Elliott Smith Interview - How important is the internet to you?

[@knowthycell]

This is the highest quality sound I've ever heard Elliott's voice.

[@legalfictionnaturalfact3969]

That's because equalizer jockeying takes a backseat to content. You're welcome.

[@knowthycell]

@@legalfictionnaturalfact3969 it’s objectively immoral to like your own comment

[@legalfictionnaturalfact3969]

@@knowthycell uh oh, don't tell reddit... it auto upvotes ones own comments! lmao. it's cute how you're obsessed with following me around the internet and trolling me tho. lmfao. uWu

[@knowthycell]

@@legalfictionnaturalfact3969 I know! I’m so cute!

[@legalfictionnaturalfact3969]

@@knowthycell ik! X)

[@mrdaniel511]

Elliott comes outta left field with Net Neutrality, what a badass.

[@C-Llama]

Based af

[@jkjackknowles]

i just love when he says 'whats the point' when the interviewer ask's about polishing albums

[@spacealienjesus709]

Elliott was a true punk at heart.. He liked his sound like his music..raw and full of emotion..

[@fivehourenergy6159]

Eh sort of but he didn't like his voice rough or hoarse and he didn't write songs to purposely be rebellious. But his music has some similarities to the punk sound. Not his vocals though (except his emotion) nice profile pic

[@spacealienjesus709]

@@fivehourenergy6159 thank you and I just mean the attitude..I think of punk as more attitude then sound..a way of thinking..

[@aoldatabase]

@@fivehourenergy6159 punk isnt about the sound, its a mindset, and he is totally punk

[@YerMate]

❤️ Punks far to broad to be defined by a genre, its a subculture for the misunderstood and down troaden youth, as the youths problems change so will its sound, also love the Eraserhead pic ✌️

[@Trenzalore-gn6xq]

Space Alien Jesus yeah he was punk at heart but his music wasn’t that punk

[@PatrickStefan]

It's so lovely to hear interviews pre-social media, reminds me of Jeff Buckley, he's answering honestly and so in-the-moment. No obvious self-aggrandising or quotey self-awareness, just a conversation

[@nicolerizzo1314]

I like at around 3:19 when the interviewer asks him if he cares about radio airplay and he says "mm-mmm". Sounded cute and genuine. Oh Elliott, ♡ you.

[@vansetproductions1948]

There was so much more to Elliott Smith than any of us will ever know. Taken too early. RIP

[@LuAdore6]

Agreed :/

[@RustinChole]

Take solace in the insane amount of output ...... To have delivered Roman Candle, S/T, Either Or, XO, Figure 8, From a Basement, the 24 amazing songs that didn’t make his second two albums that make up New Moon, and the INSANE amount of left over music from his major label stint - most of which remain unavailable - over just 8 years is like, Beatles level remarkable. I really wish the family and UMG would allow the release of songs like “Stickman,” “Abused,” oh god “Taking a Fall” is a BEAUTIFUL studio leftover that’s probably my favorite song from his Basement period.... If you’re a fan and don’t have the 8disc “Grand Mal” collection, that’s where a lot of the unreleased stuff from his last three albums can be found. Still hoping Kill Rock Stars does a From Basement On A Hill release that’s as Elliott had intended, if you read the last interview he did he had the track listing laid out, it was a double album that started with shooting star. Super lame that the family and UMG are so reticent about releasing that material, initially they said it was too “drug focused,” but then they released probably his most drug focused track (“True Love”) on the Heaven Adores You soundtrack.

[@Grem-11]

I love that in this one, Elliott doesn’t back down from the weird interrogation stuff, and you can tell he’s really speaking honestly. It reminds me of Stephen Malkmus in interviews- he doesn’t stand bullshit at all, and just speaks with true honesty, but not aggressively.

[@sophiastoller9889]

i like how he always said what he believed in and never let people like this interviewer change what he was about

[@asdfasdfsadfasdfsfda]

Respect to the interviewer... he came at the interview from different angles than a lot of other Elliott interviews and the result was super interesting

[@jekylwhispy]

It's fine it's just kind of a garbage thing

[@jennifermariejoyce]

The interviewer interrogates him on mainstream popularity, and Elliott pushes back. I love him so much.

[@spartanguitarist6579]

the interviewer sounded like an ignorant asshole when he asked if music is important to him

[@tanyatomasch9208]

"But what would be the point of that." So sweet, but very firm about how his music doesn't need a million dollar budget

[@spookisghostly4619]

This is one of the few times, where he actually seems comfortable in an interview. In all the ones surrounding his big break with either/or, he was very shy. Of course a lot of those journalists spread gossip and ask inappropriate questions.

[@psychemusik]

The interviewer seems to come from a completely different angel… but it‘s great because elliott has to reply and offers some better insight into his attitude about art.

[@bobbibaker4685]

Dearest Elliott, miss you always, love you always.

[@jakealan1822]

Really enjoy hearing his modest responses

[@josodoc1891]

i know i’m in the minority here, but i don’t think this was a bad interview. sure the “interrogation” feel is off-putting especially for most americans. we are generally used to the warm-fuzzy interviews. this felt like a cultural division to me. the interviewer directed most of his questions to where elliott thought his music/career was going (like if you had all the money in the world for a record what would it be, are you looking for commercial success/airplay, etc.). i think ES was very well spoken and true to himself. sure the interviewer probably didn’t know ES’s music enough to understand him, but anyone that listens to ES’s music in chronological order can see how his music evolved - with the “polishing” of his sound. and ES was spot on with the internet/media control taking place today. i enjoyed this

[@AlexStanilla]

As a music journalist and someone who has a bad response to therapists and being analyzed this is a GREAT interview. No matter what the interviewer asked Elliott he would’ve had a defensive tone, sounded like he was in a mood. The interviewer threw Elliott off with every question and I think someone like Elliott likes a challenge.

[@jekylwhispy]

I think that's a little sick. Great, so you have experience related in being the Quizmaster, but how much do you have being the SUBJECT? Don't you see? If you cannot identify with the subject your expertise here is boring Sunday landfill fodder =means nothing

[@undo4620]

this is more of an interrogation than a interview lol

[@aleclyrae1804]

Seemed the northwest has always had a sort of inquisition to any folk artists genuine authenticity. Gotta outshine the sun, even when it's overcast and glib. So that was Elliott. I may have never known. Now I have to hear everything.

[@RhinestonePickupTruck]

The interviewer isn’t listening to Elliott. He’s trying to get through all of the questions. There’s no interest or care in his voice. The guy probably didn’t realize he was in the presence of greatness

[@joelglanton6531]

Yeah it's his job, he talks to probably dozens of different people with different personalities a week. He might have had some time to check out his music beforehand or not.

[@legalfictionnaturalfact3969]

Joel glanton, dozens of people per week are not Elliott Smith. Interviewer is a dismissive moron who should have listened to the music beforehand. Then he wouldn't have sounded like such a fool. :-)

[@joelglanton6531]

@@legalfictionnaturalfact3969 Gee, you're really popular; your comment had a thumbs up less than a minute after you posted it.

[@knowthycell]

@@joelglanton6531 and on another single reply to me as well

[@legalfictionnaturalfact3969]

@@joelglanton6531 yep, and if that freaks you out... NEVER look at how upvotes work on reddit! you'll have an emotional breakdown!! lol

[@arthurderas]

Idk if the interviewer didn’t care about Elliott’s answers, he’s foreign so maybe he didn’t feel equipped as easily as a native speaker to think fast enough in English to make good expansive résponses. Maybe he didn’t care, but idk. I think the internet question was great and I especially appreciate that one and love Elliott’s insightful answer

[@cazharris5581]

I get the impression that the interviewer is trying to get a particular response from Elliott and isn't really listening to his answers........

[@gotf]

Yeah this interviewers awful. He keeps asking stupid questions too. You can tell he doesn't care.

[@louispconstant6624]

+Caz Harris You would then be realizing what it takes to be a journalist conducting an interview. The questions are necessary to get the real person out.

[@petet6851]

And that's how they do it 99.9% of the time. F the "industry" and media. Its all lies, marketing and herding sheep.

[@andybroberg7946]

i am baffled as well. he gets to sit down and interview elliot smith and have a chance to make a name for himself and instead he sounds like an aggressive therapist trying to chip away at an obsidian genius. on the internet... "i think its great.. ihope it doesnt get regulated and its this great new technology. usualy when theres this new technology some big company with a lot of money find a way to own it... but it seems very complicated so maybe that wont happen" fucking genius. the internet had just come around and he used past occurances and cyclical nature to predict exactly what is happening right now. this kind of thinking separates the nostradamii from fortune tellers.

[@Sentient_Sherman]

and with the last few seconds where the guy talks to someone else...

[@mikeykettinger]

Internet question around 6:50

[@georgiabruno7568]

Yes I agree that the interviewer doesn't listen to Elliott's responses very well and doesn't try to understand him that well.

[@RustinChole]

Ironically my first exposure to him was on the radio. But it was in 1996 pre-good will hunting on a local station that at the time actually played a lot of amazing DIY stuff. Even Botch.

[@manhattanfl]

man would I love a station near me that played Elliott AND stuff like Botch

[@snowydove6510]

Cool could u say what song it was ??

[@RustinChole]

@@snowydove6510 yup. Rose Parade, Angeles, and Alameda. He was a super nice, hilarious dude.

[@SesameCake]

The interviewer may come off as brusque and rude, but I think he's just very Scandinavian and maybe can't read the room well. I believe he also did an interview with Beth Gibbons where the resulting atmosphere was more or less the same, ha. I think Elliott held his ground well and remained calm.

[@Ethan-fh9lq]

I want to make a collage of bob Dylan end Elliott Smith in interviews, all mixed up. And the fucking interviewers, good lord.

[@pepe7drum]

He didnt experienced the internet as we know it today, this takes more relevance today

[@jekylwhispy]

DURRRR

[@mindgames9614]

what kindve questions are these? also he's spot on about not wanting the internet to get regulated

[@Noizedas]

This has to be like 2002-2003. Was MySpace even a thing yet? No instagram, no Facebook. So bizarre to imagine now

[@theuberman7170]

No Myspace yet. Probably some AOL or MSN thing.

[@scottfakename1838]

I think it's around 2000. He was describing the Figure 8 album cover as if it hadn't been seen by many yet.

[@itsgonnbeok7249]

i don't think it was 2002-2003. Think it was 2000 like the other commentator said. Elliott was pretty checked out by 2002, got better in 2003.

[@scebsy6524]

@@scottfakename1838 he says it's in black and white, so i think it's from a basement on the hill

[@franceshaha]

@@scebsy6524 He says hes in black and white while standing in front of a mural. I think its definitely figure 8

[@matthewensign9683]

7:00 - 7:15 Hahaha and WE just let it happen! All hail the mighty Google...

[@spliffwizard420]

the few will control everything soon enough, wake up and adopt localization

[@matthewensign9683]

spliffwizard420 well, yeah. I do. Unfortunately, the yuppies are everywhere and it's still against the law to murder them. ughh...one day:/

[@kakgevaarlik7617]

The problem with this interview is not so much that the interviewer is an asshole but that he is untrained in speaking with Americans and that his English level is not that amazing. Basically, a culture clash. Before you're like "WADDAYA TALKING ABOUT?", hear me out on this. The interviewer is Dutch, I know because I recognize the accent as I too am Dutch. In the Netherlands we have a very direct way of talking to one-another. People don't beat around the bush and false humility is generally not done. So when someone asks about your success you don't say:"Well, I am just lucky." This is actually considered rude as it seems like you are protecting the other person from the humiliation of not having any success as an international star. In fact, just being up front and explaining why you think you have success is totally acceptable, for example: "Yeah well, I practice a lot and when making music I try to look at how this and that sounds. And what I feel what makes my music so different from other stuff out there is blah and blah." There is a big chance that the first question "Are you critical of your own music?" will be interpreted as "Hey, I listened to your music but... are you critical at all of your own work? Because it's not that great." The interviewer probably just meant to ask "Do you, despite of your success as a critically acclaimed artist, ever get insecure about your own work?" At some point the interviewer asks:"Would you change your music if someone would give you an unlimited budget and record the best album you ever wanted to?" Now, this is very bad phrasing, because it sounds like the interviewer is being critical. It gets worse when he adds "Well, you could polish your sound, take a fancy producer?" At this point it sounds like the interviewer is being critical of the sound of the album and the producer. Now, If a Dutch person would ever catch a hint of critique like this, he/she would likely dig further:"What? Don't you like my producer? I don't think I'd change him/her with a bigger budget." When Elliott says:"What would be the point of that?" He is looking for critique from the interviewer whereas the interviewer responds to this question by answering why people in general would improve sound quality, which Elliott is taking personally. At some point the interviewer asks: "How can you combine grim song texts with happy music?". To Americans this might sound like:"Where do you find the audacity to combine grim text with happy music?". What he meant to say is: "How do you technically combine grim song texts with happy music?" "How important is the interview to you?" HA! What he means is: "How important is the interview for your music?" And then at the end saying "fuck"... You just don't do that. That's generally not done when speaking to Americans. The Dutch cuss and swear all the time, which may sound rude to outsiders but is quite normal and even friendly. Words like "kut" (meaning cunt) are used commonly as a sign of annoyance. You generally use this when you feel comfortable around someone, with or without knowing the person well. So in Elliott's defense, he doesn't know any better than that he is talking to an interviewer that seems to be able to speak grammatically correct English. But there is a big difference between being able to speak English correctly and actually saying what you mean. Back in the day Europeans would not be as exposed to traveling Americans and American culture through the internet as they do now. This guy probably got his English from Hollywood movies and school which neither do a good job of portraying socially acceptable communication.

[@BornAgainBabyJesus]

who cares about Dutch.. it's self entitlement. compromise, dont force your culture on others.. this guy is an idiot.

[@BornAgainBabyJesus]

@@etherealturmoil lol. Neither bro. Great argument btw!

[@discodingo8839]

quite interesting take, got me thinking about other things as well, as language and translation (i guess) can convey mixed emotional signal depending on the reciever’s habit and culture.... anyway, i found the interviewer rude at first, and elliott quite annoyed, but i cant remember an interview where elliott was comfortable (except the one where he talks about freaks)

[@joshbaino3087]

Elliott wasn't being falsely humble at all. Very few artists get to live off of their work so, despite how talented he was, he was still to some degree 'lucky'. It's not at all a matter of being American. Also, I actually think from watching some of his other interviews that he tended to go away from the standard American way of conversation and spoke more bluntly, so not sure how this observation holds.

[@moatasemkassab4517]

Americans love euphemisms, I don't support their standards of journalism.

[@loghead6366]

Elliott: I hope it doesn't get ruglated by people with money. KZbin : >_

[@dayonmage3946]

Elliott is absolutely right about over-polishing songs...when I heard that part of the interview it instantly made me think of shitty hip-hop "artists" who have infinite resources and multi-million dollar contracts who cannot compare to real musicians like E.S. for example

[@PinoyAbnoy]

lil b is the elliott smith of hip hop

[@jekylwhispy]

I think you missed the boat and I find it ugly you decided to thrash other artists here in lieu of being able to explain why you find Elliott's craft superior

[@alicasoto4497]

hes a hundred percent right though...

[@darkcnotion]

He was so right

[@jekylwhispy]

All that means is that you agree

[@smellslikeflowers]

what's with the interviewer?

[@dredank]

Jennie Nie so aggressive

[@warmswarm]

@@dredank - No. The interviewer is shit. That's aggressive. And needs to be.

[@nothin1456]

haha.. I hope it doesn't get regulated by ... etc..... haha

[@PriscillaLange]

Miss this.

[@blackstephh]

Hahhaha gosh i love him. I relate so much

[@MartianPink]

what is the very first question the interviewer says. Caption says "yeah I use very critical torture music". I know that's not right, but critical & music are the only words I could understand. & the answer didn't help me guess.

[@chriswieman]

"Maybe I will next year, maybe I won't..."

[@clovrmay3104]

🙌

[@rhi1989]

I would have loved to see Elliott doing an Amanda Palmer and using Patreon to make his music.

[@maryhyland]

I don't get the sense of the interviewer being rude, maybe trying to elicit responses because that's apparently what he does. Elliott was never one for interviews anyway, as we all know. I recall him saying that he had to do the interviews and the tours to keep making music/recording. It seems he was just weary of it, that's all. I think Elliott did well and I believe he knew the interviewer really meant no harm.

[@folksurvival]

What year was this interview?

[@CosmixxSlopShop]

Think 2000

[@sourbaileys]

Anyone know what year this interview was?

[@RustinChole]

Must’ve been JUST before figure 8 came out, maybe late 1999 or early 2000.

[@nickystyles868]

That interviewer did Rammstein in 2001 too! He speaks German really well and got a great interview out of them.

[@Trenzalore-gn6xq]

I doubt that

[@deejaye2647]

The son of somebody important

[@JoelSimbrow]

any idea when this was?

[@EuphoniaPooch]

what is the first question that he answers with " yeah, maybe on a bad day. " ?

[@shelbya.4066]

+EuphoniaPooch Something like "..are you very critical towards your own music?"

[@EuphoniaPooch]

Thanks!

[@killedbykato]

hope it doesn't get regulated, well fuckin...

[@warmswarm]

Terrible interviewer. He doesn't seem to understand anything about where Elliott is coming from or much about the music business in general. Trite and shallow questions.

[@johnatkinson4510]

You can always hear his weariness of life in every interview. It’s hard to listen to. RIP Elliott

[@jekylwhispy]

Can you hear the weariness in his studio LPs? He didn't like doing these

[@mattcolgan5056]

'Isn't being a big star the point of making music'? What potato truck did this interviewer fall off of?

[@richardblaze99]

5:28

[@riffraffrichard]

Thing to bare in mind is that elliott rarely enjoyed the interview experience, his main interest was writing and recording. Promoting was not his thing. Haha whats the ticking time bomb at the end. Unfortunately the Internet was nit complex enough.

[@bridgetterowley8924]

Wow, what a visionary! And now we have Tik Tok trying to be controlled by the government so that we don’t distribute information, he called it!

[@StephenAndrew777]

Jailer who sells personal hells Who'd like to see me down on my fucking knees Everybody's dying just to get the disease Hey hey hey hey

[@loganross1861]

That girl murdered him. No way was that a suicide.

[@marcgiancola8681]

Who is that dip s*** that's interviewing Elliott the music is the most important thing that's why Elliot was is and always will be the greatest he's the best better than Neil better than Gary louris better than Morrissey Elliot just happened to go little deeper that all the rest all those others are great songwriters there are a lot of other great songwriters Elliot what's the greatest and I thought about this the other day a way I've never thought about it before Elliot just simply went deeper that's the only way I can put it he was into it man heart and soul he was into his music that was him there was no filter no puffer Elliott Smith was is and always will be the greatest better than the Beatles better than Dylan better than all the rest nobody went as deep as Elliott Kurt Cobain was good obviously but there's something about Elliott to me the makes him even greater then all the rest we miss you love you Elliott

[@NB-hh7ph]

bro I've seen you in 3 vids going off like a maniac about es yes his music is good but hes not God jesus just chill a bit

[@KissyCrissy]

Interviewer Is Ignorant- Sam’s Too Sweet

[@louispconstant6624]

Anyone saying that the person doing the interview is doing a bad job.. I disagree. He is not insulting and he is also asking questions that bring the real person to the interview, not the false 'art' talk that normally goes on. I think he did really well.

[@Nikolay061]

+louis p constant Definitely shows us a very patient, humble and artistic Elliott Smith, but mostly in contrast to this colossal fuckwit of an interviewer. Having said that, it was very entertaining

[@JacksonDuncanDesigns]

Well, that makes one person that thinks this interviewer is good lmao

[@louispconstant6624]

JacksonDuncanDesigns Mate I LOVE Elliott Smith, I have his video collection. He has always been shy. I and others enjoyed this interview... If you did not then just fuck off instead of trolling through the comments to copy others negative opinions.

[@copsarebastards]

I mean elliott is a bit more profuse here than he is in many other interviews so in that regard I think this interview was really successful. Definitely a bit different and the vibe is a bit ambiguous, but if elliott is ever frustrated here it's gone in a flash by the time he finishes answering the question. Very interesting.

[@louispconstant6624]

@@copsarebastards Agree.

[@janlappalainen]

Is the interviewer being deliberately obtuse? He's completely hell bent on focusing only on the most superficial aspects of making records and music, and it's like he isn't hearing a word Elliott is saying. And why would you interview someone in such a hostile way?

[@BrianPremo]

The interviewer is shallow, he doesn't feel music in any sort of depth. If it's not on the radio it's not as good in his little brain.

[@GDWhiting]

i couldn't think of more one dimensional useless questions if i tried

[@DaisyChaine]

you can tell the interviewer is getting on his nerves

[@thejoker5193]

Everybody I've seen interview Elliott Smith has asked the stupidest questions they all seem to be foreign or let's say not American the interviews that I've seen and like I said they all asking the stupidest questions I'm surprised at one point he didn't just say no more interviews it's ridiculous

[@alfonsolopez7154]

Bad interviewer...really bad...sorry Elliott.

[@auntmaddie]

Jesus! Is it me or is that reporter pigeon holing him. JC! Just kept hitting him with dumb shit after dumb shit. Wow! Too much too fast and half of it garbage. Smh.

[@craigharrison1274]

The internet was created by the government. It’s been controlled since the beginning though I will admit there did seem to be a lot more diversity and quality of content in the past but that could just be nostalgia talking.

[@Bapuji42]

lol radio

[@WhiteNacho]

I love Elliott to death but his interviews are soooo taxing.

[@Trenzalore-gn6xq]

Whitenacho its because of the interviewer. I have heard interviews of Elliott’s where he seems to like the interviewer and he gets comfortable with them and seems to care more about everything. This interviewer here was just awful

[@therealrussellsmyth]

Personally I feel incredibly happy and at peace listening to him.

[@MrMastrsushi]

The interviewer is not being an asshole, nor is he not paying attention. Elliott Smith fans tend to get butthurt easily :P

[@abbylarson3158]

What is wrong with the guy interviewing? Is his brain broken?

[@raincats2011]

Did The Beatles Write All Their Own Music? Don´t think so, but Elliot clearly DID!! Mostly George martin and ghost writers and Lennon and MacCartney did the vocals! The beatles live they never palyed Revolver!! What?? they didn´t know the songs??From Sergeant Peper on, you start to hear them actually playing on the recordsNot before 67 ! It is a nice fairy story !! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZSomaCHZbJnfLs

[@graceesty]

Good lord you could have used any other photo.

[@catsick94]

Grace Wakefield What's wrong with this photo? It's a nice photo :/

[@nothin1456]

+catsick94 I was actually just thinking about how this photo makes me feel very comfortable! its the cheesy crazy mad rockstar poses that I actually cringe at haha. This photo is totally gold :)

[@gian3008]

It's just him. Chilling with a cigarette. "Special orders" looms in the background.

[@EmanuelHendriks]

the interviewer's question "so why do you do this?" at @3:23 sounds kinda vexing