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Q&A
John Grant on Jean-Michel Jarre , the CS80, and the perils of toxic masculinity
INTERVIEW: JIM WIRTH
A lot of the songs on this record seem intensely personal: correct?
Intensely personal would be for me to talk about my fetishes in the bedroom. All these other things feel universal. There is a lot of joy in my music. I’m sure some people think it’s a buzzkill but it’s the joy of carrying on in spite of it. And it’s just important for me to make beautiful music, even if you’re not interested in that feelings shit.
In addition to electropop and Devo, what are the big influences on this record?
Vangelis is important – the Blade Runner soundtrack – and also Jean-Michel Jarre. There’sa 1986 album Zoolook – the first track on that is called “Ethnicolor” and I would encourage you to listen to that. It’s that Yamaha CS80 sound: I haven’t heard anything since then that can top it. Maybe if I havea hit single I’ll be able to afford to buy one.
Toxic masculinity obviously bothers you enormously.
Absolutely – and that was highlighted by the election. It made me think about why I grew up feeling ashamed, because it’s connected: that cult of masculinity and that worship of what is perceived to be strong. And we haven’t gotten rid of Trump. He’s down for the count but they are regrouping. Something has been brought out into the open that I don’t think is going to go underground again.