Steve Klingaman Loose Talk

On the craft

I like to record alone. It’s more personal that way, like I imagine painting would be. You can get a little obsessive and get caught up in musical cul-de-sacs. But it’s a very satisfying way to work.

On playing guitar

A lot of my friends over the years have been into meditation…TM, or zen or whatever. From what I could gather, the state of mind they sought was exactly what I achieved playing guitar.

On playing in bands

Bands arise from the pack instinct. It’s a primordial thing that replaces the hunt. That’s why bands never last. You get older and you don’t need that anymore—unless it becomes your meal ticket. You quit the band and voila…you’re a singer-songwriter.

I decided it was time to hang it up when I’d place an ad for musicians and the callers would tell me I was older than their dads.

A band is like a five-way marriage. Very complicated.

On folk music

I’ve always had trouble with labels. The new singer-songwriters are sometimes based in folk, but it’s not folk with a capital “F.” There’s this confusion between “real” folk and “contemporary” folk. Of course you have to call it something. The “Winnipeg Semi-commercial Music Festival” wouldn’t work at all.

I dislike the term “Americana” to describe a genre of music. It sounds like knick knacks.

I was turned off to folk music for a long time. Coffeehouses felt like church.

On poetry and music

Lyrics are not intended to stand alone. They aren't poems. They have to be considered in the context of their musical settings. The only reason to print lyrics is to help you follow the song a little better.

The great poet Robert Duncan was one of my teachers, and a friend. He was always riffing for the angels. To hear him speak was like listening to jazz. He considered himself a big time contender, and he was. His arguments were with people like Dante.