Q&A w/ Neil Hannon

A little Q&A with Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy.



Q: Do you like any videos you've ever done?

 

A: Good question. Not really. Very few actually. Mostly ‘cause videos by their very nature are wrong. But you do find you have to do them– or certainly you did. These days record companies don’t mind if you don’t bother. My favorite video was for Diva Lady from this album because it’ kind of tickles me and gets to the knob of my sense of humor– congratulatory and ridiculing. The best thing about it was it cost not much at all– chicken feet. To spend so little is– the more you spend the worse it is.

 

 

Q: What songs would you like to play live but can't get to sound right?

 

A: Good question. I’d love to do ‘Our Mutual Friend’ as [it] is on Absent Friends with full orchestra– probably about fifty people on that track and amazing sound. But that will be the day, But we do it live anyway but very differently– still great but not the same. Would also love to do ‘Snowball In Negative’ from the current record but [it’s a] similar problem.

Q: Are there any circumstances you'd do an album under your own name?

 

A: Never say never. I don't know. I think because Divine Comedy records are so associated with my name anyway it would seems kind of weird– unless it were just me on a piano. 

 

 

Q: Weren't you once considering doing an album of all covers?

 

A: Yes– I kind of seriously thought about it when I was working basically at the end of Absent Friends– for my next trick I thought covers album. And I arranged a few on my computer and didn’t think they were very interesting at end of the day and very one-dimensional. The idea hasn’t gone away– maybe might conjoin with live album– live covers. 

Q: What was the extent of your songwriting involvement on The Cake Sale charity album?

 

A: Zero songwriting involvement but lended my syruping tones to the final track on the album. Good cause and glad to be involved in the end. Took a lot of putting together from Brian.

 

 

Q: How would the internet and MySpace and blogs have affected you if you were just starting in 2006?

 

A: I have no idea and I am almost glad I started well before it all kicked off. I’m sure it’s fabulous– technofob– and have no clue. I absolutely appreciate that– it’s really good but I stick to pen and paper.

Q: Who are your favorite new British bands of 2006?

 

A: Are there any? New new… that sort of suggest that I have my finger on the pulse…

I am listening to Pogwash– Irish band– [they’ve] been around for a while but are just getting– going– highly recommended.

 

Neosupervital– Irish act– super 80s electro style.

 

A bunch of guys who live in Germany but are British– Coloma– stunning music [that you can’t] classify.

 

 

Q: Is there a recent song you wish you'd written? 

 

A: Um yes– ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancing’ by the Scissor Sisters– greatest pop band to emerge in the last few years.

 

 

Q: How do you fill your day when not doing promotion or recording?

 

A: Tour– but, well… I bring my daughter to school very early in the morning, take the dog for a walk, and load the dishwasher. Watch a bit of bad journalism on Sky news, eat tomato soup. In work mode just try and write some tunes. Waste the rest of the day playing Civilization on computer. Pretend to read but not really.

 

 

Q: Do you have any pre-show rituals?

 

A: Just to drink at least two pints of Guinness– seems that is the magic number before a show– not tipsy but oils the works.

 

 

Q: Build me a supergroup of living artists, instrument by instrument.

 

A: Lead guitar – [Radiohead’s] Jonny Greenwood

Lead singer – [Arctic Monkeys’] Alex Turner

Keyboard – Rufus Wainwright

Bass – [Joy Division/New Order’s] Peter ‘Hooky’ Hook

Drums – Ben Folds

Rhythm guitar – Me

 

 

Q: Do you plan to play in Los Angeles soon?

 

A: I plan to play but not anytime soon is really possible. Sad to say. America seems to get tougher every year to try and get to– gets further away.

 

 

Q: Are there any American cities that you particularly enjoy having the day off in?

 

A: I really like San Francisco– but that’s what everyone says. And New York– basically the European feeling ones.

 

 

Q: Any chance of Absent Friends ever getting a U.S. release?

 

A: We live in hope– we really do. But it just never seems to get a lucky break in the states– and I know some of the most voracious fans live in your country– but it’s all just economics, I hope.

Victory for the Comic Muse is out in the U.S. now.

Comments

[Kevin]

WOW...great work Torr.
So sad the States don't seem to be on is agenda...he is so brilliant live. I've really enjoyed speaking with Neil everytime I've met him as he is so humble, intelligent and a genuine person.
Spread the Divine Comedy word Y'All and maybe we have him back here, or at least the larger markets.

Cheers Torr.

[merz]

Excellent Q&A Torr, enjoyed it!

[Jerad]

Thanks a lot for this. Neil's obviously one of the more classy pop stars. I wouldn't mind sitting down to have a Guinness with him.

[Toby]

Absent Friends did get a US release. It was put out on Nettwerk, but it must have been deleted.

[julie]

you are the best interviewer IN THE WORLD!

[Pete]

Yes, the questions were very good, not the basic surface-stuff one gets with traditional interviews!

[Dimitri]

Amzing!! Thank you so much

[xolondon]

Neil should be proud of this record - it's very good. Even if his audience is smaller, he should keep plugging along. And maybe do some cute movie songs for cash infusion!

[Fantsu]

Thanks for the interview! Very good reading :)