Someplace Quiet: Neil Halstead Brings His Solo to Beijing
"Part of the fun (of going different phases as a musician) is trying to escape yourself."
What's the name of that Mojave 3 song about candles again? You know, the one sounds a lot like Red House Painters' "Have You Forgotten", but warmer...That's the problem I sometimes have with remembering an artist, whereas most of them prefer to be recognized as one of a kind. Regardless of his two solo releases under 4AD and Brushfire, the promotion of this Neil Halstead show at Yugong Yishan on Firday (Apr 16) has been linked with shoegazing band Slowdive and alternative rock group Mojave 3, both of which Halstead has been the frontman. the Beijinger talks to him before he embarks on a six-city China tour, bless him.
the Beijinger: Pink Moon is one of my all-time favorite albums, I read that you are also a Nick Drake fan…
Neil Halstead: I first heard Nick Drake back in 1990 or there abouts, when Time of No Reply was issued. He was probably the first “folk” artist that really struck a chord with me and a really important part of my own musical journey. I loved then, and still love the timeless quality of his records. They literally sound like they could have been recorded anytime in the last 40 years.
tbj: Where are you living at the moment? In Luton?
NH: I live in Newquay in Cornwall England, have been there for 18 years. I never lived in Luton though my mother and her parents lived there for a time.
tbj: Where do you write music?
NH: I write music most places. Today I am in a cabin near a beach called broken head in Australia. I hope to write some music here.
tbj: Urban and countryside, which would you choose to live as a musician?
NH: I like living on the coast, I love the sea, I like to surf and I find the city a little too frenetic these days. Particularly as a touring musician, I like to come home to someplace quiet.
tbj: How often do you play live in the UK?
NH: I will tour here whenever I release an album and usually will play a few shows here and there between records.
tbj: It seems to me that the guitar sounds much tighter and more distinctive in your solo works comparing to the gentle strumming in Mojave 3. Have you always been trying to be an acoustic guitarist?
NH: I think I have been through a few phases as a musician. Part of the fun is trying to escape yourself. So I do my best find something different with each record. I never really played acoustic guitar until after Slowdive finished, it was and still is a completely liberating discovery.
tbj: What is the greatest benefit of being a solo performer vs. being part of a group?
NH: It's real easy to organize.
tbj: Six cities, that’s a lot of travelling, especially with the distance between in this country. Will this be your longest journey on the road, ever?
NH: Maybe...I don't even know. Right now they are just names on the schedule...I will let you know.
tbj: Fair enough, but I wonder if musicians really play music when they are on the road? Say would you kill time by playing your own music on the bus when you’re on tour?
NH: I find being on tour is a great time to work on songs and ideas. Traveling is always inspiring, it becomes hard not to get involved if you are traveling with a guitar.
tbj: It seems I haven’t said certain words enough because it looks reasonable to mentioning them in an interview with Neil Halstead. Here goes: Slowdive, Slowdive, Slowdive…Mojave 3, Mojave 3, Mojave 3…Right, thanks for your patience.
NH: They are good words...I am glad that you are familiar with both those bands.
Neil Halstead plays at Yugong Yishan on April 16 (Friday), Wu Ningyue from Buyi supports. RMB 100, RMB 80 (advance). Door opens at 8pm. 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)
