Exclusive Interview with Jim Guthrie

Laughing Dog – Hi Jim, and welcome to music for the month – how are you and where are you?

Jim Guthrie – I’m doing well. I’m living in Toronto and we just had an amazing rain storm. I’m sure the garden enjoyed it too.

LD – I must admit that I’ve been blown away by your album Now More Than Ever – tell me a bit about it.

JG – I’m not going to lie to you. It’s pretty old at this point. I recorded it in 2003 at The House of Miracles and it was first released on Three Gut Records in Canada. It was well received but it didn’t really have an audience due to the fact that I didn’t really tour it among other things I’m sure. Thanks to the good people at 3syllable records it’s getting another kick at the can.

LD – It was first released in 2003 – what happened? Why is it only now that I’m hearing it?

JG – I get that from a lot of people these days. I think there are a lot of records out there that we could say the same about. There’s just so much music being made these days that not all of it can be heard at the same time…maybe?

LD – The lyrics are very strong – where do you get your inspiration?

JG – I’ve never considered myself a “singer/songwriter”. I get my ideas in fragments from everyday day dreaming and scribble down random sentences as a result of this. After a period of time I’ll have a look at it and try to piece it together. I find this method a little maddening at times because my songs end up rather cryptic in their meaning but I guess they make sense to me. This style does not always lend itself to anthemic ear worms but so be it.

LD – One of the highlights of the album is the string arrangements, especially Lovers Do and All Gone – what was it like working with Owen Pallett?

JG – It was amazing to watch Owen lay the strings down for this record. I had never watched someone so effortlessly bring an idea to life with little or no preparation. He understands music in a way I will never. I had melodies I would play or hum for some of the record and the rest he made up on the spot. During the few days we lived at the studio to do strings he would work on stuff the morning of and be ready to record it all by the time Andy woke up at noon. Mike Olsen played cello on a lot of it as well and they made a great team.

LD – I read a review saying Now, More Than Ever is the OK Computer of folk albums. – how do you feel when you hear reviews like this?

JG – I love comparisons like that and I like to think it’s pretty accurate. A lot of things about NMTE are pretty traditional sounding but with a little distortion and clever arranging I feel like we found a groove that set it apart from folk as it were.

LD – What makes this album different from the last one?

JG – Actually both records that came out before NMTE are very different. A Thousand Songs and Morning Noon Night are more or less bedroom records that were recorded on a 4-track. By design they aren’t very focused and are sonically schizophrenic. They have their moments and elude to the fact that I could make a record like NMTE but you never know until you try.

LD – Tell us more about your work with Human Highway, Royal City and Mandrills – what’s going on with the album cover for Moody Motorcycle (what are you looking at and why?)

JG – All those other projects were born out of my love for the people I made the music with. I’m not really pursuing those projects anymore but they still mean the world to me. The Human Highway cover was shot by Jamie Hogge and I’m not sure what we were looking at but I can assure you it was very deep and meaningful.

LD – Flicking through my CD collection I see Neil Young, you (of course) Ron Sexsmith, Robbie Robertson, Rush, Buffy Sante-Marie, Daniel Lanois etc. etc. – all Canadian what’s in the water over there that makes such good singer/songwriters/bands?

JG – I’ll have to get back to you on that one.

LD – I love all your album artwork – they are all very visual. How much input do you have with the artwork who or what inspires you?

JG – Like most indie bands I have almost all of the creative input and have friends help m lay it out. It’s collaborative but I get to direct it all. I love good album art but I don’t really think about it much.

LD – Who or what inspired you to become an artist? How or in what way?

JG – Friends growing up who encourage me to make music. I’ve had the good fortune of knowing some pretty special people growing up.

LD – What do you love about music?

JG – I’m not sure but I know it when I hear it.

LD – What are some of your passions outside of music?

JG – I basically love the idea of creating something out of nothing.

LD – What’s the hardest thing about being a musician – do you enjoy the life?

JG – The hardest things about being a musician are the same things are hard about being human. We’re all just trying to figure out what we’re good at and where we belong. If you let it, music opens you up to a lot of opportunities. It’s all about trying to balance your expectation vs the reality of any given opportunity. If you can get those things to play nice then nothing in life is that hard.

LD – What’s the most bizarre thing to happen while you were onstage? Do they have any funny touring stories?

JG – Oh, lots of things. One little instance that comes to mind is when I was playing in Royal City opening for Sarah Harmer. We were playing a bunch of nice, sit-down theatre venues and we felt a little out of place but it was still pretty thrilling for us. I remember playing a raunchy guitar solo and we were all rocking out when I happened to look over at my amp at the same instance the beer bottle on top of it fell over and knocked the volume knob up to 11 before spilling beer all over the god damn place. It all happened in slow motion and the sound my amp made was awful. It totally scared the shit out of everyone and I never recovered for the rest of the set.

LD – If you could tour with any band, who would they be?

JG – I don’t really like touring that much so this is a tough one.

LD – What was the first and last record you’ve bought?

JG – I don’t remember the first one but the last one was a best of Paul Simon comp on iTunes.

LD – Thanks Jim for your answers it’s been a pleasure to chat with – I wish you all the best for the future. Please keep in touch with your friends here on MFTM.

Image by Jamie Hogge