The New Gay » A Conversation with Stephin Merritt, Pt. 1

TNG TV: A Conversation with Stephin Merritt, Pt. 1

10 February 2010, 7:00 pm 6 Comments

This post was submitted by zack

In this first part of a three part series (made from one 25 minute conversation). The New Gay was lucky enough to pick the brain of Stephin Merritt. The principle member and songwriter of The Magnetic Fields, Merritt has been responsible for some of the most haunting and eclectic love songs of the last fifty years. His 1999 magnum opus, 69 Love Songs, is the most well known of his albums but is far from the only impressive collection of his career. A consumate genre-ist, Merritt has taken successful forays through synthrock, country, and even reverb-soaked rock over the course of his albums. The openly gay Merritt was in DC touring behind his most recent work, “Realism,” a collection of folk-inspired tunes.

Of course, as Merritt’s predilection for writing queer and un-gendered songs is only surpassed by their ever-adoring fan base I didn’t want to spend our whole time together talking about just music. The above video, the first of a three part series, will give you an idea of what it is like to spend a little time talking with someone too humble to admit that their genius reputation precedes them. As for his opinions on modern music and coming out, well, on some of those you might just agree to disagree.

6 Comments »

zack (author) said:

I should also mention that my extra-fast speaking and constant fidgeting were because I was pants-shittingly nervous.

10 February 2010 at 7:32 pm

Craig said:

You did a fine job, Zack!

10 February 2010 at 7:53 pm

Michael Williamson said:

Okay, now it’s important to note that I am a HUGE Stephin Merritt fan. HUGE. I run a Stephin Merritt fan-blog (linked above), and have been collecting and obsessing over his music for years and years. I have read hundreds of interviews with the man, so many that I can’t even place to which ones I received certain information.

This is the best interview with him I’ve ever seen or read. Seriously. Fantastic job, I absolutely loved all three parts.

10 February 2010 at 10:32 pm

MarkDC said:

Zack, you are so cute.

11 February 2010 at 12:59 pm

Video: Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt Chats With The New Gay | Neon Musical Insight: Music Blog: Daily News Offerings, Reviews, MP3's, and much more said:

[...] recent memory that made me more uncomfortable than watching this series of interviews conducted by The New Gay with Magnetic Fields’ frontman Stephin Merritt. Kid is swarming all over, but then again, [...]

12 February 2010 at 1:10 pm

asaf said:

um, wow. okay. huge magnetic fields fan, but did not know quite how Stephen Merritt is so…”not with it” socially and quite obnoxious. You did a fine job, Zach, in the face of someone so seemingly impervious to laughter, humor, irony, and kindness…

13 February 2010 at 12:23 am