Interview #689: Liam Finn

FOMO ('fear of missing out') is the second full-length LP from Kiwi singer-songwriter Liam Finn, the follow up to his acclaimed solo debut I'll Be Lightning. Son of Crowded House frontman Neil Finn, Liam has in no way leaned upon his father's success for anything other than inspiration and advice, carving a hugely independent and creative path of his own. As a result, Liam has toured the globe with his music as both a headline artist and support for acts including Pearl Jam, Black Keys and Wilco.

Having returned to a beach cottage upon his favourite NZ beach to create FOMO, Liam took the songs to Aussie producer Burke Reid whose shared musical tastes but contrast in musical opinion pushed Liam to work outside his comfort zone and create a truly engaging second album.

I Like Music sent some questions across to Liam to find out more about working with Burke, learning from his musical family, how modern day frustrations influenced the record and his new found love for Bari, his baritone guitar.

"I Like Music because...it keeps me moist." Liam Finn

ILM: Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions :)

Liam: No Wackas :)

ILM: Now FOMO is complete, how are you feeling about the finished record? Are you still listening to it?

Liam: I have moments when I feel like listening to certain songs, but to be honest, I've heard it so much while recording I'm happy to give it a little break so it feels fresh again.

ILM: At the start of the process, did you have a clear vision for the type of record you wanted to make?

Liam: Kind of, mostly the atmosphere I was clear about... I wanted it to have a sound that immediately took you somewhere... like either out to the beach where I was writing or to some futuristic land with friends and lovers you haven't met yet.

ILM: How would you describe your song writing process? In what ways has it changed and developed over the years?

Liam: I still can't figure out what exactly happens. It seems the best songs get written when you're not trying to write a good song. I suppose I normally start on a guitar or piano, figure out some chords and sing nonsensical lyrics over the top till I find something that pricks my ears up. For this record I wrote some of the songs in a very different fashion, starting with a beat or even just a little noise first and then trying to find some kind of melody that captured that atmosphere I was talking about. I guess my songwriting has developed over the years purely by being influenced by different things, songs, experiences and always trying to challenge myself to find new ways to make a song interesting without losing it's honesty or connection.

ILM: FOMO was produced by Burke Reid. How did you find your time working with him? What did you learn from him?

Liam: Yeah, we leaned a lot from each other. He hears music in a different way than I. We love lots of similar bands etc but his input on my songwriting was quite interesting... he didn't connect with some of the songs I thought were my best ones and he really pushed me to finish some of the simpler snippets of idea's. I really appreciated having someone to help steer the ship. I could really focus on getting the songs and performance just right and could trust that Burke had it sounding all crusty and fat back in the control room, whilst keeping an eye on the inspired moments that happen when you least expect it.

ILM: What were the biggest hurdles throughout the process, the biggest challenges to overcome?

Liam: It's hard to have perspective on what you're doing when you're so far inside it at the time. I had so many moments of self doubt and sleepless nights worrying that no one was going to like what I was writing. It was obvious from early on it was going to be a very different record than my last, which was exciting but also scary. In the end I found the fun in making music again and juices started flowing. Now in hindsight it seems obvious that maybe I had to go through those moments of madness to find a new direction that inspired me.

ILM: On the other hand, what were the biggest highlights?

Liam: There were lots of fun times, especially late at night when you've been working really hard on something and you take a little break then come back and listen really loud through the big speakers with a glass of wine or something. The last song we finished on the record Jump Your Bones was probably the most fulfilling. It was a largely improvised, one take beast that got more and more exciting with every element we added. I think that song sums up the joy of finishing a record.... and/or sex.

ILM: Can you tell us a little more about the title? It suggests a sense of frustration...?

Liam: FOMO is an acronym for fear of missing out. I am definitely a sufferer of FOMO and I'd dual anyone who says they don't have moments of FOMO. I guess in this modern day with Skype, Facebook and Twitter etc there's no excuse for not keeping in touch with people, seeing photos of the most awesome party ever that you couldn't attend and Christmas's, birthdays, gigs... lots of stuff. We are becoming perpetually FOMO!

ILM: You've played some amazing shows these last few years! Which have been some of the most memorable?

Liam: It's all been a blast really. I think my favourite shows are when you get to play a legendary venue like Massey Hall in Toronto. It's where my favourite Neil Young live record was recorded and the place just has a really amazing energy. I've been lucky enough to play there with Crowded House, Eddie Vedder and Wilco over the last years. They were all highlights!

ILM: What do you look forward to the most about playing live?

Liam: The Adrenalin. I never realised how much I'd grown to love playing live until I took some time off to make a new record. Now I'm doing shows again I finally feel like myself. It's great going out on stage, no matter how big or small the audience and having just one shot to make the day worth while. I like show's that are teetering on the edge of disaster, it brings good things out in everyone considered. Also I like to sweat... it feels good to sweat.

ILM: You come from a very musical family, how have they shaped your outlook upon music and the life of a musician?

Liam: I'm sure it's definitely rubbed off on me. My folks have always been really supportive of me and my music, great for advice, but they are also aware that I have to forge my own path and in a lot of ways, my experience has been very different to that of my fathers. I suppose I've mostly learned that it's not an easy career path and you have to love what you do to have the energy required to give it a proper shot. I've definitely learned to follow my gut instinct and keep challanging myself from my family.

ILM: Out of all the places you've travelled, which have been the most inspiring?

Liam: That's a hard question because some of the most beautiful places which you would think were inspiring can in some ways be distracting. I went and wrote my record at my favourite beach in NZ, Piha... where I grew up. It has played a huge part in the sound and theme of the record but felt like a tough place to write at the time. I think it's good to keep changing things up and being in a big city like London or New York (polar opposite to Piha) I find quite inspiring. I think you're less self conscious about what you're creating because there are so many people out there doing great stuff. It's nice to be anonymous.

ILM: What's been your latest musical discovery?

Liam: I really love the baritone guitar. I wrote a few songs on FOMO on Bari (that's what I call her). They have such a cool low growl... you can play bass lines and nice high chimey stuff and they were used heavily in old Spaghetti Western soundtracks...so cool.

ILM: What have you been listening to recently?

Liam: I have been listening lots to Shuggie Otis, Inspiration Information. It's such a sexy album, groovy and psychedelic. And also Tonetta. Look him up on youtube. Widely unknown eccentric DIY music video legend. His song viral we play while we're setting up for show... it really gets us pumped.

ILM: Aside from music, what else inspires your work?

Liam: Politics and Human rights. Na. Weed and bitches. Na. Heartbreak and love. Na. Catharsis.

ILM: What are your future plans?

Liam: I'm going to be touring and touring and touring til the end of the year. Then I would love to start making a new record by the end of the year with my new touring band. We're having so much fun and are just aching to make some new songs. I guess that'll be the point of difference on the next album... more of a collaboration with a band. Woo!

ILM: Finally, what is it that keeps you making music, keeps you creating?

Liam: It's just what I do. I can't imagine doing anything else now. I was useless when I worked at a cafe, made good coffee but I was shit at the till and would forget I'd put panini's in the grill all the time and start fires. I love making music, there's just endless possibilities.