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Artist Interviews
Q&A: Phosphorescent
By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 8 September 2010
Currently residing in Brooklyn, New York, Phosphorescent is the indie folk/alt country project of Matthew Houck. Originally playing under the moniker Fillup Shack, Matthew released his debut album ‘Hipolit’ back in 2000, before going on to release five LP’s under the Phosphorescent banner – starting with ‘A Hundred Times Or More’ in 2003.
His band received wider attention following the release of their 2005 album ‘Aw Come Wry’ and the 2007 LP ‘Pride’, and have garnered comparisons to Iron And Wine, Will Oldham and Neil Young. The band has just re-released their most recent album ‘Here’s To Taking It Easy’ via Dead Oceans, and are out on a UK tour this week with support from Timber Timbre.
Ahead of their gig at London’s Scala tonight, and performances at the Bestival, End Of The Road festivals and Brighton’s Komedia this weekend, we spoke to Houck to ask the Same Six.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
Clumsily. But with a lot of feeling.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
The idea of aiming for a straightforward or ‘classic’ country/rock kind of album was the jumping off point.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating an album?
It’s different every time. I’m lately getting into the idea of undergoing a full scale spiritual overhaul before the next record. Shatter the walls of the mind/ego and see what’s left to work with.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
Today: Walker Percy, Buster Keaton, Eminem, Bill Withers, Werner Herzog.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
If I was standing next to them I would nudge them with my elbow and say, “Pretty good, eh?”
Q6 What are your ambitions for ‘Here’s To Taking It Easy’, and for the future?
To create enough energy and momentum through these efforts that there will be a surplus. And to have the opportunity then for that surplus to be harnessed and channeled into motions that benefit many as opposed to few.
MORE>> www.myspace.com/phosphorescent
