#audio: interview

[ahjdaily]

INTERVIEW: Albert Hammond Jr on the LSQ Podcast

Albert Hammond Jr - The Strokes by LSQ

"I always said, I felt like, when the five of us are together, the universe does something different," says Albert Hammond Jr, guitarist for

In this interview, Jenny Eliscu and Albert Hammond Jr talk about his childhood influences, an era when he was a rollerskating champion, the beginning of The Strokes, his songwriting process, and hopes for the future.

↓ Expand for AHJ Daily's Moments, Notes, and Context:

(7:47) - On his father's influence: "I don't know why I saw it so separately cause even when I was at the Buddy Holly [musical] he was like yeah that's what I do and I was like well not really. I don't know if I needed it to be my own thing cause we had the same name. (...) At 9 I saw him, this guy he'd go make demos, which is so cool. It's elements I took with me like listening to music very loud."

(10:20) - Applying to college

(11:50) - Flying to NYC, reuniting with Julian Casablancas

(19:45) - On The Strokes Voltron analogy: "We grew up with it. We would talk about what kind of band we wanted to be (...) and the idea was like we don't want to be a pop band but it's so cool how you know all the names. Why wouldn't you want to have everyone know everyone's name? It seems like you would just be allowing yourself to be bigger. Cause someone could not like all 4 but like 1 and there you go you're still coming. So we made that a point to always showcase all of us (...) I think that's what people like."

(22:14) - Envisioning The Strokes' future: "I'd love to create with [The Strokes], as I'm older. Because I feel like we're so interesting at different times with each other. So even at 60, I wonder what we would create? What would the band sound like? What would we do? Would our strengths and weaknesses change and how would that make our sound change?"

(23:30) - "Melodies on Hiatus I had 20 [songs], I just put one away. I could've kept going."

(23:55) - Breaking down his solo career/album journey

(32:41) - On being a child rollerskating champion: "You know like figure skating and ice skating? But I did that on roller skates. I had a partner, I did my own routines, I did dance. 9, 10, 11, 12 I did it." [image 1] [image 2]

(41:33) - On the TNA new audience: "There's people who come to our shows who know us just off The New Abnormal like they don't know stuff before The New Abnormal it's very funny. You can see them look at photos or hear songs and just not understand. Like for them the band's beginning is TNA. It's very exciting for that to have happened."

(46:13) - On creative aspirations: "With Gus Oberg and Colin Killalea like I'd love us to be a team and produce and write for people just cause we have so much fun together (...) Besides like maybe scoring something, I wanted to write/it's fun to write music for films like a song in a movie, even an original song or something else. That seems interesting (...) I started writing for other people now with Simon [Wilcox] who wrote the lyrics on Melodies on Hiatus, we bonded over that."

[taminoamirfouad]

“You know, in a lot of ways, today’s guest is an anomaly in the music world. During a time when social media dominates the lives of many, causing attention spans to grow shorter each year….this artist dares to ask: what if you spend some time with my art? Tamino is a Belgian-Egyptian singer-songwriter who’s achieved astronomical success by making contemplative pop songs. A soft-spoken soul, Tamino’s music is intimate yet cinematic, elusive and yet personal. His debut album Amir brought him all over the world and was so beloved by Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood that he asked to be a member of Tamino’s live band (seriously).

But what happens after you achieve success like that? How do you not only expand your color palette of sounds but also your mind and your heart? Those questions are pretty much the crux of what we explore on this episode, along with the work that went into Tamino’s exceptional second album, Sahar (which is out now).

Before we get into it, I should mention that Tamino will be touring Europe for the next few weeks starting on November 21st in Paris and ending on December 7th in Belgium. Most of those dates are already sold out, but don’t worry, he’ll also be touring Europe again early next year, starting on February 7th in Stockholm. Be sure to visit his website for tour dates.

After you hear the episode, be sure to check out Tamino’s track Fascination on the official New Exchange Playlist. Also, be sure to follow Tamino on Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.”

listen to podcast here

[ifthenslashers]

Idina Menzel, Brian Yorkey, and Michael Greif discuss If/Then

The Leonard Lopate Show, April 22, 2014

[ahjdaily]

4 Tracks That Inspire Albert Hammond Jr:

The Strokes guitarist and solo artist reveals four tunes that give him a sense of clarity

Albert Hammond Jr

Listen to this episode from The Red Bulletin Playlist on Spotify. In April this year, Albert Hammond Jr – guitarist and singer-songwriter wi

Written by Florian Obkircher · Published on 12.06.2023 · 7:56 PDT

In April this year, Albert Hammond Jr – guitarist and singer-songwriter with Grammy-winning New York City rockers The Strokes, and a solo artist since 2016 – played with the band in Minneapolis.

After the show, they listened to one of his playlists. First there was a track by minimalist composer Philip Glass, followed by Nick Lowe’s 1978 hit I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass, which prompted Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti to ask if there was an intentional theme. “I was like, ‘No, but I should keep this going – it seems fun,’” recalls Hammond Jr, now 43. To mark the release of his fifth solo album, Melodies on Hiatus, here he does exactly that.

↓ Full playlist under the break ↓

NICK LOWE: I LOVE THE SOUND OF BREAKING GLASS (1978)

© Radar Records

“While renovating my house, I stayed in Villa Carlotta, this cool apartment building in LA where a lot of musicians and actors stay. I became friends with the musician Joy Downer, and she had this on her playlist. I was like, ‘Wow, what is this?’ I love Nick Lowe, but I wasn’t aware of [this song]. It’s so cool when you discover a song you didn’t know by someone you like.”

BLONDIE: HEART OF GLASS (1978)

© Chrysalis

“In our early days, we got referenced to some bands I didn’t really listen to until other people said it – [bands] like Blondie. Blondie are great, and it’s so cool to see them still play. When you’re younger, you want to live fast, die young. Then you get older and you realise it’s so exciting to keep creating and changing, and what you lose with age you gain in wisdom and ability.”

PHILIP GLASS: STRING QUARTET NO. 3 (1985)

© Hyperion Records

“I do sauna and ice baths with friends every Sunday. One time in the sauna, this [track] came on and, even though I’m a huge Philip Glass fan, I didn’t know it. I fell in love with it instantly! It’s a song I usually put on every playlist, because it cleanses the palate of anything, and it’s fun to listen to when you’re driving at night. It’s inspirational for creating, too, if you’re in a lull period.”

JULIAN CASABLANCAS: GLASS (2009)

© RCA , Cult Records

“This is a song from [Strokes singer] Julian’s first solo record that I’ve always loved. He’s amazing at melody, Even if I don’t know what he’s saying sometimes, the word combination with the melody always brings melancholy. He’s really good at hitting you with little things that reflect your life. So regardless of what he’s saying, you’re having thoughts about your own life.”

[ahjdaily]

Interview: Albert Hammond Jr (Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond)

Albert Hammond Jr - Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

Albert Hammond Jr. first rose to prominence as the lead guitarist of The Strokes—a band at the forefront of New York City’s indie rock renai

Albert Hammond Jr. first rose to prominence as the lead guitarist of The Strokes—a band at the forefront of New York City’s indie rock renaissance in the early aughts. In 2007 Albert Hammond Jr. launched his solo career, putting his songwriting and abilities as a frontman to the test. He’s now released five albums, including, Melodies On Hiatus, which came out just a couple months ago. It’s a double album that he co-wrote with Canadian singer Simon Wilcox, and features collaborations with GoldLink and Matt Helders from the Arctic Monkeys.

On today’s episode, Albert Hammond Jr. and Justin Richmond talk about how he was dramatically impacted by his parents’ recent divorce, despite the fact that he’s in his early 40’s. Albert also reminisces about his past life as a champion roller skater who was once scouted by Kristi Yamaguchi’s Olympic ice skating coach. And he explains why he’d never been a fan of Radiohead or Led Zeppelin.

[ahjdaily]

INTERVIEW: Albert Hammond Jr. on his latest solo album 'Melodies On Hiatus' (NPR)

Albert Hammond Jr. on his latest solo album 'Melodies On Hiatus'

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with indie rock musician Albert Hammond Jr. about his latest solo album, "Melodies On Hiatus," which meditates on

July 2, 2023 7:58 AM ET

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with indie rock musician Albert Hammond Jr. about his latest solo album, "Melodies On Hiatus," which meditates on big changes in his personal life as a middle-aged adult.

Transcript below:

AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:

Albert Hammond Jr. wants you to know he's been going through some changes.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "HOME AGAIN")

ALBERT HAMMOND JR: (Singing) 'Cause if I had the keys to the man I used to be, I would see some good in me, and I swear I'd never leave, no.

RASCOE: The singer-songwriter recently released his fifth album, "Melodies On Hiatus." We're not sure what kind of hiatus he had because while Hammond Jr. balanced his role as lead guitarist for The Strokes with his solo work, he also dealt with a big move in the middle of the pandemic. Albert Hammond Jr. joins us now. Thank you for being here.

HAMMOND: Thanks for having me.

RASCOE: Can you tell us more about the changes that you've gone through while working on this album?

HAMMOND: (Laughter) It's always a fine line between the interview and therapy, you know? I never know how much to give of myself.

RASCOE: Look, I am here for therapy. So I'm...

HAMMOND: No, no, no. But it's not that...

RASCOE: ...Going to be the listening ear (laughter).

HAMMOND: I'm not the only one that exists in my life, though, you know? So it's...

RASCOE: Oh, yeah, I understand that.

HAMMOND: It affects other people. But yeah, I feel like if I really told everything that happened, then everything would make sense. But I don't know. I just don't feel like I can do that. But what I was trying to say is - they always want a bio or something. I don't - I'd rather not say anything. I don't really have any interest to explain anything or...

RASCOE: You don't like to define the work. You like people to take from it what they will.

HAMMOND: I don't know what you can define really. I feel like people want an answer, and there isn't one. I'm searching for it as much as they are.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "HOME AGAIN")

HAMMOND: (Singing) Then I knocked, and she said, hon, I used to know him, but he's gone. He's up above. It's sad stuff. He could have been someone I loved.

There's something about music that can really affect you, that can hit you and change your life and change how you see things and view things. And I think when you mix it with the right words, it could feel like, oh, man, this person's talking me. Or they must - they know something, or - I don't know. I mean, so much time has passed, and there's so many, like, moments when you're writing the song. It's not like I wrote everything in one day, and I can explain every thought that I was thinking, you know. Sometimes it's just a craft.

RASCOE: Well, I mean, when I was listening to it, and I do - I mean, it is very expansive. I felt like there was a theme of painful relationships in this album, like parent-children relationships or children-parent, you know, relationships, like with "Memo Of Hate."

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MEMO OF HATE")

HAMMOND: (Singing) I had truly learned to hate by the time that I was 8. In my mind, what was true I made up or confused. The apologist...

RASCOE: This one, "Memo Of Hate," to me sounded like it came from a complicated relationship with a parent or a caretaker. Did you have that in mind, or were you - was it more you were just creative?

HAMMOND: I mean, "Memo Of Hate" - that was just the title of the voice memo. Like, I start - everything starts with a voice memo. I just liked - it seemed cool to talk about hate.

(LAUGHTER)

HAMMOND: It's just an interesting emotion. I think sometimes in writing anything it can feel relationship-esque (ph) because that's something very universal. So even if you're talking about other things, they can - people can understand them and relate to them in that dynamic. A lot of times I feel like I'm more talking about myself or things I've experienced with my own feelings. Just like "Old Man" wasn't, like - it's not, like, a song I wrote to my dad or something. It's just that it's a saying.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "OLD MAN")

HAMMOND: (Singing) My old man, how you been? What do you make of world events? Do I regret the times I said that I can't stand my old man? That's right.

When you can describe a conversation with a father, people understand that. And when you describe that in the sense of like, wow, as you get older, you realize that you can't really point your finger because you end up doing similar things as things you didn't like, you know, or things you thought you'd be different. And so, like - but how do you just talk about that randomly? It seems more exciting to speak about it in a conversation.

RASCOE: Does being a parent yourself make you have more empathy? Because, you know, you could be very, like, judgmental about - like you said, whether you're thinking about your parents or not - like, I'm not going to be this way. I'm going to do this. I'm going to do that. But sometimes in general, life will humble you...

HAMMOND: Of course.

RASCOE: ...In certain things you thought you knew.

HAMMOND: Of course. That's the - you don't know until you do it. And then you have a deeper understanding. Whether you would do it differently or not doesn't matter. You're just, like, you understand...

RASCOE: Yes.

HAMMOND: ...That people are really just doing the best with what they have or what they can or where they're at.

RASCOE: Yeah, yeah. I want to talk to you about "Alright Tomorrow." I mean, I feel like that song - it's the last track, and it's with Rainsford. And it's like - sonically, I feel like it sounds, I would say, almost softer.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ALRIGHT TOMORROW")

ALBERT HAMMOND JR AND RAINSFORD: (Singing) Rain comes down. Your socks and shoes are wet right now. But don't you doubt - the sun is right behind them clouds.

RASCOE: I mean, to me it sounds almost a little bit like a lullaby, but it definitely sounds like, you know, almost something that you would say to a child. Like, it's going to be all right. Now, I know you just came to this creatively and wasn't necessarily thinking about that as the goal, but did you get a sense of that after it all came together?

HAMMOND: When I wrote the melody, I knew - I just - there's no way I was going to sing this. I saw it as, like, something cinematic. Like, I saw it as like "Rainbow Connection" at the - you know, like John Denver or like something in a movie. And so I was just like - I knew I wanted to find a female voice. And yeah, I just - Rainey's voice is beyond incredible.

RASCOE: Obviously you put the music out there and people can take from it what they will. But, like, now that this music is out there, like, what has the response that you've been receiving and - you know, do you feel like people are receiving the music the way you would like them to?

HAMMOND: I don't know how to gauge that, to be honest - I guess time. I think when it comes out, you can fully move on. There's a little bit - I handed it in a year ago, so I find it so funny that you end up - to people that you're putting stuff out, you're showing them a past version. Like, you're already someone else by the time people hear your music.

RASCOE: That is Albert Hammond Jr. His latest album, "Melodies On Hiatus," is out now. Thank you so much for being here.

HAMMOND: Thanks for having me.

(SOUNDBITE OF ALBERT HAMMOND JR. SONG, "FALSE ALARM")

[taminoamirfouad]

Tamino op Pukkelpop: "Straks ga ik een onuitgebracht nummer spelen." | StuBru

dutch interview (audio only) pukkelpop 8/19/22

[fyeahgaryoldman]

Nerdist Podcast: Gary Oldman | Nerdist

Gary Oldman (Batman series, The Professional, Sid and Nancy) chats with Chris about the highs and lows of being an actor, how he does not want to act in films he directs, and being reunited with Kevin Costner for their new film Criminal. He also talks about the interesting experience playing Lee Harvey Oswald in JFK, how sobriety has affected his career, and his friendship with the late David Bowie.