Interview: Elijah Wyman

Elijah Wyman is no stranger to these hallowed (sic) pages: a couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about the North Carolina singer-songwriter, praising his impressive voice and poetic flair. It wasn’t until I talked more with Elijah that I realised that there’s a lot more to this young man than I gave him credit for in those hundred-odd words way back when. Now, in what I can assure you is another blistering Stereokill exclusive, he has kindly agreed to talk about the story behind his latest record and an extremely difficult eighteen months…

Stereokill: Hi Elijah, thanks for agreeing to talk to us. So, last year, you released your third LP, Butterfly Needles [Grinding Tapes, 2007]… Do you want to tell us a little about how the album came about?

EW: Sure. Shortly after I turned 21 I found out that I had a rapidly-progressing kidney disease. Butterfly Needles is a collection of songs that chronicle close to two years of the freaking out, depression, anger, and the hope that comes with struggling against any potentially terminal disease.The story of this album ends with me getting a kidney transplant. My surgery was on August 6th, 2007. My new kidney was given to me by my friend Jason [Rozen, the founder of Wyman's record label, the Grinding Tapes Recording Company].

These songs were cathartic for me at the time. A lot of people have called this album, “Hard to listen to.” I think that’s probably a compliment in the same way that you might call a documentary on chemo patients hard to watch. I just hope that it is valuable to someone who is going through something similar. I just want to make something that is meaningful, you know? I just want to give back, to spread the love that was given to me, the hope, all that good stuff. I think that this love and hope can only be viewed at it’s most powerful through the suffering it came out of. Does that make sense?

Stereokill: Absolutely… so what are the key themes and influences behind the album itself?

EW: I think the influences and the themes of the album are the same things: weekly bloodwork, pills with horrible side effects, the USA’s impotent healthcare system. Also, love from family, friends, and my nephrologist who saw me for free because he suspected I couldn’t pay. I’ve spent so much of the past two years in the hospital that I feel unsafe and afraid when I haven’t been to a doctor in the past month. I’ve been kicked out of a dialysis center and a transplant center because I didn’t have proper insurance to take a tour. Both times they knew I’d eventually be back, but it needed to be an emergency before the Fed. would pony up the cash to give me treatment. They want to make sure you’re about to die before they help you out here in the US, sometimes even if you have insurance, and even if it costs the taxpayer more in the long-run to not administer preventative medicine. The resentment and anger from all of that played a big role in this album’s feel.

Stereokill: So your illness has affected your music in a much broader sense than just Butterfly Needles?

EW: Definately. I’m much more politically-active in my songwriting and live shows now. I’m a bit more angry. I’m not sure if I’m proud of my anger, but I do think it’s justified. Perhaps it’s a phase? Perhaps I’m still mourning from the whole ordeal? I don’t really worry about it much. Musically, I just want to be free in my expression while giving back to the listener. I’ve gone from telling stories to pimping ideas.

Stereokill: More generally, then, what influences your music?

EW: I love… NPR, A Silver Mount Zion, John Vanderslice, Des Ark, Feller Quentin, and growing and eating our own food.

Stereokill: What does the future hold for Elijah Wyman?

EW: FigsandGinger.com [the arts & crafts business run by Elijah and his wife], living a simple life in Asheville, NC, making art and music, political activism and environmental volunteering, eating delicious food, trying to be friendly and awesome to everyone I meet… maybe exercising more. Lots of traveling with Figs & Ginger and touring, learning to whitewater kayak, and someday either getting another transplant or going on dialysis.

Stereokill: Finally, then, my very favourite closing question: what was the last album you bought?

EW: Black Eyes‘ self titled album. My wife Rhonda recently bought the Forrest Gump soundtrack, too.

I’d like once again to thank Elijah for talking to Stereokill – his is an undeniably inspiring story, and the music is wonderful. Butterfly Needles is available now, free for download from Grinding Tapes. It’s a heartbreaking listen, and I’d strongly recommend that you check it out.

On a personal note, I’d also encourage any American readers of this blog to vote for Barack Obama on November 4th: let’s face it, a comprehensive healthcare system is pretty much a basic human right. It’s just insane that your financial situation should be a qualifier for the quality of healthcare you receive.