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Hussalonia - Sympathetic pop songs
 Every
ten years or so you may find an album that truly understands
you. An album that talks to your heart and soul with the words
a friend would use. I thought I was too old for that, what
with having said hello to my teen years long ago and having
succesfully overcome a serious obsession with Morrissey, but
I was wrong. When I first met Hussalonia, on my way home from
the post office (how cool is that? I get CDs in my PO box),
I instantly knew he was the one. Some thousands miles away,
in a place you can't even place on a map, there's a guy that
maneges to express your own feelings. So it's been love at
first listen, and although Percy "thrills" Hussalonia
has not faded unti, now, I was forced to get all past Hussalonia
releases I could find to nurture my love. And now I think
I know enough about him to write: a true pop genius, a music
lover and compulsive listener, he writes songs because he
just has to. He reminds me of Eels and They Might Be Giants:
he has the same irresistible sense of humor, the will to record
music on his own and the ability to write sparkling pop tunes.
Here's a little email talk with him.
First things first: can you tell us
something about Hussalonia? How did it start, when, why, what
instruments do you play and how and when.
When my great grandfather emigrated from Poland, he feverishly
wrote stories about Hussalonia. I found a box of them when
I was young but was unable to readthem because they were written
in Polish. When I asked my grandfather about the stories he
angrily denied that they existed. Later, I went outside to
find himburning leaves in the backyard, and in the middle
of the pile I saw the box of Hussalonia stories.
When I started making Hussalonias in 1997, they were cassettes
and I gave them away to friends. Those friends would make
copies for their friends, and it got around. I made one a
month for 6 months. At the time I was recording like crazy,
averaging a song a day. And for a long time, I too denied
their existence by not putting my name on any of the cassettes.
I played a few shows wrapped in disguise. If people asked
me about Hussalonia, I would play dumb. But I sort of got
over that. Hussalonia exists and I am the reason it does.
I play all the instruments you hear on Hussalonia, unless
otherwise noted.
Was it always intended to be a solo project? And why did
you hide behind a nickname?
No, Hussalonia is open to anyone willing to participate. I'd
welcome someone else to make a Hussalonia. I don't like to
think of it as a solo project. It's a family or a concept
or a country or a dream or a joke or something. It's autonomous.
It's not about Jesse Mank. It's about Hussalonia and whatever
you want Hussalonia to mean. Percy "thrills" Hussalonia is
the first release that my real name appears on, and I still
feel funny using it. It's like I've betrayed Hussalonia. It
should have retained its anonymity.
What experiences did you have, if any, with record labels?
Just before Percy came out, there were 3 different record
labels expressing interest in Hussalonia. It's a scary time
to be releasing records, though. The industry is changing.
Ultimately, nobody wanted to take the risk on an unknown like
me.
I think Hussalonia appeals to record buyers like you and me,
Salvatore. We're interested when something is hard to find,
or when it's too late. We're looking for a good story. A lost
classic. An unsolved mystery. Something untouched by the masses.
I might be better off unsigned. I think I'll be even more
popular 10 years after I give up music or mysteriously disappear
or die like 2Pac.
 Since
I got to listen to some of your albums (thanks to CDBaby)
I have a few questions on each one of them. These are not
real questions, more an invitation to talk about your works.
-Ernest Evans Hussalonia: ok, this one is about Chubby Checker,
and I'm not
saying that 'cause I know Chubby Checker but only cos I read
the booklet.So why Chubby Checker?
Chubby Checker really irritated me at the time. He was an
opportunist, who latched on to this really stupid dance. A
fad. And he now thinks that he contributed something great
to popular culture. Even his name is a rip off of Fats Domino
(who was a real talent). And if you want to get technical,
Fats Domino's name was a tip of the hat to Fats Waller (who
was a real talent and an innovator). Still, Chubby Checker
fascinated me. How could you center your life around something
so ridiculous as that dance? I thought about him and his songs
a lot, and wished I could be that narrow minded. My life would
be a lot simpler.
It seems to me it's the most rough of your albums, it's
like you wrote a bunch of pop songs and then rubbed them with
sandpaper.
Yes. It is an accurate portrait of my life and the way I thought
pop music should sound at the time. I thought that record
was going to be the blueprint for all future Hussalonias.
I guess not.
Charles Hardin Hussalonia: this is your homage to Buddy
Holly, and at least I can talk about Buddy Holly. So, you
take titles of his songs for 15 seconds instrumental snippets
and then sing "Why can't pop songs be more sympathetic?" on
the music to Words of Love?
I thought about what I might write if I were Buddy Holly in
the late 1990s.
It is also your most r'n'r album.
It was a love letter to pop music, or at least what I thought
pop music was in 1998. Charles was supposed to be one of original
cassette releases, but never got finished. I put it on CD
in 2003. I sort of regret doing that. It's not my best work.
I cringe when I hear it. I was still finding my singing voice.
I'd still like to make a real Rock and Roll Hussalonia. Charles
gets pretty soft and sappy. I have to wait until I have a
decent space to record where I can make some noise.
What's your favourite Holly song? How that cannot be "Everyday"?
(expecially the part where he goes "he-hey-he-he-hey")
"Everyday" is beautiful. I get very emotional when I hear
it. I fight tears. I hate when it casually comes on in a Shopping
Center or when I'm driving in the car. It puts me in the sort
of melancholic mood that I'd prefer not to be in while in
public. It's cruel, really.
"Listen to Me" comes close to being my favorite. I love how
the guitar sounds so resonant and distant, but Buddy is so
close. When he whispers "Listen, Listen, Listen to me..."
it sends chills through my body.
The Hussalonia Robot Singers: This is strange indeed. First
thing I wonder everytime I hear it is "how did it ever come
to him?" Still, I can also pose some serious questions like:what
did you use to record voices?
A band that I was in at the time did a split 7inch record
with another group called "Microsurgeon", who was basically
one guy by the name of Josh Anomaly (who now makes music with
Nintendo Gameboys under the name "Bitshifter"). Anyway, he
had this little section on his song where robots sang in a
barbershop quartet style. It blew me away and he was nice
enough to share the software he used to make them sing. The
speaking robots are just Macintosh voices. I originally wanted
it to sound more like a folk record, but for reasons too complicated
to go into, I couldn't.
It's also the chance to hear you doing some old traditional
pop and country numbers.
Yes. If you'd like to hear more Hussalonia flavored country,
check out the "Hickory Windbreakers" CD (also on CD Baby).
I wrote and sang more than half the record and it's very 1950s
style country, but with 1960s pop leanings. I think you'd
particularly like the song "Headaches and Aspirin", Salvatore.
It comes from the same place as "Click to Add to My Shopping
Cart".
Percy Thrills Hussalonia: I love this one. I cannot tell
you much. I love it so much I actually don't care what this
is about, but I'm going to ask you anyway.
Thank you. It's my favorite, too. Paul McCartney made an instrumental
version of his record "Ram" that he released under the name
Percy "thrills" Thrillington. (Of course. Shame on me for
not noticing that earlier, ndr) McCartney has used pseudonyms
throughout his career to release his experimental projects.
The Hussalonia version of "Percy" was to be a reversal of
McCartney's, as it was the first record that my real name
appears on. I have an obsession with McCartney's "Ram". Whenever
I see a vinyl copy for under 2 dollars, I buy it. I have a
wall decorated with them.
It makes me think of Eels, but not the crappy Shootenanny!
Eels, I'm talking about the still wonderful Daisies of the
galaxy Eels, and it shows how much potential your music has.
Thank you, Salvatore. I have to admit that I'm not familiar
with the Eels career. I was introduced to their records by
my fiancee about 3 years ago. She's the Eels fan in the house.
I'm still getting into them. "Shootenanny!" was the first
Eels record that I bought as it came out and I thought it
was good. It's refreshing to hear him without all the production.
I particularly like "The Good Old Days". I never thought I
sounded like E until after reading your review. I was recording
a vocal track for a new song, and it occurred to me that I
can sound a little like him. It started freaking me out.
 Moreover,
it's so rounded up and the songs are so sweet. did you wanted
to make a perfet pop album or what?
I certainly tried.
When you sing "click and add to my shopping cart" you are
obviously talking about me. So, how did you know? And what
are the last 5 records you have bought?
Well, I write music for myself, and in turn, people who are
like myself. It's as if I'm always searching for that perfect
song that will make everything better. The key that will unlock
my heart's problems. I get obsessed with a record: I need
it! I can't stop thinking about it. It eats away at me that
I don't have it. But as soon as I click the mouse, I know
it's not going to make a difference. I immediately start to
feel bad and anxious. I have so many records, and none of
them have solved any problems. They've only taken my money,
made me worry about being able to pay my bills. What am I
doing buying more!!! I thought maybe we (me and people like
me) needed a song about it. I am a pop music fan before I
am a pop music artist. I want people listening to my music
to see that.
The last 5 records I bought:
Ry Cooder/Manuel Galban: Mambo Sinuendo
Mos Def: The New Danger
Nirvana (the 1960s, not the 1990s group): Simon Simopath
The Thrills: Let's Bottle Bohemia
Elvis Costello: Goodbye Cruel World (reissue)
The artists, past and present, you enjoy the most.
Paul Westerberg. I love him like a brother I never had.
Obviously The Beatles, especially Paul McCartney are very
special to me. He's the father I never had. I have everything
Harry Nilsson's ever done. Same for Buddy Holly and Elvis
Costello. I love Randy Newman's sense of humor. I always loved
the spirit in Fats Waller's records. Chet Baker's voice was
a big influence. The Kinks. Early Van Halen with David Lee
Roth kills me. I love how sings in character. Les Paul's obsessive
sounding recordings were inspirational. ELO and Queen, too.
As for new artists, I like the Magnetic Fields, Rilo Kiley,
Sam Phillips last 2 records are amazing. Everything Jon Brion
touches is great. If you don't have his album "Meaningless"
please get it. (It's on CD baby.)
Are you recording anything at the moment?
Yes. I'm always writing and recording. I don't know what the
next Hussalonia will be called, but it will be similar to
Percy. It's definitely a pop record. Maybe even catchier than
Percy. Less slow songs. I've been listening to a lot of Top
40 radio and hope to incorporate some of the contemporary
beats into my 60s flavored pop songs. I recorded an hours
worth of super lo-fi demos over the summer while I was in
Brooklyn, New York, but I don't know how many of those songs
will see the light of day.
Now I'm going to ask your opinions about a few things.
Feel free to stop answering as soon as it gets boring.
- George W Bush
I am so sorry that my country has subjected the world to this
very selfish man and his crazy rich man politics. I hope you
understand that our country is very divided right now. You
either hate him or love him. And those that love him, love
him for the wrong reasons. He's sold himself as a Christian
man. A man of faith. They think they're doing the Christian
thing by voting for him. Very misguided. I'm not Christian,
but I know enough about Jesus to know that he wouldn't have
invaded Iraq. They're also very misinformed by Conservative
owned news programs and newspapers. They really think we're
liberating people over there. They're blind patriots, or ignorant
homophobic bigots-take your pick.
If you recall, Bush didn't really win the election in 2000.
He was appointed by the right-leaning Supreme Court. They
voted against a recount in Florida! And there are a lot of
people here, myself included, who suspect that he only won
the most recent election through crooked votes. The electronic
voting machines malfunctioned in poor areas that would have
been likely to vote Kerry. Their results can be easily tampered
with. Americans should be rioting like the Ukrainians.
I obviously did not vote for Bush. I was a strong Kerry supporter.
I'm so repulsed by this American-Cowboy-SUV/Pick-up Truck
image that is very popular here.
- Living in Indiana.
It's not a great place to be if you're liberal or care about
culture or are repulsed by Christain-American-Cowboys-in huge
SUVs. I grew up in Buffalo, New York which is a little run
down, but it can be very beautiful in its decay. And there
are a lot of people who care about the arts. Indiana used
to be farmland but it's turning into Wal-Mart land. Very Depressing.
I don't leave the apartment very much. I'm only here for 6
more months, though. My fiancée will have completed her Masters
degree by then. Who knows where we'll move next. We might
have to flee the country if Bush gets out of control. Make
room on your sofa, Salvatore.
- mp3s and sharing music on the internet
I think it's all very good for pop music. The thing is, the
internet has shaken up the record industry pretty good and
as a result, I probably won't get signed anytime soon. But
at the same time, the internet will provide a place for my
music to exist, and maybe even succeed without the help of
the record industry. That's incredible to me. As for "sharing",
it's great. It allows people to take chances without risk
and listen to much more music than they can afford. And more
music in people's lives can't be a bad thing. People just
need to realize that by buying a Cd, they are casting a vote
for its existence. If you like something that you've gotten
for free, and you feel this artist is worthy of making more
records, you need to buckle down and buy it. That's the only
way the record industry, or an artist, knows what people want,
through sales.
Salvatore
Links:
Hussalonia website: www.hussalonia.com
Hussalonia on soundclick (mp3s): www.soundclick.com/bands/writePage.cfm?myType=music&bandid=226913
Hussalonia on indiepop.it: www.indiepop.it/bands/hussalonia
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