Printer-friendly versionWith a new album out and a national tour, Ben Kweller certainly is a busy fellow. Sacrificing valuable time for baby clothes shopping at a Cincinnati Old Navy, the one-man band takes a few moments to talk to Street about bloody noses, intellectual property, and even his music.
Street: On your new album you play all the instruments yourself, was that something you planned on doing much prior to recording, or when exactly was that decision made?
Kweller: It happened at the last minute. I was hanging out with the producer, Gil Norton, and he just said, "Dude, I've been thinking about it. These songs are so personal and so autobiographical, you should play all the instruments. I was like, "Whoa, well, let me think about it." But I thought about it and I realized it could be totally cool to play all the instruments, and really get in there one-on-one with the producer and just make the songs exactly how I wanted them to be. Thats what I did. I might never do it again, but it was fun.
Street: How different is the creative process for a rehearsal style album with a full band like you used for On My Way, and one completely dependent on overdubs like your new self-titled LP?
Kweller: I guess it's kind of like I've come full circle from being a kid. I remember when I was 13 years old I went to my first recording studio and I just put everything I wanted on the recording, any idea I came up with, I did. It was really free and sort of no rules, unlike the last album that had a lot of rules, like you couldn't use gear older than 1969, or you could only do an overdub if it was really important. This record, though, was just like made the best record you can.
Street: Critics often compare you to, and you've sited some of them as influences, 70's songwriters. Who would you say are some of your more recent influences?
Kweller: Probably a lot of my friends that also write songs, like Conor from Bright Eyes. He's always inspires me when I hear his songs and, you know, we play each others new stuff. I'm friends with a lot of guys who are doing it right and now and it is really good to sit with the guitar and play each other's new songs that make you want to write better songs and just really kick your ass. I'd say I also really like groups like the Kings of Leon, The Strokes, Adam Green is another one that I really think is great.
Street: I imagine The Bens were great for that sort of thing.
Kweller: Totally, that's a great example. I mean, Ben Folds is the best piano player I've ever met. So, you know, sitting down with him just makes you want to be a better musician.
Street: How did growing up in the music business sort of shape who you are now, especially as an artist.
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