Ahead of his October NH7 Weekender gig, British singer-songwriter Steven Wilson wants to create his identity as a solo artiste
Steve Wilson
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When he picked up the guitar, he reincarnated the psychedelic genre that remained barren after Pink Floyd’s adjournment in the ’80s. Steven Wilson is a musician, often called a magician. The world identified the genius after hearing him in Porcupine Tree. Ahead of his India tour at the NH7 Weekender, the 48-year-old speaks about his solo career and stories behind his popular songs. Excerpts from an interview:
You worked with project Altamont at 15. What inspired your sound?
My father used to listen to a lot of Conceptual Rock music, like Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon. I absorbed that music since childhood. I wanted to tell stories through music, my parents created that musical DNA within me.
Tell us about books you read, films you watched during the time?
I didn’t enjoy school but I loved English literature. I had a great teacher who introduced me to Franz Kafka and Steppenwolf comics. Those books were complex and surreal. Most films I loved were esoteric, like Eraserhead (David Lynch) and all of Stanley Kubrick’s films. They had a surreal quality and spoke of dream logic. When you dream, the story doesn’t follow a logical path.
This sounds similar to the surreal film, Un Chien Andalou
Absolutely. Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali followed the format. Even Bunuel’s The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie was an absurd film. When I write music, I ensure that I don’t let the song go in obvious directions, like these films.
Steven Wilson (third from left) during his Porcupine Tree days
Do you still intend to make a film on Deadwing?
I read the script a year ago. I feel if I do a film now, I would rather write something different. The Deadwing script is a 10-year-old draft, essentially a ghost story, which fortunately became a best-selling album. Even Hand. Cannot. Erase (fourth studio album) developed into some stories, there could be a movie down somewhere.
What’s the story of Lazarus?
I thought the song would be in one of my solo records but it ended up in a Porcupine Tree record. The script had a character named David and the song is from the perspective of his mother; she is singing the lines from the grave.
How do you write your songs? Does it trigger from a guitar lick or a lyric?
It could be anything, a lyrical idea or a piano note or a rhythm. I wrote most of the tunes in Hand. Cannot. Erase from a bass guitar.
Will you reunite with Porcupine Tree?
I don’t think I will go back to a band. The group was fine but I believe I am supposed to be a solo artiste. When I was in the band, I wrote songs, helped in production, did interviews and I am still doing the same. I am not saying there weren’t valuable contributions from others but being solo, I can work with any musician on earth and change directions when I want to.
Can fans expect songs like Half Light and Piano Lessons?
I wouldn’t rule out doing the stuff. I still play their songs and the music will live on.
People often call your music modern Pink Floyd
I don’t want to be a substitute to anyone, I think they mean in a positive way but I don’t want to be seen living in the shadow of any other artiste. I want people to say, ‘This is Steven Wilson’s music’. It doesn’t annoy me but I don’t encourage the comparison.
What about the fifth studio album?
I’ve been writing since last year, and I plan to hit the studio after returning from India. I have written roughly 19 songs. It is important to keep moving forward.
Tell us your memories of your last India gig, in 2009.
It was a good shock to come to a country for the first time and understand that there were so many people who knew and loved my music. The audience was incredible.
If given a chance, will you collaborate with Indian musicians?
I would love to, though I do not know many of them but I would love to be introduced. Indian music is successful, integrated music.
On October 22 (Shillong), December 3 (Pune)
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