 25/06/2009 echo park
I moved to Los Angeles in October 08 and settled in a beautiful house at the top of Echo Park. The sunset every night is incredible and my views on all sides are something else. The pace of life here is very different to that in London; I wake up real early, I don't party too much in the week and I feel pretty healthy. My area is populated mainly by musicians and artists and the place is rich in musical history, the underground club scene here is electric and the glitz, glamour and trappings of Hollywood only enter your life if you allow it, which I don't.
scott walker
I recorded one cover version on my album, 'It's Raining Today' by Scott Walker. I'm a big fan of Scott and recently saw the movie about him, 30th Century Man. I find it so bizarre that such an incredible talent, in production, arranging, writing and singing, could be so overlooked for so many years. His weirdness appeals most to me, his ability to tell a story and suck you right in, whilst the music around the tale twists and turns and often blows your mind. Recently I've been playing this track called 'The Electrician' to death, possibly one of the most intriguing, gorgeous and strangest records of all time.
crosstown rebels
The label is my pride and joy. Having your own record label as an artist is a must. I've come to realise that the process of releasing a record is so self-absorbing that it is easy to find yourself only concerned with your own music. I find that working with other artists and releasing other records keeps me grounded, reminds me that the world doesn't solely revolve around me and that music is not a competition. I have some great people working for Rebels and I think we produce some excellent, forward thinking stuff, and of course our parties are pretty legendary.
bear grhyls
I think the fact that I am so unfit is the reason that I'm attracted to Man vs Wild. I just discovered this show and I think it's the perfect way to spend a night in; watching this lunatic eat snakes, climb up mountains, sleep in caves... just mental. Nothing much appeals to me on TV (certainly since The Wire proved to be the best thing ever made and unlikely to be surpassed) but Man vs Wild hits the right note, we love Bear round my place!
mustang 66
So I moved to LA and did the obvious thing, bought myself a classic Ford Mustang. I never really appreciated cars before coming here but it feels so right to be driving around in a vintage design classic. It's tricky driving with a gear stick after being used to automatic in London but it helps having a v8 engine inside. I get stopped in traffic quite often, it seems that alot of people here had a Mustang at one time in their life and they like to chat about it and reminisce at traffic lights.
serial killer fashion
Recently I came across this incredible jacket that was made for Charles Manson; it was hand woven by members of his cult gang; braided with locks of hair taken from all the Manson girls. It took 4 years to make and on it they recorded/embroidered all the killings and rituals. Seeing is believing.
west ham
I've been a life long West Ham fan, I was a very young kid when they beat Arsenal in the FA Cup in 1980 but I was there at Wembley Stadium with a claret and blue nylon scarf wrapped around my wrist. A week later I met the players at their training ground and was given a signed football... I ditched my season ticket a few years later and switched my weekend activities to girls and parties. I watch a game whenever I can these days but I will never forgive the team for causing me so much aggrovation and so little joy over the years.
larry david
There's a little bit of Larry in me it must be said, the constant pursuit of getting away with murder maybe? The star of Curb Your Enthusiasm is such an unlikely hero but there's something about the way his twisted mind works that appeals to me. I have a few Larry-isms but then again, I think most people do.
smoking
I will probably quit one day but I've been doing this for so long now I'm not sure people would recognise me without a fag in my hand. It's unhealthy, it stinks, most people hate it but it's simply something I do. I don't do yoga but I do smoke, surely there must be some good to come out of it?
weird sculpted heads
I have a bizarre collection of sculpted head carvings from around the world. Some sit on the floor and form a little group, others hang on walls. Some are animal like, others are wood carved or made of iron. Every now and then I find something odd on my travels around the world and get a weird fetish for it, the next thing I know Im searching for add ons to the collection every where I go. These appeal to me because they are so painstakingly made and its great to imagine the origins of each one and the thoughts and process that went into making them; I guess its an adult extension of playing with dolls.
Extracted from Notion Magazine 39. To subscribe to Notion Magazine visit our subscriptions page. Notion Magazine is a bi-monthly (6-yearly) magazine, with an annual subscription priced at £18.99. |
