Q & A
What was the first album you ever owned on vinyl?
If we’re talking about an album that I bought with my own money, it might’ve been the “Holiday Rap” single by MC Miker G and DJ Sven. Kind of a remix/rap version of Madonna’s “Holiday” by a hip-hop duo from Amsterdam. Look it up. At age 11, I was a rap fiend and this song went hard.
What have you been listening to lately?
Mostly reggae — King Tubby, Scientist, Lee Perry, Gregory Isaacs, Yabby You, Johnny Clarke, Freddie McGregor, Hugh Mundell, Ras Michael. But I also just got a copy of Alice Coltrane’s newly remixed version of Turiya Sings, so I’ve been spending some time with that as well.
Where is your favorite place in the world and why?
It’s hard for me to talk favorites, but I love Lisbon, Dublin, Cornwall, the Central Coast of California, Barcelona. I love the ocean and I also love being up in the Appalachian Mountains, not far from where I live. And I love home.
What is the best live show you’ve seen, and why was it the best?
I’m not sure if it was the best, but back in 1995 or 1996, I saw Dirty Three and Low at the Troubadour, and it was really exciting, very transporting. It’s a show that has stuck with me since then.
What are some things you have to have on the road with you?
Plenty of books, a portable record player (I tend to buy a lot of records while traveling), a coffee-making rig.
What is the craziest thing that’s happened to you on the road?
Jeez, there are a lot of contenders. Back in 2014 or so, we played a pub in the Cotswolds in England and then stayed in the apartment above the pub afterwards, which belonged to the owner. We slept in his kids’ room (there were multiple bunk beds in there), and he was so drunk that he locked us in there and we couldn’t get out until late morning. The big question was why there was a lock on the outside of his children’s bedroom door.
Who or what influences your music?
Just the day to day, I think. My kids, home, getting older. Lots of other music too, the way that music that I love works rhythmically—hearing a good rhythm section is very inspiring to me.
What album do you play on repeat, and what do you love about it?
Maybe it’s because I’m listening to it right now, but I love the first Brightblack Morning Light record on Matador. I think it was way ahead of its time and feels totally classic to me.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
Gosh, I guess there are many that I could think of. Maybe here I’ll say Lee Perry, since I’ve spent so much time with his music this past year.
