An Interview with Conor Oberst

Radio: Hi, we’re back. This is Radio KX and we’re here with Conor Oberst of the band Bright Eyes. How are you doing Conor?
Conor: Fine, thanks. Just a little wet
Radio: Oh yeah, it’s still coming down out there
Conor: Yeah, I sort of had to run from the car
Radio: Well, we are glad you made it. Now your new album, Fevers and Mirrors. Tell us a little bit about the title. I noticed there was a good deal of repeated imagery in the lyrics, fevers . . . mirrors, scales, clocks. Could you discuss some of this?
Conor: Sure. Let’s see, the fever is . . .
Radio: First let me say, that this is a brilliant record, man, we’re all really into it here at the station. We get lots of calls, it’s really good stuff
Conor: Thanks, thanks a lot
Radio: So talk a little bit about some of the symbolism
Conor: The fever?
Radio: Sure
Conor: Well the fever is basically whatever ails you or oppresses you, it could be anything. In my case it’s my neurosis, my depression, but I don’t want to be limited to that. It’s certainly different for different people. It’s whatever keeps you up at night
Radio: I see
Conor: And then the mirror is like, as you might have guessed, self-examination or reflection or whatever form. This could be vanity or self-loathing. I don’t know, I’m guilty of both
Radio: That’s interesting. How about the scale?
Conor: The scale is essentially our attempt to solve our problems quantitatively through logic or rationalization. In my opinion it’s often fruitless, but always, well, not always. And the clocks and calendars, etcetera, its just time, our little measurements. It’s like, it’s always chasing after us
Radio: It is, it is. How about this Arienette, how does she fit in to all of this?
Conor: I’d prefer not talk about it, in case she’s listening
Radio: Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize she was a real person
Conor: She’s not, but I made her up
Radio: Oh, so she’s not real?
Conor: Just as real as you or I
Radio: I don’t think I understand
Conor: Neither do I, but after I grow up I will. I mean, you know what, a lot of things are really unclear for me right now
Radio: That’s interesting. Now you mentioned your depression
Conor: No I didn’t
Radio: You’re from Nebraska, right?
Conor: Yeah, that’s right
Radio: Now let me know if I’m getting to personal, but there seems to be a pretty dark past back there somewhere. What was it like for you growing up?
Conor: Dark? Not really. Actually I had a great childhood. My parents were wonderful. I went to a Catholic school. They have, I had money, so it was all easy. I basically had everything that I wanted anytime
Radio: Really? So some of the references like babies in bathtubs are not biographical?
Conor: Well I did have a brother who died in a bathtub . . . he drowned. Well actually I had five brothers that drowned
Radio: (Chuckle)
Conor: No, I’m serious. My mother drowned one every year for five consecutive years. They were all named Padraic, and that’s why they only got one song. It’s kind of like walking out a door and discovering that it's a window
Radio: But your music is certainly very personal
Conor: Of course, I put a lot of myself into what I do. It’s like being an author, you have to free yourself to use symbolism and allegory to meet your goal. And part of that is compassion, empathy for other people and their situations. Some of what I sing about comes from other people’s experiences. It shouldn’t matter, the message is intended to be universal
Radio: I see what you mean
Conor: Could you make that sound stop, please?
Radio: Yes. And your goal?
Conor: I don’t know. Create feelings I guess. A song never ends up the way you planned it
Radio: That’s funny you’d say that, do you think that . . .
Conor: Do you ever hear things that aren’t really there?
Radio: I’m sorry, what?
Conor: Never mind. How long have you worked at this station?
Radio: Oh, just a few minutes. Now you mentioned empathy for others. Would you say that that motivates you to make the music that you make?
Conor: No, not really. It’s more a need for sympathy. I want people to feel sorry for me. I like to feel the burn of the audience’s eyes on me when I’m revealing all my darkest secrets into the microphone. When I was a kid I used to carry a safety pin around with me every where I went in my pocket, and when people weren’t paying enough attention to me, I’d dig it into my arm until I started crying. Everyone would stop what they were doing and ask me what was the matter. I guess, I guess I kind of liked that
Radio: Really, you’re telling me that you’re doing all of this for attention?
Conor: No, I hate it when people look at me, I get nauseous. In fact, I could care less what people think about me. Do you feel that?
Radio: No, I feel sick
Conor: I really just want to be this warm yellow light that pours over everyone that I love
Radio: So you’re going to play something for us now? Is this a new song?
Conor: Yeah, but I haven’t written it yet. It’s one I’ve been meaning to write called A Song To Pass The Time
Radio: Oh, that’s a nice title
Conor: You should write your own scripts
Radio: Yeah, I know