Casiotone For The Painfully Alone

I'm not painfully alone. But if I was, I'd be glad to have music this good being made for me. CFTPA (that is, Owen Ashworth) makes music like the Postal Service with Conor Oberst writing, except made almost exclusively using Casio keyboards and drum machines. And if that sounds a bit too strict for you, then you'll be glad to know that his new album 'Etiquette' features such bourgeois extravagances as real drums, guitars and female vocals. If that's not enough, he's signed to German label Tomlab - home of Final Fantasy and Patrick Wolf. Sounds interesting, no? Well, that's what I thought. So I interviewed him.

Hi Owen. Do you like email interviews?

Oh, they aren't so bad. It's different than doing something over the phone or in person, but I guess the benefit is that I can take time with my answers and delete any embarassing stuff before anyone else gets to read it. I just deleted something really humiliating and now no-one will ever know that I'm actually really dumb. Whew!

Why did you decide to change your methods somewhat (by using drumkits and instruments that aren't keyboards) on 'Etiquette'?

I wanted my friends to be on my records and I wanted to hear different sounds. I spent a lot of time with little keyboards and it was time for a change. That's the short answer.

How do you feel about the new album - did you accomplish what you wanted to?

Yes, I think it is a very good record. It would be nice if it was a little longer, I guess, but that's about as long as my records always end up being. I make a bunch of songs and then I throw away the not so great ones and what's left is a short little record of all my favorite jams.

How different was it recording this time around?

Well, I was working with other people this time, so it required some organization. And I had to pay some dudes so it required some money as well. In the past, I would just record in fits and starts at home whenever I found the time, but that doesn't really work with budgets and other people's schedules to worry about. This was a more stressful record to make, but I guess each record was a little more stressful than the last. Knowing that more people are paying attention this time around made it weird sometimes, but I tried my hardest to make a record that I would be proud of. And I'm pretty proud of it.

What are your influences?

How many things am I supposed to list? That Long Hind Legs song"Return To Me" and Raymond Carver books. Also, Night Of The Living Dead.

What is your live show like?

Noisy and loud and shaky and sometimes really amazing-feeling. All ofthe mistakes that I probably wouldn't allow onto a record can suddenly move the songs in different directions, and sometimes that turns out great. I like leaving myself space for lucky accidents.

Do you think you'll ever upgrade the livejournal to a full website?

Well, it's funny you should ask, because look at this: http://www.cftpa.org/

What are your fans like? Do you think there's something poetic inuniting a lot of people through the sound of loneliness?

I don't know what they are like. I've met some of the people who turn up at shows and they are generally very nice. Sometimes people cry or yell and it can be a pretty overwhelming feeling to bring any sort of emotion out of strangers. I am always amazed that people keep showing up and buying the records. I never really know what to say to them. I feel like the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. I always want to say "Oh, you like the record? Hey, me too! We have a lot in common. You are making me nervous."

Is Tomlab great? I hear it's great.

Tomlab is great. Sometimes I wish they were in the USA, but all of the tricky logistics are generally worth it because they are great people who believe in what they are doing.

What are you reading and listening to right now?

I just read an interview with Edward Gorey and right now I am reading an Orson Welles biography that my friend Jenny gave me last Christmas. She was worried that it was a bad present but I thought it was an excellent present.
I haven't been listening to much music lately, but I keep coming back to a few of those Ethiopiques compilations. Maybe I will listen to one album every other day or so. What else? I like to listen to Science Friday podcasts when I'm cooking. I just moved to a new apartment that's across the street from an elementary school, and I have been enjoying the sounds of recess every day. Also, my brother turned me onto an album by Djibril Diabate, who plays an African version of the harp, and some of those songs are ridiculously beautiful. I tend tothink about music more than I actually listen to it lately.

What does the future hold for Casiotone For The Painfully Alone?

More tours and more records, I hope.

'Etiquette' is released March 21.

CFTPA - Young Shields

CFTPA - Lonesome Mexico Nights

CFTPA - Cold White Christmas