S] Hey Chris, how are you doing?
I’m doing quite well thank you!
S] How do you define success as an artist?
Making exactly what you want to make and having it be appreciated by enough people to be able to keep making it in an uncompromising way.
S] Are you looking forward to getting back out on the road?
Definitely. I can’t wait to tour again.
S] How do you look back at ‘A Different Arrangement’?
It was the first time I ever really made something that I put 100 percent of myself into and I think over time the fact that I really put everything I had into it has paid off because it still seems to resonate with people – which is great! I could have tried to make something seem a certain way to be appreciated by a certain kind of taste-making person but I just made the very best thing I possibly could with all my years of experience to draw on. The music was the natural result of the conceptual framework I laid down and stuck to religiously. I’d heard many things over the years that had a piece of what I was doing in it but I don’t think I had heard something that put those exact pieces together in exactly that way. I knew instinctively this was important, to find a bit of a new path in order for it to be remembered. I really thought of it as more of an art project and less of like a “band”. I’m pretty much at peace at this point that that record will probably always define me. Mostly because it was a very honest expression of who I was at the time and what I wanted to do.
S] What would you say your biggest challenges are as an artist now?
It’s always a challenge to try and make something that will resonate with people so my challenge is the same as it’s always been. I’m always looking for new ways to try and trick the universe into bringing me something worthwhile. All the frameworks I use and processes I utilize exist for that end.
S] What’s inspiring you outside of music at the moment, think of specific people, places and things if you can?
All of a sudden I’ve become very interested in world history. The history of civilization and anthropology. I think I’m trying to create some sort of unified framework to make sense out of all the seemingly nonsensical things I see every day. Hoping it’s all happened before instead of being some new terrifying reality maybe?
S] What is your message for UK fans who have, and will continue to support you??
I’ll always keep doing things for the same reasons I’ve done them and I’ll always try and make new music that resonates with people in the same way my old music did in the past.
Black Marble‘s new album coming out on Oct 22nd via Sacred Bones.
