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Neil Gaiman is famous for his smooth and ethereal tone, which he has utilized in a variety of projects such as audiobooks and voicing Snowball the cat on The Simpsons. However, was Neil Gaiman ever a singer? He did perform live with his former spouse, musician Amanda Palmer, but the New York Times described his singing as “a novelist’s interpretation” which may have been a bit harsh.
In the upcoming month, Gaiman will be showcasing his voice at the Sydney Opera House alongside the Australian string quartet FourPlay. How does he feel about the opportunity to perform on such a renowned stage?
“Filled with fear. Completely terrified,” Gaiman expresses with a sigh. “I’ve had to place my trust in FourPlay. I find comfort in knowing that Lara is a talented singer.”
“I have been a vocalist for three decades and I share the same fear, Neil!” exclaims Lara Goodridge, who is a member of FourPlay alongside Shenzo Gregorio and brothers Tim and Peter Hollo. “We all feel exposed when performing on stage. However, I believe that is one of the beautiful aspects of it – we are there to support each other. It’s exhilarating to feel so alive.”
How a goth English novelist and an Australian string quartet that does Metallica and Radiohead covers became a match made in heaven seems beyond words even for Gaiman, who recalls it as “like going on a blind date where you really hit it off”.
In 2010, the writer and musical group came together when the Sydney Opera House asked FourPlay to provide music for a live performance of Gaiman’s novella, “The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains.”
According to Goodridge, writing a story involving Neil is both challenging and enjoyable. However, initially having Neil present in the room was intimidating. Gaiman laughs, and Goodridge quickly clarifies that this was only a brief period of time, as they soon realized how amazing and delightful Neil is. This collaborative and positive attitude is what makes Neil truly magical.
The performance in Sydney resulted in Gaiman and FourPlay embarking on tours in the US and UK, including shows at Carnegie Hall and London’s Barbican. “During one show in Hobart, we collaborated with David Byrne and Brian Ritchie to create unique sounds,” Gaiman recalls. “Lara suggested recording it so that it wouldn’t be forgotten.”
The eerie outcome of their record Signs of Life is a concept album centered on a fresh zodiac created by Gaiman. It also includes a couple of other intriguing elements, such as a haunting poem he composed and presented about Australia Day in 2011, and a song co-written with Ben Folds about Joan of Arc, called The Problem with Saints.
Occasionally, FourPlay’s delicate string picking and sorrowful bass brings to mind Bruno Coulais’s composition for Coraline, the movie based on Gaiman’s novel with the same title. It appears that there is a quality in his music that can evoke a mystical and somber feeling.
“It’s comparable to a dark and moody yogurt culture,” Gaiman ponders. “The one that seeps through. You were about to say something much more logical, Lara.”
“I was not,” Goodridge chuckles.
Gaiman and Goodridge collaborate on the song “Bloody Sunrise,” which has a dark doo-wop sound and is about vampires. Gaiman expresses his admiration for Goodridge’s ability to understand his vision for the song and bring it to life, describing it as “amazing.”
The album Signs of Life made a strong debut at the top of the classical crossover chart on Billboard and has remained a fixture there. Gaiman expresses his surprise and joy at its success, as he originally expected sales to primarily come from fans of FourPlay and Neil. However, it has gained its own following and continues to sell to new listeners. Gaiman compares its steady presence on the charts to the iconic album The Dark Side of the Moon in the classical crossover genre.
Neil Gaiman, a well-known author of novels, TV shows, and comics, has also written for musicians in the past. In 2011, he joined forces with Amanda Palmer, Ben Folds, and Damian Kulash of OK Go to form the supergroup 8in8 with the goal of creating eight songs in eight hours (although they ultimately only completed six in 12 hours). When working with FourPlay, Gaiman sometimes provides them with lyrics or a written piece to set to music. Other times, he will write while the band is jamming, using their music as inspiration. According to band member Goodridge, Gaiman’s writing becomes the background to their music.
“Peter often asks Shenzo if he can incorporate his signature sound of a car crashing with a touch of seagull. Surprisingly, Shenzo is able to create a noise that combines the two seamlessly,” states Gaiman. “I am grateful to be included in this creative process.”
In March 2020, Gaiman was last in Australia as he was finalizing Signs of Life while the world was shutting down. He reflects, “That was the pivotal moment for me.” Therefore, performing in Sydney and Melbourne with his colleagues is a way to defy Covid’s impact.
During performances at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne’s Hamer Hall, they will include the piece Signs of Life. According to Gaiman, there will also be “wonderfully unusual elements that have yet to be heard by anyone.”
“One of the most impressive pieces we have ever created is based on offensive language found in a Victorian dictionary,” he explains.
Goodridge explains that the text is lengthy due to an abundance of offensive language.
According to Gaiman, the Victorians had a strong affinity for using euphemisms when discussing sex.
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Neil Gaiman and FourPlay will be live in concert at the Sydney Opera House on January 15th and at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne on January 18th to celebrate the release of Signs of Life. Don’t miss this exciting event!
Source: theguardian.com
