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Forget James Brown! Ryan Adams is undoubtedly the hardest-working man in showbusiness. ‘Heartbreaker’, ‘Pneumonia’, ‘Gold’… Three classic albums released in one year. And if it’s up to him he’s got at least five more coming your way soon, including one “motherfucker” of a record! Time to slow down for a minute with the former Whiskeytown mainman and pick Ryan Adams’ mind.
You recently said that you have two new rules. One is not to analyse what you write, and the other is not to read your own press. What are your feelings about sitting down with journalists to discuss yourself and the album?
“Well, it’s not really a feeling as much as it is just trying to make sure that I’m very clear, and if somebody asks me a question just to be as dead-on, directly honest, as I can. If I feel like being facetious, then be facetious. It’s… I don’t know… It’s just what it is, I guess. I don’t have a choice!”
As always, you’ve been extremely prolific in the last couple of years. How important is it for you and your own personal sanity to keep churning out songs?
“One doesn’t necessitate the other. I really enjoy writing songs, and I write tons of songs. What ends up from that is that I make lots of recordings and end up making lots of records or at least records quicker, so I tour more. It is sort of habitual in a way, but it’s not habitual because of anything or in lieu of anything. It’s kind of just something I dig. It makes sense to me. I get inspired a lot. I try to keep myself in an inspired area, not only just because I find it natural to be inspired by other artists or art or playing rock’n’roll or just the sound of guitar. It makes sense to me to do it. I really like the way it makes me feel, and it tucks away nicely the things that are going on with me. It’s a trip. It’s kind of like riding a skateboard. Maybe it’s just that you like to get on the board and ride, and I like to get on the guitar and go. I dig it. I like getting better at explaining myself.”
(Source: web.archive.org)
