The conversation was completely unscripted, Paul Muldoon was not there to interview PJ, they very much equal in asking each other questions.
On performing live Tries to read poems/sing as if for the first time, when feeling nervous remembers a quote from Bob Dylan 'let the song be in the room'. Saw Dylan at Royal Albert Hall a few weeks ago, when he did a set of Frank Sinatra covers he sang them in a beautiful melody and voice but when it came to his own songs it was "mewhew hewmew whehehewww" (her Dylan impression). It is like name that tune with his songs.
Playing Albert Hall Beautiful place to play, stunning building, acoustics like no other, an honour to be on the stage. Felt like she was performing to the building, the space carried her and the band, they hardly had to do anything, the space took the music and made it huge.
On songwriting Changed over the years first starting out it was by the rhythm of the guitar then adding words, since Let England Shake the words became more important so they came first. Drawn towards minor chords, chords have a certain mood, they get across the words to make the song she wants. Starts out with an idea where she thinks it might go but gets taken somewhere else, the hardest thing is to have faith in where it takes her instead of forcing it to where she intended.
Does a lot of preparation, for songs lots of research, researches words, sits down and has all paperwork spread out around her, has slide, capo ready for the guitar then goes to do the washing up (dishes), comes back and sits down then goes do the hoovering (vacuuming), next go to the post office. Finally sits down terrified as she knows she has to let chaos reign, everything is neat, organized and ready then she turns into a chaotic monster, paper goes flying everywhere and she loses herself, can last 20 minutes to 2 1/2 hours then she is exhausted and the song is mostly written - that is her process. It is terrifying, utter fear to go to that place of complete chaos, Jekyll and Hyde from complete control to utter chaos is extremely frightening for her.
More tomorrow.
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