John Frusciante talks about his new solo album, The Empyrean
Last modified: 23:44:42 CET on 22 Feb, 2009 |
February 2009, Guitar Magazine (Japan)
Thanks to Joh-un and his wife, for typing it out. Soon it will be complete, it depends on their spare time.
Click the thumbnail, for scans.
John Frusciante: Music is a power which exists in the universe & it will be born through our hands or through our musical instrument. It doesn't get born in the brain.
One of the most stimulating guitarists, John Frusciante. He released a solo album called The Empyrean. It's been about 3 years since his last album. Everybody knows about him as a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, which is a monster band. But his solo albums are also deeply attractive, tasteful, because they express his personal sides. Delicate feeling, dark & psychedelic music, daring arrangements via unique methods, his guitar tones make colourful expressions....these are building his unique world perspective with sweet voice and melody lines.
This time, Guitar Magazine had a chance to exclusively interview John Frusciante. The contents of the interview are necessary reading, such as his new album's secret story, his obsession with vintage equipment, the possibilities for guitar, and so on all of which he talked about with passion. We want listeners to enjoy his endless spirit of inquiry for music by a guitarist who never stops evolving.
John Frusciante: It's possible to extract a greater power of expression by utilizing the whole studio as a musical instrument.
Guitar Magazine: It's been almost 3 years since your last solo album. This is a concept album, which tells a story, isn't it? While you were making this album, what kind of image did you have?
John Frusciante: When I make music, I don't think about lots of things. Although some people explain guideline or direction or their own rule in the lyrics, I just make music based on my own feeling. I wanted to make the album reflect the concept of the lyrics and gradually build up the musical energy.
The songs for this album, they reflect the story which the lyrics convey. I just imagined the sounds that are the beginning of this album as being so dark, like a swamp, but then gradually it becomes more of a brighter world view. This explanation might sound very vague but I was just conscious about it. Other than that, I just made the album unconsciously & followed my feeling."
Guitar Magazine: I felt that when we listen to the sounds, it becomes visual.
John Frusciante: When I was making the [Red Hot] Chili Peppers album Blood Sugar [Sex Magik] (1991) & my first solo album [Niandra Lades & Usually Just A T-Shirt] (1994), I was searching for myself. At that time, when I listened to music, I had a lot of synesthetic experiences. I haven't had such an experience for a long time, however, when I listen to music now, I feel a sense of specific space is created in my brain. Some people see colours when they listen to music, but it's not like that. It's not visual. It's not an aural experience. It's like there are mental symbols welling up when I listen to music. In the past 10 years, instead of being inspired by synesthesia, I'm inspired by these symbols. They help me make music.
