In a uncommon interview, Bob Dylan has revealed that he’s a fan of Eminem and Wu-Tang Clan, praising the 2 rap acts alongside a bunch of different musicians.
The Wall Street Journal interview was revealed yesterday (December 19), and options the singer-songwriter discussing a variety of subjects from the rise of know-how and streaming to his favorite tv exhibits. When questioned about how he discovers new music, Dylan stated it arrives “mostly by accident”, earlier than itemizing greater than 20 musicians who he’s been listening to of late.
Among the cohort was Eminem and Wu-Tang Clan, each of whom Dylan stated he’s “a fan of”. The singer-songwriter praised each for his or her “feeling for words and language”, saying he enjoys “anybody whose vision parallels mine.” Also included in that reward have been Royal Blood, Celeste, Leonard Cohen, Rag N’ Bone Man and Nick Cave.
Dylan beforehand talked about Eminem in a 2001 interview with Time. Dylan revealed that he hadn’t listened to a lot of Eminem’s music, however stated that the rapper was “doing something right.” He continued: “I almost feel like if anything is controversial, the guy’s gotta be doing something right.”
Aside from the aforementioned musicians, Dylan additionally talked about a variety of what he known as extra “obscure artists”, saying he’s been listening to the likes of bandleader Tiny Hill, saxophonist Teddy Edwards and guitarist Teddy Bunn, all of whom have been most lively through the Forties to Sixties. Dylan additionally referenced musicians like Ella Fitzgerald, Brenda Lee and Janice Martin, the final of whom he described as “the female Elvis.”
Of the artists who he has seen reside, Dylan recalled attending two Metallica performances, along with concert events by Oasis and Klaxons. The singer went on to disclose that he’s “made special efforts” to see Jack White and Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner. Later within the interview, Dylan stated The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is “not a bad singer, and he’s a great musician”, and referred to composers like Hans Zimmer as “a new kind of superstar”.
Accounting for this broad vary of musicians, Dylan went on to debate his favorite genres, saying he listens to “an abundance of them.” The singer cited nation blues, western swing, hillbilly, and bluegrass among the many genres he listens to. “Music historians would say when you mix it all up it’s called Rock and Roll”, he stated. “I guess that would be my favorite genre.”
Dylan additionally mentioned the influence of streaming and social media on at this time’s music panorama, saying the convenience of entry to music means “there’s a sameness to everything nowadays.” He continued: “Everything’s too easy. Just one stroke of the ring finger, middle finger, one little click, that’s all it takes, and we’re there… It’s all too easy, too democratic.”
Dylan’s interview served as promotion for his current e book, The Philosophy of Modern Song, which hit cabinets final month. The e book courted controversy after it was revealed that Dylan had used an autopen to inscribe his signature on choose copies which had been marketed as hand-signed. Both the singer and the e book’s writer, Simon & Schuster, apologised for the error, which Dylan described as an “error in judgment”.