New interview with James here (by David Corfield), including a section on working with PJH:
https://www.davidcorfieldcommunications.com/post/the-sound-of-the-studio-inside-the-restless-world-of-james-johnston

The PJ Harvey Years

There’s reverence in Johnston’s voice when he speaks about PJ Harvey – “Polly,” as he calls her, with the casual affection of real collaboration. “Working with her is incredibly inspiring,” he says. “There’s no cynicism. None. She takes it all seriously – the music, the staging, the tiny details – and because she does, everyone else rises to that level.”

He describes arriving at venues where the visual noise has been stripped away: no stray posters, no bar clutter, no nonsense. Everything is intentional. Everything is part of the mood. “Suddenly the space feels unique,” he says. “It becomes this intense environment just for the moment you’re in it. That’s all her – the whole presentation, the seriousness, the character in the expression.”

Johnston has been orbiting Harvey’s world for years, joining her live band for different cycles depending on the album and the tour. “She doesn’t really have a permanent band,” he explains. “It all depends on what the record needs.”


The preparation is meticulous. The timelines are long. “You know a year ahead if you’re going out on tour,” he says. “Because everything – crew, sound, logistics – is on such a massive scale. But it’s all done in such a personal way. Everyone feels genuinely valued.” It shows. Their recent performances, including the widely admired NPR Tiny Desk set, reveal a group that operates with telepathic ease. The music feels both raw and ceremonial, intimate yet vast.

Cool, thanks for sharing!