accessible to general music fans.

What drives you?

Ultimately what I want is for a listener to be moved deeply. When they are listening I want them to be galvanized. If someone puts the cd on in their car and have an intense reaction to it I feel like I’ve succeeded.

Do you have a different view of success?

Obviously you always want to sell lots of records. I’d love millions of people to buy the record. The best thing you can do and hope for is the best record you can make. I’m proud of the records I’ve made so far. I’ve managed to have a career making music and that is the most important thing. Any above and beyond that is gravy.

Do you ever wake up in the morning and go ‘I make music for a living?’ and are surprised?

Yeah. That is a great feeling and something I don’t take for granted.

How much time in a day do you spend working?

It depends on a lot. Usually I get up and have some coffee in the morning and I’m a practicing Buddhist so I’ll chant for about an hour. Once I’m in the right headspace I’ll pick up the guitar or sit in front of the piano and start sketching out ideas. Usually music comes first and then lyrics. I may work for only a couple of hours in a day and do nothing the rest of the day. I find I can’t push myself to create something if its not flowing. If you are in the right headspace and it comes, great; but if not, I find it better to just go to an art gallery, a movie or read a book and some inspiration will come out of that.

Do you get those days where you’re like ‘today is not the day’?

Yes and you have to roll with that.

Everyone is saying they hope music will turn over and go back to where the singer/songwriter is sacred like Bob Dylan. Do you ever see that happening again?

Well, I don’t know. Pop has been dying down a little when it comes to all the boy bands and stuff. In the ‘60’s and early ‘70’s it was a special time. The mass culture and high art culture seemed to collide. I don’t know if that will happen again, but there are some bands that are making great records like the Doves and Coldplay. I look at their stuff as a good sign for the future. Hopefully the younger fans are growing up and want something deeper than the bland pop we’ve heard recently.

+ charlie craine