Interview date: February 12, 2013
This time at RockLine we sat down with David Pajo, guitarist of post-rock pioneers Slint and one of the architects of the indie scene. He’s played and created with a whole pile of huge bands like Tortoise, Interpol and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, all while keeping an active solo career going. We’re honored to talk to a musician like this, of course.
RockLine: Since this is the first time our readers are getting to read about you in Slovenian, could you tell us a bit about yourself?
David Pajo: I’m just a guy who’s lucky to have such talented friends.
RockLine: What were your main influences, musical or not, when you were young, and how are they different from the ones you have now?
David Pajo: When I was really young, I was completely devoted to metal. But at 15 or 16 punk rock replaced everything – especially the American hardcore scene of the early ’80s.
That’s also when I totally “deconstructed” my guitar playing. I switched to a clean, undistorted sound, with none of the fast-fingered wankery I used to be so into.
RockLine: Lately you’ve spent a ton of time with your family (which was also the point and the reason you left Interpol) – what did you have to sacrifice for a decision like that?
David Pajo: You know, it’s really hard being a touring musician and being cut off from everything that’s going on at home. But I think it’s even harder to be home all the time and not devote yourself to music. When I’m home, I don’t have time to play guitar. I have to say it’s a real blessing that I can make a living as a musician in this situation and in this day and age.
RockLine: It’s been four years since your last solo studio release and six since you put out an album made up entirely of your own songs. There’s your project Evila, of course, but that’s very different from your typical solo work. Can you tell me more about all of this? When can we expect something new? Are you working on anything?
David Pajo: Evila is my secret love. I actually spend most of my free time writing songs for Evila. But I don’t know yet if or when there will be a release.
RockLine: We’re all wondering – are you and Slint planning another reunion?
David Pajo: I wish I knew. Two of the original members are in college, and I’m busy with another band.
RockLine: When you got back together with Slint the last time, you played a new song called »King’s Approach«. When was it written? Is there any chance we’ll get new Slint recordings in the future?
David Pajo: The idea for that song was actually mine, and Britt and Brian turned it into a Slint song. It sat untouched for over ten years, until we rediscovered it in 2007 when we got back together. But it was never recorded.
RockLine: How do you feel about your Slint career kind of (undeservedly) casting a shadow over your other projects? Are you grateful that Slint was your springboard so early in your career? Would you change anything about it?
David Pajo: Today I’m extremely proud of Slint. For a long time I wanted to distance myself from the band a bit. Now I just see it as a part of my youth.
RockLine: How do you look at Spiderland today?
David Pajo: Not too bad, at least not for some young beginners from Louisville in the ’80s.
RockLine: What changed between the time you played with Slint in the ’80s and ’90s and when you got back together in 2005 and 2007? Did you still “feel” your music?
David Pajo: I still felt it, but this time we knew exactly what we were playing. Back in the good old days we always played our songs differently, they were constantly being changed and evolving. They were never finished.
RockLine: I was at last year’s All Tomorrow’s Parties festival curated by Jeff Mangum. They also showed a 10-minute excerpt from Lance Bangs’ documentary about Slint in the cinema. Can you tell us more about that?
David Pajo: It’s a documentary about Slint that will come out someday.
RockLine: There’s a story going around that when Zwan was being put together, you didn’t know a single Smashing Pumpkins song. Billy must have been thrilled to find that out. How did you two sort out this “problem”?
David Pajo: I think Billy took the whole thing as a kind of disrespect. To this day I can recognize Billy’s vocals, and that’s it. I still don’t know a single Smashing Pumpkins song.
RockLine: We all know about your metal roots. Was the Dead Child project a somewhat nostalgic trip back to your youth? Or just a breather, the complete opposite of Zwan?
David Pajo: Both. Dead Child was a kind of midlife crisis and a much-needed breath of dirty air.
RockLine: In recent years you’ve been playing with some really wonderful bands from the so-called indie scene (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol before that, etc.). Would you share some of your experiences from working with these acts?
David Pajo: I really need to start writing my memoirs before I forget everything. Then again, maybe it’s better if it all dies with me, who knows.
Mostly I look back fondly on Karen O’s impromptu dance parties, on the way Nick Zinner smashed guitars, and on Brian Chase’s life revelations!
RockLine: Aside from your solo work, which of your past bands and projects would you say is your favorite?
David Pajo: It’s hard to pick a favorite, because I have really fond memories of every band I’ve played in. Slint was definitely one of the most unpredictable bands I’ve ever played in, and to this day it feels like some kind of mystical entity to me. Yeah Yeah Yeahs are the most regal band to experience, and every trip and every show with them is a pleasure. Stereolab, Tortoise and Royal Trux were all kind of teachers to me. And my friendship with Will Oldham has always been warm and didactic.
It’s hard to pick just one favorite, because they all mean an enormous amount to me.
RockLine: Since you’re more than obviously a big part of the alternative and indie scene these days, I’m curious which artists strike you as truly special?
David Pajo: Like at any point in history, there’s a whole bunch of good bands today. I’m not exactly keeping up with the times, so I don’t know which ones are really good right now, but I’ll catch up on current stuff eventually. I am really stoked on today’s metal scene, though.
RockLine: Which artists would you collaborate with if there were no limits?
David Pajo: Madonna, Bono, Danzig, Steve Reich, Sunn0))), Pole, Suicide, Emperor, Thorns, Von, David Lynch.
RockLine: Any last words?
David Pajo: If you download music, please buy it – especially if the band is lesser known and not some kind of superstar. And always pick the highest quality version of the album. Music that’s been compressed for maximum loudness, downloaded in low quality and ultimately played through Apple earbuds sounds like dog shit.
Below you can watch David Pajo on bass guitar with Yeah Yeah Yeahs in their current track “Sacrilege”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-YWdBYwwPo
