Melodic Migration: Andrew Bird Flies Into Town
"Words can deceive."
- Andrew Bird
This Saturday (January 30), Chicago singer-songwriter Andrew Bird (www.andrewbird.net) comes to town with his violin, loop machine and guitar. Keep an eye on them in Beijing as Bird broke his beloved violin during a show at Chicago Civic Opera House last year. We couldn’t resist asking him about that...
the Beijinger: Do you still have that violin?
Andrew Bird: It was a clean break so I had it repaired in time for the next show. It was not without drama though.
tbj: Tell us a bit about your classical influences, since I actually read you found "a lot of indie rock and pop music repetitive and boring" until the age of 22.
AB: I've been playing the violin since age 4. In high school as my friends were listening to the Cure and the Smiths I was playing Dvorak and Beethoven violin concertos, listening to Mozart's Requiem. I heard the pathos of the brit-pop but couldn't understand why they would repeat the chorus ad-nauseum. Now I know why "How Soon Is Now" is a great song. Back then my ears demanded more complexity, now I find writing a simple minimalist song infinitely challenging.
tbj: Learning instruments through Suzuki method, does that mean you don't memorize notations?
AB: I learned the violin like a child learns language. It’s the same part of the brain. Suzuki is like a pre-fabricated aural tradition. The difference between Bach and Mozart and Albanian or Irish folk music is not so great. If I can hear it I can play it.
tbj: Do lyrics come as smoothly as melodies?
AB: Words can deceive. Melodies have purity and materialize without my asking.
tbj: Seriously, do you care about what Pitchfork says?
AB: I don't read pitchfork. I know they've helped a lot of people find my music, but I'm suspicious of the business of lifestyle assistance.
tbj: Considering you used to write about music, what do you think makes a good album review then?
AB: If you don't like the music, don't write about it. Write about the content of the songs using the songs as a starting point for conversation.
tbj: How did the whistling start?
AB: I whistle constantly so it would be dishonest to not whistle in my songs.
Andrew Bird and band perform "Fitz And The Dizzyspells" at The Jay Leno Show
tbj: What does "indie" mean? or does it mean anything to you?
AB: It should mean people who make music because they have to, not to make a living trying to appeal to a demographic. But as with most labels it becomes associated with a way of dressing or a hairstyle. Nothing wrong with that really, that’s how like minded people find each other, "oh you have the same markings as me you probably like this band," but it’s hardly independent behavior.
tbj: What are you listening to?
AB: Exuma (www.myspace.com/exuma). They were this Bahamian band from the 70s. I like a lot of groovy West-African, Brazilian, Latin stuff from the 60s and 70s. Also old Gospel, country blues, Carter Family etc.
tbj: What do you expect from China?
AB: Everyone insists it will blow my mind. I'm expecting a vibrant street culture. Lots of humans in each other’s space. The opposite of the American suburbs. I'm partial to wide-open spaces myself, but looking forward to the experience.
Andrew Bird plays Yugong Yishan on January 30 (Saturday), Beijing's Mongolian troupe Hanggai support. RMB 180, RMB 150 (advance). 9pm. 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu (100m west of Zhangzizhong Lu subway station), Dongcheng District (6404 2711). 东城区平安大道张自忠路3-2号(地铁五号线张自忠路站往西100米)
