John
Garcia is perhaps one of the most distinctive voices from the
Desert/Stoner Rock era. John has had an action-packed career
fronting some of the most iconic Stoner Rock bands such as Kyuss,
Unida, Slo-Burn, Hermano and Vista Chino.
John
is about to release his stunning new album – The Coyote Who Spoke
In Tongues. A very different affair to his acclaimed 2014 debut
album. The new album is an Acoustic Record where the mood is very
relaxed and chilled out. Very different compared to John's legendary
musical output.
John
has also reformed Slo-Burn for some European Festival Dates later
this year. I was given the chance to interview John Garcia recently
and he provided me with a very cool and honest interview which you
can read below....
Hi
John. Thanks for doing the interview. How are things with you today.
I'm
doing OK. Just trying to keep it altogether on a Sunday morning.
So
we are here to discuss the new album – The Coyote Who Spoke In
Tongues. Such a great record and very different to your self titled
album. What can people expect from the new album.
Thank
You. Too kind. One it's an acoustic record. It's quite the departure
away from a full live project with Mike and Greg on bass and drums.
Plus Aaron on Guitar. It's little a bit of a departure. They can
expect to twist one up and sit back with your lady. Put the record on
and chill. That's typically what I did when I was writing the record
with Aaron.
We
were in Aaron's living room in Palm Springs. It's just a chilled
record.
Was
it an easy decision to release an acoustic record for your next
record.
First
it was Steve. It was a very easy decision. Though once we got into
the rehearsal room or his living room as you will, it didn't turn out
easy as we thought. There's nothing to hide behind. As there's just
vocals and guitar. There is some percussion in there and some bass in
there. It's nothing like a full blown electric record.
Decision
was easy. Doing it was another task.
Your
2014 debut album perhaps included some of your heaviest material to
date. Did you want to go back to basics for the new album.
It
was the original intent. When I first had the idea of doing an
acoustic tour – I said to Aaron – Hey Aaron what do you think
about doing this. Aaron said –
Yeah, lets try it out.
We went to the rehearsal room after all. The thing that got me the
most was – It was a challenge. I love it when a song or project
will challenge me. Almost to the point of it saying – You can't do
this because it's too hard.
I
love when something so emotional like these collection of songs spoke
to me by saying – Hey man. You're never going to get me.
You'll never be able to do this.
I
thought what a challenge like Green Machine and Gardenia in a
laid-back manner. My team of people working with me – Harper Hudd
and Robbie Waldman who are both my producers. Steve Feldman another
one of my producers. I work very closely with these guys as well as
Aaron. We thought if we are going to do an acoustic record. Let's
really change it up. Lets really examine these songs underneath the
microscope. Make them like the originals. I think we achieved that.
I
loved doing this but I also LOVED TO HATE IT. It was a really
challenging record.
You've
included recordings of Kyuss classics - Green Machine‘, ‘Space
Cadet‘, ‘El Rodeo‘ and ‘Gardenia’ onto the album. Did you
record any more Kyuss tracks.
No.
That was it. There were a few of them that Aaron and I scrapped. What
you hear on the record is what we strived to do. There were a couple
of them that didn't make the cut. Journalist folks are asking me why
your re-hashing you old songs. I told them it's a challenge and
they're fun to do. I still like performing these songs to this very
day.
Even
though I'm 46 years old, it's still fun for me to get into an
rehearsal studio and sing. All my spare time is devoted to it.
Why
not use them. They're your songs. It's what your mainly known for. So
why not sing them.
Agreed.
I'll keep on doing that until the old ticker stops.
Though
I do dig the new tracks especially Kylie, The Hollingsworth Session
and Court Order. Did you write the new songs specifically for this
album or did you have them lying around for a while.
Court
Order was definitely was written for this record. Kylie was written
for the last album. We decided to record it acoustically and it
sounded better. We are going to do an electric version of Kylie soon.
You may see these new songs pop-up again sometime in the future
electrically. Mainly for my next record.
Where
did the name “The Coyote Who Spoke In Tongues” come from the new
album. Any specific meaning.
There's
a big meaning to that one and it's really a personal thing. Being
from the desert and I hear coyotes on a nightly basis. They'll keep
me up in night and the way the communicate with each other is an
amazing act of real nature. I'm in awe by it. It's very fitting for a
person like myself. It was just a very fitting name.
The
album is being released by Napalm Records. Just like you past two
records. Solo album and Vista Chino. Are you looking to continue your
relationship with Napalm or you looking for new opportunities.
No.
I like Napalm Records. I really love my label and they treat me
really well. They always have and treat me with a lot of respect.
They care. They actually care. Some bands don't have that with their
label. My relationship with Napalm couldn't be better. They treat me
fairly and that's all I ask.
I
think we're a good match for each other. Sebastian, Thomas and Mona
over at Napalm. The whole team people behind me working on this
project. It's not just a job for them. It's their passion. People
seem to know me as this BIG ROCK GUY but this acoustic record is a
major departure from all that. It's a chance for me to broaden the
audience and reach new people.
There's
something to say about growth. I do want growth as this is a
business. Even though I don't make millions of dollars being a
musician. I still have a full time job working at an Animal Hospital.
I work as a Veterinary Technician for 3 Doctors. It's still fun for
me and I will still be doing it regardless even without the money. It
needs to make sense. I believe artists should be compensated for
their work. I'm a firm believer in that. I rarely see any money from
record sales. It's all about touring and even then it's miniscule.
Thought it's still fun.
Slo-Burn
will be performing at Freak Valley 2017. Let me tell you I've been
hounded by my friends asking more about this. Is this a one-off
appearance. Will you be doing more gigs or tours in the future. Any
potential future releases or is this too early to tell.
We
will be doing a handful of shows in Europe. Probably 7 or 8 shows in
Europe. Then we will see what happens. We're still friends and we've
been talking about doing this for years. I like surprises. Not only
at Freak Valley. We are also doing Hellfest and a couple of club
shows as well. Everything is all set for that. Guys are already
rehearsing and I will be rehearsing soon.
It's
taking years in the making for this to happen. We're going to have
some fun. That's the main reason behind the reunion. We want to have
some fun and share the stage with each other again.
The
whole response has surprised me since we announced the news.
Obviously
your mostly associated with Kyuss. Unida, Slo-Burn, Hermano amongst
others. What's the latest involvement with Unida and Hermano.
I'm
very content with the direction I'm going in now. My main focus is my
solo career. These little one-off shows are just things to keep me
busy and relax with a bunch of good guys to play some music.
Photo Credit by: Richard Sibbald
Looking
back over your incredible career over the last 28 years or so. Has it
surprised you the journey your music career has taken you upon.
Yes.
Absolutely. What a journey it's been. It's been a lot of ups and
downs. Though mainly ups. I'm very lucky to be even talking to you
about music. I appreciate that. People can still buy records and see
there's this great band by the this dude called Josh and he's got
these Desert Sessions.
Nick
started this and that. Brant was in Fu Manchu and started that other
new band. I started Slo-Burn. I love the history of it all and the
desert as I'm still residing here. I'm still able to create new music
with other Desert based musicians. I'm very lucky and it's something
I don't take for granted.
Talking
to you over the phone discussing this stuff blows my mind. I
appreciate it.
What's
your verdict of the current Desert/Stoner Rock scene. Do you follow
bands who say their inspired by your work.
I
don't listen to a lot of new music. I search if someone recommends
something to me. I very rarely find something new that I enjoy. I'm
listening to a lot of Jazz at the moment. A lot of Coltrane. It's
relaxing to me. I get a lot of that stuff when I'm on the road and
even when I'm in my own car. I still listen to “Oldies” Radio
Stations. The majority of my life recently I've been listening to
60's Rat-Pack music. Frank Sinatra and that sort of thing.
I
will then go from Jazz to something a bit more modern. I'm listening
to Gnarls Barkley with Cee-Lo Green. The first record is called Saint
Elsewhere. I still listen to that album and it's amazing. It goes
from Jazz to other elements.
There
have been two documentaries released this year. Desert Age and Lo
Sound Desert. I was surprised you weren't involved in any of those
films. Were you asked to be apart of those films.
Yeah
I was. To be quite honest with you. I think the whole Desert
Scene is over-hyped. This is my point of view as still as a musician who lives in
the desert and who never left the desert. I'm still here. I think the
Desert Rock scene got a little bit overhyped. Partially the fault is
the people who reside here. I think it got a lot of overhyped. If you
want to write about a music scene then you should probably visit
Seattle and talk about that music scene.
As
the music scene down here was really guys out of sheer boredom and
wanting to play music. Mainly to find the means to do it. There were
no clubs here. So what do you do. Any necessity to do it. Necessity
is the mother of all inventions. It was a necessity for us to play
the music. We had to. We found a place to play. Why did it become so
famous and legendary due to these generator parties. People saying
how mystical it was. It was a house party.
People
have these all the time. If it happens to be in South London or
Nebraska. People are going to find a place to play music. It happens
all the time. I don't know why this scene got more blown up than the
other scenes. It was partially down to musicians based here. Kyuss
mainly. These were just high-school parties. They're exactly no
different to other high-school parties. Absolutely no difference at
all. The only exception they were played in the middle of the desert.
People are always going to find a way to play music. It got blown out
of proportion.
I
just think these writers and producers didn't want to hear that. They
wanted to keep it legendary. They wanted people to say how awesome
and mystical it was. They want people to say how cool it was. You
know what Steve, I don't want to be FUCKING COOL!!!
I
don't want to be any of that. I'm a father, a husband and I bust my
ass for my family. I bust my ass to play music. People get
over-excited about making a name for themselves and for the Desert
Rock scene. I'm passionate about what I called my DESERT. Letting it
be is totally fine by me.
My
final question is – Does it surprise you that people still hold
Kyuss in such high regard. Even 20 plus years since you guys split
up.
Yes.
It does. I'll always be known as the singer from Kyuss. I'll always
appreciate that. People are passing Cassettes, CD's and MP3's of
Kyuss from one generation to the next. They will say have you heard
this and put on Green Machine. People say – Who the hell is this
band. That's the reason why the music is still alive. People pass the
music back to one another. They continue to share music. I really
appreciate it. As it keeps my career going.
I'm
a realist. I'll give credit where credit is due. Kyuss is a big part
of my career. I appreciate people are still buying records and still
listening to the music. It keeps my career going. I don't take this
for granted at all.
Thanks
for doing this interview John. Been a real honour talking to you.
Best of luck with the album. It's a great record.
Thanks
very much and I appreciate your kind words. So thanks again.
Words
by Steve Howe and John Garcia.
Thanks to John for
doing this interview. Thanks to Andy and Mona at Napalm Records for
arranging this interview. The Coyote Who Spoke In Tongues will be
available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Napalm Records from Jan 27th
2017.
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