Q Explain the process by which you recorded Be All And End All. Did it differ greatly from how you approached your last album, Cage For A Song? Was there an overall vibe you were seeking?
A Be All And End All was recorded over two months at the Sitting Room in Christchurch. It was recorded by Tim Chesney and Ben Edwards and produced by the three of us.
It was an exciting project and I really enjoyed working with Tim and Ben on it.
We had a lot of fun making the record. We did, however, need a little time apart after we had finished the recording.
One of my intentions was to make a more cohesive album than Cage For A Song. I wanted to make something I would listen to and, mostly, I only listen to mellow albums.
I've got one slightly edgier tune in there but, mostly, it's very mellow.
Q There seem to be quite a few people involved. Was that always the intention, to bring on board other people and get some outside influences/ideas/energy?
A I had some pretty specific ideas about what instruments I wanted in the album so we had to hunt around a little to find people who were suitable and available.
I'm really happy with the sound we managed to get.
Every time a new person would come into the studio, they'd bring in a whole new energy and ideas - it was a great process to be involved in.
Q Do you enjoy collaborating with others and seeing where your songs may go? Or are you a control freak who tells others what to do and how to do it?
A Ha! Ha! I am a bit of a control freak, to be honest.
But, at the same time, I totally understand that I can't do everything and people have different skills in different areas, so I'm happy to sit back and let someone contribute freely.
Q Does the album differ dramatically from your live approach? Or was that part of the challenge - to capture your live energy?
A One of the lovely things about being a solo artist is that I can go in any direction I like with recordings.
I knew I wanted some old-timey country sounds in there and that I wanted a few songs that were just me and a guitar.
So we played around quite a lot.
Q Are you on the road again in your 1988 Lada station wagon? How's the car going? Do you like travelling? Or are you a homebody at heart?
A I do enjoy travelling but I also like getting home again.
It's important to have a safe base to come back to, but it's also really important not to be there all the time.
The Lada is still going strong but I'm taking my band on tour this time so we'll have to travel in something a little bigger.
Q Will you be staying at friends' houses again while on tour? Will you be asking them for some more recipes, as with your cookbook tour last year?
A No recipe-collecting this time, but I will be staying with friends again.
It's a great way to catch up with people around the country.
Q What next after the tour? What grand plans do you have? Another cookbook perhaps?
A I'm doing an international tour in November and December this year. It's called "The Cookbook Tour Europe".
I'll be travelling through eight countries, playing shows and collecting recipes.
Flip Grater plays Circadian Rhythm, Dunedin, Friday, August 1 (with Tim Chesney).
Paradiso, Wanaka, Saturday, August 2 (with Benjamin Eastwood).
Be All And End All is out now. For more information, visit: www.maidenrecords.co.nz www.flipgrater.com
