I hate press release bios! I don’t want to bore you by copying and pasting whatever goofy 4 sentence write-up we have laying around. Long story short, my name is Jack Tatum. I make pop music. My band Wild Nothing has released a few records over the past three years. We tour quite a bit and enjoy doing so. We’re coming to Australia soon which is why this Interview is happening. I suppose I could have used some more adjectives here but it’s hard when you’ve been asked to write your own bio, you know? I’d feel too silly.
Your second album, Nocturne, was released last year. How has it been playing the album live, especially compared to your debut?
It’s been good, maybe even better. They’re more band oriented in a lot of ways, these songs on Nocturne. We’re a five piece now which helps too obviously. The songs have more room to expand and the show has improved because of it.
You achieved some great critical praise for both of your albums. Does that, if anything, mean much to you?
Sure, it feels good to have critical success. I’ve been reading David Byrne’s book “How Music Works” and there is a moment where he talks about how at the core of every artist there seems to be an innate desire to be validated. He offers Henry Darger and some others as counter-examples, but even then who really knows. I found that interesting, and truthful. We all make for the sake of creation and exploration but the power of potential validation is sometimes just as strong. It can inspire great work. So yeah, I guess it does mean something to me, but at the risk of sounding cliche, you can’t please everyone.
Your lyrics are highly regarded, are they purely fact or fiction, what place do they come from?
A healthy mix of both I’d say. It’s like with any form of writing, you can do both within the same piece and it’s often more effective as a result. As far as my own lyrics, I don’t know. As of yet I’ve mostly written songs that exist in the pop idiom. Love songs, personal remembrances, that kind of thing. They’re culled from fact but are then made vague, or sometimes even more relatable, through fiction.
The video for ‘Only Heather’ has just been released, it’s pretty dark, a young man walks the streets with a sword through his chest, how important are music videos to Wild Nothing?
They’re important in that they give my songs another vehicle in which to be heard, but content wise I haven’t been the man in charge. Both the video for “Paradise” and for “Only Heather” were presented to me for approval. I like them but I wouldn’t say they are my vision for the songs. They are someone else’s vision and that’s totally valid. Would I have made the same videos? No, probably not. Maybe eventually I’ll be more involved creatively with that kind of thing. I have a lot of respect for artists that control every facet of their aesthetic and creative output, but sometimes I’ve found it’s better for me to pass it along to someone else.
You’re making your way to Australia for the first time in March, what took you guys so long to make it out here?!
$$$! I would have loved to come much earlier, believe me. But the reality is that these things cost money. Couldn’t be more excited to come now though, none of us in the band have ever been. Also it’s been typically cold and bitter in New York as of late so I am in dire need of some Australian sunlight…
What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?
Probably just playing guitar for family members during holiday visits and such. I’ve been playing music since I was about 11. My dad definitely lit the fuse that got me interested in music. He taught me how to play guitar and always encouraged me to play and write. Both my parents have.
While you’re on tour in Australia, are there any local artists that you would love to collaborate with?
I’m a massive Go-Betweens fan. I had the opportunity to chat with Robert Forster recently for an article in the American magazine Under The Radar. I was so nervous, I’m not sure he gathered what a big fan I actually am. As far as contemporary stuff though, I’m definitely on the Tame Impala bandwagon. I listened to Lonerism quite a bit last year, and I was also very impressed by Kevin’s production on the Melody’s Echo Chamber record.
What is your band’s music the best soundtrack for?
The Grudge 2
What are your plans for the rest of 2013?
Some, as of now, “secret” stuff which I am very excited about. Doing more touring throughout the spring and summer, lots of festivals mostly. After that, who knows? Maybe some more behind the scenes projects. Writing songs for other singers, maybe doing some production work.
Catch this purveyor of 21st century dream-pop, on his debut Australian tour commencing the 7th March in Brisbane and finishing at Golden Plains Lucky 7. For full tour details click here
