Bright Eyes: An interview with conor oberst

Radio: Hi, were back. This is Radio KX and were here with Conor Oberst of the band Bright Eyes. How are you doing Conor?Conor: Fine, thanks. Just a little wet.Radio: Oh yeah, its still coming down out there. Conor: Yeah, I sort of had to run from the car.Radio: Well, we are glad you made it. Now your new album, Fevers and Mirrors. Tell us a little bit about the title. I noticed there was a good deal of repeated imagery in the lyrics, fevers . . . mirrors, scales, clocks. Could you discuss some of this?Conor: Sure. Lets see, the fever is . . .Radio: First let me say, that this is a brilliant record, man, were all really into it here at the station. We get lots of calls, its really good stuff.Conor: Thanks, thanks a lot.Radio: So talk a little bit about some of the symbolism.Conor: The fever?Radio: SureConor: Well the fever is basically whatever ails you or oppresses you, it could be anything. In my case its my neurosis, my depression, but I dont want to be limited to that. Its certainly different for different people. Its whatever keeps you up at night.Radio: I see.Conor: And then the mirror is like, as you might have guessed, self-examination or reflection or whatever form. This could be vanity or self-loathing. I dont know, Im guilty of both. Radio: Thats interesting. How about the scale?Conor: The scale is essentially our attempt to solve our problems quantitatively through logic or rationalization. In my opinion its often fruitless, but always, well, not always. And the clocks and calendars, etcetera, its just time, our little measurements. Its like, its always chasing after us. Radio: It is, it is. How about this Arienette, how does she fit in to all of this?Conor: Id prefer not talk about it, in case shes listening. Radio: Oh, Im sorry, I didnt realize she was a real person.Conor: Shes not, but I made her up. Radio: Oh, so shes not real?Conor: Just as real as you or I.Radio: I dont think I understand. Conor: Neither do I, but after I grow up I will. I mean, you know what, a lot of things are really unclear for me right now. Radio: Thats interesting. Now you mentioned your depression. Conor: No I didnt.Radio: Youre from Nebraska, right?Conor: Yeah, thats right. Radio: Now let me know if Im getting to personal, but there seems to be a pretty dark past back there somewhere. What was it like for you growing up? Conor: Dark? Not really. Actually I had a great childhood. My parents were wonderful. I went to a Catholic school. They have, I had money, so it was all easy. I basically had everything that I wanted anytime. Radio: Really? So some of the references like babies in bathtubs are not biographical?Conor: Well I did have a brother who died in a bathtub . . . he drowned. Well actually I had five brothers that drowned.Radio: (Chuckle)Conor: No, Im serious. My mother drowned one every year for five consecutive years. They were all named Padraic, and thats why they only got one song. Its kind of like walking out a door and discovering that it's a window. Radio: But your music is certainly very personal. Conor: Of course, I put a lot of myself into what I do. Its like being an author, you have to free yourself to use symbolism and allegory to meet your goal. And part of that is compassion, empathy for other people and their situations. Some of what I sing about comes from other peoples experiences. It shouldnt matter, the message is intended to be universal. Radio: I see what you mean. Conor: Could you make that sound stop, please?Radio: Yes. And your goal?Conor: I dont know. Create feelings I guess. A song never ends up the way you planned it. Radio: Thats funny youd say that, do you think that . . .Conor: Do you ever hear things that arent really there?Radio: Im sorry, what?Conor: Never mind. How long have you worked at this station?Radio: Oh, just a few minutes. Now you mentioned empathy for others. Would you say that that motivates you to make the music that you make?Conor: No, not really. Its more a need for sympathy. I want people to feel sorry for me. I like to feel the burn of the audiences eyes on me when Im revealing all my darkest secrets into the microphone. When I was a kid I used to carry a safety pin around with me every where I went in my pocket, and when people werent paying enough attention to me, Id dig it into my arm until I started crying. Everyone would stop what they were doing and ask me what was the matter. I guess, I guess I kind of liked that. Radio: Really, youre telling me that youre doing all of this for attention?Conor: No, I hate it when people look at me, I get nauseous. In fact, I could care less what people think about me. Do you feel that?Radio: No, I feel sick. Conor: I really just want to be this warm yellow light that pours over everyone that I love.Radio: So youre going to play something for us now? Is this a new song? Conor: Yeah, but I havent written it yet. Its one Ive been meaning to write called A Song to Pass the Time.Radio: Oh, thats a nice title. Conor: You should write your own scripts.Radio: Yeah, I know.