Mini-Interview: Fred Thomas

Let me start this with the lyrics to the Fred Thomas song Get It Together, since the best introduction to a conversation with him is very likely a musical one.

I can’t ever get it together and I just can’t let you go. I knew I wanted to be with you forever a long, long time ago.

But you’re always changing you mind. And everyone’s asking me why. But nobody knows you like I do and they can’t see how you shine.

When the springtime comes, I’ll write you a letter about everything I love. We’ll stay up listening to records until we see the sun.

There could nothing more true than the time that I’m spending with you. I couldn’t love you more than I do.

You can’t ever get it together because you like the both of us. I understand that but whatever the choice is obvious.

Now, go listen to the song here.

Are you back now? Okay.

Earlier this week, I interviewed Fred over the Interweb. I tried not to gush or anything, but honestly? I can’t think of a current singer-songwriter who I’m more impressed by than him.

I think he’s scary talented. (He also just finished a new album and likes writing in all caps.)

Hey, Fred. How are you doing today?

PRETTY FANTASTIC. I SLEPT REALLY LATE AND WE'RE ABOUT TO WALK OVER TO THIS VINTAGE STORE AND TRY TO SELL A BUNCH OF CLOTHES.

What’s the weather like in Michigan right now?

I DON'T KNOW FIRSTHAND, I'M IN BROOKLYN RIGHT NOW DOING A RESIDENCY AT THIS SMALL GALLERY. IT'S RIDICULOUSLY UNBEARABLY HOT HERE, AND I'D IMAGINE THAT IT'S REALLY HOT IN MICHIGAN BUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. MORE TREESEY.

My friend Paul refers to your music as being “pleasantly melancholy.” I think that’s because it often hits the kind of notes in the listener like when you look back endearingly about a failed love affair and smile even though it’s a little sad. (Or similar sorts of, I don’t know, magnificent heartache.) Is that intentional?

I'M NOT SURE HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS QUESTION BECAUSE I GET THAT ASSESSMENT FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT INTENTIONAL BY ANY MEANS. I REALLY APPRECIATE "PLEASANTLY MELANCHOLY" MUSIC, BUT I NEVER SET OUT TO MAKE MUSIC LIKE THAT OR LIKE ANYTHING REALLY.

I’D FEEL SO FAKEY TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT WAS HEARTBROKEN SOUNDING AND TRYING TO HONE IT UNTIL IT WAS JUST HOPEFULLY DOWN ENOUGH, OR STRUCK SOME SORT OF CHORD LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW?

I'VE NEVER LOOKED BACK AT ANY FAILED LOVE AFFAIRS OF MINE OR ANYONE I KNOW AND SMILED, SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WEIRD ABOUT ME, OR SOMETHING A-SIMILAR TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT I ALWAYS GET PEOPLE LISTENING TO MY MUSIC AND HEARING 100% BREAKUP SONGS OR FAILED ROMANCE ANTHEMS AND I NEVER THINK ABOUT MY SONGS IN THAT WAY. I ALWAYS APPROACH MAGNIFICENT HEARTACHE LIKE "OH, OK, THEN WHAT? WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT ACHING AND WHY AND WHO CARES?"

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TO SING ABOUT AND I GUESS IT JUST SEEMS LIKE I'M SINGING ABOUT THE USUAL, THOUGH IT SEEMS SO DIFFERENT TO ME.

What’s your song-writing process like? You seem to put a lot more work into each song than a lot of writers. I mean, a track like Friends and Parents is packed with these amazing lines that keep coming, while a lot of bands seem to just focus on having a catchy chorus.

I DEFINITELY FOCUS ON LYRICS AND THE INTRICACIES AND POETRY OF LYRICS. MUSICALLY SO MUCH OF WHAT ENDS UP BEING A SONG IS JUST KIND OF IMPROVISED OR THROWN TOGETHER IN A DEMO FORM, AND VERY JAGGEDLY FILTERED DOWN UNTIL IT'S A FINISHED PRODUCT TO FRAME THE LYRICAL CONTENT OR MAYBE TO HIGHLIGHT A SPECIAL SOUND OR INSTRUMENT, SO THE SONG-STRUCTURES GET KIND OF WEIRD OR ALL OVER THE PLACE.

I USED TO JUST START PLAYING AND SINGING AND EVERYTHING WOULD COME OUT ALMOST SUB-CONCSIOUSLY. IT WAS REALLY NICE TO JUST EXPEL WHAT I WAS FEELING, AND I GOT LUCKY A FEW TIMES WITH SOME REALLY FANTASTIC SONGS TO GO ALONG WITH THOSE FEELINGS, TOO.

How many instruments do you play?

I COULDN'T SAY I PLAY ANYTHING BESIDES GUITAR, AND EVEN THAT NOT TOO WELL. I JUST KIND OF DICK AROUND ON EVERYTHING AND PLAY LESS WHEN I UNDERSTAND IT LESS.

You’re a part of a few different bands. How would you describe the differences in their sounds?

I PLAY IN SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME AND BY MYSELF SOLO, AND SOMETIMES I PLAY WITH HIS NAME IS ALIVE OR THE TRANZISTORS, AND MY BAND FLASHPAPR SOMETIMES RECONVEINES, THOUGH WE ALL ARE SCATTERED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I NEVER THINK OF IT AS DIFFERENT BANDS, SOMEHOW, BUT MORE LIKE A COLLECTION OF PEOPLE I REALLY BELIEVE IN AND WHO HAVE A GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHER'S INTENTIONS AND FEELINGS. I PLAY WITH WHOEVER COMES TO MY HOUSE TO RECORD MUSIC, AND HAVE TOURED WITH IDA, KELLY JEAN CALDWELL, BEN AND BRUNO, NOMO...

A BUNCH OF DRASTICLY DIFFERENT SOUNDMAKERS, AND THEY ALL MAKE SENSE TO ME AS THE SAME VIBE OR INTENT.

How do you decide what gets recorded under, say, Saturday Looks Good to Me or your solo act?

AGAIN, THERE'S NO DEFINITIVE PROCESS OR WORKING MODE. A LOT OF SONGS HAVE BEEN RECORDED IN DIFFERENT VERSIONS FOR DIFFERENT BANDS I'VE BEEN IN. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A TON OF SONGS AND THEY COULD GO SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND NEVER BE FINISHED EVER, SO WHY BOTHER TRYING TO FIND A CONCLUSIVE TAKE?

How long have you been working on this current solo album? What was it like recording it?

THERE WAS SOME WORK DONE ON IT ABOUT A YEAR IN ADVANCE, LIKE ONE OR TWO SONGS THAT WERE KIND OF WRITTEN AND THROWN TOGETHER OR DEMOED, BUT THEN AROUND OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER OF 2005, THERE WAS A PERIOD OF INSANE, UNREASONABLE, UNNATURAL JOY AND INSPIRATION AND THE ENTIRE PROJECT AND RECORDING PROCESS TOOK SHAPE. IT WAS REALLY ONE OF THE BEST FEW MONTHS OF MY LIFE.

I REMEMBER WORKING CONSTANTLY ON LYRICS AND RECORDING TONS OF DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE SONGS, AND EVERY PART OF THE PROCESS MADE EVERYTHING FEEL SO NEW.

EVERY TIME I SMOKED A CIGARETTE OR DRANK A CAN OF COKE IT FELT LIKE I WAS FOURTEEN YEARS OLD AND EXPERIENCING LIFE FOR THE FIRST TIME, STEMMING OUT FROM HOW EXCITED I WAS ABOUT MAKING THESE SONGS AND WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO WITH THEM. WHERE OTHER SOLO RECORDS I'D MADE WERE GOOD OR FUN OR WHATEVER, THEY WERE KIND OF COBBLED TOGETHER AND JUST KINDA THERE, BUT THESE SONGS HAD SUCH PURPOSE AND REAL DRIVE BEHIND THEM. IT WAS AMAZING. I THINK OF THIS COLLECTION AS THE BEST RECORD I'VE EVER MADE.

Your previous two solo works Turn it Down and I Heard the Angels Sing are some of my favorite albums from the last few years. How can people track them down?

I'VE ONLY EVER MADE CD-RS OF THOSE RECORDS, MAYBE ABOUT 400 OR 500 COPIES OF EACH HAVE BEEN CIRCULATED. I STILL PRESS UP CDRS AND HAVE THEM AVAILABLE THROUGH MY LABEL YPSILANTI RECORDS, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SOMEDAY HAVE SOMEONE RE-ISSUE THEM AS REAL LIVE CDS.

What’s next for you?

SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME IS FINISHING OUR NEW RECORD, AND IT'S A LOT DARKER AND WEIRDER THAN ANYTHING WE'VE DONE SO FAR. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT AND I THINK IT COULD BE A REALLY IMPORTANT SOUND TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

Last question: Who are your favorite current bands?

I'M NOT SO SURE ON CONTEMPORARY BANDS OUTSIDE OF MY SCOPE OF CONSPIRATORS. ALL THE MUSIC THAT I'M SURROUNDED BY WITH THE LABEL I LIKE A LOT, NATURALLY.

ODD CLOUDS, GENDERS, DEAD MACHINES, HIS NAME IS ALIVE, LITTLE CLAW, HUMAN EYE, BEN AND BRUNO, THE ROUGH BUNNIES... ALL THE BANDS I TOUR WITH OR PLAY WITH.

I LOVE DEVENDRA BANHART'S LAST FEW RECORDS AND I GET REALLY INTO LITTLE WINGS AND THE MICROPHONES. THOSE BANDS BLOW MY MIND.

That’s it. Thanks for your time, Fred.

RELATED LINK: BAND OF THE WEEK: FRED THOMAS