This is all in the past, even his solo albums from the early 90s are in the past. Daniel Ash is now touring to promote his self-titled album on Psychobaby Records. An album that seems to hint at past recordings, but is definitely a new beginning for Ash.
During the Buffalo stop on his N. American tour Ash was kind enough to call in a phone interview, which originally aired on V-89 (Tallahassee, Florida's WVFS). This is the transcript for his interview.
Daniel Ash � Well, I don't really associate those two, I did 'Coming Down' and 'Foolish Thing Desire' like 9 or 10 years ago, but I don't feel this is a continuation of that . That was so long ago and I went on after those albums doing Love and Rockets stuff all through the nineties. So this is really a totally brand new fresh start, it's a different era and everything, it's completely different sounding I think. But everyone associates the two. But, I've been living in LA for the last six or seven years, since like '94 or something.
KoB � This was around the time you started recording "Sweet F.A."? I remember reading about the fire?
DA � Yeah, probably, that's exactly when it was, yeah. Well, all that went on and then we did another album and we bounced around two or three record companies since then and you know, I'm just sort of starting out a fresh. But I think now it's sort of, this isn't like a temporary thing it's more like, full on this thing. You know, I don't really want to work with the other guys anymore, I don't think they want to work with me either, it's really time to move on because we were working together in different capacities for like 20 years. You know, so time for a change.
KoB � Yeah, I see, so this is truly like a new debut, is this why you self titled this new album?
DA � Yeah, well yeah really, I suppose. You see, all it is, is just me working with different people. It's the same making music, but just working with different people rather than the people I've worked with for 20 years.
KoB � The new album is definitely a departure from your previous work, so how is the recording process any different?
DA � Well, I sort of start off now with the drum loops and bass lines whereas before I would start off mainly with guitar. That's the main difference.
KoB � The other difference seems to be that this album is a little more on the upbeat positive side.
DA � Right, I've been told that before, yeah.
KoB � So does this mean you are hooked on the solo thing? Do you not want to work within another�
DA � Well, I do want to work with other people. But, not in a band sort of capacity, so you know what I really don't know though, it sort of changes but I don't want to work with the guys that I worked with before, as in Kevin, David and Peter. You know, in those bands because that's something that we've been doing for years and years and just, I've really wanted to break. I've wanted to for a long time, so this year they get the full-on break.
KoB � Well, I know you recently worked with Keoki on his album and he worked with you on your new one, as well as a remix for you. Are there any other artists that you would like to work with that you haven't already?
DA - Well, I've always loved Brian Eno. That's somebody that I've totally admired for a long time. Years and years really, I'm just fascinated, I mean I don't know how he works but I've got a feeling I would really sort of relate to the way he works. But I don't know exactly how that is. But that's something, I guess, Eno would be at the top of the list of somebody to work with musically.
KoB � How about in other mediums? Have you thought about someone else you would like to work with outside of music?
DA � Not really. I mean I've been doing this for so long now, this is what I do so�I think if I wasn't doing this I would be, I would like to be building custom motorcycles or something to do with motorcycles, if I wasn't doing what I'm doing now...I've always thought when I'm old, like as in really old, I'd be painting or something, because I was in art school for like 4 years or whatever, so I'll probably be doing that in the years to come, I don't know.
KoB � I think we've all seen a bit of your motorcycle interest in your music over the years.
DA � Oh yeah.
KoB - On some of your past releases, especially with Love and Rockets, you did a bit of the artwork on the covers and sleeves. Is this something we will see more of in the future?
DA � Yeah, definitely I mean I went to art school, so that sort of comes in handy. I mean yeah, usually the concepts for the album covers and stuff like that, I come up with. It depends, sometimes I work with the other guys well actually, thinking about it for this album cover. It was a combination, a couple of different people working on it.
KoB � Tell us about how this tour is going and if you can please give us an update on how Patina is doing since the accident?
DA � Two of the high-lights from the tour that really stand out have been the New York gig was great and there was another gig in Minneapolis which was real good as well. That was at First Avenue, they both stick out as real fun.
Patina, I really, the last I heard is she's writing things on pieces of paper and stuff, so she is conscious, but it is a case where it's going to be about 8 months until she is completely recovered apparently. But they did a CAT scan and all that sort of stuff and there's no sort of damage, mental, sort of brain damage or anything. Apparently she's going to walk, but it was very serious, I've got to say, real serious. She nearly didn't come through.
KoB � Sounds like it, didn't realize it was that bad. Were there any other injuries from the accident?
DA � Yeah, I just have stitches in my hand and my manager got his arm banged up; the drummer, John De Salvo, he sort of ripped his back, but it was just badly bruised so it wasn't actually that bad, nothing was broken. Yeah, but you know we really, it took like two weeks out of the tour then we just resumed it now.
KoB � Could you tell us a little about the band, who's playing with you on this tour?
DA � Yeah, John De Salvo on drums he's also in a band called 16 Volt and then the replacement for Patina is a guy called Mike Peoples, he's also in 16 Volt. So that was sort of very convenient, you know, so I've got the rhythm section of another band basically.
KoB � I've read a lot about what you are doing on this tour and I was curious if you could tell us a little about how you picked out the particular songs you are playing, considering the large and varied library you have to chose from?
DA � Well, I tried to pick the ones that I thought were sort of relevant cuz I'm mixing in old stuff with new stuff. So there's a few Tones (on Tails), songs there's a Bauhaus song, there's a Love and Rockets and then there's some solo stuff from earlier and some from the new album, everything. I'm just trying to sort of make it flow as one thing. What I'm trying to do is sort of give people what they want. You know just like if I was going to see someone that I really liked there are certain tracks that I want to hear. So I've been trying to think of it in that way.
KoB � While on tour have you brought along some listening material of your own?
DA � Yeah, I've got a CD collection of about 200 different CDs but you know, various problems because of the accident and all, our CD player's broke so, we've got to go out and get new ones. We haven't been listening to them much.
KoB � Sorry, should've known. Well, what were you listening to prior to this, I mean what music has held your attention lately?
DA � Well, I like Deep Dish, I like the Chemical Brothers, I like Keoki's album, I like the remix album also, those are some at the top of the list. There's something I heard on the radio the other day or I think it was on MTV that I really like was White Stripes. I like that single.
KoB � How about reading material? Did you bring any books?
DA � Yeah. Well, I just brought along one book. Which is like my little bible it's called "Conversations with God."
KoB � What's that about?
DA � It's in three parts, you can get it in three parts, I've just got the first part. I don't really want to talk much else about it. Partly, I don't know, I just find that it makes a lot of sense. It sort of goes beyond Buddhism and stuff like that.
KoB � Could you tell me who wrote it?
DA � Nope.
KoB � ok.
DA � I can't remember. (KoB chuckles) Donald somebody. (KoB does his research and found it was by Neale Donald Walsch, sorry if I pried to much here Daniel).
KoB � Well, tell us what's in the future for you. Either in the near, post-tour schedule or what's in the slightly more distant recording future or otherwise for you.
DA � Well, I don't know. I mean, I'm hoping to sort of, I'm trying to advertise and publicize this album as much as I can playing live. Hopefully getting people into it and to buy it and to have fun with it. So, the next twelve months we'll be focused on promoting this album. That's what we are sort of focusing on. Then after that, you know, I mean I don't know. I'm hoping to do some stuff in the summer, do some festivals or whatever, there's talk of doing some stuff in Australia or Europe. And then getting on with something new.
KoB � Some message board discussions have popped up on your site regarding the music played prior to your performances in different cities. Do you have anything to do with the music that plays before you go on stage or has the selection of music and these cities been rather coincidental?
DA � Oh, yeah, well usually we play, it's a thing called "Mix it out" which is a CD that I made with Patina actually. A DJ thing for when I spin. So it was actually, yeah, that's a bunch of stuff that I spin when I do DJing work. Just for fun, you know. So yeah all those choices were mine actually, yeah, it's a CD that's been made up. I think it was for Mixer Magazine. They ask me to do a sampler for them of what I do, so that's what we've been spinning before we play.
KoB � Where do you usually DJ?
DA � Well, I used to do a place called Goldfinger's in Hollywood, in Los Angeles. Just for fun. Then I did a place called the Standard Hotel, which is on the Sunset Strip. I only did that for like a month, or whatever. So I just do that for fun now.
KoB � Well, that's pretty much all I had as far as the interview, but while I've got you is there anything you'd like me to play from either your new album or from your past works?
DA � Yeah, well there's some fun tracks, like Sea Glass is a fun track from this album, which I'm not actually playing live. Or there's another one called Chelsea, that's maybe interesting to people, seems to be a couple favorites there that I'm not actually playing live. Or there's another one, the Money Song or Hollywood Fix there are a few of them I'm not doing live that might be of interest.
KoB � And from the past?
DA � Play Go! Oh, I'll tell you what would be fun, play Twist from Tones on Tail, Twist, yeah that was a lot of fun that track. That could be fun.
Thanks to Daniel for the interview, the great music and the amazing show!
From DanielAsh.org this update was posted regarding Patina:
"Daniel and the team are extremely happy to report that Patina is recovering, it's going to be a long haul for her, but we all appreciate the love and support you have shown her. A special bank account has know been set up for contributions to Patina. These are gifts and are not tax detectable.
Please send contributions to:
"Wendy Dawn Jenkins Trust"
c/o Carswell, Greenfield and Kunstler
321 South Beverly Drive
Suite M
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
The
Home Page
