". I veer between 'grand plans' and 'giving up' most of the time"
Malcolm Middleton has recorded five albums under his own name since 2002, initially as a side project to Arab Strap, now fully solo.
Altsounds: Last year you toured Australia, New Zealand and Japan and you regularly tour Northern and central Europe. Where HAVEN’T your travelling socks taken you and why not?
China, South America, Africa, The Middle East….lots of places still to be wakened to the power of my music. I’m working on it though. I veer between “grand plans” and “giving up” most of the time though, which can be a slight hindrance.
Altsounds: What do international audiences make of the Malcolm Middleton outlook on life? Which countries don’t get it?
I’m not sure. And I don’t want to think about it. This is the kind of question that can raise too many negative thoughts about my life and the way in which I have wasted it!
Altsounds: Humour, morbid or otherwise, in music is difficult to pull off. Who else do you think does this well?
Humour is easy. The problem is when people with no humour try to be funny. Sincerity is over-rated, and humour in music is all about how you tackle you own ego. Kick it in the face and laugh at yourself. I’m not really sure who does this well in music. Lady Gaga?
Altsounds: “Waxing Gibbous” came out in June. Do you go back to listen to your music or once its recorded do you put it behind you? How has your opinion of this record changed since then?
I put it behind me as quick as I can. I like the album, but I can see right through it. The flaws shine brighter than the strengths and this to me is unbearable. I’m not distancing myself from it, I just move on from things quickly. It’s definitely not my best album, but it was the best I could do at that time.
Altsounds: You list on your website the snippets from bad or lukewarm reviews – or even the bad bits from otherwise good reviews. Self-deprecation or a lack of respect for reviewers?! And whose opinion of your music REALLY matters?
It’s a bit of both I suppose. If I spend 6 months making an album I really can’t respect someone’s opinion because a free cd has landed on their desk with 20 others, which they quickly skim over so that they can get paid and save enough money for a bottle of cheap cider that evening to glug upon while they consider themselves “art”.
Ouch, that sounded bitter! Reviews mean nothing to me though, I don’t read any about other peoples’ records or my own. I know it sounds ugly, but the only opinion that matters about my own music is mine. People have proven to me in the past that they can’t be trusted, because they’ve said they like things I’ve done that I know are shit.
Altsounds: This year you collaborated with Mira Calix for Radio 3. How was this? Will this session be released or lead to any other collaborations? And which other musician(s) would you like to write music with?
Hopefully it will lead onto other things, we both really enjoyed working together. I don’t really think about collaborations much though, I like working alone.
Altsounds:Last December you performed at the “Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People” concert, the December before you released “We’re All Going To Die” as a Christmas single? What does this December hold?
This December holds my “Long, Dark Night” solo acoustic UK tour, which will see me embrace one side of my musical coin, that which is sheer misery and cringing depression. Should be a laugh!
Altsounds:You’ve hinted that after five solo albums you might be ready to try something new. Will that stay as a hint? Or…?
Who knows. I certainly don’t, yet. I need some perspective on things. I think I may be too cynical these days… And I don’t want to be.
Altsounds: Who or what has had the most influence on your music?
Boredom and depression.
Altsounds: Other than music what makes you happy?
Other than? Who said music makes me happy? Erm. Being outside in Autumn. Inside in winter. Dunno. I feel too shit to answer this right now.
Altsounds: If you had to recommend just one of your songs to a first-time listener which would it be and why?
Maybe ‘Fuck It, I Love You’. It has a nice tune and I like the words. I think if people hear this they will get a good idea of who I am. Or who I can be sometimes when I’m feeling more positive.
Altsounds: Good recommendation! Thank you for your time.
Thanks!
The Long Dark Night tour runs 24 Nov – 10 December. “Waxing Gibbous” is out now on Full Time Hobby
Altsounds: Last year you toured Australia, New Zealand and Japan and you regularly tour Northern and central Europe. Where HAVEN’T your travelling socks taken you and why not?
China, South America, Africa, The Middle East….lots of places still to be wakened to the power of my music. I’m working on it though. I veer between “grand plans” and “giving up” most of the time though, which can be a slight hindrance.
Altsounds: What do international audiences make of the Malcolm Middleton outlook on life? Which countries don’t get it?
I’m not sure. And I don’t want to think about it. This is the kind of question that can raise too many negative thoughts about my life and the way in which I have wasted it!
Altsounds: Humour, morbid or otherwise, in music is difficult to pull off. Who else do you think does this well?
Humour is easy. The problem is when people with no humour try to be funny. Sincerity is over-rated, and humour in music is all about how you tackle you own ego. Kick it in the face and laugh at yourself. I’m not really sure who does this well in music. Lady Gaga?
Altsounds: “Waxing Gibbous” came out in June. Do you go back to listen to your music or once its recorded do you put it behind you? How has your opinion of this record changed since then?
I put it behind me as quick as I can. I like the album, but I can see right through it. The flaws shine brighter than the strengths and this to me is unbearable. I’m not distancing myself from it, I just move on from things quickly. It’s definitely not my best album, but it was the best I could do at that time.
Altsounds: You list on your website the snippets from bad or lukewarm reviews – or even the bad bits from otherwise good reviews. Self-deprecation or a lack of respect for reviewers?! And whose opinion of your music REALLY matters?
It’s a bit of both I suppose. If I spend 6 months making an album I really can’t respect someone’s opinion because a free cd has landed on their desk with 20 others, which they quickly skim over so that they can get paid and save enough money for a bottle of cheap cider that evening to glug upon while they consider themselves “art”.
Ouch, that sounded bitter! Reviews mean nothing to me though, I don’t read any about other peoples’ records or my own. I know it sounds ugly, but the only opinion that matters about my own music is mine. People have proven to me in the past that they can’t be trusted, because they’ve said they like things I’ve done that I know are shit.
Altsounds: This year you collaborated with Mira Calix for Radio 3. How was this? Will this session be released or lead to any other collaborations? And which other musician(s) would you like to write music with?
Hopefully it will lead onto other things, we both really enjoyed working together. I don’t really think about collaborations much though, I like working alone.
Altsounds:Last December you performed at the “Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People” concert, the December before you released “We’re All Going To Die” as a Christmas single? What does this December hold?
This December holds my “Long, Dark Night” solo acoustic UK tour, which will see me embrace one side of my musical coin, that which is sheer misery and cringing depression. Should be a laugh!
Altsounds:You’ve hinted that after five solo albums you might be ready to try something new. Will that stay as a hint? Or…?
Who knows. I certainly don’t, yet. I need some perspective on things. I think I may be too cynical these days… And I don’t want to be.
Altsounds: Who or what has had the most influence on your music?
Boredom and depression.
Altsounds: Other than music what makes you happy?
Other than? Who said music makes me happy? Erm. Being outside in Autumn. Inside in winter. Dunno. I feel too shit to answer this right now.
Altsounds: If you had to recommend just one of your songs to a first-time listener which would it be and why?
Maybe ‘Fuck It, I Love You’. It has a nice tune and I like the words. I think if people hear this they will get a good idea of who I am. Or who I can be sometimes when I’m feeling more positive.
Altsounds: Good recommendation! Thank you for your time.
Thanks!
The Long Dark Night tour runs 24 Nov – 10 December. “Waxing Gibbous” is out now on Full Time Hobby
