interviews

Richard Sell of the Atlantic Manor

Mr Sell is a quiet and nice fellow. Or so it seems: from his music, his writings, his emails. I wish Mr Sell would teach guitar at all big music academies all over the world which isn't scheduled tomorrow. That's the way most of my wishes are.

Basically: who are you? More: who do you think you are?

I am just a spoke on the wheel.

Your music seems influenced by your personal life a lot: most musicians could say so but your music seems so directly connected to your personal life it feels strangely intrusive to hear it... What do you think?

Most of my songs over the last few albums were written with just a few people in mind. These are just the type of songs that I am writing now. A broken heart is to blame I guess. Writing and recording these songs are like therapy for me. I don’t know what I would do without them. Some of them are very personal and others are not. It’s my on-going response to my side of the story. My own Coral Castle. I wish things could have turned out differently.

How do you record your stuff?

Gorilla Recording is just the term I use to describe the way I record my music. Jorge Bejel who plays drums on my records has a little recording studio set up in his spare bedroom. When we get together to record Jorge has no idea of what he's about to hear. I’ll go in and show him the chord progression and than were off to the races. He is a fantastic drummer and plays with such great feel and power and because we’ve played together for so long now we seem to know where we’re going with the songs. Everything is recorded on the spot and with no rehearsals. After the basic song structure is done little melody lines are added pretty much on the spot.

Don't you see this as a limitation?

No, not at all. I like the spontaneity of the whole thing. I like going into it not knowing what it’s going to sound like when we’re finished.

You always keep a very low profile, like saying your music 'flies well under the indie-rock radar' or saying you're not an interesting person. What are you trying to prove in doing so?

I have been told this before and I don’t know why I am like that. I am a quiet guy and it’s just my nature I guess. If you don’t expect too much than you wont be let down. That’s a fucking sad way to look at things I know.

There's something about the Atlantic Manor, like Lou Barlow for Sebadoh or Joey Mascis for Dinosaur Jr, it seems to be R. Sell and the Atlantic Manor, like you being the frontman and all. Wouldn't you prefer to record everything by yourself instead of having guest musicians?

If I was that talented maybe I would but to be honest I enjoy collaborating with others. If what I hear fits within my vision of the song than it stays.

If Sony came and asked you to release a record on some kind of indie-like subdivision, would you do it?

If I was granted total control over everything sure I would. I would demand as much money up front as I could and than record the album for $500 bucks and pocket the rest.

Do you play live? Who would you like to play live with, in reality and in your wildest dreams?

I don’t play out because I just don’t think anyone would be interested. Playing with Rocky Erickson would be a dream coming true. Have you ever heard his version of Heroin? If Lou Reeds version is some guy shooting junk in an apartment somewhere then Rocky is the same guy off his head standing naked in the middle of the street while holding a human head and screaming to the world that he is God. I get chills when I hear him sing that song. I would love to record some songs with Jad Fair. I love his voice. He’s a fantastic song writer. I just did an interview with him for Tim Hinleys’ zine Dagger.

To me, you're the perfect guitar anti-hero. Maybe you should show Steve Vai a few anti-tricks, although I'm not sure there's any lesson he can learn.

I'll take a great one note guitar solo over Steve Vai any day. Anti -guitar hero? I don’t know, maybe. I only play with 4 strings anyways. It just makes things easier. I name my own guitar chords - I'm a disaster but it hasn't stopped me. Early on I read a piece titled "How to play guitar" by David Fair from the band Half Japanese. It should be required reading for anyone who picks up a guitar. I took great inspiration from it and their DIY spirit.

You said you played on four strings, is that a real downtuned 4 string guitar or just a normal one with 2 strings removed?

It’s just a regular guitar with the two high strings removed. I think I play in tune but sometimes things get a little scary. Does it matter anyways? I'll record on one string and bang on a shoe box if I thought it sounded good. I just rely on my ears and what sounds good to me.

I think your music should be taught to beginner guitar students as an example of what type of excellence can be done with only a few chords and to super-advanced guitar students as an example of what should never be lost in guitar-playing: sobriety, simplicity, beauty. Do you teach music?

It all comes down to feeling and what it is your trying to say. That’s why a band like Galaxie 500 can move mountains with just two chords. And no, I don’t teach music and the world is a better place

In this world of heavily technology-influenced music, your music feels like a breath of fresh air to my ears... Do you refuse technology? Or simply the part that's not useful to you?

I just don’t think that you can beat the sound of what you hear on The Velvet Underground or AC/DC records. I like to keep things simple; it fits well with what I do.

Thanks. That's it.

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Richard Sell of the Atlantic Manor Mr Sell is a quiet and nice fellow. Or so it seems: from his music, his writings, his emails. I wish Mr Sell would teach guitar at all big music academies all over the world which isn't scheduled tomorrow. That's the way most of my wishes are. Basically: who are you? More: who do you think you are? I am just a spoke on the wheel. Your music seems influenced by your personal life a lot: most musicians could say so but your music seems so directly connected to your personal life it feels strangely intrusive to hear it... What do you think? Most of my songs over the last few albums were written with just a few people in mind. These are just the type of songs that I am writing now. A broken heart is to blame I guess. Writing and recording these songs are like therapy for me. I don’t know what I would do without them. Some of them are very personal and others are not. It’s my on-going response to my side of the story. My own Coral Castle. I wish things could have turned out differently. How do you record your stuff? Gorilla Recording is just the term I use to describe the way I record my music. Jorge Bejel who plays drums on my records has a little recording studio set up in his spare bedroom. When we get together to record Jorge has no idea of what he's about to hear. I’ll go in and show him the chord progression and than were off to the races. He is a fantastic drummer and plays with such great feel and power and because we’ve played together for so long now we seem to know where we’re going with the songs. Everything is recorded on the spot and with no rehearsals. After the basic song structure is done little melody lines are added pretty much on the spot. Don't you see this as a limitation? No, not at all. I like the spontaneity of the whole thing. I like going into it not knowing what it’s going to sound like when we’re finished. You always keep a very low profile, like saying your music 'flies well under the indie-rock radar' or saying you're not an interesting person. What are you trying to prove in doing so? I have been told this before and I don’t know why I am like that. I am a quiet guy and it’s just my nature I guess. If you don’t expect too much than you wont be let down. That’s a fucking sad way to look at things I know. There's something about the Atlantic Manor, like Lou Barlow for Sebadoh or Joey Mascis for Dinosaur Jr, it seems to be R. Sell and the Atlantic Manor, like you being the frontman and all. Wouldn't you prefer to record everything by yourself instead of having guest musicians? If I was that talented maybe I would but to be honest I enjoy collaborating with others. If what I hear fits within my vision of the song than it stays. If Sony came and asked you to release a record on some kind of indie-like subdivision, would you do it? If I was granted total control over everything sure I would. I would demand as much money up front as I could and than record the album for $500 bucks and pocket the rest. Do you play live? Who would you like to play live with, in reality and in your wildest dreams? I don’t play out because I just don’t think anyone would be interested. Playing with Rocky Erickson would be a dream coming true. Have you ever heard his version of Heroin? If Lou Reeds version is some guy shooting junk in an apartment somewhere then Rocky is the same guy off his head standing naked in the middle of the street while holding a human head and screaming to the world that he is God. I get chills when I hear him sing that song. I would love to record some songs with Jad Fair. I love his voice. He’s a fantastic song writer. I just did an interview with him for Tim Hinleys’ zine Dagger. To me, you're the perfect guitar anti-hero. Maybe you should show Steve Vai a few anti-tricks, although I'm not sure there's any lesson he can learn. I'll take a great one note guitar solo over Steve Vai any day. Anti -guitar hero? I don’t know, maybe. I only play with 4 strings anyways. It just makes things easier. I name my own guitar chords - I'm a disaster but it hasn't stopped me. Early on I read a piece titled "How to play guitar" by David Fair from the band Half Japanese. It should be required reading for anyone who picks up a guitar. I took great inspiration from it and their DIY spirit. You said you played on four strings, is that a real downtuned 4 string guitar or just a normal one with 2 strings removed? It’s just a regular guitar with the two high strings removed. I think I play in tune but sometimes things get a little scary. Does it matter anyways? I'll record on one string and bang on a shoe box if I thought it sounded good. I just rely on my ears and what sounds good to me. I think your music should be taught to beginner guitar students as an example of what type of excellence can be done with only a few chords and to super-advanced guitar students as an example of what should never be lost in guitar-playing: sobriety, simplicity, beauty. Do you teach music? It all comes down to feeling and what it is your trying to say. That’s why a band like Galaxie 500 can move mountains with just two chords. And no, I don’t teach music and the world is a better place In this world of heavily technology-influenced music, your music feels like a breath of fresh air to my ears... Do you refuse technology? Or simply the part that's not useful to you? I just don’t think that you can beat the sound of what you hear on The Velvet Underground or AC/DC records. I like to keep things simple; it fits well with what I do. Thanks. That's it.