Interview: The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger

UK Tour almost complete, Bearded caught up with Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl from The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger to talk collaborations, transcendental meditation and “plans within plans within plans... life is a bicycle, keeping moving or fall off.”

Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl initially formed The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger to spend more time together as a couple between modelling gigs and musical collaborations. The result has been a psychedelic treat with first full length album, Midnight Sun, receiving solid reviews and their live show garnering similar praise.

Due to a number of years spent after 2006’s Friendly Fire album it would be easy for Lennon to draw suspicion that he was uncomfortable with the weight placed on him by the media due to his famous parents. But that has never been the case. ”I have always felt at ease musically, just wasn't too sure about everything else” says Lennon.

In fact, Lennon and band mate/ girlfriend Kemp Muhl have been very busy since 2006. They’ve set up their own label (Chimera), released records and been writing their own music. The latest record from The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger is consistent and has a strong sense of direction. Lennon himself declares, “This is us sounding how we wanna sound for the first time.”

With all the activity Lennon and Kemp Muhl have jumped into it’s bound to be a busy year for both them and GOASTT. Their tour is well underway, they are excited by the freedom that their own record label gives them and as for the future there are “plans within plans within plans...life is a bicycle, keeping moving or fall off.”

Bearded: You have mentioned that you consider this your debut album, why would you say that is? Does this sound feel like it’s the one you're settling on for the GOASTT?

SEAN: Well the first two releases were always intended to be parenthetical or like an intro to this album. But even if you count those, they always say 3rd album is when you find your stride. Either way you wanna look at it this is us sounding how we wanna sound for the first time.

Did the break after Friendly Fire achieve what you hoped? Do you feel more 'at ease' musically now?

SEAN: I have always felt at ease musically, just wasn't too sure about everything else. It wasn't so much I wanted to take a break, we went straight from the last Friendly Fire tour to starting the GOASTT, starting Chimera Music, and then figuring out how to run a label, while putting out a few other LPs like my mother's, Yoko Ono Plastic Ono, as well as film scores for Jordan Galland, a Kemp and Eden album with Charlotte, and my band with Greg Saunier from Deerhoof. So, I wouldn't call that a break, more like a change.

How does music separate from the modelling career? Any scrapes between the jobs and their differing expectations?

CHARLOTTE: Maybelline, my main client, has been very obliging and understanding of my odd schedule. For the most part I don't have time to accept other modelling gigs- even though I make no money from doing music, I love it so much and choose it over the far more lucrative fashion industry.

Was setting up your own label important to find more creative freedom for yourselves? Have you found the pressure that larger, more established labels place on you distracting?

SEAN: I think for me it was a big relief having our own company to allow us more freedom. I can't speak for Charlotte because she hasn't yet had that experience of being controlled by a major label. There are benefits to both scenarios. We both learned a lot having to start the company, learn about printing and shipping and profit loss margins; a steep learning curve and big growing experience.

Has being a couple as well as spending a lot of time together as part of a band helped or changed the way that you approached these songs, or the act of songwriting itself?

SEAN: I think being a couple and writing songs makes things very intense in a good way. It feels like your diving into the deep space of their mind because you know them intimately. I think it helps our music, but there are times when our intimacy can create some unconstructive friction. Generally our chemistry is explosively creative, but there are always obstacles as well.

Is transcendental meditation something that both of you practice as part of the songwriting process? How does it help/contribute to the material?

SEAN: Actually I'm the one who does TM. It just helps me think more clearly and relieves a certain amount of anxiety. I'm sure if I get better at doing it the benefits will become far greater. I think Charlotte and I have different ways of dealing with anxiety. Charlotte is more of a 'let's soldier through it,' type, where I tend to go up and down the scale of productivity depending on my mind state.

What were the most important topics for you to address in Midnight Sun?

SEAN: We never had any topical list in mind. We just write what sounds interesting to us. It's more of a myopic process, not such a big picture kind of thing, like writing a musical or opera you have to think more macroscopically.

Any aims for the live performance in this year's touring?

SEAN: Our goal is to continue to get better at playing our songs and hopefully get to the point where we can bring a bigger crew so we can have lights and stage props. Right now we barely have room for our guitars and clothes in our tiny van.

Of all the musicians you've collaborated with over the years, which ones do you feel have had the biggest influence on GOASTT? Or do you see this as a conscious deviation from previous work?

SEAN: I can't speak for Charlotte. But for me, the Beastie Boys influenced me most and that includes Money Mark.

CHARLOTTE: This project definitely feels like a conscious deviation - but there is still a lot of influence from his friends. For me, the main influence is King Crimson and Pink Floyd - although we've never collaborated with them.

Can you sum up Midnight Sun in three words?

SEAN: No. If we could have there would have been way less verses in that song and on the album as a whole.

Where are you hoping to take GOASTT next? Any plans for the next album?

SEAN: Plans within plans within plans...life is a bicycle, keeping moving or fall off.

Read a live review of GOASTT’s latest outing HERE