sincerity and humor - Interview with Noam Weinstein
“I never could whistle/ I never could sing/ I never could know, what the future might bring/ but Ican hurt people pretty bad sometimes/ and make same loose their minds”
It’s lyrics like theese, combined with music which is influenced by classic songwriters, folk, blues and soul, that make Noam Weinstein a special artist. The New York-based singer/songwriter takes the risk to aim at people’s humor and hearts at the same time.
I Can Hurt People by Noam Weinstein
Buzz: Many of your lyrics seem to be pretty ironic. Have you ever been afraid that the listener might not get your humor?
Noam Weinstein: Sure! Perhaps the risk of missing the humor is greater than the risk of missing the heart, but they are both risks I’m willing to take.
Buzz: Were you ever afraid, about how „funny“ an artist can be, to still be taken serious as a singer/songwriter?
Noam: Yes — I think at times I’ve underestimated how hard it can be as a listener to accept sincerity and humor from the same writer. But many of my favorite ones found a way through this, and I guess I’m hoping to do the same!
Buzz: Your music and lyrics seem to be influenced by songwriters like the young Elvis Costello or Randy Newman, guys who really where about twisted but understandable lyrics. Would you agree on that? Who else inspires your work?
Noam: Absolutely – I love both of them. Some of my other heroes are Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and John Prine.
Buzz: You are just starting for a two week tour in Germany. It will be your first time there, how do you expect the shows to be?
Noam: I am excited to share my music with new people in a new land!
Buzz: You don’t work with a booking agency, but organized the tour yourself. How did it work out?
Noam: Luckily I had a lot of help from friends but I found that in many cities such as Hamburg club owners were enthusiastic to take a chance on a solo artist.
Buzz: In 2009 the german Indie Label Skycap put out a compilation of some of your songs. Did this help to build a fanbase in Germany in some ways?
Noam: Definitely – for example, some of the people who helped put on shows first heard my music through the Skycap release. There was also a generous review in the German edition of Rolling Stone, and that may have eased the fears of some clubs, rightly or wrongly!
Buzz: Since some years you are releasing most of your songs for free on your homepage. What’s the idea behind that?
Noam: I’ve made my songs available to ‘stream’ for free, realizing that people can purchase copies if they wish to listen offline. I just think it’s very hard to make a decision about buying music from an unknown artist if you can’t hear it first.
Buzz: Your homepage seems to be an important tool in communication with your listeners. What do you think about the possibilities of the internet for you as a performing and recording artist?
Noam: I think the Internet is a wonderful tool, but brings with it as many challenges as opportunities. Most crucially, the sheer amount of data is so large that it can be difficult to find the things you love.
Buzz: Did the music in terms of recordings, LPs or singles lose it’s value through mp3 and the internet?
Noam: It may have lost some monetary value but I don’t think it has lost any artistic value.
Buzz: You are living in New York, do you see yourself as part of a special scene there?
Noam: I feel very lucky to be part of a small community of artist, many of whom first met through a songwriting group hosted by the great Jack Hardy, who sadly left this world in April.
Buzz: In a huge and lively city like New York, does it make it easier or harder to start something as an artists? What are the good and the bad things about living in a city that never sleeps?
Noam: I guess it’s quite similar to the Internet in this way – more opportunities to make a sound, and harder for any individual one to be heard!
Buzz: What are your favourite spots to see shows in New York?
Noam: Probably my two favorite clubs are “The Living Room”, where I recorded my most recent album and “The Rockwood Music Hall” where I often go to hear friends.
Buzz: How does the perfect day in new york look like?
Noam: I’ll let you know when I experience it!
