Abigail St. Clair Thomas interviews musician, Koji
ASCT
What song, if any, can you listen to on repeat for days?
K
A1 Everything from Dreamchasers 2. Meek Mills is way underrated.
ASCT
Who are you obsessed with artistically? Why?
K
I think that Phillip Guston is great. His work is very existential, wild even. There’s something about the vibe that I relate to in my songwriting.
ASCT
When do you know you’re totally satisfied with your work?
K
The worst part of being human is you’re never totally satisfied as much as you may want to be. But as much as one can be, I find that I am at peace with everything I’ve done up to this point. Work and life are a constant process and labor you’ve got to commit to each and every day.
ASCT
What song of yours are you most proud of? What album?
K
All the songs on my new record.
ASCT
First experience being embarrassed in front of a crowd?
K
When I go to sing for people, I feel no fear or insecurity. There is only clarity and quiet, no matter how clouded or loud the room is where I am performing.
ASCT
What draws you to acoustic guitar?
K
It was the first musical instrument I remember experiencing, my first love.
ASCT
On some tracks, for example: “Eating Lemons”, you include dialogue with what sounds like some friends- was that staged? Do you invite your friends to hang out with you while you record?
K
The recording you’re referring to is a live recording. My brother, David (Doctor Destroyer/singer of Grivewave), is always in the studio with me. I only work with friends when I record, so you could say that.
ASCT
How do you know you’re happy?
K
Usually, I can’t find words in those moments. So I have to sing or laugh or just leave it be.
ASCT
When and where was the last time you watched the sunrise?
K
This is a truly great question, thanks. The last time I watched the sunrise was on the deck of a ferry in Alaska. It was after a long summer I spent living in a vacuum (Warped Tour) that I almost didn’t make it out of alive (bus crash) and at the end I was left in Portland (awesome city). After 5,000 miles of trains, boats, ride shares, hitch hiking, and walking through the Canadian and Alaskan wilderness, I found myself watching the sun come up as I stood on a the deck I had been camping out on for four days. I somehow knew it would be the last one I’d watch for awhile. I felt no need to photograph it or share /tweet/tumble/pin/whatever because sometimes there are memories that are just for you, that you know you can keep and come back to. It was pure. That morning was spent singing, laughing, and in silence–seeing.
