Creating Utopia: An Interview With Jason Falkner

Posted in Current Faves, Interviews, Music |

Popshifter: In the interview you did with Under The Radar last year, there’s a quote from Linda Rapka who says that you don’t have any lukewarm fans. When people mention your name other people “get it” and there’s an instant camaraderie. When you work with other musicians are there bands that you share fandom of, where certain things don’t need to be explained?

Jason Falkner: Oh yeah, there’s a whole bunch. Like the first three Brian Eno records, that’s kind of like a password. If you’re hip to those records and you like them, then very little needs to be said about a certain musical choice. And as far as newer bands, I like Midlake and The Shins. Another one for me is David Bowie. It kind of all boils down to David Bowie for me. On so many levels.

I can love something but I might never sound like it. That’s kind of intentional. It’s out of respect; I don’t want to go too close to something that I love because it’s just too obvious. I’d rather just be inspired by them on different levels, like visually. Visually I’m inspired by Bowie. I’m inspired by such forward-thinking artistry. And never being pigeonholed. From the Ziggy Stardust album to the German era, those are completely different things and they’re only four or five years apart.

I’m inspired by that more. The British Invasion was a completely new art form although it was considered more of nuisance by a lot of people. Except for kids. You could feel that it was new.

That’s why revolutionary scenes need to happen. They need to kick out what’s become common and stir it up and announce that there’s something else we can all be doing. Every major movement in music has done that, like American punk and then British punk and rap and hip hop.

The problem is that there doesn’t seem to be anything left that can really be a revolution. Like a band with fifteen people onstage all dressed in white?

Popshifter: Oh, like the Polyphonic Spree? (laughs)

Jason Falkner: Yeah, there are so many bands like that right now, it’s really laughable. To me that’s not a scene. That’s just a weird trend that’s ridiculous. First of all, how are any of you people making any money?

Popshifter: (laughing) That’s hilarious.

Jason Falkner: (laughs)

Popshifter: In that same interview, it was mentioned that some of your favorite bands have never achieved substantial notoriety and you were asked if you think you are like that. You mentioned how as a kid you were drawn to things that weren’t everyone’s favorite and that’s still how you are now. In fact, you even said that you would go away from things that may have been good for you just because everybody else was doing it.

I thought that was one of the coolest things I’d ever read. I also think it’s really honest because it could potentially alienate people. The interviewer addressed that and you said you didn’t necessarily want to reach everyone. That’s a really brave thing to say. A lot of people will cater to what they think people want to hear but then they don’t necessarily make quality music that is long-lasting.

Popshifter: Do you think that’s caused any friction in your career?

A Welsh View: Before The Internet © 2004

Jason Falkner: I don’t know, I don’t know what the effect of my attitude is. I just know that when I look around at what’s happening in pop culture I’m kind of appalled.

Popshifter: (laughs)

Jason Falkner: I don’t care about those people; I don’t want them to be at my show. I’d rather keep it like a private club where it’s more special. You can’t just gain admittance, you know, you have to understand it. That’s how I grew up when it came to music and film that I liked.

I grew up when it was harder to get access to information. Pre-Internet life was a really different story. I mean, you couldn’t even find the frickin’ shoes that you wanted.

Popshifter: (laughs)

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Click to read more from Jason Falkner on. . .

Revisiting The Beatles
Ripoffs and references
That “Power Pop” thing
“It all boils down to Bowie.”
A pre-Internet world
The dumbing down of pop culture
What’s next for Jason

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