"There are genres of music — some of which don't have name — there's this genre that runs from Aimee Mann to Grant Lee Phillips to David Meade to Neil Finn through me that's like it's singer/songwriter or — Sam Phillips, you can throw her in there — it's certainly more, let's say, more Beatles than Rolling Stones and more Paul Simon than Bob Dylan," he said. "These are individual writers who aren't a part of any other genre movement, who don't have a name or a central hub by which you can find them. If people can find places to find this stuff, there's still people hungry for music that means something to them in whatever genre.
"Singer/songwriters, perhaps because we were part of the pop scene for so long, we haven't found those distinctions or they haven't been found by an audience on our behalf so we haven't really benefited from that kind of collective marketing."
With no pre-made genre to gently fit in, Phillips continues to make his own way in the indie music scene. His new EP, Secrets of the New Explorers, is available through his web site as a digital download in MP3 and FLAC Lossless formats as well as on conventional CD. He's also giving independent artists around the world a chance to collaborate with him, in a sense. Phillips has joined other artists such as Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails in allowing fans to try their hand as remix artists, making studio tracks from his song "The Spirit Of Shackleton" available to anyone with the ambition to give it a try.
This article is part of BC Magazine's feature on Glen Phillips. Check out the whole series. Phillips was interviewed on The B-Sides Concept Album program on BlogTalkRadio. You can also hear the interview in its entirety by following this link to the BSCA.
Article comments
1 - Mat Brewster
It is indeed a cool time to be a music fan. Its great that guys like Mr. Phillips can continue to make interesting music long after the "business" has lost interest.
2 - Josh Hathaway
Thanks, Sir Brewster. I agree completely, especially when if you take the time to listen to what he's done on his own. He's making great records.
3 - El Bicho
Transcripts of your radio interviews are a great idea on a number of counts (although I may be of a different mindset depending on what happens Tuesday ;)
4 - Glen Boyd
Great stuff here Josh. I've never been a huge fan of Toad The Wet Sprocket or of Phillips solo work (which I confess I haven't heard much of). But I found his insights on the music business both fascinating to read and quite eye-opening on a number of different fronts. At any rate, reading this interview certainly makes me want to look further into Phillips work as a solo artist. Again, kudos on a great read.
-Glen
5 - Josh Hathaway
Thanks, Glen. In one of the next installments of this series, Glen (Phillips) tips his hand a bit and points you in the direction of a good starting point when it comes to checking out his solo career.
I love all three of his full-length solo records for different reasons. With a gun put to my head, I think I come to the same conclusion he sort of does. Be on the lookout. It's a catalog worth investigating and people with souls like his music. :-) All right, that was overkill. Thanks for reading and the kind words. I do hope you'll make good and check out some of his albums. Be on the lookout for more from the series.
El B... Tuesday? What have you in store for then?
6 - Josh Hathaway
Part 2 coming tomorrow!!