Interview with Tim Kasher of The Good Life

Artisans are a strange breed of people. Whether a graphic designer, singer, songwriter, painter, musician, sculptor, author, or poet, those folks who use the right side of their brains to ply their trade have a rather distinct manner of viewing the world around them. There’s no on/off switch to flick when they want to stop interpreting the world through certain quite colorful lenses. Thus, it can be rather difficult to contain one’s capacity for artistic expression (and the related addictive need to express) when the mood strikes and does so forcefully. So, needless to say, when Tim Kasher of Cursive and The Good Life feels the need to create, he lets loose with both a screenplay and new record (originally intended to be the soundtrack for the screenplay). I recently had a chance to speak with Tim about Help Wanted Nights, the 4th record for The Good Life, the screenplay it was supposed to support, and all things musical.

Hey there Tim. Thanks for agreeing to the interview.

You’re welcome. I’m excited to talk about the new record.

Let me ask the easy & cliched question first. Do you ever worry about competing with yourself, i.e. battling your Cursive legacy?

I don’t think so. Maybe at some deeper psychological level, but I don’t think about it much. I feel lucky and privileged to work with two great bands. To be a part of a second band, which The Good Life is considered, I have to work twice as hard. I’m just happy to have two bands that are receiving notoriety. Granted, all that was the nice, safe diplomatic answer.

[Laughs] True. I’ll give you that. So, tell me about this screenplay. Help Wanted Nights was supposed to be the soundtrack for it; hence, since the screenplay is complete, will this album still be the official soundtrack?

This record is the fourth album for The Good Life, no matter if there’s ever a screenplay or not. It would be great if the screenplay comes about, but that hasn’t happened yet. We have had the idea to have a touring play - with every tour stop, we’d act out the play alongside the stage. As great as the idea is, we’re not ready to do that and we still don’t quite know how we’d accomplish the play and the show at the same time. In the long run, we decided to push ahead with the album and not wait for any play or movie to develop. This album can stand on its own.

This is an album full of pain & hurt, but your main character doesn’t allow himself to wallow in his own misery very well. How did you write these songs in such a way? Did you intend to make an album of emotional, yet not wimpy/whiny songs?

It’s really just the evolution of how I’m writing. I’ve been figuring out how to write deeper and more complex characters. With a regular wailing or upset guy, there’s just no dimension to his personality and no layers to his story. And with that kind of writing, it’s all “show and don’t tell.” I am writing from a very male perspective, so these songs are about males in society and how guys really feel and really deal with their feelings.

Excellent. I really resonated with many of the songs on this album and how the main character processes through everything. These aren’t cheesy, easy emo songs; they’re honest, gut wrenching tracks.

Thanks man. I’m glad to hear that.

What kind of touring do you have planned for the band?

We’re touring the East Coast, West Coast, and Europe in the Fall.

Awww… No Texas dates?

[Laughs] No. We do have plans to get to Texas in the Spring though.

Thanks for that. Who do you have accompanying you for those shows?

With the East Coast shows, we’ll be touring with Luke Temple, Zookeeper, and Georgie James. On the West Coast, we’ll have our friends Johnathan Rice and Art In Manila with us. We’re looking forward to it all.

Very cool to hear. Last question: Are you looking for someone to pick up the screenplay and move it into production?

It’s not something I’m actively trying to sell. I am working with friends trying to put together a low-budget film, so we’re looking for funding for that.

Very cool as well. Well, again, thanks for giving me the opportunity for this interview. I appreciate it greatly.

You’re very welcome. It’s been fun. Bye!

Bye!