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Exclusive interview with Jim
June 2011 K&M: We are anticipating some new Jim McGorman music, any idea when you’ll be releasing new songs? Jim: I am working on getting a mix finished for a song right now. I am hoping to do a video - and release the song on iTunes with a video for youtube. With any luck, it will be out before the summer is over. K&M: Are The Awesomeness planning any new shows soon or new music? Jim: Unfortunately not. With our Avril schedule, and each of us working on additional projects - I'd be lying if I said we had something in the works. That doesn't mean that an opportunity won't present itself - but nothing for now. We definitely want to keep writing and recording. We just have to carve out the time. K&M: Fans asked you to describe Avril in 3 words and you said:“Amazing Talent Unpredictable”. How would you describe yourself in three words? Jim: That's a tough question. Let me think about that....... K&M: You are a musician. What's your ultimate goal in this field? Are you looking for fame and fortune? Jim: Though I don't generally think about goals, it would be great to write or produce a hit song. It doesn't have to be a huge hit, just something that gets into the mainstream for a bit. It would be pretty great to walk through he mall and hear a song that I helped create on the radio. I've had a few songs that got out there, but it sure would be nice to have a hit. K&M: What aspect of music making is most exciting for you? Jim: Writing and producing - I love being around the creative process K&M: What aspect of music making discourages you the most? Jim: That the general population has been accepting of homogenized music. There are way too many songs that sound the same and are paint by numbers with too much reliance on computers to create a sound. Before all the technology (which is awesome), you used to have to have real talent - now, there are a lot of smoke and mirrors acts who could not get up at a bar and sing a song with an instrument or a band. That is sad. K&M: You live in LA. Does LA affect the music you create or your taste in music? Jim: Of course - anywhere you live, you should be affected by your surroundings - and hopefully inspired by them. K&M: When did you write your last song? Can you tell us something about it? Jim: I'm working on a few right now. Recently, I am writing songs with artists I am producing, so I am trying to find a sound and vibe that works for them. K&M: When it comes to writing music, you seem to prefer collaboration to writing solo. Or not? Jim: I love collaborating. Two heads are usually better than one. Also, if there is ever doubt (which there always is - for something that is creative) - it helps to have another writer who you respect working with you. It brings a confidence and a validation if you both agree that a certain lyric or melody is good. K&M: Name a band or a musician that you think more people should be listening to. Jim: Phoenix - Chromeo K&M: Name a band or a musician who you think is most overrated? Jim: Not sure - but here's a guy that I think is underrated - Marc Broussard K&M:What's the saddest song you've ever heard? Jim: Take It With Me by Tom Waits ......gets me every time K&M: Conversely, hearing which song makes you happy? Jim: Don't Get Me Wrong - The Pretenders K&M: Do you agree that most female musicians are solo artists while most male musicians are in bands? Why do you think that is? Jim: Interesting observation.....yes, I would agree. Not sure, we might have to ask some female artists. K&M: On Twitter you posed a very insightful comment “music was so much better when artists were allowed to be ugly.” Can you give us a bit of your personal insight on this subject and was there a moment or something that inspired you to say it? Of course, in advance of writing an op-ed (looking forward to reading your submission about it :c) Jim: I think the band and I were watching something about some bands in the 60's and 70's - Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Crosby, Stills and Nash, etc - and (no offense) it wasn't the greatest looking bunch back then. Nowadays, you pretty much have to be a model to make pop music - of course, there are notable exceptions - but it just feels like it is music has become much more visual than ever before. I mean, half of the cast of the Real Housewives of New Jersey have singles out. That is just plain wrong. K&M: Over the years I am sure you have learned a great deal from many artists you have worked with. In your tenure with Avril, what do you think you have learned working with her? Jim: I've actually learned a lot about the business side of music from Avril. She is an international rock star - and there are so many things that go into that which most people never see. It is great to be around an artists who has such a massive fan base - and one which reaches all around the world. K&M: We know you are a big fan of the 80’s (as we are), if you could go back in time and perform with 3 artists from the 80’s who would you choose? Jim: Hall N Oates, Prince and Tears For Fears - though, those are just the first few that come to mind. K&M: What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a recording? Jim: I guess the World Cup show in Joburg was pretty different - and I also got to record on a Shakira record in a studio in Barcelona, Spain. I'll let you know if I end up recording in a submarine or something like that. K&M: Do you still buy CD singles/albums or you only download (hopefully legally!) Jim: It has been a while since I purchased an actual CD. I have always purchased from iTunes. I could never really figure out any of the "free" sites anyway. K&M: In the past couple of months you have become very active on Twitter. Considering that only two years ago you had somewhat negative opinion on that . What made you change your mind? Jim: That's funny - I had to go back and read what I said. I am still pretty light on facebook. I ended up "hiding" feeds from anyone I wasn't personally friends with - and I stopped accepting Facebook friends from people I don't know. I have a few hundred requests just sitting in there. The problem when you start accepting requests from people who you don't really know is - your feed gets so filled up that you can never see what your close friends are up to, because people are always posting a million times and cluttering up your feed. Twitter has become a different animal. I guess I didn't really feel (at the time) that there was much for me to talk about - but now that Avril is out there promoting her record, and we are making appearances and playing shows - there seems to be more of a purpose. I also feel that if I am producing someone that not very many people know about, it can be a useful tool to help spread the word. In the course of the last few months, I have been enjoying the interaction with people on twitter. It seems much more immediate than Facebook. K&M: If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you? Jim: ME!!! Or, maybe that guy from the J Lo movie who people say I look like - Alex O'Loughlin - at least he's Irish too. K&M: As you know at sunfired.net we have a section dedicated to your music gear. Any new additions to your collection we can add? Jim: Not really, just a few old tambourines for the studio! hahahaha K&M: An interview with sunfired.net would not be complete without our traditional “IPOD Shuffle” questions. Take your IPOD and tell us the first three songs that come up. Jim:
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