| 5 months on from its release, Adem’s barren ‘Homesongs’
still remains one of the most enduring, slight and altogether pretty albums
of the year so far. We expect it to stay like that. And when we say pretty, we
don’t mean 90 minutes of preparation, the right lights, expensive jewellery and
well-applied foundation. We mean seconds after waking, bunched pigtails, freckles,
an unknowing smile and a healthy glow. This ex-Fridge man’s debut record is aeons
away from his previous band in style, though not imagination. ‘Homesongs’ is a
stripped acoustic session set amidst nightlights and distant sounds, and little
else, nudged forward by very certainly chosen melodies and words, and percussion
you barely notice is there but still find yourself hypnotised by. Seriously, it’s
beautiful. He’ll be taking his band out on the road in the autumn – we crept inside
his thoughts and curled up for 5 minutes to find out where his head’s at before
he leaves…
1. Where are you now and what can you see?
In my house, at a desk. Looking at a large laptop screen with my fingers playing
across the keyboard lit by sunlight pouring through a huge dusty window
2. What was the last thing you ate?
Toast. Thick, white sliced
bread. Lots of slightly salted butter.
3. What’s worth watching on
TV?
Hmmm – I don’t watch much TV. There’s nothing that I watch religiously.
There is no programme that I would put a book down for.
4. What’s
the next piece of music you intend to buy?
Joanna Newsom – The Milk-eyed
Mender. Because I’ve lost my copy and it is the most astounding record I have
heard in a very long time.
5. What was the last film you saw?
A short by a good friend of mine that I’m going to compose the music for. It's
dark. Very dark. I'm going to score for the Elysian Quartet. There will be violins
and thimbles involved. Actually, if part films count it was Total Recall on the
telly the other day. I saw bits of it whilst cooking dinner. It’s a wicked film.
I’m a bit of a sucker for science fiction. I think it’s the fact that you need
a brand new concept or idea as a premise to make a good bit of sci-fi. It’s the
ideas, I think.
6. If you could change one thing from the past what
would it be?
Couldn’t do that – might upset the time-space continuum…
temporal butterfly effect and all that…
7. What’s the most important
thing you’ve done?
Realised that life happens and then it stops.
8. What one place in the world would you visit if you could?
The old farm. My dad is Turkish, and every summer since I was 6 months old we
would drive across Europe in an old estate car filled with stuff. My family on
his side were all farmers, near a place called Sile (pronounced Shillay). It was
like living a hundred years ago. I would pick corn and ride the oxen. The sound
of the bells around the necks of sheep clanging distantly on the hills is one
I will never forget. It was very communal – everyone worked together. I learned
a lot from that. I have very fond memories of the farm. The Turkish government
claimed the land and turned the whole area into a massive reservoir, miles and
miles, valleys and hills. I miss it terribly.
9. What’s the best thing
about being at home?
It’s full of love
10. Any plans
for tomorrow?
Prepare for touring – I leave in a couple of days’
time and I have to set certain things in motion as well as check equipment and
pack. Update my website. I’ve been very busy lately, and have neglected the site
a little. Clear up my Music PC – It’s a bit full at the moment. Tying up loose
ends.
‘Ringing In My Ear’ is released as a single on 13 September.
Tour Dates (with James Yorkston):
Thu 30 Oct YORK Barfly
Fri
01 Sept PETERBOROUGH Met Lounge
Sat 02 Sept CARDIFF Ifor Bach
Sun 03 Sept
SHEFFIELD Fez Club
Thu 21 Sept BIRMINGHAM Academy 2
Fri 22 Sept MANCHESTER
Night & Day
Sun 24 Sept LEEDS Metropolitan University
Mon 25 Sept STOCKTON
Georgian Theatre
Tue 26 Sept LIVERPOOL Academy
Wed 27 Sept GLASGOW The
Arches
Thu 28 Sept ABERDEEN Lemon Tree
Fri 29 Sept EDINBURGH Bongo Club
http://www.adem.tv
James Berry for Crud Magazine 2004©
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