Interview

Morgan Caris is a complicated man, or, to be accurate, he likes you all to be confused. When he started to record music, he decided that "Morgan" is a boring name, a bit too catchy and not at all dramatic. So, he called himself Flowers from the Man Who Shot Your Cousin. Actually, it's a perfect title for his music: morbid, very direct "in your face" spirit, honest and with a hunch of comedy.


Cars's debut LP, "Hapless" is simply beautiful. If you're looking for optimism or happiness, don't bother. His lyrics are honest & disturbing, and his clear voice tops an acoustic guitar & a few other humble instruments.



It's something between Smog to Nick Drake. Its music I definitely heard before, though it was completely different. If you enjoy low-fi singer/songwriters you would probably love Flowers from the Man Who Shot Your Cousin.






Because Caris's lyrics are simply brilliant, I thought it be a good idea to ask him a few questions – you know how it is - his words are his weapon.


What have you been working on since "Hapless"?

"My website. It's just about ready to go online. I've also tried out various live formations, with bass and/or cello and trying to add drums to some of the newer songs that felt like they needed some. I did so with Laurent Vaissière from Paloma and Milo from Thousand and Bramier. Both those projects are well worth checking out by the way. I also toured some in the Pacific North West with Erwan from Waterhouse Records playing bass. We met people we'll be working/touring with again like June Madrona from Olympia WA who are now releasing an album on Waterhouse and with whom I'll be touring in France this September. Also "Hapless" is now available in the US through their record label, Bicycle Records".


"Hapless", the cover art.
"Hapless", the debut album.



Your music is super-melancholic. What should happen to make you a happy person, and even more – an artist that creates happy music?

"I like to think I'm pretty good at being happy. I try anyway, to appreciate the good times when they do show up. Having someone helps. But as for making happy music... it's true that I don't write as many songs when things are sweet and groovy. I don't think happiness helps that much in that creative process. I tend to think of songs as a way to make darker things more uplifting using beauty as a tool. I don't think happiness calls for much commentary, at least not in the form of songs. Maybe I would switch to some other art form if too much happiness came my way. I should be so lucky".

What's your use in social networks?

"We use MySpace a lot to help set up tours: find gigs, bands to play with, places to stay, people to meet... We also promote shows on Last.fm and other sites. But a lot of my friends aren't on these networks so I don't use them so much on a personal level. Then again some of the people I meet through there become my friends so it evens out... It also helps keep in touch with more people in different places which when you move back and forth between countries is useful".

Do you think that networks like myspace/imeem/last.fm helped you to achieve recognition?

"Last.fm especially because I think the people there are real music fanatics and some really use the site to discover new bands with. I see MySpace as more of a person to person connecting tool between musicians or what not, rather than person to music as Last.fm would be. It is after all a Radio. But then all the Last.fm people have MySpace profiles as well... so again it evens out. More recently I signed up to Virb and they were nice enough to put my page up in the staff selection column for a week. That brought a little attention too".


Does it bother you that a lot of fans will listen to your music online instead of buying the album?

"Drives me crazy. But I find out who they are and I travel to their homes and smother them in their sleep. Then again, it's not like I'm the only person whose music gets passed around for free. It's great to think people in Brazil and Finland and Sri Lanka and Israel get to hear the songs as well. They never could have if it hadn't been for the internet. So if the price to pay is that we sell less records proportionally, so be it. I like to think the ones who really like the music will end up buying Hapless. And maybe in the long run we'll come out on top".


Sibylle Baier
We have to agree with Caris. Sibylle Baier is also superb.

Do you find new music online?

"I'm pretty lazy when it comes to finding new music. I rely on my friends a lot. Laurent Orseau from Hinah label often has something new up his sleeve. Usually something both great and unheard of. Sibylle Baier comes to mind... Another one of my prospecting friends I owe many discoveries to over the years: Scott Walker, Tindersticks, Moondog, Brokeback, Ennio Morricone (the non western stuff). The list goes on... And then there's the music my friends make and people I play gigs with or see on stage that I sometimes swap records with: Christina Antipa from Portland Jenna Conrad from Seattle who also plays with Damien Jurado, Kevin House from Vancouver who just released a truely beautiful second album... But that's all in the real world. As far as the web is concerned, I remember hearing Richard Buckner's song "A Chance Counsil" on Merge Records' front page a few years back and being instantly addicted. Then I checked out KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic show and found him there too. It's a great show. It was there I first discovered M. Ward and Alexi Murdoch and Iron and Wine... WNYC's Spinning On Air with David Garland is also a goldmine. I was in seventh heaven when he did an episode about "Hapless" last year in June. Recently I can't think of something I discovered online. I was too busy going to shows and discovering acts in the flesh. Like Cheese on Bread from
New York only last week and Sorry Gilberto from Berlin a few weeks before that..."


What would you do if you had eight hands?

"I would cheat at poker."