Tonight, Oxford will celebrate the return of Kurt Vile.
Vile has played in Oxford once before, and has recently seen large success with the release of his new album, “b’lieve i’m goin down.” The album is filled with oxymoronic quips that give light to deeper meaning.
On “Pretty Pimpin’,” he ponders through an existential crisis to a folk beat, but coolly plays it off with upon the conclusion that he looks ‘pretty pimpin’.” Vile is a package of soul, with a boyish, somewhat vulnerable demeanor mixed with a large helping of dark humor. His is indie rock with a delicate edge, delivered with an honesty that is impossible to manufacture or replicate.
Vile’s blue-collar past life serves as an intriguing backdrop for his music. The Daily Mississippian caught up with Vile to discuss his latest album and his famous mane of hair.
What was your main focus while writing “b’lieve i’m going down”? In addition what was the overall mood of the album, in your own terms?
– I think it was just trying to sort of keep it is real as possible. I didn’t have a set producer — I wanted it in some ways to go back to my roots. Like, if I was actually recording in my house or not, just kind of feeling like my guard was down, capturing any late night in a home recording style.
Do you think it’s necessary in today’s music industry to not only have musical talent, but also to be self-sufficient enough to self-produce?
– I guess I never really thought about it that way, because there’s always been a DIY subculture, or lo-fi. Now it’s easy for everybody to record at home and get really good sound. Actually, my brain is not tailor made for that at all – like living in a screen and things are popping up. I used to be really into the home recording like on a digital 8-track. I feel like when you’re young and hungry, you’re stoked to figure that out, but I feel like in this chapter in my life, I’m not going to pour over these manuals. But I have bandmates who are really good at it. I prefer to be manning the controls, so it’s still a self-production. Although I’m not saying I’m not ever going to hire a producer and go into a studio again… I just sort of wanted to get a happy medium for this record.
Do you think, so far, the reactions for the album match the intent with which it was made?
– I think that it’s been well-received, and sometimes people are right on and other times it’s a little off. It’s never really across the board great reviews, I’m used to that. The reviews are cool, but when you go out on the road, and you see the fans. It’s going well.
So in creating that moment with fans, how do you find yourself while you’re on stage?
– It depends. Sometimes I get shy and don’t say much. Sometimes an audience is just going nuts, so I just feed off of that. Sometimes I’m really comfortable and talk a lot but then other times there is something off in the ether that makes me a little shy, and I don’t talk as much. You just never know what’s going to happen. I guess that’s the excitement, and I guess, the scary thing.
Obviously, your hair is great. How did it become a staple of your look?
– I just sort of know, at this point, if I all the sudden cut my hair short, it would be the dumbest thing I could possibly do. I probably would just look like a normal dude. I would look more like a clown – an average clown.
Kurt Vile and the Violators will be playing at Proud Larry’s tonight at 8 p.m.
-Alex Presley
