Q&A with Peter Devlin, November 2004

Hey kids!

About 3 weeks ago or so I emailed those on the forum who have their email addresses listed to contribute a question or 5 for Peter and Colin. Some of you took me seriously and participated. Here is the first round of questions submitted and answered by Peter Devlin himself! Peter has passed on the questions to Colin so we may hear from him soon.

The idea here is to have this become a semi regular happening, so contact me offline if you’d like to have one of your questions addressed. Enjoy and thanks to all who came out to play!

Of course, a few thousand "thank you's" to Peter Devlin!

Note: Peter's responses are unedited.

Cee xox

********************************* From Shonna in Vegas (now Montana):

How has becoming a father influenced your music?

(P) I don't think it has influenced the music (by all accounts 'Waves' should have been a very mellow record ?) but it probably has influenced the way I work. Making time available to spend with Emelia means being more organised in every other way, which means making decisions quicker in the studio and moving on to the next thing. So, that should mean making more records in less time!

Favourite non-Devlin music please?

(P) Off the top of my head, in no particular order, some of the music I’m listening to today.......The Who, The Blades, Ravel, DJ Shadow, The Specials, Gorecki, Wilco, Sparklehorse, The Roots, Grant Lee Buffalo, The Undertones, Arvo Part, Bob Marley, Chet Baker, Daniel Lanois, Whiskeytown, Kings of Leon...Haven't figured out tomorrow's playlist yet....

Is there any music you simply can't stomach?

(P) I can listen to almost anything, at the right time and in the right place, apart from Anastasia of course.

Is there ever a time you can see yourself not making music? (We need to be warned, you know, I'm afraid we're all Devlins junkies and as much as the music of the likes of Damien Rice, David Gray and that lot helps, it just wouldn't fill the void (lol)

(P) No. My daughter is one year old and already we're planning a side project together. She provided backing vocals (well, sighing noises) on a track on 'Waves' ("Feel It When You're Gone"), and now she has a mini drum kit, harmonica, maracas, synth giutar......I'm going to be the pushy stage father, like Beyonce's and produce all her pop hits. She'll be addicted to calpol by age 3 and jaded by age 5.

********************************* From Maggie, Canada (now Australia)

From all the places you haven't toured in yet, where would you like to tour the most?

(P) We met some people who live in Florence at a show recently and told us there was a strong Devlins fanbase there. It's a beautiful part of the world, so I'd like to play Florence and then tour through Tuscany, down to Rome and on to Capri. Failing that, put me on a plane to Japan and Australia and I’d be happy.

Is there anything you guys collect?

(P) I try to collect bottles of fine red wine, but it's not going to well. Just when you think you have a good collection, bang! it all goes in one weekend. I still have a great collection of pre-'80's punk/new wave/ska/ picture cover vinyl singles, and a jukebox to play them in.

Did you ever consider collaborating with someone on a track for your album? If so whom?

(P) We've been very close several times. Tori Amos agreed to sing on one, but our schedules didn't allow it. Tony, the organ player for the Charlatans was supposed to play on 'Waves' but the recording of their new album went on for too long. We did work with the brilliant Lisa Germano on 'Drift' - she sang and played on 'As Far As You Can Go' and a B-side - Electric Storms. We've also worked with The Blue Niles' Robert Bell on 'Drift' ("Be Like This") and 'Consent' ("Static" and "Consent"), Luke Doucet (the best guitar player in Canada and leader of tex/mex/rock band Veal, Ashwin Sood and Dave Kershaw (drummer and keys in Sarah McLachlan's band), Bill Dillon (guitar player with everyone), Jon Brion (producer/musician with everyone from Rufus Wainwright to Fiona Apple).

What's your favourite track from Waves?

(P) This week it's "Everything Comes Around", just because it's so good live.

********************************* From Cecilia, San Francisco

Have you worked or mucked about with a 5 or 12 string bass? Any preference?

(P) No I haven't got the qualifications for operating such heavy machinery and anyway, those instruments can be dangerous in unskilled hands. I also have bass vertigo - the higher the bass goes the more nauseous I become. Even looking at that bloke in Level 42 makes me uneasy.

We haven’t seen you PETER, in the U.S. in ages, what are we going to be surprised most about when we do see you again?

(P) Apart from the tired, gaunt, emaciated, drawn complexion, less hair, black rings around red eyes and an unhealthy looking loss of weight I haven't changed a bit!

Why don’t we read about the two of you fighting like the Robinson brothers in the Black Crows or the Gallagher brothers in Oasis?

(P) I'm too tired to fight with anyone. We go to the studio, work and then go to our separate homes. We spend a healthy amount of time apart. It might also be something to do with the fact that we've been fighting the business of music together for the last decade. All for one! The Musickateers!.

Are you getting the U2 iPod?

(P) I'm not. I prefer listening to music on speakers. When I travel on a train or plane I prefer to read. I was never really into the whole walkman / discman thing either.

Lord of the Rings or Star Wars?

(P) After the last Star Wars, it has to be Lord Of The Rings all the way.

Tea or coffee?

(P) Coffee preferably. It all depends where you are. Really good coffee is so rare in Ireland.

Showers or baths?

(P) Showers. Power showers.

Yes or no?

(P) yes, all lower case, no exclamation mark.

******************************** From Johnny, Britain

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Describe the most beautiful thing that you've ever beheld.

(P) My little girl's smile when she points at me and says "Dada", the sunset on the vineyards beneath the Balcon de Rioja in Northern Spain and the first time I saw "The Devlins - Sold Out" sign in lights outside the Olympia Theatre, Dublin.

******************************** From Lisa, Texas

Which song will be on the "Closer" soundtrack?

(P) "World Outside".

What are the words during Colin's falsetto on "Five Miles to Midnight"?

(P) To be completely honest I have absolutely no idea and I really doubt if he does either, but I'll forward this on to him.

******************************** Andy, Kent England

Apart from the obvious question, are the Devlins planning to tour in England?

(P) Yes, but we have to wait for the record company to release the record, the press department to get press coverage, the radio pluggers to get airplay and then the booking agent will book the shows. I wish it was easier but that's the way the business works. Spring '05 I think, but I know there is a London show being scheduled for Jan / Feb.

I know there is some sampling going on but can Peter or Colin tell me what instruments, that sound a bit like bagpipes, are used on “Kill With Me Tonight” and, “People Still Believing” for instance.

(P) Those are Colin’s bagpipes! Actually they're electric guitars I reversed and chopped up in pro-tools and then looped. We did the same thing with Lisa Germano’s violin on "Electric Storms" and probably a few other tracks I’ve forgotten about. Sometimes reversing guitars, or drums or bass can give a weird, spooky sound that organic and original, but there is a lot of trial and error and you have to be careful not to overdo it or else it sounds like an gimmick. (now we'll never be able to use it again).

(P) To everyone on the forum - thank you for your questions, kind words, presents support and enthusiasm. It is very much appreciated by Colin, Guy, Mark and myself. As long as you're into it, we'll keep making the music. I know the record and impending tour have been a long time coming but thank you for your patience. Hopefully we'll see you very soon. Take care, merry Christmas and happy New Year. Peter.