Wendy James will be taking in appearances around the country and at Liverpool Jacaranda Records on Monday 28th October and Rough Trade (Evening). The album was produced and mixed by Wendy James and recorded in West London and New York City, ‘The Shape Of History’ is her tenth album and will be available digitally, on deluxe vinyl and via deluxe CD.
I wanted to know more about the writing process, the theme of the album and touring so I recently interviewed Wendy James.
In terms of the recording process, after 10 albums, is the process easier or more difficult with seeking new ideas?
Songwriting comes natural to me. It wouldn’t matter if it was my 90th album, because I pick up my guitar, I find chords and melodies, that’s what I do. The recording process well I know what to do and I have a group of co musicians that I always work with and engineers too, they know me I know them and we work together successfully. They are perfectionists, just like I am. And it’s not for the faint hearted, if it’s not right I will hammer away with it for hours until it’s perfect. The engineers are exceptional, they are lightning fast and they have the same well vision and rhythm. They can deliver what music I hear in my head.
Are you always thinking about writing music or do you stop and say, it’s time to write a song?
When I sit and write an album, I usually take around a year to write just like my last album did and this one too. In my house I see my guitar everyday and it knows even if I haven’t played it lately the guitar knows I will use the guitar again soon to write, so it’s never a problem. I used to build on lyric sheets, but now it’s a word doc! But if I hear a phrase or I have a thought about something – I write it down. So by the time I pick it all up I can then search for chords and melody and use the lines I’ve jotted down – it’s continuous really. And you know, the routine of an album release, the album is released, you tour and then retreat and start writing the next one – so it’s a lifespan and evolution.
You began you career in 1986/87 with Tranvassion Vamp, how has the industry changed for artists, does it hinder progress or has evolution helped?
Well technological evolution will never be stopped, nor should it be. When we were kids, were CDs invented then!? When I was 11 I was at the record shop ordering records, then everything changed. Tranvission Vamp were one of the first to utilize the sequencing and it allowed so much to have additional sounds within your songs. So we shouldn’t stop it. What has changed is social media with all its platforms – some of which devalue music, some monitises it, I have no thoughts on this, back in the day it was Top of The Pops and gigs, but now even artists giving interviews don’t necessarily publish with broadsheets its websites and social media sites, that’s how you get the message out, there’s no review in the NME, but it’s platforms for so many audiences. There’s no stopping it. Digital streaming changed it all and there’s no stopping it. But maybe in a village in India you can download Taylor Swift, artists can also reach another audience.
You have collaborated with Elvis Costello, Glen Matlock and James Williamson – do you reflect on these times, was it a mutual interest and was it a case of bouncing ideas of each other?
I’m 12/14 years behind the punks , but I grew up in London and knew the guys from The Clash and the Pistols, so punk attitudes educated me. I’ve always had amazing men in my life who have collected vinyl, famous or not – friends in New York who have flats full of mucky vinyl they are trying to get through digitizes, all the crackles etc. Whether they are Lenny K or Mick Jones or James Williamson, they collect records and scan the cover, where it was recorded etc. These men educated me and so, I’ve been raised on it. I left home at 16 and could write and use maths but these guys gave me the real education and foundation I wanted.
The new album, “The Shape of History” has sounds of Stooges, Velvet Underground, New York Punk influences, was it a Labour of Love because they are your influences that you adore?
Yes that’s why I moved to New York, I wanted to live by Union Square where Warhol was prominent. I wanted to see Maxi’s Kansas City, Peppermint Lounge. British punks my have found Waldorf Street or The Roxy, The Marquis club, The Vortex, all the famous punk new wave venues – but for me my Holygrail was finding Ramone Street, East Village or The Bowery where Debbie Harry lived, but it’s my comfort zone, but i felt like I could have fitted in there… even tho not born of their generation, I could have a been a punk there with the greats. I still love it.
Transfansion Vamp came out of California, we were signed to a label there, we drove down the Boulevard, in a convertible. It was bliss. It’s punk, rock, wild and crazy, bikers and flea markets and elbows out of convertible, but I moved to New York – I like to walk and it’s a walking place. Every country has its charm and America is one of those.
The album is a “Love Letter to Life“ – was it an emotional journey to reflect on and say thank you to the past?
Yes, very much so, I always New York punk vibe songs but this one, I was almost singing in third person back to myself. Telling me, I am here for me, be here for yourself. I hate new age speech but if we respect and love ourselves, we can protect ourselves. There are some forces like social media that want you to be scared and hateful. And that’s a losing combination, it never picks you up, they always want to pull you down. There is a sense of self, to combat and rise above this shit. The punk attitude was believe in yourself and dont let the fuckers get you down and I believe in this.
There are artists who stand tall and remain themselves regardless of all this shit as you put it – I believe, Morrisseys of the world, have to be applauded for standing tall and being so true to himself. The Social media world want to… well cancel, ruin, destroy you for being so.
Well, social media is just giving arseholes the chance to speak – not everyone is a rocket scientist – it’s up to you how much notice you take really. Actually Gary Oldman said to me in The Sunset Marquis in LA his best known prayer is….” fuck it!“
I’ll take that on!
Well it does work Matt!
You are beginning an In-Store tour soon, do you find touring as exciting as you did in the past?
Yes it’s always a different experience – I have fans who I see all the time and know names and new fans – they make it so rewarding. I’ve not done an in-house tour before but have known Rough Trade since day one. So, excited to do so. When you walk into one of these stores, the covers – the sights – the sounds, you become 15 again. It’s a wonderful pursuit.
And playing Liverpool, excited to do so!
Oh yes, back in the day, I loved The Royal Court. Our first gig was at the Uni and the van with our equipment didn’t turn up – They had all been arrested. So that was our first gig. But the Court was steep and tall and when I’m there I may go and see it again just to look around. There are few places that are classics and LIverpool is one of them. But the attitude in Liverpool is for me, I love it.
Thank you Wendy, best wishes for the future
Thanks Matt, it was a pleasure
WENDY JAMES, releases her new album ‘The Shape Of History’ on 25th October.
You can purchase the Wendy James New album here.
Photo credit for main cover image: David Leigh Dodd
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