The Press

I don’t like doing interviews.

I don’t get asked often, but it does happen occasionally.

I am reserved and shy around people I don’t know, but that’s not why I don’t like doing interviews.

People tend to ask the same questions every time, but that’s not why I don’t like doing interviews.

I dislike almost every magazine, newspaper and website I have ever found, but that’s not why I don’t like doing interviews.

I hate talking about myself, knowing that the world (and, worse, that I) will hear everything I’m saying, and my stupid tone of voice and silly accent, but that’s not why I don’t like doing interviews.

There’s no way of knowing if I will have any rapport with the interviewer, which can lead to an awkward conversation, but that’s not why I don’t like doing interviews.

If what has already been written about me, and/or anyone I know/know of/admire is anything to go by, music journalism is mostly terrible, but that’s not why I don’t like doing interviews.

I don’t like interviews because I am asked questions I don’t want to answer, and often give answers people don’t want to hear.

I don’t like interviews because I am asked things I don’t even want to talk to friends about in private – so am reluctant to talk about them to a stranger, in a public forum.

I don’t like interviews because I am bemused, and slightly perturbed by anybody wanting to know what I think about anything.

(Bemused because: Why does my opinion count more than anybody else’s?  What about all the people who are never asked their opinion?  Perturbed because: I might have to defend something I said partly in jest, then explain The Bit That Was A Joke (and What The Joke Was) and The Bit That Was Serious (And Why It’s Not Funny) to someone I didn’t really want to talk to in the first place.  Also, because my opinions might be hateful, ignorant or stupid – or, worse, I might not have an opinion…)

I don’t like interviews because I don’t like explaining myself, at least not under close scrutiny.  I don’t like the idea of having my own words quoted at me and being asked for an interpretation, particularly if (and this has happened before) in the same piece of writing I have also said “work it out for yourself”, or “by hearing/reading this, you are participating in the meaning”, or “I don’t want to spell it out for you”, or similar.

If the work needs explanation, if it does not speak for itself, I want to talk about it even less.  Particularly with someone who has not Taken The Hint.

In short, I don’t like doing interviews because of shit like THIS.