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Name: Scott McCaughey

Nationality: American
Occupation: Singer, songwriter, guitarist
Current release: Scott McCaughey is one of the collaborators on the recent Rural Tapes album Inner Space Music. The No Ones also have a festive single out, “A Christmas Voice.”

[Read our Rural Tapes interview]
[Read our Rural Tapes interview about his creative process]

If you enjoyed this interview with Scott McCaughey and would like to find out more about his work, visit the official Minus 5 website. He is also on twitter and Facebook.

For the thoughts of one of his guests on the wonderful Minus 5 masterpiece Down With Wilco: A Tragedy In Three Halfs, read our Sean O'Hagan interview. Or check out our Nels Cline of Wilco interview (although not present on that release). 



Where does the impulse to create something come from for you? What role do often-quoted sources of inspiration like dreams, other forms of art, personal relationships, politics etc play?

All the above enter in. But it’s almost best when there’s nothing on my mind and music or words just start busting in. It doesn’t happen often now — since my brain was re-wired by a stroke — but I’ll take whatever I can get.

“Song For George” from the upcoming No Ones record was a rare event, when a song drops in my lap. In that case George Harrison stopped in on his birthday 2021. Wish he’d come around a hell of a lot more.

Writing is a bit more like work now. Mostly it feels like there’s nothing for me to say, or nothing that’s new or worthwhile.

For you to get started, do there need to be concrete ideas – or what some have called a 'visualisation' of the finished work? What does the balance between planning and chance look like for you?

There’s never been a concrete idea that I couldn’t dismember and make it into my own little language.

It seems like the more I try to stick to a plan the worse the song turns out. But then, nobody gets to hear those!

Is there a preparation phase for your process? Do you require your tools to be laid out in a particular way, for example, do you need to do 'research' or create 'early versions'?

No tools laid out, no rules. My workspace is a mess and I write anywhere I can.

“Research” comes into play on Baseball Project songs (“Buckner’s Bolero”, “Panda & The Freak”, etc.)



The others are just words chasing melodies — and my songs, when recorded and realized, never sound like I first envisioned them.

Do you have certain rituals to get you into the right mindset for creating? What role do certain foods or stimulants like coffee, lighting, scents, exercise or reading poetry play?

Hell no! I mean coffee is good now. But I usually have other crap that I have to deal with first thing in the morning.

I used to sip at single malt whisky late at night and that worked well … at the time. Songs like “There Is No Music” and “Dear Employer” came together instantly inside that mellow buzz.



Most of my songs in recent years start with lyrics that come while I’m walking or driving.

What do you start with? How difficult is that first line of text, the first note?

It’s almost always lyrics. I stockpile them until there’s a reason to put them to music. Some I don’t even remember writing. They could be in an email, an iPhone ‘note’, in one of twenty notebooks scattered about.

A lot of it is shit, but sometimes I strike “gold” (ahem).

When do the lyrics enter the picture? Where do they come from? Do lyrics need to grow together with the music or can they emerge from a place of their own?

There’s a song on Scott The Hoople's SAD BOX CD from a couple years ago, called “Rave Up”.



I found it complete, music and words, sung as a voice memo. I never found the lyrics written down anywhere. Have no memory of writing and recording the demo. So there you go — there’s no rule or sense for me.

What makes lyrics good in your opinion? What are your own ambitions and challenges in this regard?
 
I just like lyrics that are mysterious, funny, dark, stupid. I should strive to make more sense but I’ve always been more intrigued by “Monkberry Moon Delight”, “Last Trip To Tulsa”, “Desolation Row”, etc.



I’ve put my name on a few of those. The lyrics of “Michael Nesmith” (a poem by Bucks Burnett that I took a wrench to and added to) are a pretty good example. Even a song about a real person doesn’t need to stick to the plot.



Once you've started, how does the work gradually emerge?

Sometimes very quickly, sometimes it takes forever!

Many writers have claimed that as soon as they enter into the process, certain aspects of the narrative are out of their hands. Do you like to keep strict control over the process or is there a sense of following things where they lead you?

I’ll go with #2. I’ll take a gift of random confused inspiration any day.

There are many descriptions of the creative state. How would you describe it for you personally? Is there an element of spirituality to what you do?

There is spirituality of some sort. It has to do with getting in touch with something that’s not part of me.

I am so thankful when it happens.

Especially in the digital age, the writing and production process tends towards the infinite. What marks the end of the process? How do you finish a work?

I am pretty good about letting the song be, as soon as the words are snuggled into their tune. Of course I’ll be tweaking till the last minute before mastering!

It sucks that ProTools has made tinkering the normal. Who can actually tell the difference?

Once a piece is finished, how important is it for you to let it lie and evaluate it later on? How much improvement and refinement do you personally allow until you're satisfied with a piece? What does this process look like in practise?

I like to think if I’m bothering to record a song, that it has by then received its passing grade.

What's your take on the role and importance of production, including mixing and mastering for you personally? How involved do you get in this?

I do most production and mixing of my own records these days. Not that I’m crazy about it.

It was comforting back in the 80s / 90s to have professionals take my songs on their rampage up the charts. Now going into the recording studio is a luxury. I miss it and love it when it happens.

It gets creepy in the Dungeon Of Horror, though I do really really love it.  

After finishing a piece or album and releasing something into the world, there can be a sense of emptiness. Can you relate to this – and how do you return to the state of creativity after experiencing it?

I feel the opposite. I’m excited to have completed a work that is important to me, and thrilled to share it with those who are interested. And then I kinda want to start another record!

THE STROKE ALBUM was a bit different because that was ALL I had to say. So I was proud but a little worried that I wasn’t going to be able to write anymore.



Creativity can reach many different corners of our lives. Do you personally feel as though writing a piece of music is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?


One can’t underestimate the value of a great cup of coffee. Maybe I should treat my songs better than cups of coffee.

But I enjoy them and move on, looking ever forward to another excellent coffee — this cup could be the best one ever!