Tom McRae Interview

By Nicky Veness 05/07 

Your new album’s called King of Cards – why did you call it that?

It’s called King of Cards because I was using lots of references to playing cards in my music and I realised I had none. I also thought about why I associate music and magic and I was reading a book about Houdini, who at one time was known as the King of Cards, when I was writing the album.

So it’s not because you’re into cards yourself then?

I was into poker for a short time while I was in Las Vegas, but then I thought it was probably a bad idea to be into poker in Vegas, so I stopped!

This album is more upbeat and has a more commercial sound than your last few records. Why did you go this way and was it deliberate?

Yeah, it was because I hadn’t done it before. I can’t keep making the same album and I wanted to try doing more up-tempo stuff; make some pop music.

Do you think it’ll be a breakthrough for you or would you rather be considered more of a cult artist?

I don’t know if it’ll bring more success. After four albums I know how the world works regarding success. I tour, I make albums and I’m free to do what I want and make the music I like. Other than that it doesn’t matter.

Why release the download-only Set the Story Straight’ and not put a single out with the album?

Because my record company are cheap! The reality is there’s no profit, but I believe there’s still value. You can have 1,001 ideas but the record company will do what they want. There are certain battles that aren’t worth fighting. Their job is to sell music and my job is to make music and ask what I can do to help them.

The UK tour’s been rearranged for June, so what can we expect from the live dates?

We’ve actually been touring in Europe already. We started in Sweden and have been to Denmark, Germany, Belgium and Holland. We try to do something different and we’ll be playing as a trio [Oli Kraus and Olli Cunningham make up the three]. It’s a good way to present the songs and its more informal. You can’t hide behind a wall of sound.

Do you enjoy touring?

I love touring, which is a good thing as I do a lot of it! It’s getting to the point of playing 300 shows per year and that’s not a bad thing.

The theme of escape is prominent on the album – where did that come from?

It comes from the simple fact that when I wake up in the morning, I ask myself what I am and what I do. Because I make music for a living I don’t have to clock in or out and that makes me feel free, but you don’t have much around you that defines you – things like home, friends, family – because I’m always moving around from place to place. I do have those things, but they’re dotted all over the world.

So where is Funeral Row and why don’t you want to go back there?

It is a real place. It’s a street in a small town in Brazil where every store sells coffins for you to take your pick. But it also references being in a bad place personally and hurting people I care about, so that’s why I don’t want to go back.

On your website journal you seem to have something against Natasha Beddingfield. What’s she done to upset you (apart from writing some fairly dodgy lyrics)?

Yeah. It’s an in-joke; she stole my drummer. She made him an offer he couldn’t refuse! He was a friend of mine and she needed a good drummer and that’s fair enough because he has to earn a living. I think I said I hated her but I don’t really. I don’t hate any other artists.

There’s a competition running on your website to win a homemade hat knitted by your mum. How’s the hat coming along?

She’s actually made six of them. She doesn’t knit to a pattern or with just one colour. She just fires up the needles and chaos ensues. My girlfriend’s stolen one actually because she really liked it, so there are only five now. I have fantastic, loyal, smart fans and when I do things they respond. I don’t want to be known as a blogging artist like Lily Allen, but if people are into your site and they make friends then that’s good.

You also have a feature on the site called ‘Ask Tom’, where fans can ask you questions. What kind of things do people ask you?

I get asked all sorts of things. What do I think of Iraq? What’s my favourite biscuit? Have I ever ridden an ostrich? Will I ever play a gig in Israel?

So what’s been your favourite question?

I got asked a great one: If they were in love, would you let your dog marry a robot?

And what did you say?

I said that as long as it came with a free software upgrade I would and if he came to dinner then I wouldn’t be the only heartless bastard at the table!


King of Cards is out now and a single, Bright Lights, will be released on 11 June. Tom will be touring the UK throughout June.
 

TOM McRAE MYSPACE:
www.myspace.com/tommcrae

TOM McRAE SITE:
www.tommcrae.com