Courtney Barnett
An audience with the hard-working “slacker” queen
COuRTNey Barnett has often been called the hardest-working slacker in showbusiness, but talking to her for a few minutes it quickly becomes clear that what some might describe as ‘slack’ is merely a matter of priorities. In her desire to get to the nub of things, Barnett has no use for affectations or obfuscations, fancy words or fancy clothes. What you hear in the songs is exactly how she talks in real life.
Hardest working, though? That’s probably fair. We catch up with Barnett as her tourbus pulls into Philadelphia after a whirlwind 24 hours in New york, recording various TV slots before headlining a Mom+Pop label showcase at Brooklyn Steel. She expresses disappointment at not being able to jam with recent collaborator and local Philly hero Kurt Vile – he’s abroad on his own tour – but is still excited about the show ahead. While Barnett’s appeal is all about intimacy, she’s effortlessly adapted to playing the larger venues her popularity now demands without recourse to gimmicks. “It’s amazing to play big rooms, so I think it’s just about matching the energy of where you are,” she reasons. “No big stage explosions or anything.” It’s easy to forget that this year’s
Tell Me How You Really Feel is only Barnett’s second album, so quickly has she become part of the firmament, but clearly the idea of a songwriter working through their hang-ups in such a candid, witty and relatable manner instantly resonated with many. Barnett quickly shrugs off the idea that she is some kind of trailblazer, but says she’s noticed a newfound openness in the music she is hearing at moment. “People are more willing to be vulnerable lately, it seems. Maybe it’s a strange reflection of the world in general – people going the opposite way, opening up and showing more love and vulnerability almost as a defence to deflect all the weird hatred and stuff.” Above anything, Barnett is a die-hard music fan herself, reflected in the fact that despite a relentless touring schedule she still finds time to co-run Milk Records, who have just signed the first band outside their immediate Melbourne circle in the form of Auckland’s Tiny Ruins. On the bus, she’s devouring the new Leonard Cohen poetry collection as well as Patti Smith’s early-years memoir Woolgathering. “I like getting inside someone else’s head and seeing how they view the world, how they deal with whatever they come up against,” she explains. For now, though, it’s time for the Uncut readers to get inside Barnett’s head… Has your internal monologue that you sung about on “Pedestrian At Best” become louder or quieter over the last few years? Tom Hinton, Exmouth, Devon Oh, that’s a good question! I think it’s kinda about the same. It always seems to be constantly running, but then I can’t remember what it was saying. I think having a conversation with myself is just the rhythm of my writing; it’s the way that I always seem to get things down. Normally it’s a big jumble. How does it feel to have your private life discussed in public, and does that influence your songwriting? Peter, via email It’s a strange kind of reality. I don’t know what to think about it. I mean, I write songs about personal things and often in interviews I’m dissecting those songs, so it’s all quite close to the bone. But that’s what I enjoy writing about. I write about it because it helps me, so I don’t want to change for someone else. I guess I’ve gotten better at not talking about things I don’t want to talk about; I say everything I want to say in songs. Interviews, I struggle sometimes to get my message across. What comes first for you, the song or the illustration? Micah Stone, via email It depends. Sometimes a song idea will come from something I’ve been playing
around with drawing, even if it’s just one line or one scene. Sometimes it’s the other way as well – if I’m doing artwork for a record or a T-shirt, that might be more influenced by a song. Drawing doesn’t come as easily for me as writing does. It’s a discipline that I never really practised or put in the time to get better at it! My favourite illustration is the one I did for the “Kim’s Caravan” 12in. It’s just a lineand-dot drawing of foam washing up on the sand. I was out of town when I was working on it, so it was very therapeutic. The drawing’s definitely going to creep back into things, but the photo seemed most appropriate for the latest album.
Where did you get the red corduroy suit you’re wearing in recent photos? Heidi Winters, Edinburgh
Oh, I love that suit! I tried to keep it but it was just for that photoshoot. My friend Mia Mala McDonald took the picture – she’s an amazing photographer. We were going for bold colours, because I wear pretty plain clothes and I feel a lot of my photos end up looking the same. Mia has a stylist friend and he found that suit. It was a bit over the top, but the photo turned out great. Would I wear something like that onstage? I’d give it a go, but I move around so much, I need to feel free. I wore a jacket once at a festival in Mexico as it was so cold. I think it’s the only time I’ve worn a jacket onstage, but it was so weird and restrictive. I found it difficult. So maybe not.
Have you ever got around to growing tomatoes on your front steps? Andy Volks, Northumberland
Tomatoes are hard to grow! I’ve tried to grow them – not on the front step but in the back garden – but they really require a lot of love and attention. There’ve been some little ones but nothing too flash. I have managed to grow lettuce, kale, silverbeet, zucchini – they grow like crazy. Mint, that’s really easy to grow.
What’s that clangy piece of music you play as you approach the stage? Whissy, via email
I know Whissy, she’s great! That song is by a band called Drinks. I love Cate Le Bon, everything she does is incredible. “Ducks” is a good intro song – it’s a bit absurd and the words come about 30 seconds in, so when I head on stage the lyrics go, “What’s on your mind?” – but in a cool Cate Le Bon way! It’s a good little walk-on.
Apparently half of new guitar players are now female – can you claim any credit for that and how do you think it might change guitar music? Mary Kiwanska, via email
I saw that, and it’s so cool. It’s such a huge thing. No, I don’t claim credit for it! I think the history of women and gender-nonconforming people in music has always broken down walls for the next generation – it’s a lifelong effort of everyone who’s ever been involved, I would say. Guitar music will probably sound different as a result. I don’t know how, but I guess that’s a good thing.
What’s it like being friends with Kim and Kelley Deal? Amy J, Dublin
They’re the coolest people. It’s a weird musical world where you see friends
“Collaborating is kinda like dating – if they say no, it’s heartbreaking!”
once a year at a show or something, so we’ve only hung out a handful of times. But they are full of life and love – it’s hard not to have a big smile on my face when I see them. I like the music that they make, too. I actually only really discovered it in my early twenties, which is so ignorant!
You once said you had a set of acoustic-y, country-esque songs written. What happened to them and will they ever see a release? Kwame Harrison, Wolverhampton
Oh, sure. They’re just around. Some of them are finished and some of them are unfinished. I don’t like rushing things and I like to put everything in its best spot so it can be seen and heard in its best light. But yeah, there are a couple of songs like that – they’ll come out one day. I used to play slide guitar in a country band called Immigrant Union and obviously that was an influence. They kept writing these amazing songs with three chords and I was like, ‘How do you do that?’ I like picking apart what someone else does, so then I can do it.
After Kurt Vile, is there anyone else you’d like to make a record with? Pete Livesey, Manchester
There’s so many people that I love and admire. I’m sure it would be fun to make a record with someone really creative like Moses Sumney or St Vincent. I saw Moses at Newport Folk Festival doing a song on just electric guitar and it was incredible. There’s lots of people that I think it would be really mindblowing to even be in the studio with, just to see how they get from A to B. But apart from Kurt, it’s a world I haven’t delved into much. It’s kinda like dating – you put yourself out there, you’re kinda vulnerable: “I like you, do you wanna do something?” And if they say no, it’s heartbreaking! So I haven’t put myself in that position too many times, probably to avoid musical heartbreak.
Yorkshire puddings on your Sunday roast… Yes or no? Alex Trembath, Colchester
The song “Sunday Roast” comes from me getting together with friends each week – we’d rotate houses and take turns making the roast. I’m pescatarian but I’ve got lots of veggie friends, so there’d be a nut roast as well as a meat one, potatoes, turnips and carrots, cauliflower cheese, sprouts. I forget what a Yorkshire pudding is…
[Uncut describes said delicacy] Oh yeah, we don’t really have that, but I’ve had it on tour. Obviously it’s a bit confusing, ’cos at first you think it’s dessert then you’re like, maybe it’s a meaty pastry thing. What’s my roast dinner speciality? I’m good at serving the food and washing up. Courtney Barnett is touring the UK until November 21