You know that thin line between perfectly buzzed and drunk? The line that is rare and rather difficult to balance on? Thanks to cheap whiskey and ginger ale I managed to stand right on it while I was playing at Uppsala Konsert & Kongress as Reversed Obesity in 2009.
Thanks to the alcohol I wasn’t nervous, or too impulsive. It was a real nice gig, though I wanted a bigger crowd.
And speaking of Reversed Obesity, I’ve previously mentioned that half of Definition was recorded while I was drunk. For better or worse, I don’t know. What I do know is that pretty much anything goes when alcohol and music making meets.
I remember one day in June of 2009, I had been out drinking with some friends and had gotten home around three in the morning. That year I was working on Year Of The Deer, and at the time I felt that the June track was missing something.
Why not add some drums to it, my intoxicated mind asked me. And that’s what I did as the alcohol was gradually wearing off and making me tired. I think it took me about an hour and a half to properly get those drums into the track, then I went to bed.
I woke up several hours later and had apparently forgotten to shut off the computer. It made me remember the changes I had made to the track. Luckily, it actually sounded good and it fit the rather eclectic track.
Other times I’ve poured myself a nice whiskey and made music, and it has sort of helped the sound I was going for, but then I wasn’t even close to being drunk or even slightly buzzed.
I don’t need to drink to get inspired, it only tends to garble what I’m trying to do. And as for playing live, I think I’ll stick to doing it sober. When I need to be in control, it’s just stupid to drink something that makes you lose control.
That said though, there’s nothing wrong with drinking a beer and listening to your own music.