Purveyor of: Coniferous cacophony
File Next To: John K. Samson, Julie Doiron, Emperor X

The music of Shotgun Jimmie is pure gold Canadiana, with witty tanglings of slacker humour lacing the lot of it. Jimmie's brand new record Everything, Everything (follow the link for the album stream via Exclaim) is comically honest while deeply earnest, capturing mental polaroids of life's weirdness and beauty. His sound has a distinctly East Coast folk rock twang but stands up as a curious totem of wide and varied inspiration. Wavelength's Adam Bradley had a chat with Jimmie about his new record, touring with John K. Samson, and Shotgun Jimmie: “The Video Game.” 

Your new record Everything, Everything is just about to be born. How do you usually feel just before one of your albums is about to drop?

I'm totally excited! I can't wait for all the touring. I love playing shows, visiting friends, finding new things, adventuring and so on.

EE sounds fantastic for having largely been put down on a four-track and I guess traditionally you are used to recording pretty much on your own. Is there any particular philosophy that you have around the recording process or is it just kind of how it ends up working out?

I approach every recording project from a slightly different angle. Things usually end up sounding a lot more carefree and loose than they actually are. I put a great deal of time and consideration into recording and I take a staggering number of takes. On Everything, Everything, I decided to record with multiple formats because I wanted to try assembling the record in a type of collage.

On the new record, you've got a song called “Skype Date.” It captures the weird, awkward feeling that can often come with today's disembodied, electronic courtship. Do you think social media is messing with dating dynamics?

Absolutely, not that I'm a dating expert or anything. I actually think texting has a huge impact on the modern dater. People seem willing to push the envelope in terms of flirting or showing one's cards in a text. I like using Skype for staying in touch while I'm on the road, because there is less of a disconnect than thereis over email or text and it’s cheaper than the phone.

In 2009, you released a record called The Organ Donor, which was limited to just one copy and it was auctioned off with an actual musical organ. That's pretty darn clever. What was the impetus for making that happen and how was it received?

Sometimes I write with the idea that all is not for public consumption. I try to avoid feeling too precious about my work. The Organ Donor was an experiment to see what it would be like to make a record for just one person, partially because I liked the concept and also because I was curious to see what I would come up with.

I try not to guess at who is going to listen to my records and what they're going to think of them, though it's hard not to be conscious of that stuff. With The Organ Donor, there was a freedom in knowing that only one person would be listening to the record. I don't know the person who ended up with it and I have no idea what they thought.

You recently toured with John K. Samson from The Weakerthans as the opening act and his lead guitarist. You guys have a complementary style so it makes sense. How was that experience for you? Any favourite memory?

It was a dream come true! I'm a huge fan of his music and he's one of the sweetest guys I know. He is a master of his craft and a true inspiration. Plus, I got to be in a rock band with Doug MacGregor! One of my favorite parts was the coffee. Each morning, John made us deluxe coffees. He was too good to us.

If someone made a video game called “Shotgun Jimmie,” featuring you, what can you imagine it to look like and be about?

In The Incredible Adventures of Shotgun Jimmie, one creates a series of uncompromising indie rock albums while avoiding bad reviews, booking agents, major label henchmen and Pavement comparisons. The online play features a fun scenario where you develop relationships with your team, utilizing each other's special powers to locate Waffle House and buy tour socks in order to gain victory. If your character survives all the stages of the game you are awarded medical benefits and a real job hosting a radio program on the CBC.