THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Jed Parsons

It sometimes seems that Jed Parsons' debut album Midnight Feast – recorded with Lee Prebble at Surgery in Wellington – has been a long time in the telling . . . because he has been touring, played Auckland City Limits earlier this year and has been an increasingly visible presence after three advance singles.

Midnight Feast was released last week (we were away, missed the date) but we are delighted to offer this Kiwi singer-songwriter – with a taste for some power pop which is all good to these ears, as on Time posted here – a Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire.

And as expected he is as interesting as his music . . . and he is touring again (see dates below)

The first piece of music which really affected you was . . .

Probably ‘Sweet Caroline’ by Neil Diamond or something cheesey in my Mum and Dad’s collection. I remember listening to that stuff as a child, and I probably started developing my addiction for hooks around then.

Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .

I certainly had a lot of embarrassing obsessions growing up - Vengaboys Spice Girls, Lou Bega etc, but my actual “role-models” have been pretty awesome from the start. My cousin Mel Parsons is the obvious one - she’s the hardest working musician I know, and a bloody good one, too. I always looked up to the kiwi indie legends too - Goodshirt, Liam Finn, The Phoenix Foundation etc. NZ feels small and close enough to consider those artists role-models, even without having met some of them.

Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?

Lennon, Nirvana, Madonna, Jacko.

If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .

Probably something visually creative like graphic design. Or something super tangible, like building.

The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .

A good spread would be Get Lost, Reading Me Wrong and Time. A bit of dancey madness, and a bit of boo-hoo sensitive stuff.

Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home...   

For a long time I had a Custom 60s P-Bass (I think) in my studio,  that played on a bunch of old hit records including Chicago’s albums. It was gifted to my mate who used to play in Zed - apparently it’s worth tonnes. Sounds like a bass guitar to me.

The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .

I’m not a massive reader but from memory the Eric Clapton one was OK, and Scar Tissue was pretty good - Anthony Kiedis is pretty interesting.

If you could get on stage with anyone it would be?

Mac Demarco - I think he’s actually quite an under-rated songwriter, and being on stage with him would be super fun. Not as intimidating as my other favourites like Unknown Mortal Orchestra, anyway.

The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .

Love and Mercy - because Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) absolutely fascinates me

Life On The Road - because David Brent is my hero, and people would understand how most musicians feel on a day-to-day basis, to varying degrees.

The Matrix - I watched it for the first time the other day and I think it might be a documentary. It’s all a simulation, man!!

The last CD or vinyl album you bought was  . . . (And your most recent downloads include...)

Lawrence Arabia - Absolute Truth was the latest. I’ve been listening to Dictaphone Blues latest EP, Hans Pucket’s album and ONONO - all fantastic works of art.

One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .

Maybe something by Elton John, or Bohemian Rhapsody. NO - Good Vibrations by Beach Boys.

The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .

Any Wes Anderson movie poster... I know, classic avocado-eating-millennial-hipster, eh?

You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .

Freddo Frog, no doubt.

David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where and doing what?

I’d with the people I love, playing music on a circuit through Japan, New Zealand and some beachy place.

And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”

I’d like to think ‘Midnight Feast’ is a perfect representation of me and where I’m at with life. It’s taken so many years to complete because I’ve wanted to 100% satisfied with it. It has a general sense of humour to it, a bit of depth, and also plenty of hooks. Everybody who has contributed has been incredible, too. The definitive answer to the question though: it’s my first album, so I certainly haven’t released anything worse.