Interview with Robert Pollard

I had an email interview with former Guided by Voices frontman Robert Pollard last week for an upcoming piece for earshot magazine. I'll be working on a full article based on the interview this week for earshot's website. But in the meantime here's there interview;

1.) Can you describe to me some of the thought process that has gone on with your post - Guided By Voices work?
The decision to enter a solo career was a conscious attempt on my part to become more "active" in the studio as an instrumentalist. It was a little more democratic before. I also wanted to work closely and directly with Todd Tobias. We have become a complete team.

2.) It seems as though there has been a shift towards a more internal focus with your recent solo material. Could this be seen as a reaction to the persona you developed throughout your time with Guided by Voices?
Maybe subconciously. I think it's only natural that when you become an
"individual" entity as opposed to a collective energy, the material takes on a more personal nature or internal focus, as you put it. Other than that I don't really think there's a great difference.

3.) Have you attempted to make a conscious split with your Guided by Voices material?
No, not the material. I don't see much of a difference. The conscious split is manifested in the actual physical performance of the material, something that I missed and I think followers missed a bit.

4.) There also seems to be an increased interest in extending your song structures lately. Is this indicative of a change in the way you approach song-writing?
My method of songwriting is now more spontaneous, natural, unforced. Wherever a song goes I allow it to go in that direction or take a turn if it is so inclined. I add parts until it feels finished. The entire process must not take more than 5 or 10 minutes. I then take much more
time on polishing it up, especially the lyrical part. It could take a month or two...or not.

5.) How has the transition to Merge records gone?
Swimmingly. A good bunch of people that I have known for a long time. They are less concerned with charts and trends than some other labels I have been with. That is to say that they are probably more tolerant of the laziness on my part in the marketing and promotion aspect.

6.) I heard recently that you are considering no longer playing live shows. Coming from someone who is known for being a stunning and charismatic performer I found this to be really surprising. What led you to this decision? I've been doing it for 25 years. I'm 49 now. It's getting harder to re-energize myself physically and psychologically for each successive show on a tour. I love it when I hit the stage. It's the rest of the day that's a drag. I may still play a show here or there from time to time.

7.) Has it been difficult performing shows for your solo material to people who might be expecting a Guided by Voices show?
No, the crowd reaction has been good. I assembled a very fine fucking band for them. It's been a step up professionally, and the energy is still there. There is no reason for anyone to complain because I've shedded the name Guided By Voices, although not quite as many people show up because of that. You would refer to these types who don't show up as "scenesters".

8.) Your upcoming release 'Silverfish Trivia' is rumoured to be bookend by two string-instrumentals. Is this the first time you've worked with such large instrumentation? If so, how do you see this as shaping your upcoming material?
I've worked with Chris George before. He did strings on "Universal Truths" and "Pipe Dreams". It was just a spur of the moment decision. I wanted to give the album the presence of a film, like an opening and ending credit roll kind of thing...like you're entering and exiting a
theater.

9.) Strings seem to be developing some serious 'indie-cred' lately (from Joanna Newsom to Sufjan Stevens or even Canada's Final Fantasy). What do you think is so appealing about the use of strings in songs?
They appeal to the emotions on an intrinsic level, not in a literary
sense. It takes less effort as a listener. Also, I guess one gets tired of being beaten over the head with power chords after a while.

10.) Other than 'Silverfish Trivia', what else are you working on presently?
In the can: Circus Devils - Sgt. Disco (double album), Meet the King -Asshole 2 (LP only), Acid Ranch - The Great Houdini Wasn't So Great (LP only), Eat 3 - Keep Your Christmas Lights Up Forever. Those are all on Record Company Records. Then I'm working on: The Takeovers - Bad Football (album), Crickets - The Best of the Fading Captain Series 1999-2007 (double CD w/ bonus tracks and book to wrap up the series).