Leuk interview gevonden van Indie Rock Resource
Indie Rock Resource: Your solo record and Moldy Peaches might be compared to, or categorized with Tenacious D [who the Moldy Peaches supported in 2002] in shock value and some of the outrageous themes you deal with. But somehow, it seems they have slipped past the censors in a way you haven’t—you won’t find Garfield or The Moldy Peaches at Walmart.
Adam Green: Yeah, I mean it’s true to some extent. We won’t show up on the shelves of Walmart [laughs]. But one of the members in that band is a movie star so it’s completely different. It seems like they censor folk music more than they censor Hip-Hop. If that’s what you [mean].
IRR: Exactly.
Adam: Well, it’s really strange because we wanted to make a [Moldy Peaches] music video for "Who’s Got the Crack," and before [our record label] gave us the money…the only place that plays videos in America is MTV. So when you are making a video you are making it so that MTV will play it. So [our label] decided before they shelled out the money they would just ask MTV if they would play it. And [the label] sent them the lyrics and MTV said no, they wouldn’t play that.
But at the same time maybe thousands, if not hundreds, or thousands of rap songs ... maybe hundreds [laughs]... probably slip by the radar of MTV with the same subject matter. They just say it really quick and it goes by really quick but [essentially, they are saying the same thing]. Don’t you agree?
IRR: Absolutely
Adam: That’s one thing... but then you have the fact that the intention behind the [lyrics] is different. And that should be taken into consideration when you censor something. The intention of what’s being said. We were never trying to mess anybody up. When I write words I never tried to hurt anybody [giggles]. I don’t think kids who would listen to "Who’s Got the Crack" would want to some crack.
IRR: But are people often shocked by your lyrics? Have people approached you and asked "why would you say something like this?"
Adam: Yeah, but not often. It happens but it’s because people don’t know the whole story. So they can’t see it the way I do. Actually, I think it’s only happened once [laughs].
IRR: Where you do find inspiration; are your lyrics coming from any particular place?
Adam: I just make them up. They are coming from all over the place. But I don’t like usually see a line in a book and them I’m like, "Oh, that's good. I’ll use that line." I don’t watch TV and say, "Oh, wow! That guy said that. I’ll have it" [laughs]. You know what I mean, it’s a little more personal than that. I’m kinda of a filter. When I’m thinking of stuff. I’ll filter it through me so ...I’ll come up with [lyrics] when I’m walking around. I’ll just think of something and I don’t know where it came from ... I always have some idea of where it came from and that’s what makes me enjoy singing it. But I am not crazy about telling people what I think it’s about because I would rather they just ... (pause)
IRR: ...Have their own interpretation of it.
Adam: Yeah, ‘cause if I tell them [the meaning] then that’s what they are going to think it’s about. Maybe I’m wrong.
IRR: How’s it been supporting Ben Kweller, Badly Drawn Boy and The Strokes and now ending your own tour? How has the audience response been?
Adam: The audiences have really dug it.
IRR: But is it different now that you’re on your own and people know your songs? Like at the Spaceland show [in Los Angeles] this guy was in your face ready to sing back to you.
Adam: Yeah, that was cool. That doesn’t happen all the time. But with the Moldy Peaches it would happen all the time.
IRR: Is it different for you headlining a tour on your own—as opposed to supporting Ben Kweller, for example, and getting his audience reaction?
Adam: Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course. ‘Cause when I toured with Ben Kweller I was able to perform for new people. I love playing to new people that never heard me ... because they are seeing me with fresh eyes. When [the response is good] then I feel like I’m good because I feel like they really enjoyed it for real. They don’t just it like cause they have my CD or something. You know what I mean?
IRR: I know what you mean. I usually like to go see a band first before I buy their album.
Adam: I saw Elliott Smith a few weeks ago and if he was playing to a bunch of people that never heard him before, they wouldn’t have thought it was so great. I saw him play years ago and I thought he was really good [then]. Now it is possible that I’ve changed and that could be the reason [I didn’t dig him as much this time]. But I felt like people were putting him on… It’s touchy though.
IRR: During most of your performances you stare out back towards the wall, hardly looking into the audience. Is this your way to combat stage freight or is it your stage persona?
Adam: I have stage freight. Well, when I perform like that I do… (pause)…I don’t have a conscious stage persona. I don’t like looking into peoples’ eyes while I’m playing. It makes me feel uncomfortable. I mean I’m singing. I don’t mind when I’m talking [laughs], but singing I just feel like it’s a little gross to look into peoples’ eyes [laughs]. And I don’t like it when people look at me.
IRR: We’ll all look away then and just listen.
Adam: No, see, I do the looking away for everyone.
IRR: So I’ve heard that you’re excited about the new album. It’s already in mixing stages right?
Adam: It just happened yesterday. How did you find out?
IRR: (IRR reveals the source as Green’s publicist.) When did you have time to work on the material?
Adam: Well, I work on stuff all the time. It’s pretty compulsive with me. I write music every day.
IRR: Will there be any guests on this album?
Adam: Nah, I try to stay away from that kind of thing. Steven Mertens (Moldy Peaches) is playing bass and Matt Ramano (drum tech for the Strokes) is playing drums. [There is also] a quartet and they play on every song pretty much. You’ll probably be surprised when you hear it because it sounds nothing like Garfield. You know, Garfield was recorded three years ago. It just took [the label] a long time release it.
IRR: When is this one out for release and do you have a working title?
Adam: Late August or September [2003]. It’s called Emotional Stuntman.
IRR: Do you like working in the studio or touring better?
Adam: Um, they’re really different. I really like all of it. I love making albums. I love playing music.
IRR: What does it do for you, bring you closer to yourself, God, women?
Adam: [Pffft…] No, not God. I don’t know. It makes me feel really good. I like the way it feels to make my vocal chords buzz and modulate [laughs].
IRR: It’s like meditation?
Adam: It’s closer to a massage…[laughs]
Hoianghuzhouhiuphoeginglau is goedemorgen, hoor ik Bassie en Adriaan al zingen; nou, ik versta d'r geen kút van!
(Superworm)