Unwed Sailor Interview
Widely known in indie music circles as one of the premier instrumental post rock groups, Unwed Sailor has been without a new record since The Marionette and the Music Box released in 2003. One wonders what the band has been up to during that time, and by band, we mean Johnathon Ford.
Unwed sailor is essentially the brainchild of Ford, who, in 1998, together with some like-minded musicians formed the group as an outlet for songs that Ford had written which he felt didn’t fit into the Roadside Monument repertoire.
It appears that Unwed Sailor has been busy doing what most groups exist to do – touring. And in between nights on the stage, Ford has quietly been putting together the framework for not one, but three new releases. The White Ox, recorded and produced by Early Day Miners’ Dan Burton at his Bloomington, Ind., studio will hit store shelves this summer, preceded by the Circles EP. A third release entitled Little Wars will arrive later in the year. Doug Giesbrecht caught up with Johnathon just returning from some tour dates with Rosie Thomas.
It’s been nearly 3 years since your last recording, and now it appears that you have 3 projects slated for 2006. The CIRCLES ep this spring, THE WHITE OX full length in summer, and another one called LITTLE WARS. Can you tell us about each of those? I understand the music is much more ambient than what we have heard from Unwed Sailor in the past?
Circles are an ambient record. It was originally going to be included on The White Ox record, but I felt that it was so mammoth and unique that it could stand on its own. The White Ox is a very mellow record...hypnotic and somewhat dark. It has some ambient aspects to it as well. Little Wars is more of a rock record...more upbeat, at times playful. The song “Copper Islands” (featured on our myspace page) will be the opening track on Little Wars.
When I saw you play in the fall of 2005, you mentioned that the new record will have some tunes with vocals. What prompted this decision/direction?
Do you feel that you have something to say that needs words to convey your ideas? Yes, the new record (The White Ox) will have vocals on it...Dan Burton really pushed me in that direction on the new record...it is something I have wanted to experiment with. Dan Burton also sings with me on the record...I think our voices work well together. I am not really trying to say anything with the lyrics...at least I don’t think so. The lyrics are very mystical and other-worldly.
Tell us something significant that you’ve learned so far this year?
That I love touring and playing music more than anything else I could be doing...I guess I have known that for a while, but lately I just get so anxious if I am not on the road or recording.
Is it tough to juggle your time between recording/writing and touring? Is there one aspect that you prefer? Is touring a necessary evil for you, or is it more like life blood for the band?
Not really, recording/writing and touring are my number one priorities...my favorite things to do. I would say that I tour more than write and record...I mean it has been 3 years since the last record. There is nothing evil about touring...except when your van breaks down...I would say that touring is a main income for Unwed Sailor...you really don’t make any money off record sales.
What is the songwriting process for Unwed Sailor? Is it collaborative, or do you come up with your own ideas and present them to the group?
Unwed Sailor is definitely a collaboration...I would say that I am the funnel or siphon that all ideas go through...if other people throw out ideas I put the final Unwed Sailor touch to it. I like to form different groups of musicians and let the music happen...let it go where it’s going to go. Most of Unwed's music is written in the studio...on the spot. I really trust the people I work with
musically...people like Dan Burton of Early Day Miners, Matt Depper and Matt Putman from the band snailhuntr...these guys blow me away with their ideas, and I am open to anything that they want to bring to the table.
Are you still musically influenced by other artists, after being in your own band for this long? If, so what are some of those influences?
I am definitely influenced by other artists. Brian Eno, The Blue
Nile, Daniel Lanois, New Order, etc...These are artists that really
move me and inspire me to create music.
What’s getting the most play time in your IPOD lately?
Lots of Willie Nelson, newer Bob Dylan (Time Out Of Mind/Love And Theft), The Blue Nile, David Sylvian, Brian Eno's "Another Day On Earth" record, The Band, Merle Haggard (his newer records)....
How do you want people to feel when listening to Unwed Sailor? Or after listening?
I love music that makes you reflect...so, I would hope that the listener would experience that. I want to write music that takes you somewhere....out of the day to day normalcy. Somewhere bizarre. I love music that fits your surroundings as well...scenic music...early day miners is really good at that...no matter where you are driving, their music fits the scenery.
You’ve recently been posting new songs on MYSPACE. What do you think is the future of recorded music distribution? How do you feel about it?
Things are moving so fast...it’s hard to keep up. After I bought an I-pod, I found that I really started to miss buying cd's, so I have started buying them again...I download music from time to
time...usually just singles from the past that I want to hear. I do think that digital music distro will continue to increase...it’s just so simple and convenient ... and people really like that kind of thing these days. I would hope that unwed sailor fans would buy the actual cd. I feel that the artwork has something to offer that you could not get from a digital download. It will be interesting to see what the future holds.
With the overwhelming success of the IPOD and digital files, do you think the conventional ‘record’ is finished? And on the flipside, there seems to be, in the new generation, a rejuvenated excitement for vinyl. Do you think that’s just a RETRO trend?
I think music fans will always love vinyl...it is a really beautiful medium....so raw and pure...plus the artwork is 10 times bigger than a cd and 100 times bigger than the little digital album cover image that pops up on your ipod.
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Comments
That is great news !!!! Unwed is back with 3 new CDS. I'm gonna have to get a job to buy all their new stuff ! Great article!
