Meet Linda Draper
October 2004
The following interview with Planting Seeds' artist Linda Draper is exclusive to www.plantingseedsrecords.com. Meet Linda Draper: October 2004.
Interview by Neil DelParto
ND: First of all Linda, thank you for taking the time
out of your busy schedule to do this interview, we really appreciate it.
LD: My pleasure, Neil.
ND: As a sort of an introduction to our readers, tell us
where it all began for you musically. Were there any musical influences
within your family?
LD: My father is a professional classical guitarist. When I was growing up,
I remember hearing him practice songs like "Recuerdos" and "Leyenda". But
every now and then, he'd play the piano and sing these other songs that
would always make five year old me dance and spin 'round the room - especially
when he'd play "Be Bop A Lula" So there was that other side of my dad that
just wanted to rock out. My mom used to play music too - in fact, my parents
met in college at the San Francisco Music Conservatory. From what I was
told, she was very gifted, but she never pursued it. She didn't like playing
in front of people. Stage fright. She's writing a novel now.
ND: Were you formally taught to play the guitar?
LD: I got sent away to high school for a couple years. On campus there was a
shack where kids could go take guitar or drum lessons - that's where I took
guitar lessons for about a year from this guy Rick. Then a few years later
at SUNY Purchase Music Conservatory, for one semester I took guitar lessons
from this other guy whose name I forget. His fingertips were impressively
calloused and yellowed from decades of playing guitar and chain smoking.
ND: How did you first get in touch with Planting Seeds Records?
LD:
Planting Seeds Records emailed me after reading a review of my 2nd album,
"Snow White Trash Girl" in Splendid Magazine (ed note: That was back in
good ole 2002). They said they were interested in hearing my stuff, so I
sent them a couple of my CDs. Three years, two comps, and one Athens Pop
Fest later, my music is being released by their fine label.
ND: Your entire recorded work so far has been produced by Kramer, who has
worked with an impressive list of artists: Galaxie 500, Low, Sonic Youth,
Lou Reed, Urge Over Kill "Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon" (from "Pulp Fiction")
among others. How did you team up with Kramer to produce your music?
LD: In 2000, I recorded a demo called "Hello?" on my Tascam 4 track. I sent
that demo out to a couple different indie labels, including Shimmy Disc,
the label Kramer used to own. He called me and said that he got my demo,
and though he no longer ran Shimmy Disc, he liked my music and wanted to
work with me. I had no idea who this guy was, but I said ok. Our first meeting
was at his friend Virginia's home recording studio (right across the street
from the same fire station that was in the Ghostbusters movie!) Anyway,
about 10 minutes after we met, I went to use the bathroom, and I got stuck
in there - the door jammed when I closed it. Well, Kramer helped me get
out of the bathroom, and then we recorded four albums together.
ND: What do you make of the underground/indie scene in the U.S. at present?
LD: Internet killed the video star. HA!
ND: If you can remember, what was your first attempt at writing a song?
LD: I remember I wrote my first song when I was 15 years old.
ND: Your
new record, "One Two Three Four" is another step in your maturity as a singer/
songwriter/guitarist. The recurring theme throughout the record is "Love"
or "Lost Love" etc. are they based primarily on personal experiences or
just a general theme?
LD: How's this for maturity: Hey that's none of your business! Next question.
ND: Your sound is currently associated with Antifolk (which has spawned notable
artists such as Beck, Michelle Shocked, etc). With your latest record, "One
Two Three Four" What audience do you hope to gain with your release on Planting
Seeds Records?
LD: Any Sentient Being who can appreciate music without feeling the need to
psychoanalyze the person who wrote it.
ND: Planting Seeds has been known more of an indie-pop label ? how do you
think you fit in with what they are doing as a label?
LD: From what I've heard of the Planting Seeds releases, I think their music
has evolved to the point of not needing to be identified with or confined
to any sort of specific genre or category. To a certain extent, they have
to do that for marketing purposes and all that bullshit I suppose, but Planting
Seeds doesn't have to rely on one set definition or categorization of their
sound - because they know that the indie music fan has the integrity to
be more concerned with how it sounds, as opposed to what it sounds like.
The term "indie-pop" is just another musical category, or sub-category,
that contain within itself an endless amount of even more sub-categories
- maybe I'd be in one of the sub-sub-categories. To be honest, I don't really
know how I fit in. I'm with Planting Seeds Records because Planting Seeds
Records was the only label daring (or crazy) enough to sign me.
ND: Do
you plan on expanding on your style by adding a band? drums, bass, electric
guitars, keyboards etc?
LD: At this point, no I don't think so. My songs come from a very solitary place,
I think the music best reflects that by remaining stark, or sparse in its
presentation.
ND: In various publications, reviews, etc your music has been compared to
the likes of Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Nick Drake and so on? Are you yourself
into that kind of music?
LD: My dad is a Joan Baez fan, we went to go hear her in concert last year.
But outside of that concert, I've never really listened to her stuff. Same
with Joni Mitchell, I respect her music, but I've never been inspired to
go write a song after hearing it. I get inspired by music when it contains
elements or qualities that are not similar to my own.
ND: What music has influenced the overall sound of Linda Draper?
LD: That would take forever and a day to answer.
ND: What sort of stuff are you listening to right now? What would be your
current TOP 10?
LD: (In no particular order) Knot Pinebox, "Suspended Particulation", Planting
Seeds Comp., "Sunsets and Silhouettes" Barry Bliss "#5", PJ Harvey, "Dry",
A Leonard Cohen CD a friend of mine burned for me, I don't know the title,
but it's his earlier stuff. Right now I'm listening to Bonnie 'Prince' Billy,
"I See A Darkness". Ok, I know that's only six, but that'll have to do.
ND: As
far as performing live, do you prefer the intimate atmospheres of coffee
houses/cafe's or the larger venues?
LD: As far as playing in brightly lit coffee houses, with the audience sitting
right there in my lap, competing with the noisy coffee grinder, having to
come up with some dumb joke about the noisy coffee grinder, ugh - I really
can't stand that. It makes me feel too exposed and useless and out of my
element - so I try to steer clear of playing coffee houses. I'm far more
comfortable playing in dimly lit bars, even if it?s a small venue, as long
as it's dark, that's all right by me. But there's something thrilling about
playing larger venues. I like looking out over to the furthest corner of
the room and filling it all in with what I'm saying. That's an empowering
feeling.
ND: We've noticed you have played high profile shows in London, England
at the Twelve Bar Club, as well as The Antifolk Festivals and the Athens
Popfest in Atehns, GA. Are more festivals like CMJ, SXSW, etc. in your future
plans?
LD: Playing in festivals like CMJ and SXSW are definitely part of my future
plans.
ND: Are there plans for a tour in support of your new record "One Two Three
Four"? Is a return trip to England a possibility?
LD: Funny you should mention that, Neil. As a matter of fact, Randi Russo, a
very talented songwriter who's on the Olive Juice Music label in NYC, recently
brought up the idea of organizing a UK tour early next spring. There's still
much to be discussed, but I think that if we pool our resources together,
we should be able to get a solid schedule of gigs and places to stay once
we're out there...so if all goes smoothly, that could take place sometime
in March of 2005.
ND: Well Ms. Draper, thank you for all, it has been a pleasure chatting with
you! We look forward to the release of your fantastic new record!
LD: Thank you!
For more information on Linda Draper, please visit her at www.lindadraper.net. Her fourth LP "One Two Three Four" will be released in January 2005.
(from top to bottom): Neil DelParto, Sfranco, Michael Macioce, Eric Lippe, and Chris Mac
