Interviews

Steven Wilson

Conceited: What inspired you to make music?

My family is very musical. My uncle was a Vaudeville musician and then played in Big Bands during World War II. He had the most amazing collection of 78 rpm records, which I would listen to whenever I was at his home. My brothers and sisters (I am the youngest of six children) had killer record collections, which I would listen to over and over again. Not being “old enough” to work the stereo, I was constantly bothering my siblings to play records for me. By the time I was 5 years old, I could hear and identify songs by Bowie, T-Rex, Queen, etc., faster than my brother’s teenage friends – which annoyed them a great deal. Of course my biggest inspiration to make music was girls. A nerdy teenager with bad skin, I figured playing a guitar would attract girls by the truckload. Wrong.

Conceited: How did you start Plasticsoul?

I’ve played in various bands since I was 15 years old. As I got older, I became less accepting of flakey people who were less committed than me. Eventually, I decided go it alone. I figured that way, I would succeed or fail based on my own merits. I continued to play in different bands but was writing and tucking away songs for myself and plotting my musical independence. Plasticsoul, for the most part, has always been a solo project posing as a “band” until recently when Mark accepted my invitation for him to become an official member of Plasticsoul.

Conceited: How would you describe the sound of your album “Pictures from the Long Ago”?

Back when XTC still played live, Andy Partridge used to introduce their song “This Is Pop” by saying, “The music press nowadays seems to have it in its head that it must categorize people . . . I want to give \'em one big label that categorizes everything. THIS IS POP!”

I’m influenced by such a wide range of music, from The Beatles to Bollywood, and I try not to place any stylistic limits on myself. There is a little bit of everything on the record. If you like big, loud guitars, we’ve got some for you. If you like waltzes, there’s some of that, too. It’s all pop music to me. I’ve been told that the record sounds like Neil Young, John Lennon, Crowded House, Badly Drawn Boy, Elliott Smith, Bob Dylan, Jon Brion . . . the list goes on and on. Someone once said that I was the “male equivalent of Aimee Mann”. I’ll take that. I’m proud to be compared to any of those people.

Conceited: Can you take us through your favourite songs?

I’m particularly fond of “Heartbeats and Baby’s Breath” which sounds to me like Frankenstein’s creature lumbering its way through a delicate waltz. All of the musicians who played on it did amazing work. David McConnell came up with a fantastic chamberlain hook and laid down a great bass part. Johann Langlie played some beautifully dramatic piano and understood exactly what I meant when I said, “Play it like Cole Porter, only cornier.” George Bryant’s drumming is flawless. The song moves along with great fluidity and I can feel it throughout my whole body when I listen to it.

I’m also very happy with “Ten Stories Up,” because it was recorded entirely at our own studio, The Villa Toluca Ranch. Jake Gideon Posner from the band Edison Gower played a mean banjo and pianorgan on it. I think the story told in the lyrics comes across well also.

As clichéd as this sounds, all of the songs on the CD are like my kids. I’m sure I can prattle on and on about each and every one of them. They all have endearing qualities to me.


Conceited: You played a couple of shows in the UK in May... What did you think of the UK music scene?

I was only there for 8 days, so I’m sure I only got to experience a fragment of what is going on with the UK music scene. What I did get to experience was thoroughly enjoyable. All of the bands that I was booked to appear with were a pleasure to watch. I wish I could have seen more. And like the United States, a great many UK bands are releasing their own records, which is where it’s at in my book.


Conceited: Did you enjoy playing here?

This was my first time ever in the UK. It was quite an adventure for me, and I had a blast. The audiences were great, as were the staff members of the clubs where I performed. Two of my musical heroes, Pat Fish (The Jazz Butcher) Nick Heyward (Haircut 100), came out to watch me perform, which was a complete mindfuck for me. Pat actually secured me a couple of gigs in Northampton and let me stay in his home while I was there. He is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. Did I enjoy playing there? Hell yes! Can I play there tonight?


Conceited: What are your plans for Plasticsoul?

Our plans are to keep writing, recording, and touring when and where we can. We are currently finishing up an EP, which should be out before the end of the year, as well as our second full-length album, which we want to release by mid-2006. Of course the biggest priority right now is to make new fans and get our debut CD “Pictures from the Long Ago” into as many homes as possible.