Bill Callahan
Bill Callahan
Bill Callahanis an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who has also recorded and performed under the band name Smog. Callahan began working in the lo-fi genre of underground rock, with home-made tape-albums recorded on four track tape recorders. Later he began releasing albums with the label Drag City, to which he remains signed today...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionRock Singer
Date of Birth3 June 1966
CountryUnited States of America
attempt field hanging obviously saw second
When I saw one second hanging on the clock, with another down to attempt another field goal, obviously I was immediately concerned.
deeper music rational stopping work
I did a lot of work without thinking about it in a calm, rational way. Stopping and thinking about what I was doing made my music calmer and deeper in tone.
cross curls feels guess mouth music physical ready sing sort written
I cross things out more than I write them. And if I try to sing a line, and I know that it's written incorrectly, I get this weird sort of physical nausea, and my mouth curls up all strange. I guess that's why I always write the words first: because, if everything feels okay, I'm ready to put it to music.
becomes enjoyable entertainment paper people time
From the first time you can look in the paper and you accept that you're the entertainment for some people that night, it becomes so much more enjoyable to play live.
approach craft gaze itself looks music talk time
Any talk of 'craft' makes me laugh. My music looks outward; it does not gaze upon itself in admiration. Artisanal is for cheesemakers. I don't know anything about music theory. Every time I approach my guitar, it's like the first time. There's no craft in that.
Writing songs was like my ticket to the world, I think.
experience fill written
When I write a song, it is to fill a niche in people's lives. To have a song for every experience if one hadn't been written yet.
integral
My first records are integral because I made them, you know, and I'm going to learn from those mistakes.
father james
James Cain was saddled with being called the father of hardboiled fiction. Apparently, he didn't like this saddle.
human life nature politics
I'm more into human nature than politics. But they're intertwined. Obviously, I live in civilization, so politics are part of my life.
lyrics
I will concentrate on playing guitar, on lyrics and on singing. I am a part of things; I am not the encompassing 'Smog.'
email
I was late to the Internet. I didn't really understand what it was. I didn't know what an email was.
home record
I wanted to live in a house. I wanted to have a place where I could record at home - all of these things I'd wanted to do for years.
felt oceans power sort
I like mountains and oceans and stuff, which is where I've always felt some sort of power of meaning, but that's not necessarily spiritual.