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Question and Answer
Q Hi we're back. This is Radio xxxx and we're here with Conor Oberst of the band Bright Eyes. How are you doing Conor?
A Fine... thanks... just a little wet (hear sounds of shaking jacket)
Q Its still coming down out there?
A Yeah... I sort of had to run from the car.. (trails off)
Q Well we are glad you made it. Now your new album 'fevers and mirrors' tell us a little about the title. I noticed there is a good deal of repeated imagery in the lyrics... fevers, mirrors, scales, clocks... could you discuss some of this?
A Sure. Let's see... the fever is... (gets interrupted)
Q First let me say that it's a brilliant record man, we are all really into it here at the station. We got lots of calls. It's really good stuff.
A Thanks... thanks a lot
Q So talk a little bit more about some of the symbolism
A The Fever?
Q Sure...
A Well the fever is basically whatever ails you or opposes you. It could be anything... in my case its my neurosis, my depression, but I don't want it to be limited to that. It is certainly different for different people. Whatever keeps you up ar night.
Q I see
A And the mirror is just as you might guess... self examination or reflection in whatever form, this could be vanity or self loathing. I know I'm guilty of both.
Q That's interesting... how about the scale?
A The scale is essentially our attempts to solve our problems quantitively... Through logic or rationalisation. In my opinion this is often fruitless... but not always... and the uh clocks and calendars and such, that's just time, our little measurements. It's always there chasing after is.
Q It is. It is. How about this Arienette? How does she fit into all this?
A Well I would prefer not to talk about that in case she is listening
Q Oh... I'm sorry... I didn't realize she was a real person
A She's not... I made her up
Q Oh so she's not real
A Just as real as you or I
Q I don't think I understand
A Either do I but I will after I grow up. I mean a lot of things are really unclear for me right now
Q That's interesting... now you mentioned your depression
A No I didn't
Q You from Nebraska right?
A That's right
Q Now let me know if I'm getting too personal but there seems to be a pretty dark past back there somewhere. What was it like for you growing up?
A Dark... not really... actually I had a great childhood. My parents are wonderful... I went to a Catholic school. They had money so life was pretty easy. I basically had everything you could ask for handed to me.
Q Really... so some references, like babies in bathtubs, they're not biographical?
A Well I did have a brother who drowned in a bathtub... actually I had five brothers that died that way.
Q (Laught Loudly)
A No I'm serious... My mother drowned one every year for five consecutive years but they were all named Padraic and that's why they only got one song
Q (laughs a little quieter)
A It's kind of like walking out a door to discover it's a window
Q But your music is certainly very personal
A Well of course I put a lot of myself into what I do but it's like being an author - you have to be free to use symbolism and allegory to reach your goal. and a big part of that is compassion, empathy for other people and their situations. Some of what I sing comes from other people's experience as well as my own... it shouldn't matter, the message is intended to be universal.
Q I see what you mean
A Can you make that sound stop please?
Q (Sound stops)
A ...Oh... I don't know... to create a feeling I guess... a song... but it never ends up the way you planned it.
Q That's funny you would say that... do you think that... (gets interrupted)
A Do you ever hear things that aren't really there?
Q I'm sorry... what?
A Nevermind... how long have you worked at this station?
Q Just a few minutes, now you mentioned empathy for others... would you say that is what motivates you to make the music that you make?
A No, not really... it's more a need for sympathy - I want people to feel sorry for me. I like to feel the burn of the audience's eyes on me while I'm whispering all of my secrets into the microphone... When I was a kid I used to carry this safety pin around with me everywhere I went in my pocket and when people weren't paying enough attention to me I would dig it into my arm until I started crying... everyone would stop what they were doing and ask me what was the matter... I guess its kind of like that.
Q Really? (surprised) You telling me you're doing all this for attention?
A No I hate it when people look at me... I get nausious... In fact I couldn't care less what people say or think about me. Do you feel alright? Do you want a dance?
Q No... I'm feeling sick
A I really just want to be warm yellow light that pours over everyone I love
Q So you are going to play something for us now? This is a new song?
A Yeah but I haven't written it yet. It's one I have been meaning to write, it's called 'a song to pass the time'
Q That's a nice title
A No it's not
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