Saturday, December 11 brings Ghost Of Pop 6 to Gallery 5 (200 W. Marshall St). This year’s edition will feature performances by Young Adult Fiction, Orioles, Rocktopussy, The Trillions, Fuzzy Baby, Prabir/Goldrush, and David Shultz and the Skyline, all for only $5. This show is a perfect opportunity to familiarize yourself with all the great things happening in the Richmond independent pop music scene, or to check out the latest work of some old favorites. As the day of the show draws closer, we’ll be running a series of interviews with the artists who will be performing at this year’s Ghost Of Pop.
Singer-songwriter David Shultz’s recent history is inspiring. In the aftermath of his 2009 release Rain In To The Sea, Shultz has accomplished a tremendous amount. Now a married man, he has traveled the country alongside Thao with the Get Down Stay Down and the Portland Cello Project. This touring experience has led to thoughtful evolution for the artist. It has encouraged his creative spirits to initiate collaborations with Jonathan Vassar in Ophelia, and with Doug Jenkins of the Portland Cello Project in He and Him.
After a year spent focusing on these new entities, now is the perfect opportunity to embrace his Skyline persona by taking on the headlining slot at this year’s Ghost of Pop. This interview is briefer than the one that I had the opportunity to conduct prior to the release of his last record. I find that in it’s relaxed nature, it uncovers a more mature version of Shultz. This short set of questions plays catch up on the recent past and uncovers what the future holds for all of Shultz’s musical aspirations.
Saturday, December 11 brings Ghost Of Pop 6 to Gallery 5 (200 W. Marshall St). This year’s edition will feature performances by Young Adult Fiction, Orioles, Rocktopussy, The Trillions, Fuzzy Baby, Prabir/Goldrush, and David Shultz and the Skyline, all for only $5. This show is a perfect opportunity to familiarize yourself with all the great things happening in the Richmond independent pop music scene, or to check out the latest work of some old favorites. As the day of the show draws closer, we’ll be running a series of interviews with the artists who will be performing at this year’s Ghost Of Pop.
Singer-songwriter David Shultz’s recent history is inspiring. In the aftermath of his 2009 release Rain In To The Sea, Shultz has accomplished a tremendous amount. Now a married man, he has traveled the country alongside Thao with the Get Down Stay Down and the Portland Cello Project. This touring experience has led to thoughtful evolution for the artist. It has encouraged his creative spirits to initiate collaborations with Jonathan Vassar in Ophelia, and with Doug Jenkins of the Portland Cello Project in He and Him.
After a year spent focusing on these new entities, now is the perfect opportunity to embrace his Skyline persona by taking on the headlining slot at this year’s Ghost of Pop. This interview is briefer than the one that I had the opportunity to conduct prior to the release of his last record. I find that in it’s relaxed nature, it uncovers a more mature version of Shultz. This short set of questions plays catch up on the recent past and uncovers what the future holds for all of Shultz’s musical aspirations.
RVA: What’s new since we last spoke, before Rain In To the Sea came out?
DAVID SHULTZ: Well, I got married in August. That’s the best new thing I’ve done. In March I was invited to join the Portland Cello Project for a tour in the Northwest. That was great, and led to a really fun recording I did with Doug Jenkins of the Cello Project. We call ourselves He and Him. Ophelia released our first album last month on Triple Stamp Records, which we recorded in late Feb. It’s been a pretty low-key year though, all in all, and I’ve really enjoyed that.
RVA: This will be your fifth Ghost of Pop appearance, right? What are some of the fond memories you have of the festival? And also, how does it feel at this point to be headlining the event for the first time?
DAVID SHULTZ: This is a little embarrassing, but the way my band and I generally approach Ghost of Pop, the memories I have are pretty fuzzy. My favorite Ghost of Pop moment was last year for the final Prabir and The Substitutes show. We all ran out on stage with a bunch of balloons and were pulling those little confetti poppers. Prabir destroyed a guitar on the stage, and I think Charlie lit his keyboard on fire…?
RVA: What is your definition of “pop” and how do you think the Skyline fits into that spectrum of music?
DAVID SHULTZ: Well, pop music to me is just catchy music. It’s a combination of sounds that is pleasing to the ears, and generally upbeat. Songwriters can handle those sounds however they want. The Skyline fits in to that style of music because, fortunately, we are pretty good at ripping off Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.
RVA: What does the rest of the year and the year to come have in store for you musically? New Skyline record? Ophelia stuff?
DAVID SHULTZ: Concerning music, my plans for the indefinite future are simply to write and record. I’ve always loved the line in this Jets to Brazil song that says, “It’s not what you sell, it’s what you make.” The times I’ve spent selling myself and my music have been the times I’ve created the least music. I’m going to keep writing, and slowly put the pieces together for an album. I’m not sure what that will look like yet, but I can feel the early stages of an album coming together right now. I’ve got no immediate plans for either a Skyline or an Ophelia record though, but we’ll see what comes up.
RVA: While on tour with Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, I noticed that you put together a project with a member of the Portland Cello Project. How did that start and what is the emphasis with your approach to this project?
DAVID SHULTZ: Well, that was a six-week tour where I was the opener, then the Portland Cello Project played, and then Thao’s band played. Everyone got to know each other pretty well during that trip, and Doug and I talked about recording together. On a separate tour, when I was a guest of the Cello Project, Doug and I ended up recording three songs at his house on our day off. We did it for fun, and we put the songs up for free download on bandcamp. There’s talk of doing something more substantial. However, Portland is very far away. Hopefully we can work something out though.
RVA: As a musical peer, what has your relationship with Prabir Mehta been like? You have shared many bills together and on top of that, it seems like you both have been involved in much coveted groups in the city for the past several years.
DAVID SHULTZ: Prabir has been such a supportive person. He’s done a lot to help build a cohesive music scene here in town. He’s always putting a good show together, and luckily, he’s always asking us to play. He’s an inspiring guy who is always working on some new and fun project. I’m glad I’ve been able to become friends with him through music.
RVA: As a member of Triple Stamp’s roster, what are you looking forward to the most that will be released by that label in the coming year?
DAVID SHULTZ: Easy–the upcoming album from Jonathan Vassar and The Speckled Bird.
RVA: Who makes the crazier face while singing: Prabir Mehta or Jonathan Vassar?
DAVID SHULTZ: If by “crazy”, you mean “sexy”, then Jonathan. If crazy just means crazy, then also Jonathan.
WHAT: Ghost Of Pop 6: All Richmond Music Fest!
WHERE: Gallery 5 (200 W Marshall St)
WHEN: Saturday, December 11, 8PM
ADMISSION: $5
