Moses Sumney says Kirin J Callinan is the best artist of our generation and he wants a role on Home and Away while touring for Laneway Festival 2018

Moses Sumney wants a role on Home and Away singing Missy Higgins while he tours for Laneway Festival 2018

US singer-songwriter Moses Sumney performing in the Magic Spiegeltent at Sydney Festival in January 2017 and now here for Laneway Festival. Picture: Prudence Upton.

We need a hero.

Moses Sumney may be that person. “I’m relieved to see media and television in particular address the f--ked up things in our world. The sexism, racism and the negative effects of technology … because we need saving pretty bad right now,” he says. It’s a heavy quote to open with but we’re all grown-ups here. Sit up straight.
CELINE DION TO TOUR AUSTRALIA AGAIN

SHANIA TWAIN ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN TOUR

INTERVIEW: SYLVAN ESSO’S AMELIA MEATH

NEW ALBUM REVIEWS: FALL OUT BOY, CRAIG DAVID AND MORE
The 27-year-old Californian singer has been called the new Nina Simone and managed to catch and release Lonely World, a jam that made Radiohead quietly jealous. Lofty praise. Until you hear his debut album Aromanticism and nod and sway your head in awe.

Sumney played Sugar Mountain Festival in Melbourne last year, early in the afternoon, booked on the strength of singles Doomed and Lonely World and the subsequent Pitchfork Best New Music praise.

Sun shone down from behind him. God had his back. He sung like a castrato.

His mirrored sunglasses gave the buzzy LA artist a cool, detached edge... then he would speak all sassy; the funniest guy you’ve never met. “Hang on was that underwear?” when someone threw a stubby holder on stage. “Let’s talk later.”

“We love you!” shouted one punter. “Daaaad? Is that you? He follows me everywhere,” he flirted.

A year on he’s gathered a legion of fans who send their approval via Facebook and Instagram DMs. I’m betting some big names have “reached out”. Like who?

“You’re nosy. Very nosy,” he says, warming to the task of being forced to humblebrag. “I like it though. Anohni has probably given me the most flattering feedback, when Doomed came out she wrote a Facebook post about it then when my album came out she tweeted about it, she sent me the sweetest email.

“I’ve never met her. Sufjan Stevens said some nice stuff about it, he sent me a nice email the day the album came out then came to my New York show.” Sumney has opened for Sufjan, Solange, Erykah Badu, Animal Collective and is just hitting the point where he’s the main event.

It’s been a rickety road though.
His parents pulled up stumps and took the family back to Ghana when he was 10, forcing their son into a period of awkward adjustment. He sung his heart out in a choir where his angelic, superlunary voice got its wings and kicked around in bands, finding his feet. Three singles into his solo career he gave us Aromanticism last year, 11 songs that announced Sumney to the world. Now he’s two shows into the “school camp degustation tour” (my words) Laneway Festival.

First though, Sumney needs Australian casting agents to know he’s up for some acting while he’s in our Great Southern land. “I really just want a role in Home and Away. I would cover Missy Higgins, I could cover her entire first album,” he says. He always seems to be leaning into you when he speaks. A shared secret.
His Twitter handle announces him “Performer | Poor Person.”
Let’s dub him “Baroque with expensive taste.”

This angel may claim to have plastic wings (on Plastic) but he’s expanding into “a multidisciplinary approach to making art. Last year I got really into making music videos. I wrote the script and treatment for the clip for Quarrel.”
Sumney’s sardonic humour, and interchangeable benevolent/malevolent smile shows he has the range for an acting career. “You’re psychic. I act in the Quarrel clip even though I have no experience.”

That’s not completely true.

“I was in that boxing movie Creed for about two seconds, playing the lead female character’s drummer. I wrote a song for the movie which was meant to be in the movie but then they cut all my scenes except for a tiny moment, like two seconds, I flash by,” he says.

“I could do Top of the Lake, I don’t mind. That’s the one Kirin J Callinan and Nicole Kidman are in.”

More on Callinan and his dramatic removal from Laneway Festival’s bill later.

Sumney and Callinan are close.

Moses Sumney with a Wolverine meets Prince scratch on his face.

You like to binge-watch shows like the rest of us and if you’re truly “relieved to see media and television in particular address the f--ked up things in our world” then I’m betting you’re a Black Mirror fan.

“Wait how do you know I’m a Black Mirror fan? I love Black Mirror. When did I say that?”

You’ve actually never said it but I can just tell.

“You’re psychic (laughs). That’s creepy. I’ve seen none the new season. I’ve been too busy. I don’t watch TV shows when they just come out. I wanna take my time, I don’t wanna rush. My favourite episode is 15 Million Credits when they have to watch TV 24-7, that’s the law. They have to run on a treadmill. Then someone gets picked to go on a talent show so they can go beyond there, like Britain’s Got Talent, it’s so f--ked up. It’s so good.”

The episode with lascivious Aussie judge.

“Yeah that’s the one.”

How great is the Nosedive episode where everyone rates each other?

“I like that episode but it’s a little too real (laughs). That’s kind of where we’re going right? I just heard there’s an app where you can rate your waitress or waiter 1-5 stars. It sounds entirely possible and evil.”

Nobody’s stopping it either. There’s no overlord saying ‘Guys, enough.’

I read a quote today in a New York Times article about Black Mirror that said ‘Radical pessimism is a dismal trend.’ What do you make of that?

“Well I have two thoughts. We have a current culture where people will read a headline and then form an opinion on the issue. I’ve done it, we’ve all done it. (imitates faux-woke voice) ‘Well I disagree’ ‘Wait you know nothing about it, shut up.’ I’m very conscious of that. I think radical pessimism is a dumb phrase, I’d call it realism or cynical realism. I think Black Mirror shows us the world as it is and The Handmaid’s Tale was my favourite show of last year because when you watch it, sure it seems bleak and dark and exaggerated but when Margaret Atwood was writing it she made sure she didn’t include anything that hasn’t already happened in our world. More than ever before in my lifetime people are realising how dark the times are we are living in. The art is reflecting that.”

AFTER THE SCHOOL CAMP DEGUSTATION TOUR:

“I’m dying to put another album out, I turned my last album in to my label in April and it came out in September but I started writing the second album in May. In December I went to a village off the coast of Nicaragua for 12 days and was recording in the studio. Whenever I’m not touring I’m trying to throw myself into the studio. I’m dying to put out another record.”

RATING THE SCHOOL CAMP DEGUSTATION TOUR ARTISTS:

Aldous Harding: “I had a dream about her and it was really really crazy. I was in New York in July and I had a dentist came to me and his name was Aldous Harding and I’d never heard that name before. I woke up and I was like ‘What’s with that name?’ Then I googled the name and I was thinking it was gonna be some dude but it was Aldous Harding. Then I listened to her music and fell in love with her. Isn’t that crazy? It’s a bit creepy. The same day NPR put up that Tiny Desk concert. I am psychic. She’s so intense right?”

Alex Cameron: “He’s my labelmate but I’ve never listened to his music except for the song with Kirin J Callinan.”

Anderson.Paak: “I love Anderson.Paak, I’ve known him for a long time. I met him seven years ago in LA when he used to play the coffee shop at my university. It’s been amazing to see his career take off in the past year. I saw his show last year and he blew me away.”

BadBadNotGood: “I’d say they’re actually GoodGoodNotBad (laughs).”

Bonobo: “Mmy ex-room-mate Hundred Waters has a song on this Bonobo record and I’m interested in seeing how he’s gonna do it.”

Father John Misty: “He’s a friend of mine from LA, he’s really really cool and (laughs) I think a lot of people hate him and that’s why I like him.”

Mac DeMarco: “What did you say, he’s the Bill Murray of indie music? (laughs uncontrollably). I don’t have much to say about him except his song On The Level is my f--king jam.”

Sandy Alex G: “I just played a show with Sandy Alex G, we both opened for Animal Collective.”

Slowdive: “(types their name into google) I’m looking them up so I know what I’m talking about. They have a song in Mysterious Skin which is a Greg Araki film. You don’t need to see it.”

The War on Drugs: “I just don’t have any feelings about that band.”

TOKiMONSTA: “I love TOKiMONSTA. She is another friend of mine and she’s the queen of Koreatown which is the coolest part of LA. She’s one person who I f--k with.”

Kirin J Callinan: “Oh man. Kirin J Callinan is the best artist of our generation and we should all be honoured be agreed to play Laneway Festival (update: as you know he’s been removed. This was his eloquent response to the whole debacle). He should headline every night and hopefully I can find a way to sneak him into my set. It’d be so good.”

Moses Sumney. Melbourne Recital Centre. Feb 1. melbournerecital.com.au

Touring nationally with School Camp, Deg..Laneway Festival:

Friday, 2nd February, Hart’s Mill, Adelaide (16+); Saturday, 3rd February, Footscray Community Arts Centra And The River’s Edge, Melbourne; Sunday, 4th February, Sydney College Of The Arts And Callan Park, Sydney; Saturday 10th February Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane (16+); Sunday 11th February, Esplanade Reserve And West End, Fremantle

lanewayfestival.com

Previously on Moses n Mikey

More here, m’dear: @joeylightbulb