Interview: Wild Nothing

Jack Tatum is no longer Wild Nothing. Wild Nothing is Jack Tatum, Jeff Haley, Nathan Goodman and Michael Skattum. Granted, the debut Gemini featured 12 songs written composed and recorded by Tatum himself. He truly was a one man band. But sometimes it’s better to venture forward with others close behind.

Wild Nothing is ethereal with somewhat moody vocals, hazy guitars and rolling drums. It’s calculated lyrics, injected with a sense of urgency. It’s Dreampop with substance. 

Tonight Wild Nothing will perform at East London’s The Camp and today I finally sit down with Mr Tatum for a rather belated interview. The boys had only today arrived back from Truck Festival where in an unexpected turn of events they ended up staying the night (alcohol can be pretty persuasive), and sleeping on the van floor.

After much waiting the boys showed up only to be ushered into the same white van which took them to venue The Camp to set up. After an extended invitation I jumped inside and quickly regretted it. After arriving at The Camp it seemed the sign stating ‘No Right Turn’ wasn’t going to get the better of the band’s manager Ricky. Eagerly cursing the world, cigarette firmly placed between pursed lips, and 15 minutes later we had finally found solace with a spot right outside the venue. Singer songwriter Tatum and I hopped out to have a chat about his disdain for stage banter and how he’s not as moody as Wild Nothing. He’s just “shy”.

Wild Nothing started in 2009 and your album was released in June of this year. That’s a pretty quick turn over. Are you working on the next already?

Jack Tatum: It was really quick and really strange too cause I was in school.

What were you studying?

Jack Tatum: Communications and creative writing. Really happy I’ve graduated. I’ve always made music but before this past year it hadn’t really taken off. Obviously it was a struggle to balance being a student and creating music.

Explain the artwork?

Jack Tatum: It’s a photograph that I found on Flickr. I liked it immediately and emailed the artist Joanne to ask if I could use it.

You’ve said the debut was influenced by your relationship with your girlfriend. Were you hesitant to let her hear it?

Jack Tatum: Not really. We’ve been together for quite a while and half the stuff is semi-influenced. It’s intentionally vague. I think Wild Nothing is a lot darker than I am.

In terms of the name Wild Nothing, why didn’t you just stick with Jack Tatum?

Jack Tatum: I don’t think it’s spectacularly interesting name. Some people can get away with it if they have a weirdo name. But it’s cool now cause it started as a solo thing because I recorded and played everything myself but now with the other guys it feels like a full band.

Can you listen to your own stuff once it’s pressed and released?

Jack Tatum: It’s a weird thing to talk about. I think when you’ve worked that hard on something you do listen to your own music a lot because you have a critical ear about it. Listening to things that you’ve done; things that you like, things you don’t.

Is it hard to know when a song is done?

Jack Tatum: I mostly start with the music and record the entire song without vocals and lyrics and if I have to add or take away I will. Usually I can tell when it’s reached a point that I’m happy with.

Tonight you’re playing live. Do you like to be elusive or do you talk to the audience?

Jack Tatum: I’m sort of a shy person so being on stage is a little weird. I really try and keep stage banter to a minimum. I wouldn’t think that anyone would care to have me up there and babbling. To me it’s better to not tell a bunch of stories but to get on with the songs. I always find it kind of annoying when someone keeps talking and talking.

On stage get-up?

Jack Tatum: As in what we wear on stage? No we don’t care. It’s whatever. Wait... maybe... No just kidding.

Interview by: Jasmine Phull

Wild Nothing plays at Manchester's Deaf Institute tonight, 29th July 2010