Quickfire: Chuck Prophet

What are you listening to at the moment?

Siempre Diferentes by Los Beta 5 and a compilation of cumbia called Super Bailable Vol 9. Also, I’m listening to Paul Simon’s Graceland. It’s not bad!

What are your all-time favourite albums, and why?

Hunky Dory by David Bowie, Tonight’s the Night by Neil Young, Into the Music by Van Morrison… Oh and Sister Lovers [also called Third] by Big Star. These are records I just return to again and again. I don’t know why. My fingers find them even before my brain fires up.

Which musician (living or dead) do you most admire, and why?

That’s difficult to say. Because if I mention one, I leave out 1,000. But Jimi Hendrix. He had a certain freedom about him. And Alex Chilton was my role model. And in many ways, he’s the ultimate abstract expressionist guitarist. Alex straddled the line between 60s pop music and R&B. And took it into the future. Also, he was cool. He didn’t give it all away. There was nothing exaggerated about Alex. And that used to be worth a lot.

Which new artist(s) should Songlines readers know about?

I really like Ezra Furman. As for the British groups… Art Brut comes to mind. I should also mention some great bands in California like Valley Wolf and regional bands like Qiensave playing cumbia music. Hosting dance parties in gravel parking lots in small towns like Salinas and Modesto. That’s where it’s at.

What is your most memorable musical encounter?

I took my friend Kelley to see a Randy Newman concert with the symphony here in San Francisco. And when Kelley got into the passenger seat when I picked him up, he had a bag with some records in it. I said, “What are those?” And he was like, “Records, we’re going to get autographs.” I don’t roll like that. And I told Kelley as much. But, he insisted we wait by the stage door where the talent emerges from the symphony. And here he came. Here comes Randy Newman. He was not in a hurry. And really enjoyed shooting the breeze with us. He was a lot of fun. He’s it. He’s everything. He’s a genius. He writes in a language – an American language – that is so authentic. And his ear is so in tune with the way people talk. His characters are vivid. Low word count too! Extra points for that.

+ Chuck Prophet & His Cumbia Shoes (featuring members of ¿Qiensave? & The Mission Express) ​are touring the album Wake the Dead in the UK. Tour dates are below:

19 Feb The Bullingdon, Oxford
20 Feb Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
21 Feb Yes Pink Room, Manchester
22 Feb The Cluny, Newcastle
23 Feb St. Luke’s, Glasgow
24 Feb The Greystones, Sheffield
25 Feb The International, Leicester
26 Feb Metronome, Nottingham
27 Feb Portland Arms, Cambridge
28 Feb Arts Centre, Norwich
1 Mar Midi Sussex Music Hall, Hassocks
2 Mar Lantern, Bristol
3 Mar Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
4 Mar Eighteensixtyfive, Southampton
5 Mar The Garage, London