Kurt Reifler Interview
By: Brett Hickman |
Sunday September 16, 2007 |
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Singer Songwriter Spills |
| Kurt Reifler has been playing music since he was a kid. He played in a band of his dad's, formed a few bands of his own and then went solo when depending on others became a hassle. Ahead of recording his self-titled debut album for Red Glare, Reifler toured Europe with only an acoustic guitar and a duffel bag before returning to New York City. Are there any current trends in music that excite or repulse you? Kurt Reifler: I am not a fan of this dance-ish rock trend that's going on now. I'm not sure if Brooklyn or Vegas is more to blame, but the Killers, Franz Ferdinand, and Panic! At the Disco all seem to be rubbing me the wrong way for the last couple of years. But, I do admit - they have a sound. How did you get your start? I played drums forever. I think I started at about 6 or 7. Eventually I sat in with my dad's band - he played in when the drummer didn't show up for rehearsal. Imagine a drummer not showing up for practice?! Fortunately for me the stereotypes about drummers and their inabilities to be on time turned out to be true. It gave me a chance to play with a band. That was my first taste of playing, and really feeling energy of other people playing with me. Then, one day I decided I didn't want to sit down anymore (behind the drums). So, I picked up a guitar, learned how to play a couple chords, and started singing. That suited me better because it allowed me to use words as well. The next thing I knew I was singing in some New York bands, and then I decided to take matters into my own hands, as a solo guy. Why are you a solo artist? New York is the reason why I am a solo artist. I had great band experiences when I was in high school, but once I started meeting new musicians in the "music capital of the world" it became really clear to me how unreliable people could be. It was frustrating putting time and heart into a few bands, and then having them disintegrate because some people weren't dedicated. I decided the only way to make a band last was to make it me. So, the only thing I had to do to keep the band together was to stay alive and not change my name. I think I can manage both of those, at least for a little while. I presume recording each album is a bit of a learning experience. What kinds of things did you take into recording that you'd done on other albums and what sorts of new approaches did you try? I tried to make the recording process as comfortable as I could this time around. I have felt stiff before in the studio when I wasn't surrounded by the right people. For this album, I just had one co-producer, Eddie Peters, and he and I were virtually the only people there for the vocals. Being around someone that believed in me was what helped bring my voice out. He and I both played guitar on the album, and he was my bass man as well. As for the drums, I played the tracks, live. 2 times through each song, and chose the better take. No joke. What would you do differently on the next album? I would spend a bit more time mixing, and perhaps work with several engineers. Things can sound great in the studio, and then not translate as well when you listen later on. Album mixing is kind of like dealing with an injury. You should have a couple professionals take a look at it. What were some of the challenges you encountered while making your latest album? The biggest challenge is staying focused throughout what inevitably becomes an arduous journey. You have to play little tricks on yourself to stay excited about the music that you have been playing, and listening to for so long. What are you most proud of about the album? I am proud of it being done, simply put. It is work. Real work, and it's nice to have something tangible to hold, and say "I did that." Knowing someone in Thailand is listening to your record that you worked so hard on...that's a satisfying feeling. What is the best song on the new album and why? Tough one. I'll go with "Graceful Exit." It's a song that meshes a lot of my different styles and influences together into a song that I feel really worked in the end. Much credit to Eddie Peters on that one too, as he produced that song well, and laid down some beautiful guitar work. Were there any songs that didn't make it to the final cut that you really wish had? Yes, there always are. But, the idea was to make a quick, and impacting statement. I always intended to have the album be 10 songs, or possibly 11. I narrowed it down. What were your hopes for the album and how have things gone with it so far? It was sort of a new direction for me, and somewhat of a re-introduction as well. The music on this record is very different from my last recordings. The response has been overwhelming. I made the album blind, in a way, with not many expectations. But, when you see yourself in national publications and people from places you have never heard of are leaving you MySpace comments and buying your record, you sort of sit back and wonder how it all happened. What direction do you see yourself going in next? Rock. Quirky rock. I would like to replace some drama with some comedy I think. I would like some of my new music to reflect that. What plans do you have for the near and distant future? I'm focused on promoting this record for a good year or so, while getting some new songs out at shows. Playing live is the mindset I am in right now. It's the reward for the work put into the album. It's real, and interactive. I want to make albums for a long time. To create music for people that have followed you for the work you have done is what I really want for the distant future. I would love love the idea of people comparing the fourth album to the sixth. What are your aspirations for yourself at this point? I would like to be at a point soon where I am playing live music more days of the year than I am not. Do you think the MySpace phenomenon has helped or hurt you at all? It helps. Incredibly so. A lot of people that wouldn't have heard the music otherwise get to check it out there. It's a really amazing thing to get feedback from people in almost every country you can name. What upcoming albums by other artists are you really psyched to hear? Nine Inch Nails' new album just came out. I would like to check that out (and hopefully it isn't the same exact formula he's been using). I know Rage Against the Machine is making a comeback for some select dates. One can only hope they put out a record. Is there any particular band or artist you'd really love to work and/or tour with? I would love to tour with Incubus. Their fans are so loyal. I have always dug their music (as modern stuff goes) and it would be really great to ride that wave with them for a while. While most artists want to be known for doing something original, every musician has likely been influenced by another band or artist. Who has been your biggest influence or what band/musician do you most admire? Much of my admiration goes to Jimi Hendrix or Frank Zappa. In terms of influences, it would be more Jack White and PJ Harvey. Vocally, there are a few Gods you look to, but probably none more than Jeff Buckley. Do you have any touring plans for the near future? Right now I have a bunch or northeast US dates lined up. I would like to do the entire east coast, and then hit the midwest. Of course I want to tour Europe too. What do you like best and least about the tour grind? I love to travel, so it suits me. But, it is terribly exhausting. There is a disconnect that you can feel from people (even the people you are traveling with) that is very unique. That is the best part. It's also the worst part. What was the last song you heard that made you want to hurt another person? Kanye West's "She gives me money" (actually "Gold Digger") really drove me crazy for a long time. If I see him on the street somewhere...forget it. Have you ever had a dream where you wrote a song that you were sure was the best ever written, but upon waking up, you couldn't remember anything about it? If you did remember the song, was it as amazing as the dream made it out to be? I have never dreamt of a song that I recall, but I do get a lot of inspiration from dreams. Your mind works so much more effectively and creatively during sleep. I would recommend reading Freud's Interpretation of Dreams to anyone, as it has always been a real interest of mine. The fifth track on my record is called "Dreams." To quote myself (in true narcissist fashion): Dreams more real than life Demons from the night I gotta know all the answers Gotta know the reasons why I used to be afraid of the darkness but now I only fear the light If you were a Saved By the Bell character, which one would you be? (If you have never watched Saved by the Bell, substitute your favorite show). I would be Zack Morris. I mean, I grew up watching him, and he was the ultimate cool kid. Some of that stuff rubbed off on me. Not that I was ever that cool of course, but I definitely looked to Zack at some point in my life to learn the art of leaning on a locker or sitting on a chair backwards. What inspires during the lyric writing/creating stage? Whatever triggers something emotional for me is usually what I focus on. It can be dreams themselves, but it's sort of one in the same. Whatever is affecting me always makes it's way into my dreams anyway. It's hard for me to write when my mind is blank. So, I suppose I invite trouble for art's sake. Now that the album is out, is there anything that you would change or do differently and why? Not really. I don't often look back. It's out, and I am looking forward to promoting it, and working on the next album. Describe any life experiences that show up in any particular song(s)? I was a bit of a loner, always. It's kind of the cliche musician story I guess. A lot of my songs just deal with feeling isolated or unable to connect with people. Music is how I can connect with people. Do you plan on doing any collaborating in the near future or for your next release? Not right now. But, I try and have an open mind when it comes to playing or collaborating with people. I am interested in playing drums on a serious level again actually. Ideally, it would be in a band that played music as different from mine as possible. Maybe acid fusion? Who is your favorite songwriter or artist and why? Trick question. I am my own favorite artist. I am far from the best, but I find it easier to relate to myself than any other musician. How has your life changed since the last album which was released? It's been too busy. But it's hard to complain about things going the way you would like. I am a busy body anyway, so I should really just rejoice at my album feeding nicely into my personality. Ten years from now, how would you like your fans to reflect on your work? I would like it to have seemed like a journey. Music that evolved. I love listening to an artist like Beck for instance. You can really tell what he was going through or thinking in different periods of his life based on how varying some of his albums are. Change, change, change. It's the only thing that can make your work interesting and lasting. How would you like to reflect on your work ten years from now? I would hope that I will remain unsatisfied. The day you look back fondly, and say "I sure am happy I accomplished all that" is the day you get soft, and your music dies. Without passion and anger, nothing would ever have been accomplished. Songs, revolutions, movies, sports...they are all dependent on a yearning. I hope I never get too high on myself. You see that happen to people. Anyone reading this has permission to shoot me if I ever say something like "I have been really blessed throughout my career...." Do you plan to stay in this particular genre or do you wish to branch your sound out? I am going to be doing something new. Right now I am being lumped pretty neatly into a singer-songwriter category, but I intend to change that by adding some more aggression on my newer music. Photos By Kirstin Knuffman |
