Ahead of the release of his new album, Powder Dry, singer, songwriter and producer Tim Bowness has released the video for his track, Films Of Our Youth. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
The video was directed by Julianne Regan of All About Eve and Tim describes the song as "a combination of sound effects treated Mellotron strings and sampled voice."
To celebrate the release of Powder Dry, Tim plays The Camden Club in London on 13 September with his band Butterfly Mind.
He also plays The Fiddler's Elbow, Camden, London on 1 December and he and Butterfly Mind also headline this year's Prog The Forest.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
My maternal grandmother was from County Mayo, which means should they ever be desperate enough to require my services, I am eligible to play for the Irish football team. Outside of music-making, I’ve been co-hosting a podcast called The Album Years for the last four years. It’s done well and we’ve concluded that talking about music is the new music! Prior to getting my record and publishing deals, I worked for the NHS with the elderly mentally and physically infirm. I was in a home in London dealing with people rejected by other homes. Beyond the day-to-day issues, I used to sit and talk to people about their lives. It was both inspirational and frequently difficult.
How would you describe your music?
The hardest question of all! My new album, Powder Dry, contains 16 tracks and I’d say it explores quite a few different musical directions including art rock, post-punk, ambient, electro-pop, industrial metal and singer-songwriter styles. Generally speaking, my work - both solo and with Steven Wilson in the band No-Man - is eclectic, but it’s tied together by my voice (something I can’t escape from!). I suspect I’m one of the few people who has been on indie, chill out (Café del Mar and others) and prog rock compilation albums.
Who are your musical inspirations?
My all-time heroes are people like David Bowie, Kate Bush, Brian Eno, Björk, David Sylvian and Miles Davis. They’re artists that always possessed a strong identity, while constantly changing their musical approaches. Damon Albarn is a more recent example of that. I’m also a massive fan of The Blue Nile, Pink Floyd, Van Morrison, Talking Heads, King Crimson, The Flaming Lips, Steve Reich, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone and many others.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Thin Lizzy. I was in my mid-teens and - due to a recent family tragedy - my uncle arranged for me to operate the house lights and meet the band backstage. Phil Lynott and Scott Gorham were very welcoming and the band’s performance on the night was fantastic.
What was the first record you ever bought?
10cc’s I’m Not In Love. It’s a song - that along with its B-side, Good News, - I still adore. It’s great to hear it being used in major films. I was lucky enough to get the band’s Kevin Godley - who lives near Dublin - sing on a song of mine a few years ago.
What’s your favourite song right now?
I’m going to go with Nick Drake’s utterly gorgeous Northern Sky as I recently visited the house in which it was written.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Today, I’ll choose Randy Newman’s Love Story. Newman has the knack of telling complex tales very directly and simply. He can also condense an entire life in a two-minute song.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
As it’s over 46 minutes long and utterly beautiful, Promises (Movements 1-9) by Floating Points and Pharaoh Sanders.
Where can people find your music/more information?
I’m on Facebook, X and Instagram and I have my own website and my online shop is here.
Alan Corr
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