Michael Gira – Wicked Spins Radio interview
Michael Gira – Wicked Spins Radio interview
“Swans has always changed members. I can say this is the best group I have ever had, the best congregation that I’ve ever sported and I’m happy to have them on board and they are really great musicians. “
The Swans are an iconic band spanning a couple of decades. Lead vocalist Michael Gira is just about to embark on a solo European tour before concentrating on the new Swans album and touring again with them. I got to catch up with Michael as he kindly spared us some time out of his very busy schedule.
WSR– Hi Michael, thank you for giving Wicked Spins Radio this interview. Firstly can you tell us a little bit about what you are doing at the moment?
Michael – I just about to leave for a solo European tour, I have just finished a tour of the West Coast of the United States. I am doing about 25 shows in Europe in 32 days. I’ve just finished a new Swans album it’s called The Seer and it will be out in August. Then Swans will be touring in August for another year probably and I don’t even remember I’m so busy
WSR– You embark on a solo European Tour soon. Which venues are looking forward to playing the most?
Michael – I really can’t tell you (laughs). I’m just in a tomaton, people push me forward with a pin and I just go play a show
WSR– You have a few festivals coming up on your European tour, do you prefer to play to a bigger audience or a smaller one?
Michael – When I’m playing solo I like smaller more intimate venues.
WSR– Do you have a big fan base in Europe and in which country would you say you are most popular?
Michael – I really don’t know, I don’t know how big my or Swans fan base is in relation to other people. I guess a decent amount of people are interested in the music.
WSR– Your last album The Milk Of M. Gira was an assortment of home recordings, what was the reason to release your private recordings?
Michael – Well that’s something I have been doing for 10 years now through the Young Gods website, just to give fans and people who appreciate the music something that’s more primary and raw I suppose. A different take on the songs that later become orchestrated with either Angels Of Light or Swans. The album The Milk Of M. Gira is a collection of the best of the three or four solo releases I have done over the last 10 years, they are really low key releases that have just been on the website or played live. I put this out because I need something out while I’m touring, I’m a working musician so I have to tour all the time and I just needed something to help the tour a little bit.
WSR– How is recording on the new album going and what new can fans expect to hear?
Michael – Well it’s a cinematic undertaking, there’s lots of different aspects of sound on it. It goes from quiet pastoral things to very calamitous moments where it’s just waves of sounds and rhythm. It’s very nuanced and it works very well. There are some guests on it which aid it, besides my core members in the band which are the same people who were on the last record and who we just toured with. There are some guest vocalists for instance Al and Mimi from the band Low are singing a vocal with me it’s not background vocals they are singing equal to me on a song that’s called Lunacy. And the band Akron Family have contributed some Beach Boyesk vocals to another song which is called Piece Of The Sky and Jarboe also sings on that song and another song, she does some background vocals as well. I also wrote a song which I thought was good for me to sing and I wanted someone also to sing it with me and I happened on the lady Karen O and she’ll be singing the lead vocal on a song called Song For A Warrior.
WSR– The Swans have seen a few line-up changes since they started out, what is the current band line up and what background are they from?
Michael – Swans has always changed members. I can say this is the best group I have ever had, the best congregation that I’ve ever sported and I’m happy to have them on board and they are really great musicians. We have just toured 18 months last year and we’re about to go out for another year. They are excellent musicians and good blokes.
WSR– What do you think it is that has kept Swans alive for so long?
Michael – Fear of poverty.
WSR– What is your best memory of being with the Swans, what’s your greatest achievement?
Michael – Surviving.
WSR– Thank you so much for giving Wicked Spins Radio this interview, is there anything you would like to add?
Michael – Thank you for your interest and good luck the station .
http://www.younggodrecords.com/
