James Berry asks ADEM, ‘Where’s Your Head At?’
18/08/2004
5 months on from its release, Adem’s barren ‘Homesongs’ still remains one of the most enduring, slight and altogether pretty albums of the year so far. We expect it to stay like that. And when we say pretty, we don’t mean 90 minutes of preparation, the right lights, expensive jewellery and well-applied foundation. We mean seconds after waking, bunched pigtails, freckles, an unknowing smile and a healthy glow. This ex-Fridge man’s debut record is aeons away from his previous band in style, though not imagination. ‘Homesongs’ is a stripped acoustic session set amidst nightlights and distant sounds, and little else, nudged forward by very certainly chosen melodies and words, and percussion you barely notice is there but still find yourself hypnotised by. Seriously, it’s beautiful. He’ll be taking his band out on the road in the autumn – we crept inside his thoughts and curled up for 5 minutes to find out where his head’s at before he leaves…
- Where are you now and what can you see?
In my house, at a desk. Looking at a large laptop screen with my fingers playing across the keyboard lit by sunlight pouring through a huge dusty window
- What was the last thing you ate?
Toast. Thick, white sliced bread. Lots of slightly salted butter.
- What’s worth watching on TV?
Hmmm – I don’t watch much TV. There’s nothing that I watch religiously. There is no programme that I would put a book down for.
- What’s the next piece of music you intend to buy?
Joanna Newsom – The Milk-eyed Mender. Because I’ve lost my copy and it is the most astounding record I have heard in a very long time.
- What was the last film you saw?
A short by a good friend of mine that I’m going to compose the music for. It’s dark. Very dark. I’m going to score for the Elysian Quartet. There will be violins and thimbles involved. Actually, if part films count it was Total Recall on the telly the other day. I saw bits of it whilst cooking dinner. It’s a wicked film. I’m a bit of a sucker for science fiction. I think it’s the fact that you need a brand new concept or idea as a premise to make a good bit of sci-fi. It’s the ideas, I think.
- If you could change one thing from the past what would it be?
Couldn’t do that – might upset the time-space continuum… temporal butterfly effect and all that…
- What’s the most important thing you’ve done?
Realised that life happens and then it stops.
- What one place in the world would you visit if you could?
The old farm. My dad is Turkish, and every summer since I was 6 months old we would drive across Europe in an old estate car filled with stuff. My family on his side were all farmers, near a place called Sile (pronounced Shillay). It was like living a hundred years ago. I would pick corn and ride the oxen. The sound of the bells around the necks of sheep clanging distantly on the hills is one I will never forget. It was very communal – everyone worked together. I learned a lot from that. I have very fond memories of the farm. The Turkish government claimed the land and turned the whole area into a massive reservoir, miles and miles, valleys and hills. I miss it terribly.
- What’s the best thing about being at home?
It’s full of love
- Any plans for tomorrow?
Prepare for touring – I leave in a couple of days’ time and I have to set certain things in motion as well as check equipment and pack. Update my website. I’ve been very busy lately, and have neglected the site a little. Clear up my Music PC – It’s a bit full at the moment. Tying up loose ends.
‘Ringing In My Ear’ is released as a single on 13 September.
Tour Dates (with James Yorkston):
Thu 30 Oct YORK Barfly
Fri 01 Sept PETERBOROUGH Met Lounge
Sat 02 Sept CARDIFF Ifor Bach
Sun 03 Sept SHEFFIELD Fez Club
Thu 21 Sept BIRMINGHAM Academy 2
Fri 22 Sept MANCHESTER Night & Day
Sun 24 Sept LEEDS Metropolitan University
Mon 25 Sept STOCKTON Georgian Theatre
Tue 26 Sept LIVERPOOL Academy
Wed 27 Sept GLASGOW The Arches
Thu 28 Sept ABERDEEN Lemon Tree
Fri 29 Sept EDINBURGH Bongo Club
James Berry for Crud Magazine 2004©