12 July 2010 (released)
13 July 2010
Songwriter / singer Mark Charles Heidinger is the driving force behind folk music duo Vandaveer. After the 2007 debut album ‘Grace And Speed’, it is the new album ‘Divide & Conquer’ that will further establish Vandaveer as one of the finest folk acts around. Music-News Claudia A. found out more about the man and the album.
Music-News:
Your songs deal with the human condition and yet, some of the lyrics have quite a surreal, poetry-like quality to them while musically, songs like ‘Fistful Of Swoon’ or ‘Mighty Leviathan Of Old’ are not just strongly folk-orientated but almost enter cabaret/theatrical territory. Do you form a mental picture before you put words on paper?
Mark Charles Heidinger:
For my part, there really isn’t any defined blueprint for this sort of thing. Songs can make abrupt entrances with just a line or two popping into your head, then insist that you sit down and write them quickly… Other times, they can require a bit of aging inside your noggin before they’re ready for their coming out party. I tend to think most language is visual by nature, so yes, I believe I do have mental pictures laying around in there amongst the cobwebs and half-written bits and broken down bits, too.
Maybe that’s what an unfinished song is – a Polaroid that hasn’t fully developed just yet…
MN:
During touring, the songs are performed together with your sister Rose Guerin, with emphasis on both your vocal talents and a subdued instrumental sound. Is it a style you will stick with, or do you think that one day things could go the Bob Dylan way - with your sound becoming slightly heavier/more electric and less acoustic?
MCH:
My primary aim is to keep things interesting for myself, and that almost certainly means mixing it up as time goes on. If I’m not interested and engaged when I’m writing, recording, performing, etc. then I can’t really expect anyone else to want to listen with any degree of engagement. As far as the general direction of things, I’m blessed to be able to sing with someone as talented as Rose and that’s not something I’m in a hurry to change, but yes, I do think future Vandaveer records will sound more heavy and maybe even slightly electric-er. Also, timpani drums. But not necessarily less acoustic. Most songs benefit from a bit of wood…
MN:
You just finished a European tour – did you notice a difference between folk/folk-rock audiences in Europe and the USA?
MCH:
We’ve been fortunate enough to tour Europe regularly since the fall of 2007, but I’m not sure I’m astute enough to pick up on the subtle differences in audiences from country to country. If I were to make an honest attempt I’d say that the English seem a bit more stoic, the French a bit more smoky, and the Americans more prone to wearing baseball hats.
MN:
Any specific place you would love to play that you haven’t played before?
MCH:
Yes. New Zealand. Preferably near the location where they built the Shire for Lord Of The Rings. That looked downright lovely. And I suppose if we made it all the way to New Zealand it would be silly not to play Australia as well.
MN:
When you work on a new song, how much creative input do Rose and the other musicians have who contribute to your albums?
MCH:
Rose being such a fine singer, I really do my best to get out of her way creatively and let her bring whatever ideas she has to the table. Same goes for my other dear friends who lend their time and energy to making Vandaveer records. I may make judgement calls during the mixing process about what stays and what goes, but I don’t really like impeding the creative process when we’re tracking. I trust the folks involved and almost always love what they bring to the project.
MN:
For those not in the know (that’s me included), what does Vandaveer mean?
MCH:
Etymologically speaking, it means “People from down by the river ferry” or something not too far off from that… It’s Dutch in origin, and it’s been a family name passed down on my dad’s side for a few hundred years. I’m a sucker for sentimentality, family history, heirlooms, that sort of thing, and I thought I could augment and continue the tradition by tacking the name on to a musical project. So far I don’t think I’ve soiled it too bad.
MN:
If one of your songs would be considered to be part of a movie soundtrack, what kind of movie would be ok with you and what kind of movie would you refuse?
MCH:
Honestly? Movies that pay would be mostly ok with me and those that don’t mostly not. Artistically speaking, I very much enjoy the Coen Brothers, Wes Anderson, David Lynch, Michel Gondry, Spike Jonze, Sofia Coppola, Tim Burton, Martin Scorsese, and about three hundred others, too. I might even waive that whole “Need to be paid” bit for some of these folks…
MN:
Do you listen to folk music from other countries than the US or the UK as well?
MCH:
Louis Armstrong said something like, “All music is folk music, I ain’t never heard a horse sing a song…” So, by that definition I would say I do listen to folk music from other countries… But I’m not much good at classifying music, so it’s hard for me to say where folk music ends and another genre begins…
MN:
Many thanks Mark, and best wishes for future projects.
(Please read my review of Vandaveer’s album ‘Divide & Conquer’ in our ‘Latest Reviews’ section).
