Interviewer unlisted
Translation by Tutu Fujimoto
“Be moved by music” —— Jeff Buckley's voice evokes such a primordial feeling. This beautiful young man, who says "As long as I open my heart, music flows naturally into the blood vessels,” is the greatest newcomer of 1994 across all the genres, a rare singer, songwriter and guitar player raised by the East Village, NYC. Before his coming to Japan for the first time at the end of January, an interview with Jeff, who dislikes interviews, was done.
“ 'Because I might die tomorrow, so...I’ll take it.’ The reason I decided on the contract was kind of like that (lol).”
Jeff Buckley was not in any hurry to make his debut. He has no experience promoting himself. He says he didn’t realize it until the time he got interviewed.“Why? Because, first of all, I thought my music was nothing more than trash. Second, I couldn't trust the music industry. I've had many chances in the past, but I let it pass by.”
He has been playing guitar since the age of five, and he does not remember "deciding to become" a musician. “But I was clearly aware of what kind of world I belonged to. I’ve been there—The night world, the bar, life beyond one place, music, and me continuing to sing...It's like I've lived my life confirming those things.”
It was three years ago that Jeff, who grew up in various parts of California, came to New York City in search of a new world.
“New York City is really a city of artists that intensely inspires us. They find a reason for existence in their own art. Whether it's theater or music, they express their arts in their most eccentric ways. Otherwise, they're ruined. I don’t mean that I choose to be a musician because I don’t want to be a waiter at all. It’s because I'll go mad without music.”
It was in 1991 that the world learned of Jeff's existence when he appeared in a tribute concert of Tim Buckley (Jeff’s real father, a popular cult singer-songwriter who died of drug addiction in 1975, divorced Jeff’s mother before he was born). But he had doubts that only the comparison with his father would be talked about, so he chose underground activities and continued his life in the East Village, playing the guitar in clubs and coffee houses.
Even though he was his biological father, Jeff spent only 9 days with his father. It’s only natural that they have something in common as long as they are related by blood, however, it’s actually his mother who loves music, and his stepfather who gave him musical influences. How he has absorbed a wide range of music is obvious at a glance if you look at his favorite musicians. Edith Piaf, Led Zeppelin, James Brown, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, The Smiths, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Billie Holiday, Leonard Cohen...Jeff, who covers their songs on both albums and live shows, calls himself the "worst hero worshipper."
“Music was always playing in my house and I have no resistance to music constitutionally. I want to touch all the sounds that excite me and make me drunk. As long as I open my heart, music flows naturally into the blood vessels no matter what languages the songs are sung in. The music always drifts around us, and the moment it goes down, it flies away again, like a sparrow. Music is not an art form for me. I think it's a force of nature, like the ocean."
Thereafter, Jeff's live performance reputation attracted interest in the music industry, and after a battle between record companies, he finally signed a contract in 1992. It was when he was 26 years old. “I felt confident in my direction and the time was ripe. And since I found someone I can trust in the record company,” he looks back at it. After releasing a live EP at the end of last year, he started recording with three local musicians in a band. His debut album "Grace" was released in August this year. "Grace," which is considered by many to be the best album of 1994, is a beautiful work with an overwhelming presence and personality.
However, an image of a "genius artist" doesn't suit him. A charming young man who talks a lot and is as innocent as a child laughs, "I was surprised to see a pompous and unrealistic image about me go out of my control.” He seems to have a reality that can be felt from experience.
“All my favorite artists get their fuel of creation by their everyday lives and their lifetime itself. It's not only autobiographical, but I can't sing what I haven't experienced. I'm just expressing what I can't shape inside of me.
The way of expression is his voice (although it is true that he is also a unique songwriter). People forget to share Jeff’s emotions and even the need to understand his lyrics when they hear the "miracle voice" that, “I came to as I was looking for the best way to express myself.” In fact, he refused to include lyrics in the album (only English lyrics were allowed in the Japanese edition after negotiations). “I wanted you to just feel it without looking at the words. Find it in the dark and apply it to your experience, that’s enough. So-called song takes on a life of its own out of my control.”
Jeff asks for his ideal image as a singer in the word "chanteuse”. It is a French noun meaning "female singer". "What I draw in the word 'chanteuse' is, for example, a person like Edith Piaf or Judy Garland who makes people feel comfortable just by singing. Nina Simone and Ray Charles are the same. I'm really attracted to that point. That's why I'm aiming to be the best chanteuse in my own way. It's like a drag queen to call myself Chanteuse, but that's also good. Sometimes we need ridiculous vanity (lol).”
The things that were confined in a "coffin" called "Grace"
There’s a song called “Eternal Life” on the album. While there are many songs about private things, for Jeff, it's very straightforward and diplomatic...when I was about to say that, he said, "The song frankly shows the person I am," and began to go on to the next.
“I have been fascinated by historical atrocities since I was a child. Anything, from Charles Manson to Nazis. What is it about peoples' dark side taking over? Why the fascination? And my own as well. I wanted to know the reason.
I was thinking about Tipper Gore (Mrs. Gore, the second lady, who organized a protest movement pointing out the negative effects of music on young people. Content warning signs were introduced) while writing this song. She took advantage of the fears of mothers all over the country. Actions derived from fear always produce some form of violence or blasphemy. The blasphemy she commits against art leaves a scar deeper than any murder. "Eternal Life" is my cry for such a reality, racism, and religious atrocities. ‘There is no salvation for people who meddle in other people's lives for personal gain.’ That's the basic message.”
Here he paused, and Jeff started to speak as if he had thought twice.
“But this is also about me. In short, everyone should own their own darkside. Don't think others are better killers or thieves than you are. You should accept the part that you want to turn away. The more you reject it, the more you are swallowed up by the darkness, and it is an incomplete person...I'm saying it importantly, but I just hope this song is logical like that (lol).”
And Jeff added, " ’Grace’ is a terrifyingly romantic and lovely album." What gives romanticism to his songs is the tenderness and generous praise he gives to women, I guess.
“It's just the result of giving words to the passion in my heart. It's women who drive my life. I can't exist without women. How can I say..., I'm in trouble if the girls and boys inside me don't get along with each other. In the end, it's not a woman thing, it's a sign of my feminine side. I mean, it’s about me who can understand what I am. I have kind of a continuous stream of consciousness, and I can't think logically. That's a tendency that women tend to have. Maybe that’s why I can sympathize with them.”
A year after his record debut, a future that the success leads Jeff is...
When I asked if there had been any changes in his life since he entered the music industry, he clearly replied, "No”. The strategy of minimizing advertising seems to have worked. He has been touring vigorously since his debut, but the venues are limited to very small clubs.
“Even if there wasn’t record companies in the first place, I will continue to create music. I'm always used to a life on the road, and that way of life is an irreplaceable treasure to me. I definitely don't want to lose it. It's kind of addictive. I want to build myself slowly. I want time and space for thinking in order to have a real existence. I don't want to force myself into other people's lives. The reason people listen to music is not because they are forced by someone, but because they need it, like milk.”
However, it is also true that Jeff has already begun his career as a star.
“But the real rock stars are like Brett of Suede. It's a glamorous object of worship. For example, even if he and I were equally famous, everyone would tremble and say, ‘Oh my God’ in front of Brett, but they would be like, ‘Yo, what’s up’ to me, I swear (lol). I may be a bit of a rock star, but I can't handle the fame at all. I didn't choose music because I wanted to be famous, and if so (if he wanted to be famous), I'd assassinate the president from the beginning. The artists are famous so that their records sell well, and we can make ends meet and keep our lives. I admit that's a part of art. After all, it's mass art. It can't be done without an audience, and that's great. But it's also for myself that I create music. Music never leaves my side.”
So, for Jeff, what does success as an artist mean?
“Just keep looking for the answers day by day, and I want to be smart enough to be able to identify what's important to me. And make sure to earn enough to live on! I have a place to live, so it's not a lot of money. Because my staple food is Doritos and coffee (lol). Art is the top priority anyway. And to challenge how strong a human being can be...To have lots of courage and lots of scars. But I'm especially devoted to courage. And to find joy. To act cool (lol). To hang around for free and hit on girls a lot (lol).
But why, now and in the future, I don't want to be famous at all? Because I don't want to lose contact with the outside world, I mean, the warmth of my daily life, definitely. Everyday life and people, I can’t live without these two. I'm sure I'll kill myself...Or I'll look for another job.”
For example?
“Well, what about garbage collectors? That is, a super groovy one (lol)...In the end, it's all a gesture of defiance. It’s a set up battle somewhere. Life is, on the one hand, it’s kind of like dancing, and on the other, it's a disgusting defiance to fight against enemies that interfere with our own happiness. I don't know how my music affects people, but I can say this: powerful and fearless music takes me to an unknown world.”
Jeff picked up the "Rolling Stone" magazine nearby. Jeff was included the feature article, which brings together young alternative artists responsible for American music. He glanced at its title “Future of Rock”, and let out, “It must be ‘Doom of Rock’.”
While keeping contact with all kinds of music, Jeff does not belong anywhere. There is no place for this freewheeling poet even in the category of alternatives.
“I still can't see what lurks in me,” he muttered. Jeff comes to Japan soon. Listening to his whispering, sighing, and trembling voice with our breaths held, let's wait and see the way his infinite possibilities are revealed.
