CHRIS WALKER VS. BANDS AND BOOZE, ROUND THREE: BENOIT PIOULARD

I’m not going to preface today’s interview by talking, extensively, about the music of Benoît Pioulard or the immense talent of Thomas Meluch (the man behind the pseudonym). I’ve already done a whole bunch of that here. Instead, I’ll start by saying this is one of my favorite interviews I’ve ever conducted. Although it’s relatively light on drinking stories, it gave me the opportunity to ‘talk shop’ with an artist and musician whose album, Précis, I’ve invested countless hours into. Meluch, at a mere 22 years old, motivates me. With his music, photography, and ability to artistically push forward with confidence and assured creative direction, I can’t help but be inspired to do more. Perhaps, after reading today’s interview, you’ll feel the same way.

Today on Bands and Booze Meluch talks about what happened the first time he tried scotch, drinking 40-ounces on rooftops, his music-making process, and having his photography displayed in a German newspaper. Enjoy.

Let’s get right into it: what is your favorite alcoholic drink?

Benoît Pioulard: At home with friends, PBR, or at the bar, usually a whiskey sour or vodka cranberry, though I've been told time and again that that’s a 'lady drink'.

Only a little bit. I always justify drinking those by saying it’s good for you. Now, if I'm not mistaken you're from Ann Arbor, Michigan; where's the best place to hang out with good company or get a drink?

BP: That is true; for mixed company it’s tough to beat the Monday night happy hour at ABC (Arbor Brewing Company) though I do also like the pinball machines at Leopold Bros. If I’m with closer friends, though, there are some excellent rooftops downtown that are rather easy to get up on, always good for a cheap 40 drinking session.

Okay, this is the second time you've told me about the 40-ounce rooftop sessions. You've got to let me in on this and tell me more.

BP: Yeah, I’m afraid there’s not all that much to be let in on; lots of cracking jokes, talking about this and that, appreciating the city from a new vantage point, etc. When we get up on top of this particular building in Ann Arbor there’s a perfect place to perch behind a huge marquee, which makes it really easy to confuse people on the street below with shouts and non-sequiturs, as some of my friends often do.

If there was an alcoholic drink called the “Benoît Pioulard” how would you make one, what would the ingredients be?

BP: Probably something like a Long Island iced tea; a whole bunch of things thrown together into a rough sort of gustatory harmony.

That works; is there any alcoholic you’ve been burned by in the past or absolutely refuse to touch?

BP: When I was in Montreal a couple of years ago, enjoying the fact that their drinking age was 19 (also my age at the time), I decided to try a scotch on the rocks not really knowing what it tasted like, and was quite unpleasantly surprised; I literally did that thing they do in the movies where you run to a drinking fountain and vainly try to slap water into your mouth to make the taste go away. I don’t think I’ve had any scotch since.

You should try Grappa, it’s even worse. So, did you make any New Year's Resolutions this year?

BP: Yes; having just graduated university, and left a job of 3 years, I’ve resolved to continue challenging myself as best I can; so far that’s meant a lot of reading (lately, the novels of Bernard Malamud) and recording, but there’s much to do on the horizon, as always.

Great. Speaking of recording, let’s get into your music a bit. Your first release of the year, the dark-yet-glimmering gem, “Little a Strongly More Grow I” is on a Ghostly International compilation. Have you penned a distribution deal, or record deal, with them?

BP: Not as such; I worked as head publicist at ghostly for a while, and Sam Valenti asked me to earmark tracks for him when it felt appropriate. That song, in particular, was one of my favorites from the period out of which Précis came, but it didn't fit anywhere on the album so I’m glad it found a home on Ghostly. And for what it’s worth, the track’s sound is intended to approximate the way my favorite songs used to sound when I, as a kid, would tape them off the radio by holding a Dictaphone up to the speaker; somehow whenever I hear the Breeders’ “Cannonball” it always registers this way, for example.

Now that you mention the sound I totally understand what you’re talking about. It’s almost like you took the sound quality during the “Ahhooo, ahhooo” part of “Cannonball” and turned it into an entire song. Most of your songs seem to have a - and correct me if I'm wrong - intentionally lo-fi sound to them, almost as if they were songs being played on an old gramophone or something. Do you think the sounds or atmosphere you’re trying to convey through your music would be compromised if you recorded with higher quality?

BP: This has crossed my mind (and thanks for the comparison, I’ve always loved that part of that song!), and I think the songs would be different indeed with a different process. Having evolved to recording on a computer (now) from recording on a 4-track (ages12 – 19) I still have old habits of using tape machines to filter sounds to particular frequencies, though much of the hiss and softness is a result of my shoddy home setup, so it all adds up, partially by my choice and partially by contingency. I have no need or desire to change the way I do things musically for now, and actually am not at all into the idea of using a proper studio at this point, since I think it would disrupt the processes to which I've become so attuned. One day it might be fun to find out what a Benoît song with full studio sheen would sound like, though!

Judging from your back catalogue, you’re always up to something creative; what does 2007 hold in store for you - as a writer, photographer, artist, and as Benoît Pioulard?

BP: I've got a new 7” called Fir coming out on the fantastic British label Type in February, which is the only scheduled release right now. As I mentioned, I’ve got a significant amount of free time these days, though, so I’ve been working on new material, spending a lot of time outdoors getting field recordings, and working on photography, apart from the usual bouts of late night stream-of-consciousness writing. I’m hibernating for the winter but in early summer I have plans to move out of Michigan (for the first time) to the Pacific Northwest, which ought to be something of an adventure.

What kind of Polaroid camera do you use for your photography?

BP: It’s an old 600 I’ve had forever; I’ve had my eye on a 1200si for some time now, since those can do a few more complex things, but I haven’t gotten around to that quite yet.

Do you plan on doing an art showcase or anything of the sort down the road?

BP: A photo display has crossed my mind once or twice, but the main project with that right now is a book I've just finished and will be sending to a few small publishers this spring. For now I'm pleased that a German newspaper called Zeit has posted a gallery of my shots on their website, too.

That’s incredible, good for you. So, what about live shows? Do you plan on touring any time in the near future or playing something like SXSW?

BP: I have yet to really find the right wavelength for solo performances; I’ve played drums for lots of bands, and being in that group context always works well for me, but my own shows to this point – I've done 6 or 7 in the last year – are mostly comprised of drones and loops built out of various sources and processed through pedals. This is obviously pretty different than what I record at home, mostly because I don't feel as though those songs would hold up in the same way outside of the album. Apart from that, vocals are always a bit scattershot with me, which is something I'd have to work on before planning a tour or anything. Maybe someday?

You never know. Well, that about does it. Are there any other more fun stories, tales, words of wisdom, imparting gifts you’d like to share before we conclude?

BP: Sure, I don't know, a million things come to mind...my general philosophy is ‘pay (more) attention’, especially when things seem boring or too familiar. Also, never underestimate the power of a good walk alone.

And finally, the most important question of all, which are better: pirates, ninjas, or Vikings?

BP: Hmmm...I’m inclined to say Vikings, mostly because they were my high school mascot, but then again I never cared too much for my high school; between the other two I admire more greatly the stealth and grace of ninjas. I don’t think pirates would give a fuck, though.

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For MP3s, photography, news, musings, and much, much more visit the links below:

[Official Site] Benoît Pioulard

[MySpace] Benoît Pioulard