Interview

  • Aden의 리더 Jeff Gramm과의 인터뷰

* 지난 6월에 이메일로 가진 제프 그램과의 서면 인터뷰입니다. 그때 이런저런 사정 상 올리지 못해서 이제사 올립니다. 한국어 번역은 여기 있습니다.

 

 

 

Q: First, I'd like to thank for accepting the interview with me. It's so encouraging that [Hey 19] has been released recently here in Korea. Are there any other countries that have introduced it?

-- Our record has been released in Japan and the US. I've never really looked into England, Sweden or Australia, but those three countries are very supportive of american indie rock. . .i've just been a little too lazy with "Hey 19"

Q : It seems to be special in any aspects that your album has been released here in Korea. It might be a bit too general in terms to ask like this but, I'd like to know the way 'Korea' or 'Korean' means to you. Here, I don't want to mean by something like 'genuine blood' or 'genealogy' of Koreans who lives in Korea. What I'd like to know about you is how you feel to have a life as an 'ethnic (half) Korean'.

-- Just recently I've been getting really interested in my Korean heritage. Northern Virginia has quite a big Korean community, so I've been trying to pay more attention to it. I just wish i spoke korean. that would obviously be very helpful. I think most people don't put much thought into their
ethnic heritage until they reach their late-20s. Now that I'm getting a little older, being Korean means more and more to me every day.

Q : Also I'd like to ask you about the relationship between you and your father. It might be a well known story among your friends and those who love Aden. If you feel confused to answer, it wouldn't be a problem at all to skip this question. It's the same about you and your mother.

-- Well I have a very good relationship with both of my parents. They've both had very interesting careers and it's definately been fun to see what their jobs are like. Obviously things would be very different if my father had been successful in his presidential campaign, but as things stand now i
definately have no complaints.

Q: Sooyoung Park had been here for one week and returned to San Francisco a week ago. I think you already know that he and his band have played gigs twice here. According to him, he seems to know that you and Fortune 4 that released your first debut album has got close relationship each other.

-- I really like Sooyoung a lot. I've always assumed that he played a large role getting Moonrise to release our records. I never would have thought about trying to release an album in Korea if Seam hadn't done it first. Are we the only two American indie bands with cd's out there? Sooyoung's label
Fortune4 released our first album, so he was really the first guy to give us a real shot at doing anything with Aden.

Q: From what I could understand from related informations, Aden is known to have had gigs together with the bands like Magnetic Fields, Aluminum Group, Pedro the Lion , etc. I remember you said once in an interview that you've been into Ron Sexsmith and Elliott Smith. Do you believe there exist some
kind of emotional or cultural link that connects you to those mentioned above? If it is what are they are like in specific?

-- No, all of those bands are very very different "emotionally" and "culturally". . .Among the bands mentioned there are many contrasts. . .Elliott Smith is introverted and very private, yet he writes personal and confident songs. Aluminum Group are sort of the exact opposite. Pedro the Lion are devout christians. . .Ron Sexsmith is sincere and understated while Magnetic Fields pride themselves on utilizing cliches and melodrama. So nothing really connects all those bands to each other (or Aden), but I love them all. We're actually playing with Ron Sexsmith next week in Baltimore. .
.I'm really excited.

Q: It sounds a bit trifle but where do you usually do your music related activities? I mean which places are you usually based on? Some say it's Washington D. C. and others say Chicago. And I'd appreciate if you could tell us the special differences you feel among the places you think highly of
musically.

-- Well, we're all about to live in NYC together, so hopefully we'll be a New York band very soon. We all grew up in DC and went to college in chicago, so we've spent a lot of time in both cities. Chicago has a much more diverse music scene, but I think that might be due to the fact that it's just a larger town. There are so many differences between the two that i don't even know where to begin.

Q: In addition to the bands mentioned above, are there any other special music styles or musicians that you were greatly influenced in the past? And could you also share the special memory of the days you were growing up? There seems to be many moments that are not forgotten. The place you were living , the way of your life and so on for example.

-- I remember going to see lots of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals when I was a little kid. I'm sure those plays subconsciously influence the music I make. As for musicians that have influenced me . . .well I guess it all starts with the Beatles. They're my favorite band, and I'm somewhat obsessed with John
Lennon's songwriting. I also really love: Buddy Holly, Hank Williams, Big Star, Ron Sexsmith, Velvet Underground and many others. Recently I've been listening to lots of guitar playing by Clarence White. Kevin got me into that.

Q: Now, let me ask you about your new album. I heard that you've described it something like you put aside the feelings of sorrow. I'm not sure it has something to do with this, but some of Korean fans of yours say that the beautiful touch of your own melodies seems to be a little diminished in it. If you think this can be said to be 'change' , please let us share what kind of intentions you had when making this album.

-- I think you're right that "hey 19" is a little bit less melodic than the first two records. But i still think it's a better rock record. The musical change was obviously less intentional than the lyrical changes. I don't really have any goals when I write music, it just sort of happens. As for lyrics, because I don't really think of myself as a very good lyricist, I feel like I have to work hard with them. I feel like the lyrics on our first two records were a little too silly.

Q: Do you have your own favorite in the new album? Could you tell us What it is? And I'd like to know if there were something special in the process of recording the new album. I do hope you might not feel bothered if I ask how many copies have been sold.

-- I guess "Matinee Idol" and "House of Klein" are my two favorite songs to play live. But I'm quite happy with that whole record. I think it's our best cd yet. We didn't do anything special when we recorded it. . .it took about 8 days. We recorded in Chicago with our friend Dave Trumfio. I think
"hey 19" has sold around 3000 copies. I'm not sure how many it has sold in Korea.

Q: You seem to have comparatively short running time for each track. Is there any kind of special musical philosophy or any other reasons you could tell us? I might be making a bad shot but there also seems to be Aden's ideal in relation to this. Let all of big fans of yours share it.

-- I've always been a fan of short songs. I guess that started when i got really into the Magnetic Fields. . .but i don't really do it out of principle or anything. I just like short songs that aren't especially repetitive.

Q: I'm not sure if you agree , but there are some who say that there is some genuine essence in Aden's musical spectrum that cannot be simply reduced to 'American' or 'English' music culture. What do you think of this? Some even think that your musical aura has got to so something with your identity as Korean-american or half-Korean. Just slightest comment on Yes or No will be a
help for us to understand your music better. Of course it not for any kind of inquisitiveness but for your personal thoughts.

-- I don't know. I've never really thought about it, but I certainly would be surprised if any of my cultural identity came through in our music. I think our last few records have been typically "indie rock" (-the newest will be a little different). I certainly didn't know Seam was Korean when I first heard them.

Q: I also have to say that there are a few who are questioning about your sexual identity. I'm sure it's just all about the sound Aden makes ; soft , tender and feminine touch that flow under Aden sound.:)

-- Hehe, well, what a direct question!! I've enjoyed these questions actually. . .but despite our soft and tender music, I'm straight.

Q: Are there any other special interests that attract you? Other types of arts or literature for example. It's a matter about other possible motivations for your music as well as about your hobbies

-- I love reading, but music - specifically rock and roll - has always been my main passion. I've just always loved it. . .i don't know why, but the most elementary songs by someone like the Kinks or Velvet Underground can be indescribably inspiring. It sounds cheesy to say it. . .but I don't know why a song like "Heartbreak Hotel" (by Elvis) is so captivating. . . it just is.

Q: I hear other albums of Aden will soon be released in Korea. Do you have future plan to play gigs here for the band promotion? Please also tell us if you have any general views or political opinions you have about current Korean society.

-- I saw Min Kyu in Baltimore last week and we talked about the possibility of Aden coming out to Korea when our next album is released. I would love to try to make it happen. I'm dying to visit Korea. It would be such a thrill. Sadly, I'm pretty ignorant about the pressing political issues in Korea.
It's something (among many things) that I need to learn more about.

Q: I see the future of Aden kept in the realm of Indie culture. Seam and Aminiature, as an example, shows the difficulties in making a living while the greatness in expressing themselves freely. Do you have any alternative?

-- Yes, I am going to graduate school at Columbia University this coming fall. I love music, but I'm aware that it's a very difficult career choice. Being in a band is great fun, but it's a financial dead-end. Especially, when there are four members. It would be great if I could pursue music full-time and support myself in the process. . .but that would be quite a struggle.  20010919

관련 글
Aden, [Hey 19] 리뷰,

 

관련 사이트

문라이즈 홈페이지에서의 에이든 소개
http://www.moonrise.co.kr/aden/adenmain.htm

에이든 홈페이지
http://www.hot-licks.org/

틴비트 레이블 홈페이지
http://www.teenbeatrecords.com/

* 웹진 [weiv]에 게재됨. 

 

 

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