Music & Me with … Pocket Lint
- 01 Jun 2022 -
Image: Pocket Lint, Musician writing and recording in London.
In this interview Elizabeth chatted to Mark Heffernan, alias Pocket Lint, who has just released A Grey Opaque.
When were you first introduced to music?
Well, my earliest musical memory is probably my dad singing ‘Hit me with your rhythm stick’ around the house as a kid. Both my parents love music and it was always playing. I had piano lessons from about 5 years old and I listened to Pop stuff, though clearly had an ear for the more interesting too. I adored the Communards. Madonna too was a huge early favourite. About 12 I got heavily into Madness, then discovered the guitar through Jimi Hendrix.
Tell me about your favourite teachers.
If we are talking music, then I am very lucky. I had a wonderful piano teacher called Olwyn Clarke. She realised I never actually sight read and despite her best efforts that I learnt music from hearing it. She recorded my exam pieces for me on cassette to learn from. I learnt a lot from my friend Tim, who introduced me to Hendrix. He still helps me with recording stuff all the time. Finally, I was taught guitar by Colin Browne, who played with Kate Bush for a while in the 80s and early 90s. Colin taught me about improvisation and feel. That was crucial, I think. I also did a year at the guitar institute which taught me a lot about what I didn’t ever want to be.
What are your fondest musical memories?
Oh gosh, I’ve had a few. Opening a box of 7” singles with my old band. Receiving the cassettes for Themes for Silcaville too. But maybe getting to interview Barry Adamson last year. I am a musician, and to get to chat to someone whose work I really admire about music and art was amazing. He was very generous with his time too.
What is your favourite TV theme tune and film soundtrack?
Got to be the TV theme from the Persuaders – John Barry at his very best. The Prisoner theme was immense too. There is real pace and excitement in both and also mystery. Everything you need to know about the show is in those 3 minutes. Soundtracks are rather different. I love a wide plethora of different types from the Gershwin and Berlin scores through Hermann and then into more modern works. If it’s ok, I am going to pick out a few which I think are incomparable because of what they add to the film:
- Hermann – Vertigo – just the most incredible use of an orchestra
- Carpenter – Assault on Precinct 13 – creeping menace
- Vangelis – Blade Runner – just stunning from start to finish – neo noir in sound
- The Goodfellas sound track – it is so beautifully curated.
I do like a lot of the more modern works too where they more add a feeling as opposed to being fully formed pieces. Oh and obviously John Williams scores just stick in your head and add to what’s on the screen.
What was the last music download/ CD/ that you bought?
I was in Dublin recently and picked up some second hand 7” records, Bricolage, Sisters of Mercy, KLF and The Thompson Twins. The last new album I bought was a Wire demos record for record store day. Really great album. I don’t download music really. I tend to carry on exploring areas of music from the past I don’t know so well and buy old vinyl. I do buy CDs by new artists from Bandcamp and I use Bandcamp to stream a bit too. Some people I have bought music by recently are Kiffie, Sophie Mahon, A Sea Warren, Sky Diving Penguins, The John Mitchie Collective, and Arcadia Park, a concept album by members of old label mates The Indelicates.
Imagine you have been given £250 to spend on anything music-related. How will you spend it?
Right now, I would probably spend it on getting my next album mastered, but that isn’t very romantic, so let’s say I would probably spend hours looking on reverb for some odd old synths that I could buy. I am far more into hardware than software. One of the reasons my studio is a total mess.
How do you balance music with your other obligations?
Well, I work full time at a uni and I also write, or should do, but in the last two years since the pandemic I’ve really found solace in the studio. Being able to run into the studio at the end of the day, sit down and make something was an incredible form of escape for me. I think I balance very badly in that essentially, at any given time, a part of my life is on hold for the other parts.
Happiness is …. The feeling when you have an idea, fly into the studio, get it down in 30 minutes and know it is going to be good. Oh and the sound of a drink being shaken.
LINKS:
Bandcamp: https://pocketlint17.bandcamp.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHQ3C7Y4cvCp9M4hXKxCEqw?app=desktop
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pocketlintmusic