Jamie Stewart’s terrifying declamations (think David Thomas meets David Bowie) are the aural equivalent of kammerspiels: Harrowing, ominous, grotesque. These solemn recitations are the most distinctive element of Xiu Xiu’s sound, and they are front and center on many of the band’s best albums: Girl With Basket Of Fruit, Ignore Grief, A Promise. However, they have also had a passion for ’80s-style synth-pop, hence lighter works such as Forget (arguably the best in this vein). Either way, they bear little resemblance to the music made by their late father Michael Stewart (We Five) and uncle John Stewart (The Kingston Trio). My conversation with Stewart follows.
1 | Your career has been somewhat schizophrenic: Dark and harrowing masterpieces (A Promise, Ignore Grief, Girl With Basket Of Fruit) alternate with light ’80s-style synth-pop (Oh No, Women As Lovers, Forget). Do you see the lighter works as mere diversions, or do you think they’re masterpieces in their own right?
I am not sure we have created a masterpiece but we always try to do our best with any kind of music we work on.
2 | Sad Pony Guerrilla Girl is the most popular track on A Promise (it’s also your favorite, if i recall correctly). I, however, have never liked it as much as the songs which follow it. It seems less creative to me. What am I missing?
I dont have a favorite Xiu Xiu song. Your opinion is your own as it should be. Regarding music, it is not any of my business to persuade you or anyone one way or the other.
3 | Girl With Basket Of Fruit contains your best vocal performances, in my opinion. Who/what influenced your singing style on that album?
A terrible childhood.
4 | Ignore Grief failed to capture the zeitgeist the way its predecessors did. Why do you think this is?
Again, none of my business what people think or don’t think.
5 | Your uncle (John Stewart) wrote Daydream Believer. Xiu Xiu is about as far removed from Daydream Believer as it gets. Do you like that song?
From the point of view of songcraft, it is a masterpiece and has obviously touched the hearts of millions of people. When I hear it on the radio, I never change the station. I love all kinds of music and all feelings in music. A great song is a great song.
6 | Where would you rank Xiu Xiu (approximately) on your list of the greatest bands of all time?
Hahahahahaha.
7 | Describe your artistic process / methodology.
Look at the moon, then dig a hole in the ground. Fill that hole with 1,000,000,000,000 glow worms. Lie down in the dirt next to the hole until you fall asleep. Dream of the spirits of the writhing mass of suffocating glow worms. Wake up and feel enormously guilty.
8 | Thoughts on The Beatles? Is it frustrating to not be as famous / revered as a band which obviously lacked your penchant for creativity?
Not at all. The Beatles made some remarkable music. That anyone listens to anything we have made makes me feel extraordinarily fortunate.
9 | Closing thoughts?
Meow.
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Brett Abrahamsen is a lifelong connoisseur of the experimental and obscure. He is also a science fiction writer (and an amateur philosopher of sorts). He resides in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
