Interview: A.A. Bondy

Conducted by Capt. Obvious


Obvious: You go by Scott. What does the A.A. in your pseudonym stand for and what's the meaning behind it?

Bondy: My folks are to blame for the Scott situation. My birth name is Auguste Arthur Bondy, that's why the A.A.

Obvious: "American Hearts" is really impressive, and quite an artistic departure from your material with your former band Verbena. When did you start writing the folksy songs that would become the album?

Bondy: I lived in the Catskills for a few years, and didn't write about a whole lot. Then I moved further East and my pen woke up. Most of the record was written in a week of fevers. There were a lot of birds around at the time, I think it had something to do with them.

Obvious: There's a lot of religous imagery on "American Hearts," would you consider yourself a religious person?

Bondy: I don't think i'm religious in any conventional sense. I am interested in symbols and mythology though.

Obvious: I'm really impressed with the production on the album, where was it recorded and who was involved with the recording musically and production-wise?

Bondy: The record was made on an old tape 8 track in an old farmer's barn. I think you can hear the barn more than you can hear me on it. The barn made that record as much as I did. There were some strange things that ended up on those tapes, that I know didn't come from my voice or any instrument that was played. I simply can't explain it. Pretty much anyone that was around played on it. That includes any animals that happened to sound off while
tape was rolling.

Obvious: You told me your brother was a member of The Felice Brothers, did you grow up in a musical family?

Bondy: I didn't meet my brothers until I met my wife. They are my wife's brothers, so now they're mine. We don't let the fact that we have different moms get in the way of us being related. Meeting them, my girl included turned the light on for me.

I once was lost . . .

Obvious: My dream compilation would be all my favorite artists covering Dylan songs. You'd be perfect for "Girl From The North Country." If you could pick any artist to cover any Dylan song, what would your choices be?

Bondy: You would need a time machine, but I could hear Nina Simone doing "Ballad Of A Thin Man." David Bowie (Berlin-era) doing "I Want You."


Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/aabondy

Listen:
MP3: AA Bondy - There's A Reason
MP3: AA Bondy - Vice Rag
Tags: A.A. Bondy, American Hearts