Intervista ad Hartley Goldstein
di Giulia Nuti

OFFICIAL SITE:
www.hartleygoldstein.com

ALBUM ACQUISTABILE SUL SITO:
www.othermusic.com
(you can buy “Songs in the key of Zoloft” at www.othermusic.com)

“Songs in the key of Zoloft” is your debut EP. How did you decide to start your own musical career?

I guess it all started when I graduated College. I was an English/Philosophy kid and I had no idea what I was gonna do with my life. But I had all these songs that I had been writing since as far back as I can remember. The impetus for “Brad Wood” had definitely been around since I was in 11th grade. So I started just spending my days writing down more and more of my inspirations. Pretty soon, I had more material than I knew what to do with, and it was killing me that my neighbours might be the only people probably to ever hear them. And that’s when I met Adam Lasus (who produced “Zoloft”). I played him some of my stuff. He got excited. We picked four of the songs and just ran with it. “Songs In the Key of Zoloft” was born.

When did you first start composing your own songs?

If you count banging on a toy piano as “composition,” I wrote some killer shit at age 5.

Looking from the outside, it seems to be a prolific moment for the musical scene in New York City. Which is your perception from the inside?

I do think it is a prolific time for the music scene in New York. But along with that flux of creativity comes a ton of imitation and bands trying to sound like other bands. It seems like every band these days comes from Brooklyn, has an angular haircut, and plays songs that all have that retro-hi-hat-on-the-up-beat thing. So yeah the scene is thriving right now, but it’s only gotten harder to find the really original voices within it. I guess it breeds creativity and conformity in equal measure.

We generally talk about “the musical scene in New York City”. Do you think that the idea of one big scene reflects the way things really are, or do you think we’d better talk about many diferrent smaller scenes living one close to the other?

It would make sense if there were a ton of smaller scenes here, but as it turns out the more and more shows I do, the more and more record shops, parties etc that I go to I find I’m seeing the same people again and again. It’s far smaller here than people give it credit for.

Are there places in New York where artists or people related to music get together, talk, exchange ideas?

I’m sure they exist, but I haven’t really searched them out. The songwriting process for me is really insular and introspective. I can’t write with anyone else in the same room with me. Songwriting for me is not a democratic thing. It’s disciplined work. I’ll have ideas floating around in my head. And I’ll almost work all the lyrics out in m head first. And then I’ll be at home and just hash out the music and build and build from that point on.

You are a long time music lover and buyer. The copy of “Songs in the key of Zoloft” I listened to came to Italy because Ernesto De Pascale (editor in chief of Il Popolo Del Blues) simply trusted Other Music’s advice and bought it. In the middle of the digital downloading era, do you still believe in the power of great records stores?

Absolutely. Other Music is an institution for music lovers like myself. They have turned me onto so many great records, that I would have had no clue about had I been left to my own devices to download. Furthermore, I don’t think people go to record shops solely to buy music. They go to hang out. Listen to what’s playing in the store. Talk about music. Get opinions. See what other people are listening to. It’s more of a visceral experience, than just reading the comments section of a blog.

Which is the first record you bought?

Had to be Raffi. I loved those cassettes. “Singable Songs For The Very Young” blew my mind when I was 8 and still does now.

Are you a vinyl supporter or cd supporter?

Both. There is so much on vinyl that just isn’t on CD. Plus, the cumbersome nature of vinyl forces you to have a more intimate experience with whatever you’re listening to. On the other hand, vinyl isn’t very practical at all, and my life is nothing if not a slave to practicality.

Did living in New York City influence “Songs in the key of Zoloft”?

My songs would not be my songs if not for this city.

How was working with Adam Lasus?

I cannot say enough great things about Adam. He has excellent ears, and he’s made so many great records. He knew exactly where I wanted to take my songs, and more importantly he was able to make it a reality.

Which are the places in the world you would like best to tour? (you never can tell, someone is going to read this interview…)

Ha. Well I would love to play Spain. Barcelona. But you know, I’d take Venice any day too. So beautiful. I love anywhere with water. Venice could use some more indie rock shows, no? Hey, Milan wouldn’t be bad either come to think of it.

Which are your favourite artists looking to the international contemporary scene?

Well, I’ve been a HUGE fan of Jens Lekman for some time now. I think he is just about the finest songwriter of my generation. Great humour. Great melodies. Great production. He’s a major talent. I would love to come to Sweden and do a show with him. In fact, Jens, if somehow you are reading this right now and are down to do a show, I’ll come to Sweden, let’s do it.

Have you ever been to Italy?

Yes. A few years I ago I spent my summer travelling was in Florence and Rome and Venice and I love Italy so so much. Didn’t find too many record shops when I was there though. I need to come back, and you guys can steer me in the right direction.

How is the work for your upcoming debut album going?

Really well. I have so much material at this point. Some really new songs, some really old stuff that’s great. I’m demo-ing everything at home right now, and then come March I’ll go back into the studio with Adam and the boys and knock out the full-length. I can tell you it’s tentatively titled: “The Narcissist and Other Songs About Me.”

What about your future projects?

In the next couple months I might have a small split ep coming out with some of my local songwriter friends featuring this new song of mine called, “Scars.” Other than that, I’m busy just playing shows non-stop, writing, and recording and eating and sleeping, working, the occasional movie, the too-often rock show, and avoiding the gym at all costs.