Interview with Jon Brion

There have been times when he’s said: “Maybe you should try reading this part,” or: “Let me hear how it sounds if you read it,” and then said: “I think the character should be older.” I don’t think he’s necessarily auditing you. He’s auditioning how the part fits.

I’m totally open to the idea. I was asked to come on stage with the singer, Alex Greenwald, to do California. It was only when I sat down on the drum stool that I realised how nervous I was, playing this song that we hadn’t played together for 20 years. It was really fun, but I was so gassed at the end I could hardly breathe. I thought: “How did I ever play a whole show? I can’t even get to the end of one song without feeling like I want to black out.”

I’m going to go with: no news is good news. He probably hasn’t even seen it. But, yeah, he’s my favorite drummer by a long shot.

I’m a big fan of rock docs. I like Heartworn Highways, about the founders of the outlaw country movement in Texas and Tennessee in the mid-70s. But I equally like Supersonic, the Oasis documentary. I saw them live a few times. The first was at the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas festival in 1995 when Oasis were touring Morning Glory on the same bill as Radiohead doing The Bends. I saw them when Travis opened for them on the Standing on the Shoulder of Giants tour.

I don’t know if my house is bugged, but my mother seems on such the same wavelength as me, it’s eerie. I’ll talk about wanting to get into something and two days later a package will show up of exactly that thing. It’s nuts. I said to my wife: “I’d love to start making miniatures of things.” Two days later, a bag of miniature bricks showed up from my mom with cement grout and everything.

I’d ask if there were music on other planets. I’d ask: “Are there others? Is it just Earth or are there multiple places you visit?” I’d be curious: “Have you ever accidentally flown into a black hole?” “Have long you been coming here?” “Is the universe really that big?”

Conclusion

All of these experiences and encounters come together to show that life can be full of surprises and coincidences. Sometimes, the connections we experience can be eerie or inexplicable. Through it all, it’s fun to explore the mysteries of the universe and even consider the possibility of music on other planets.

FAQ

About the Interviewee

Jon Brion is a musician and composer whose work has appeared in numerous films and films. He is known for his eclectic and prolific output, as well as his collaborations with other artists.

Credits

This interview was conducted via email and has been edited for style and clarity. The opinions expressed within are those of the interviewee. It is not intended to be taken literally or as factual information on the topics discussed.