The prolific songwriter reflects on three decades of creative output with The Black Watch, what it’s like to release the band’s 25th album, For All the World, and why he just can’t stop stealing from The Beatles.
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Today, the Spotlight shines On John Andrew Fredrick of The Black Watch.
After thirty-seven years of making indie rock, the band’s latest album, For All the World, boasts an energy and vitality that surprises even John. John’s a great guest: His creative process remains rooted in uncertainty, he reads more about music than he listens to it, he draws inspiration from everything from Dostoyevsky to David Bowie, and believes the best songwriting comes from not knowing too much about where you're headed.
John talked with me about his philosophy of creative doubt, his daily ritual of playing guitar, and why staying uncertain after all these years keeps the music feeling alive.
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from The Black Watch’s album For All the World)
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[00:01:32] Energy and Vitality in Music
[00:02:02] Sources of Creative Energy
[00:05:37] Ethereal Sounds and Happy Accidents
[00:06:05] Led Zeppelin Five and Marketing Pranks
[00:07:27] Guided By Voices Comparisons and Recording Fidelity
[00:11:18] Psychology and Creative Process
[00:12:07] Fifth Grade in Bed: A Formative Year
[00:17:53] Writing from Happiness vs. Despair
[00:18:42] Literature's Influence on Music
[00:20:29] Drawing from the Unconscious
[00:22:20] Negative Capability and Ambiguity
[00:27:28] Characters and Finished Works
[00:28:58] Modern Attention Spans and the Album Format
[00:31:51] Each Album as Reaction
[00:35:16] The "Prolific" Label
[00:37:17] The Beatles' Prolific Period
[00:40:51] Rick Rubin's Creative Philosophy
[00:44:04] Choosing Creative Partners
[00:47:21] Band Dynamics and Longevity
[00:48:38] Bowie Favorites Discussion
[00:52:45] Beatles Solo Albums
[00:55:49] Current Reading
[00:57:18] Hunter S. Thompson Reexamination
[01:01:37] Closing Thoughts
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Visit The Black Watch at their Facebook page → https://www.facebook.com/theblackwatchmusic
Explore The Black Watch's discography on Bandcamp → https://theblackwatch.bandcamp.com
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