James McCartney Interview
May 11, 2016
By: Nevra Azerkan
PZO: As a musician, what do you think your best qualities are?
James: To tell you the truth I don’t really think of me in those terms. I don’t really think of it like that. I just think–I just enjoy it, you know what I mean? I don’t think, “Oh, I’m a great guitar player.” It’s not really about that. It’s about enjoying it.
PZO: Tell us about your current single, “Unicorn.”
James: I guess again it’s kind of self-explanatory. I guess it suggests mythology, but it’s also the lyrics are a bit different and I don’t know really. I don’t really like to explain lyrics. Like Kurt Cobain said, “It’s your crossword puzzle.” In terms of the music, it’s just like an ascending kind of music thing. So it’s like C to B sharp to F or something. I got a video for it.
PZO: What is the first album you bought as a kid and do you still have it?
James: I can’t remember. I guess I’d say something like Sonic Youth. What’s that album? Trash Experimental [Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star]? I don’t remember what it was called. It might have been one of those. I probably still have it, but I can’t remember which one. It could have been Smashing Pumpkins.
PZO: You must be proud of the entire album, but is there one song that you are most proud of?
James: Not really. I like the song, “Waterfall.” It just feels like—it’s fun to play and stuff. I’d say, “Waterfall,” but I don’t really have one in particular. They’re all just different really.
PZO: What’s your favorite part about your live show?
James: Playing my Stratocaster. It changes. Thinking about it right now maybe it would be that. I guess it would be connecting with the audience and looking at their faces and vibing on that.
PZO: If you had to pick a line from one of your songs that would be your message to world, which one would it be?
James: [long pause] Let me think. “Instant answer, right answer, electric cables?”
PZO: Your new album, The Blackberry Train, was just released on May 6th. What would be your pitch to get people to listen to your music?
James: I guess it would be to buy it. That’s a simple answer, isn’t it? Seems like the right answer. I don’t know though, it’s up to them.
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