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QUESTION METHOD: REEVE CARNEY
 Reeve
Carney is, I dare say, the next big thing.
He plays guitar and piano with grace and soul,
sings like an angel in rapture, and writes songs
you can’t forget—and don’t want
to.
1. Which was the first record you bought
with your own money?
Billy Joel's Greatest Hits.
2.
Which was the last record you bought with your
own money?
Screamin' Jay Hawkins — Cow Fingers
and Mosquito Pie.
3.
What was the first solo you learned from a record
— and can you still play it?
I think it must have been the solo from Radiohead's
"High and Dry," off The Bends.
Yes, I can still play it — all five notes!
4.
Which recording of your own (or as a sideman)
are you most proud of, and why?
I have a song called "Mr. Green" and
I love the way it turned out on record. I am most
proud of it because we — my band and I —
tracked the entire thing live, including the vocals,
and I actually ended up liking it! There's such
a chemistry between the band members, which comes
across on the recording. We caught a moment.
5.
What's the difference between playing live and
playing in a studio?
Playing live, you can fool people into buying
your act a bit easier! However, I think one of
the mistakes made by many people today is removing
live performance from the studio. The energy of
a live performance is that much more vital to
a studio performance. There's nothing to latch
onto visually, so the degree of communication
relies completely on the performance.
6.
What's the difference between a good gig and a
bad gig?
I feel I've had a "good gig" when something
new has happened — when there is new life.
It really all starts with tone for me. If I have
a guitar or vocal tone that I enjoy listening
to, I can escape to that realm that is sort of
free from time and space. That's really when the
organism begins to breath. Music should be like
breathing. When there are no tone issues, I can
begin to communicate a lyric which to me is the
most penetrating element to a song. A "bad
gig" is simply when you are not free.
7.
What's the difference between a good guitar and
a bad guitar?
A "good" guitar is one that inspires,
for whatever reason. A "bad" guitar
is one that keeps you aware that it is a guitar,
as opposed to a voice.
8.
You play electric and acoustic. Do you approach
the two differently?
Yes, in some ways, but I have to approach every
guitar in a different way. They all have different
personalities and different limitations.
9.
Do you sound more like yourself on acoustic or
electric?
I think I sound more like myself on acoustic at
the moment, but that always can change from time
to time — and always has.
10.
Do you sound like yourself on other people's guitars?
Basically. But, again, each guitar has a personality,
and some are stronger than others. Certain guitars
take you different places. I love when a guitar
makes me sound like Albert [King] or B.B. [King].
11.
Which living artist (music, or other arts) would
you like to collaborate with?
Paul McCartney. He's my favorite. I would also
love to do something with Fiona Apple or Norah
Jones. Such amazing voices.
12.
What dead artist (music, or other arts) would
you like to have collaborated with?
Walt Disney.
13.
What's your latest project about?
I guess it's just my band.
Web
site: http://www.myspace.com/reevecarney/
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