Scott Rudd is a Brooklyn singer songwriter with an edge. Shunning the coffee house circuit in favour of the same alternative scene that has seen the likes of The Shivers and Damien Jurado flourish, Scott arrives in Europe this week. His first European tour will surely win him fans, with his mixture of sensitivity, cynicism and tenderness. We caught up with him recently to ask him about himself, his art and plans for the year and beyond in this exclusive interview.
1. You are coming to Europe for shows this month, will this be your first time here? Are you looking forward to it? How did the gigs come about?
I went backpacking through Europe about 6 years ago and had a really great time. I went by myself for about three and a half months and just hopped around different countries and met lots of people and saw many things.
As for music, this will be the first time touring, either here or in Europe, and I am really excited about it.
This year I found that I was getting restless. I wanted to travel and I wanted to play shows so I thought, why not put the two together? The gigs came about from emails, research and a lot of networking. I would find venues and people online and send them my MySpace page. I also received a lot of tips from friends and even strangers. I sent out a lot of emails.
2. Your song Bullshit Love is attracting positive attention, tell us about that song.
Bullshit Love came to me when I was playing music in a friend’s basement. He had an old drum kit there and I had been wanting to play kick drum and sing for a while. At the time I had just gotten out of a long term relationship and I had a lot of things floating around in my head. I think that song is really just about my frustrations with looking for love, finding love and losing love.
http://soundcloud.com/360degreemusic/bullshit-love
3. Are you planning to release an album or any singles in the near future?
Absolutely. I am working on an album right now. I plan to bring it with me when I tour in Europe. I also have an EP for sale on Bandcamp. You can buy it HERE.
4. Here in London we think of Brooklyn as the centre of the musical universe at this point in history. Is there a scene which you feel part of, can you tell us a little about your experiences and what other artists and bands you know and like?
I really do love Brooklyn – there is so much going on, so much music. Lots of do it yourself spaces and people making their own thing work. I love being able to hop on my bike and be at a show any night of the week. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
I’m not sure if I’m really a part of a scene here. I’m definitely not a part of the big Brooklyn scene and I’m not really part of the smaller singer-songwriter scene either. Not sure where I fit in.
I’m close friends with a band called The Shivers – I think their music is really awesome. I also think they too are kinda in their own bubble.
5.You get to take one painting/photo; one album or mix CD and one book on vacation for a month – name them!
Painting: Van Gogh’s “Wheatfield With A Reaper”
Photo: something from Robert Frank
Album: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
Book: Not a big reader, but probably a WW2 book like D-Day by Antony Beevor. I know. I’m totally a nerd, but I’m fascinated with WW2 books & movies. To The White Sea by James Dickey is also a great one.
EUROPEAN TOUR 2011
Skek Café, Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS, Jan. 13th
‘t Blijvertje, Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS, Jan. 14th
Autonomes Zentrum, Koeln, GERMANY, Jan. 15th
Pony Bar, Hamburg, GERMANY, Jan. 17th
Prinz Willy, Kiel, GERMANY, JAN. 18th
Schokoladen, Berlin, GERMANY, JAN. 20th
Intersoup, Berlin-Prinzlauerberg, GERMANY, JAN. 21st
Warmehalle Sud, Leipzig, GERMANY, JAN. 22nd
Madame Claude, Berlin Kreuzberg, Berlin, GERMANY, JAN. 25th
Bar Projekt, Graz, AUSTRIA, JAN. 26th
Café Carina, Wien, AUSTRIA, JAN. 27th
Railroad, Hackney, London, ENGLAND, JAN. 28th
Pot Café, Cardiff, WALES, JAN. 29th
Hideaway, North London, ENGLAND, FEB. 3rd
Macondo Bar, Barcelona, SPAIN, FEB. 4th
Joe Strummer Club, Olot, SPAIN, FEB. 5th
El Jardins de la Merce, Girona, SPAIN, FEB. 6th (Early show)
Moog, Barcelona, SPAIN, FEB 6th (Late show)
FNAC Diagonal-Mar, Barcelona, SPAIN, FEB. 8th
