100 Musicians Answer the Same 10 Questions

Part Twenty: Ian Love

instigated by dave heaton

NYC singer/songwriter Ian Love's self-titled debut album (Limeklin) was a pleasant surprise for me this year – sweeping, starry-night romantic pop ballads that underneath carry, of course, plenty of hurt. A surprise because I know nothing of Love's previous bands Rival School and Cardia, and because its songs are quite enjoyable, indeed. To hear his songs, check out his MySpace page, and for more information visit his website.

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What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?

Since I record all my records myself, it's usually the process of recording each song and seeing how it ends up sounding.

What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?

How difficult it is to sometimes make a living from it.

What are you up to right now, music-wise? (Current or upcoming recordings, tours, extravaganzas, experiments, top-secret projects, etc).

I'm starting to write and record some new songs for what will hopefully be a new record. Hopefully go back to the UK in the near future. Also, I just set up a new recording studio in Brooklyn, NY where I'll be doing all my recording for myself and other bands I record/produce.

What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a recording? How did the qualities of that place affect the show/recording?

Definitely the weirdest place I played was a old bomb shelter that was far underground in oslo norway. I'm not sure how it affected the show because I was pretty drunk ... and it was a two-month squat tour of europe in the middle of winter and I think I blocked most of it out.

In what ways does the place where you live (or places where you have lived), affect the music you create, or your taste in music?

I'm not sure? I guess growing up in NY has affected my music taste but I don't know how. I did live sound at a club for a few years and I would mix 4 or 5 bands a night and most of them were pretty bad, so I guess that helped me know what I didn't want to play.

When was the last time you wrote a song? What can you tell us about it?

I'm in the middle of writing one now. It's going slow because every time I pick up the guitar, my daughter climbs all over it and doesn't really let me play it. It doesn't have a name yet, but it's about a friend of mine who recently died in london from a motorcycle accident. Well at least the first verse is for now...

As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other people...and why do you think that is?

I'm definitely into hearing new music, and it's great when I hear something that really inspires me, but it's hard for me to go out and find it. But I do get really psyched when I hear something new that's great.

Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener? (Old or new music? Music like yours or different from yours?)

It really does vary. I never new how much it did vary until I got a ipod, and I would sit there and jump from song to song, and I would jump from Bowie to the Frogs to Mark Ribot to Bad Brains. So it's hard to pin down one musical period. My ADD kicks in too much when I listen to music HA HA..

Name a band or musician, past or present, who you flat-out LOVE and think more people should be listening to. What's one of your all-time favorite recordings by this band/musician?

I've been really into Jeff Tweedy the past few years, ever since I saw the movie that Wilco did. He's such a great songwriter, and a amazing guitarist. As far as recordings, the last two Wilco records are just amazing.

What's the saddest song you've ever heard?

Every time I hear Johnny Cash's "If I give My Soul," I pretty much have to hold back the tears.

To check out the rest of the Q&As, click here.