Greece's webzine Rock Overdose had the chance to talk with Paul Roland about a lot of interesting subjects! Enjoy the conversation below:
R.O.: Well, back in Greece huh? Tell us about this relationship between you and the Greek audience and about your upcoming event here of course.
Paul: I have always had a special love for the Greek audience. It means everything to me to be thought well of (remembered fondly) by the Greek people. When I was first invited to play in Athens in 1987 I couldn't understand why they wanted me, as the language of my lyrics are quite old fashioned (which is intentional as I wanted to convey the elegance of the Edwardian and Victorian age in which many of the songs were set) and would be difficult to understand for people who are not native English speakers. But then I came to understand that they like my music because it follows a story telling tradition that is shared by the southern Mediterranean cultures. And they also like my use of classical and acoustic instruments to evoke a particular atmosphere which was unusual at a time when rock music was primarily electronic or all guitars. There weren't many young singer-songwriters in the mid to late 80s like there are now and I suppose I stood out as being a bit different.
The other thing that I particularly admire about the Greek audience and the radio and press is that they have never liked something because they have been told it is fashionable to do so, like the English do. If the Greek audience like something, if they find a quality in it that they respond to, then they will enthuse about it regardless of what anyone else tells them.
I hope that they will see this time that I am not the kind of artist who sits still and keeps playing their old songs. I have made a new album every year (except during the 7 year period when i gave up music to write books) and each time I have imagined that it was my first album and that I had to make it the best possible, so I have never been complacent or taken things easy. So they will hear new songs as well as some that should be familiar but not many of the early songs as I have matured and developed as I have grown older and developed as a writer.
R.O.: As I know you are working on your new album. Tell us some things about this. What we have to expect from you this time?
Paul: The new album is a garage psych-rock album recorded with a new band. Most of the songs are darkly macabre and quite funny as I have been too serious for quite a long time! My last album, 'Grimm', was a quiet, intimate acoustic album of songs based on the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales and so this time I was itching to get up and rock again! But for the concerts in Thessaloniki and Athens next month it will be an acoustic set featuring an electric violinist (Jenny Benwell) and my son Joshua on Bass.
'Bates Motel' is more of a 'story' album than any I have previously recorded with several songs having lots of verses because I wrote them when I was in a 'funny' mood - when I was amused by the idea and just kept writing verse after verse. In fact I cut quite a lot of verses from the final versions. And these were written before I wrote the music. It was recorded very quickly - just one rehearsal the night before the first session and then most of the tracks were recorded in one or two takes which preserved the energy and freshness. I've always recorded quickly for that reason and because I have been lucky to have such technically proficient musicians to work with, but this album was done especially quickly. So many artists take longer to make an album as they get older but I think that's an unncessary indulgence. Keep it fresh and stay sharp and the energy will be in the grooves, as we used to say.
R.O.: If you had to choose between writing books and writing music which one would be this and why?
Paul: I need to do both and you can't force me to choose between my children! Music is more personal because the ideas are mostly my own (although I have based some songs on stories by certain authors such as Poe and Lovecraft) and the music comes from somewhere inside me, whereas writing books is more of an intellectual exercise, but I love words - which is why my answers to interview questions are so long!
R.O.: You said that "Discipline is as important as talent". I agree and as a result of that I could say that also "success is depending on discipline". What's your opinion? Is this your way of thinking?
Paul: Nothing inspires more than success. And by that I don't mean commerical success, I mean having your work accepted and respected. That's what energises me. I couldn't care less whether an album sells 700 or 700,000 copies so long as every one of those listeners enjoys and is enriched by listening to it. Who would want their album to be a massive seller if most of the people who bought it did so because it was fashionable to be seen with it and if they then left it unplayed on the shelf after a couple of plays? I don't make music to get noticed. I make music because it's fun to be creative and productive. When I had three different publishers at one point I wrote three different books at the same time (not literally of course - I mean some of one book in the morning, some of the second book in the afternoon and some of the third in the evening and I kept to this routine for several months until I had three finished books - and three very happy publishers!). I managed to write three books at the same time because I loved doing it. It wasn't work to me. And music is the same. If I had three different labels and they didn't mind me releasing three different albums at the same time (which you can't do these days, of course) then i would happily write three different sets of songs and enjoy recording them.
R.O.: The kind or style if you want of music and writing that you chose are somehow unconventional. You walk into your life with the same way of thinking; Unconventionally;
Paul: I don't think about myself in any way. I have no concept of self-image. I am my songs and I am my books.
R.O.: Tell us some things about your writing inspiration. What's your secret? (If there is one for you)
Paul: I think the 'secret' is not to try too hard. I relax into writing both books and music and just allow the words and music to come to me and flow through me. I think any productive, creative person will tell you the same. The minute you have to think hard about what you are doing, is the moment you stem the flow. Of course sometimes I have to tease out an idea like a thread from a ball of wool, but if I am having trouble expressing an idea then I know it's because I haven't caught the right angle and need to backtrack and start again. But that rarely happens. I have noticed one thing recently as i have been forced to listen to some of the older songs and that is that I used use much plainer language when I was younger and so it was easier to write lyrics. More recently I have been very particular about how I express myself and tell the story. That's one way I can tell how far I have grown as a songwriter and that gives me great satisfaction. I'd hate to be someone who keeps re-writting their hits!
R.O.: What are your next steps for the future?
Paul: I have a new band that I am very excited about and we are looking to play live more frequently. I have also written half of the songs for the next album and have ideas for a couple of acoustic albums that i am very keen to do. But I think my future in Greece will depend on whether or not I can find a Greek label as it is not enough to have a couple of hundred CDs available on import.
R.O.: If you could change one thing in the world what would be this?
Paul: I would abolish all forms of mundane employment and have the state pay people to be creative and enrich themselves by attending all forms of art - theatre, cinema, art galleries, concerts...so it could be a new Garden of Eden on Earth. And everyone would be allowed to stay up very late and not have to get up for breakfast!
R.O.: Thank you very much! Take care and keep going this great work!
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