Owen Pallett :: Face of a genius
Canadian indie musician Owen Pallett is a bit of a musical genius. In addition to three critically-acclaimed full-length studio albums under his belt, the violinist-singer-songwriter-composer has worked with many other musical greats, including Arcade Fire, Beirut, the Pet Shop Boys and Grizzly Bear, and has also branched out into film score composition. And yes, he’s gay, though that is far from the 30-year-old’s most interesting talking point.
Last December Pallet officially retired his band’s name Final Fantasy (as to avoid confusion with the popular video game) and now performs under his own name. In January he released his third CD, Heartland. While recording the album last year EDGE spoke to Pallet about everything from ragging on film noir stars to apocalyptic theories.
New directions
EDGE: You’re keeping pretty busy these days with time in the recording studio as well as a number of live shows, including a live accompaniment of a 90-year-old German film - Tales of the Uncanny - at Luminato in Toronto. How was that experience? It wasn’t your first film accompaniment, was it?
Owen Pallett: Nope, I’ve done a lot of orchestral writing for film, and solo violin stuff, et cetera. But this was my first time doing it live, Fritz Lang-style. We had to perform in the rain. The audience was very dedicated, and I had to cover my violin with plastic.
EDGE: And how is progress coming along in the studio? Tell me a little bit about the direction your creations are taking.
Owen Pallett: The new record is sounding dense as night. Like the seventeeth coat of paint on a vintage car. I can’t wait for you to hear it.
EDGE: While I’m at it, what do you think of the term "out gay performer" - do you think it has the potential to politicize, given the glut of LGBT-related headlines in the news, and what do you think about that?
Owen Pallett: I don’t think about it all that much. I see politics in everything, in vocal delivery, in a band’s choice of guitar amp. Who the lead singer is boning doesn’t really have nearly as much political implication as the brand of guitar he’s using.
EDGE: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Or, rather, do you think the Mayan apocalypse prophecy (2012) will come true?
Owen Pallett: I read that Popul Vuh and it’s pretty interesting, administratively. I think it could be applied very well to economic models. I don’t think that meteors are going to hit the earth or anything, but I’m definitely not buying property any time soon.
Owen Pallet performs Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 7:30pm at the Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA. For more info, visit the ICA website. To learn more about Owen Pallett and listen to his music, visit his website.
