We catch up with CHRISTOPHER SLUKA to chat about his latest album, influences, touring and meeting musical royalty....
As American Multi-instrumentalist Christopher Sluka celebrates the release of his 13th album "Happy In Your World", he speaks to musomuso about the incredible ride that has been his career. From making it big in Japan and Europe in the 1980s and running his own label, to operating a pair of artist centric coffee shops, opening a flight school and learning to man aeroplanes…..
Please tell us about your band, who’s in it, when/where did you form etc? I’m Christopher Sluka, Anna Eppink is on bass, and Michael Bedard on drums. On this latest album I played guitar & keyboards as well as the vocals and came up with the songs. For small venues it’s just the three of us. For the festival stages we hope to get the string and horn players that are on the album as well.
Do you remember the band or artist that made you want to pick up an instrument and learn to play?
The Beatles. They had already broken up, but I heard “Help” playing in a record store and I was transfixed by this magical sound. It made me want to investigate and learn more about this magic.
Which countries have been the most memorable for you so far as a performer?
We’ve had extensive tours in Japan, Italy, and eastern Europe, but I would say some of the most memorable shows, and not for always good reasons, were in clubs in New York City such as CBGB’s, The Ritz, China Club, and many others back in the 1980’s.
Do you remember the first gig you ever played?
Yes, a talent show, and I was surprised at the positive reaction since I thought I was horrible.
Have you ever met one of your ‘heroes’? Who was it and how did it go?
It sounds like name-dropping, but I was lucky to meet, and even have memorable discussions with David Bowie, Prince, Michael Jackson, Ric Ocasek, and Stevie Wonder. We often found ourselves in the same rehearsal or recording studios.
What was it like working With Cat Grey?
Terrific! It was the first time I worked with someone in the studio who really knew what he was doing. I learned a lot and he let me be me.
You run a flight school, tell me what a typical day on a flying day is like for you.
Enjoying the beauty of flight while trying to avoid absolute terror.
You owned a coffee house in San Diego, have you ever had any famous faces play there?
Yes, but I don’t think they’d like their names mentioned. It was always meant to be casual and low key.
Let’s imagine that you’ve been washed up on a desert island and there’s a record player, an amp, and some speakers but only enough space for 3 records, which 3 would you have in the box to keep you going until you’re rescued? Why these three?
The soundtrack to “The Elephant Man”, “A New World Record” by ELO, and Hvarf/Heim by Sigur Rós. I’m drawn to albums I can listen to from start to finish and for which they not only take me away, but allow my mind to flourish, ponder, explore, and sometimes weep.
You’ve said you consider each song to be a chapter in an overall book. What is the core story flowing through the album?
A common theme in all my music is the recognition that we are all doomed. Nevertheless, I desperately try to find glimmers of hope and evidence of our greater selves individually, and as a species with a creative civilization. With each album I explore these avenues ever more intently.
What career milestones are you working towards next?
I’m fortunate to have made a living with music, but it’s always been about awaiting what music pops in my head next, and then the challenge of bringing it out into a form others can experience.
Tell me about any forthcoming live streams / shows / festival bookings etc….
We are pilots and we have our own vintage Beech 18 which we can fly almost anywhere with ourselves, our crew, and all our equipment. We are currently fielding offers and trying to work out the logistics of taking to the sky and performing all over the world.
Lastly, did you pick up any interesting hobbies or pastimes during lockdown?
Nope.
Socials
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