INTERVIEW WITH
RAYMOND WATTS
OF PiG
RAYMOND WATTS / PiG
Maybe my own experiences of coming out of active addiction and toxic relationships gave me a sense of coming out of darkness and into the harsh light of brutal cold truth.
Raymond: I suppose it’s about the unremitting, unrelenting and unforgiving nature of clarity. The savage spotlight of truth is ice cold and leaves nowhere to hide. Maybe my own experiences of coming out of active addiction and toxic relationships gave me a sense of coming out of darkness and into the harsh light of brutal cold truth. But there again, I just like the sound of ‘The Merciless Light’.
Raymond: Well I suppose lyrically it’s maybe about ‘too much isn’t enough and the weird space where we hold two or more contradictory feelings at the same time. Musically that ascending/descending synth riff is quite evocative of a kind of tension and also references 60’s spy movie soundtracks, which I love, and echo a kind of repetitive sliding anxiety. I couldn’t resist adding a few tough guitars and En Esch had to straighten out my woeful German … et voilà!
Raymond: I think I work in a far more lyric-driven way than I used to. I love writing more than I used to and write everyday, whereas I used to just write when I needed lyrics. Words usually come to me first although some musical motifs are sitting around waiting for the right lyrical coat to wear.
Raymond: I don’t really know or actually want to know. It’s obviously whatever is going on in me or around me but during the actual process I worry that if I analyse it or ask about where it’s coming from it’ll turn the tap off. It’ll hide. Just disappear.
Of course, I get inspiration from all sorts of places but that’s more about collecting ingredients than cooking the meal.
Raymond: Music is a fortune and the only question is how to spend it. I’m currently excited to be working more with Jim Davies who joined the PIG cohort on The Merciless Light. I’m looking forward to seeing where that goes as we have a good understanding and a musical shorthand that works for us. Also, we both have completely barmy little dogs that are harder and more mysterious to control than a nine-string guitar.
Another PIG iron in the fire is work being done with my very old friend and colleague Martin Eden who’s cooked up some fabulously interesting stuff that is soon to be unlocked and unleashed.
Raymond: It’s something that I’m not looking at right now but it’s always a possibility. I miss it and love meeting people on the road and the whole touring process in the U.S. despite the exhaustion and stress (or maybe because of it!)
Raymond: I’m not one for messages unless they’re hidden deep in an album and sung backwards by soul eating, fire spitting demons.
Raymond: I’m lucky to be able to do this, it’s been a fucking tortuous and twisted path getting here. However cheesy it sounds the fact that I’m now able to work with a team of people who support what I do and not undermine it – and do it with generosity and a smile – just that makes it a fucking joy and a privilege. The whole PIG team; visuals, musicians and labels (Metropolis and Armalyte) are the most fucking talented and cool bunch of fuckers I’ve worked with and they make every day a pleasure.
Thanks.
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