In Conversation With #143 - John Murry
Get ready to submerge yourself deeply into ‘The Stars Are God’s Bullet Holes’ - the album by Americana indie-rock artist John Murry. He took a moment to talk to us about the release in more depth.
Hey there John, how are you? So your album is out now, how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
I'm good, you?
It feels great! It exists outside of my "control" now, there's a sense of freedom both from it and with it now. I don't have to mind it anymore, so to speak. It was a funny one to babysit, much as I imagine I was as a kid.
It is called ‘The Stars Are God’s Bullet Holes’ - what is the meaning behind that?
We look at the world and think we know things. We name stars, yet they have no interest in the names we give them or in names, language, logic, reason, etc. They simply exist. Some people are afraid of the dark, others adore twilight... If I were god, at this juncture in human history, I might consider turning the guns back towards mankind. We celebrate things like New Years by shooting at the moon: maybe god is sick of us?
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
It was recorded at the truly amazing, legendary Rockfield Studios in Wales. Here's one of many stories:
I pretended to remember how the piano part went for the second half of my own song, Ones and Zeros, went while recording it. I didn't want to tell anyone, so I rewrote- or wrote (?) - that part completely. In addition to my "mistake", my ipad broke on the way òver to Wales from Ireland and it had the remaining lyrics on it. So... I changed the melody and time and lyrics, and now have no idea what I originally wrote, and no idea if anyone *really* noticed. I think John Parish did.
What are the key themes and influences on the album?
Letting go.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album? If so, which one and why?
I don't know...
"Of course I'd die for you,
and you'd watch me, wouldn't you?"....?
Now the album is out there - what next for you?
Really fucking great live shows, loud fuzz guitar, John Boyle hitting drums and other things that make noise.
Another album.
A documentary film.
Lotsa stuff. I'll get bored, otherwise, and that's dangerous...