Enjoy our full exchange below. Visit Chris Garneau at his official site.
1. Congrats on El Radio! While certain elements of the album bring to mind your debut record, there are other variables that are entirely new. How do you feel that the two LPs compare to one another?
I feel I have taken the focus off of myself on this album. This has allowed me to explore other aspects of the world around me that I never knew. It has also allowed me to open my eyes to a lot of new people. So many people have played on this record. The entire process we went about making this record was so different than in the past. There is a really big group effort. It feels like it’s about a lot of people, not just me.
2. For our TMS Hearts Moz compilation, you chose to cover ‘Suffer Little Children’. Why’d you select this track?
I was trying to find something that might be a bit less popular of a choice. And I always seem to be disturbingly intrigued by gruesome stories of death and murder. Especially if they are less recent. When I started reading about the Moors murders, the idea to cover this song became really compelling.
Read the rest of this interview AFTER THE JUMP…
3. You just toured China for the first time. How’d that go?
China was something that mystified me. I was looking forward tot he experience of the unfurling of China. But we ended up getting quarantined after 36 hours in Beijing. This was a swine flu quarantine. We weren’t actually infected but there was a confirmed case of the flu from our flight from NY to Beijing so they quarantined many of us for 5 days. Before that we were on The Great Wall of China. It was magnificent. But then we ran into Leonardo DiCaprio and that sort of ruined it. But then we rode a toboggan that goes the whole way down the mountain from the top of the wall. The shows in China were strange but mostly fun and a bit touching. Very intrigued groups of people who are incredibly excited to be there, to hear, to listen, to meet you, to take pictures with you. It’s a bit overwhelming. But it also feels really good to be in a country where people are not accustomed to seeing bands they really like play on a daily basis.
4. Where else do you plan on touring this year? Which city/area are you looking most forward to?
Most of Europe, also Brazil, and we will probably try to tour in the US again although it doesn’t seem to really work for the most part. I am excited to go to Brazil again. The last time I was there I was very very ill and had a very difficult time playing shows and also having fun. And we didn’t get to Rio either. I want to go to Rio as soon as possible.
5. Two of my favorite tracks on El Radio are possibly two of the most heartbreaking: ‘The Leaving Song’ & ‘Over & Over’. Do you predict that it’ll be difficult to perform these selections night after night?
I don’t think so. ‘The Leaving Song’ we’ve been playing for a while. ‘Over & Over’ will be okay. I feel different just about every night. Sometimes it’s easier to play of course and other times it is not this way. I am just happy that there are people there who’d like to listen.
6. At your recent Brooklyn Bargemusic gig, you played some songs with Scary Mansion. Who are some of your dream collaborators?
Dreams collaborators: Scary Mansion, I wish Nico was still alive, Emmylou Harris, Jon Brion for a hot minute, maybe.
7. Following the release of Music For Tourists, you unveiled the C-Sides EP. Do you plan on following up El Radio with a short player as well?
Yes I do. But it’s a secret right now!
8. Are there any misconceptions and/or misunderstandings about your music or otherwise that you’d like to clear up?
I was never in Spring Awakening!
MP3: Chris Garneau – No More Pirates
