-- I just listened to your third solo album " Why Should I Get Used To It" and really liked it alot. When you were in japan last time, you talked a bit about this new album, and you were like, " I dont wanna use the computer for writing music. I am still thinking about the way how to record my sound." Seems like you recorded in Rome instead of going back to the States. Can you tell us what the actual making process was like? What was the stuff which turned out well and which you found the most diffcult in the recording process?
Joe : Yeah, I don't like to be in the position of writing alone, but that's where I'm at I guess. I had just met Elisa when I started fleshing out the songs and adding guitar myself. It took a few months to get her to play guitar with me. She had only played drums on stage so it took a little time to get her mind around it. After about 3 shows the drummer couldn't believe how good she was.
When we finally got around to recording the biggest problem was not having enough time to rehearse the songs with the band. Although we played a lot of live shows together, Emanuele (Lele) our drummer never had much time to practice. Elisa had little time to actually get into the songs with a drummer so I ended up playing guitar on a couple of songs for that reason. We also decided to remove the drums from a track that Lele was less confidant on. The songs had been on my mind for so long at that point I had to get them recorded so I could move on to the next one. I only had Lele for a couple of days in the studio so we did what we could.
-- Seems like this work was done by almost the same band formation as the one when you came play in Japan. I would say, it is sort of " the first album by your new Rome-based band". I just felt like this one had more band-like atmosphere when compared to your last 2 solo albums, which you worked with musicians from D.C.. Compareing with your last 2 albums, did you do something new or different this time in recording? And what is it which havent changed from your old work?
Joe : Yes, it's the 3 of us who came to Japan. I certainly wrote Let It Burn knowing Lele and Elisa could play free over my very simple bass line. The little instrumental break at the end of Revealed in Fever was for Lele too. So it was the first time that writing was directed toward the people I was playing with. It also comes from me playing guitar on a number of songs. There are more specific parts for guitar on this record than the previous ones. Taking out the drums and letting the handclaps carry the song was like something I would have done on the first record.
-- What was the process like when you wrote all songs in this latest album? In the interview with you last time in Japan, you said to me, " I wrote some songs with working on lyrics first, which i had never done before." But still, do you write most of your songs coming up with bassline first? And how was it like working with Elisa and Emanuele when it comes to composing/arranging songs?
Joe : In summer 2008 I began the process of demoing new songs. With no one to play guitar I started playing despite my limitations (I can't really play chords). I'm always recording bass lines which I come back to and look at with a fresh ear. Usually they carry a feel that I go with, the line may change but there's a feeling I'm trying to hear the rest of the song in. Then I'll put some kind of rhythm on that and see if there's a guitar part to drop in so I can work on vocals. Often the guitar part is done on another bass that sounds like a guitar. All of these parts can keep changing around as I find how the vocals fit into it all. I work on many songs at once, adding things and then putting the song away. That way when I come back to it I am usually surprised by something I don't remember doing. It feels like I'm collaborating with someone else that way. Elisa would play a lot with me in my apartment during 2009 and she would play flute, saxophone or whatever (she plays everything). I would record and then cut up and effect what she played. Just to get the sound I was feeling into place. Then that would become a guitar part or flute part.
-- I havent gotten the lyrics yet, but i would say even the titles of the songs sound like very interesting to me, like " Philosophy For Insects" and " Last Of The Civilized". Needless to say, your album title " Why Should I Get Used To It" is another interesting title. How did you come up with those words? Also, the title like "! Nothing To Lose" and " Let It Burn" remind me of some sort of strong will. Did you have that kind of feeling in you when you recorded your album back then?
Joe : There's certainly a strong will to keep playing. When it becomes too difficult to play live (the cost of touring or whatever it may be) I'll probably keep writing for myself or sit in a friends bar and play. Last of the Civilized is about humans being more civilized in the tribal context then our present situation in society. Why should I get used to the way the established order is today. That would be a recurring theme in my writing.
-- I heard that you have done all the artwork by yourself. The photo of a lady on your album is absolutely unique. I am just curious, what do you try to say with this " a naked lady in a strange wear" picture?
Joe : My wife, Antonia Tricarico, took all the photos on my records, this one included. She is doing a series against violence against women. The cover photo is from that series and is a strong image that goes well with the album title. I did the drawing on the back.
-- Seems like you are going on a Europe tour next month starting from Italy, where you currently live and work. What is like a plan of your music work this year after the europe tour?Is there any possibility that you would come play in Japan anytime soon?
Joe : There are 2 tours in France with a french band L'Enfance Rouge with italian dates in between. I hope to play some festivals in europe this summer. In mid-September there will be a tour in Japan and in early October we will tour Brazil. I'm working on getting to the US in November but it's not certain yet. Hopefully, more touring of europe will follow in early 2012.
-- Do you think living in Italy has had an influence on you and your music? If so, what kind of changes you have found in them?
Joe : I suppose it has but not in the usu! al way. I don't get out at night to see bands much. I have a 9 year old daughter and I like getting up early so I'm a bit isolated from the music scene here. The isolation is probably affecting me most.
-- Thinking about other members from fugazi, how they have been doing with their work lately(for example, Guy is doing produce work, Brendan makes video, Ian has a duo unit, The Evens), you strike me as a person who cares about being in a band. Now you are living in italy working with new band mates, with Elisa and Fabio. All these process was almost like re-constructing your own life, in a way. Again, can you tell us about your life involving with music for the last couple of years?
Joe : What I am trying most to do is put together songs so they can be shared with people in a live situation. Gathering with people to meditate on music is something that I find very rewarding. How to make it work out financially is always a challenge. I do what I can to get out and play. I will have to play in the US with other people because I can't afford to fly us to the US and play. I'll lose more money than I can make. Fortunately I have played 7 tours with Ricardo Lagomasino on drums, so he's a band member to me. I also met a cello player (Alison Chesley) in the US who I feel comfortable with and hope she will be the 3rd member on the next tour there. I'm trying to bring her into the sounds in the ne! w music I'm writing.
-- Do you still keep in tuch with members from Fugazi and all friends in Washington D.C.? Is there any chance that we could see you play with them again?
Joe : I'm always in touch with all 3 of those guys. Brendan came to Rome with his oldest son this summer for a visit. I don't know what will happen in the future with Fugazi. We're looking after my wife's mother here for now.
-- Can you tell us any bands or records you have been listening to alot lately? ( They dont have to be something new, of course.) And it would be great if you tell us about in! terestin g musicians in the music scene in Italy, like ZU.
Joe : I've been listening to Black and Blue by the Stones because I haven't heard it in a long time and wanted to look at it more closely. Sun Ra's Monorails and Satellites, a couple of different Fall records, Link Wray (specifically the songs Fatback and Rumble),
and the solo acoustic record by Scott (Wino) Weinrich which is called Adrift. I often feel like I study what I listen to although I totally enjoy it while listening. I miss a lot of what's going on in the present music world. There's an Italian band called Neo that I hope to see live some day, Viva Santa Claus is a band that I like from Rome, but I don't know a lot of Italian bands. We played with a band from Geneva on our last tour called Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp. They were awesome. I would roadie for them if I could fit in their van.
ジョー・ラリー最新作『Why Should I Get Used To It』はこちら↓
http://www.afterhoursmagazine.jp/main/label/joe_lallywhy_should_i_get_used_to_itah-111.php
ジョー・ラリーが前回来日した際の対面インタビューはこちら↓
http://sound.jp/hardlistening/interviews/joelally_1.html
