MATTHEW CAWS
Nada Surf singer/guitarist on the US indie-rockers’ ninth studio offering
What film could your new set soundtrack?
The Sound Of Silence.
If you could re-visit any of your albums, what’d you change?
The Weight Is A Gift should’ve opened with Do It Again.
Is there anything still unissued? Because Because Because, mostly Robert Randall’s songs. We tracked some great ones with Paul Kolderie that are lying around.
Have you done anything that fans may not know about?
Harmonies for other people, Minor Alps’ ‘yacht goth’ Get There, and an uncredited appearance as a French cow in a Yoplait TV ad, recorded in a New York closet.
Was anyone in your family a musician?
Aunt Peg, from North Carolina, picked lovely folk guitar in New York in the early 60s. She gave me my first guitar and chord.
Who’d you like to remix?
The Clash Cut The Crap. Impenetrable production, egregious synth. I’d be muting and adding to the multitracks, except for This Is England, which is wondrous.
What was your favourite record shop when you started out? Revolutions, a New York classic rock/ head shop, 1981. Also Record Runner, where Michael Carlucci, guitarist of Winter Hours, became my mentor.
Have you ever collected anyone? Robyn Hitchcock, The Soft Boys. What was your first record?
Maybe Bee Gees’ Spirits
Having Flown.
What records most influenced your style?
Ramones Rocket To Russia,
The Velvet Underground Loaded, Talking Heads Remain In Light.
Do you have a go-to
‘comfort album’?
The Byrds Greatest Hits.
What unfulfilled ambitions do you have?
My own album.
Dying peacefully on your deathbed, what’d you like to hear? Talking Heads’ This Must Be The
Place (Naive Melody).
Nada Surf New Mirror LP, CD, Deluxe coloured, brown 2LPS, 2CD, green 2Lp/flexi are on New West, 13 September.