INTERVIEW
POSSESSED BY PAUL JAMES
by Christer Davidsson, September 2006

Your real name is Konrad Wert, how come you call yourself Possessed By Paul James?

I USE THE NAMES OF MY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS. AT THE TIME IT FEELS LIKE I'M NOT ALONE OR MAYBE PULLING FROM THEM..

Describe the PBPJ sound to the ones who havn’t heard you yet?

WELL JUST RECENTLY I MOVED OUT OF AUSTIN, TX TO HOWARD, CO JUST ON THE SANGRE CRISTO RANGE. MY MOM GOT SICK BACK IN FL AND I PUT THE BREAKS ON THE MUSIC FOR A BIT. BUT THE SOUND IS ROOTED IN 'ROOTS' FROM BLUES, ROCK, PUNK, BLUEGRASS AND WRITING. I GET WRAPPED UP IN IT SO IT CAN TAKE OVER.

When did you start playing music?

IN THE CHURCH SINGING REAL YOUNG. STARTED PLAYINIG VIOLIN AROUND 10 AND THE OTHERS FOLLOWED.

What would you be doing if you wheren’t playing?

WELL THE THING IS I'M NOT RIGHT NOW. HAD TO CANCEL MY TOUR THIS SUMMER WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON. BUT IT'S GOOD TO BEGIN AGAIN. I'VE DONE ALOT FROM CARPENTRY TO TEACHING TO BOUNCER GIGS IN ALUQUERQUE. WORK IS WORK, BE IT MUSIC OR OTHER WISE.

Your self-titled album was released last year. Are you happy with it?

THAT WAS THE FIRST SHOW DOING POSSESSED BY PAUL JAMES. THAT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. A BUDDY HAD AN UNDERGROUND STUDIO, WE FILLED UP A TRASH CAN WITH BEER AND CHARGED TWO BUCKS TO GET IN. ONE TAKE, ONE ALBUM, ONE LABEL AND A HELL OF A LOT OF FUN..GOOD TIME...

How come an italian label put it out?

SYA RECORDS WAS WORKING WITH CHILI COLD BLOOD AND BLACK JOE LEWIS WITH WALTER DANIELS. I PLAYED SHOWS WITH THEM AND THEY SENT THEM THE MUSIC. BOSS BEPPE IN MILANO DUG IT SO WE DID A REPRINT ON A RECORD AND A MONTH TOUR IN GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, SLOVENIA AND ITALY.

You had an Amish upbringing, in what way has that affected your music?

THAT GETS ASKED A LOT, BUT THE THING WAS WE WERE OUT OF THE COMMUNITIES GROWEN UP.. MY FOLKS WERE MENNONITE WITH AMISH FAMILY. IT WAS AS CONSERVATIVE AS ANY CHURCH RAN FAMILY WHERE THE PASTOR IS THE DAD AND MOTHER THE PIANO PLAYER. SO IT ALL WORKED OUT, NOT MY GIG BUT THEY RAISED ME GOOD.

Any upcoming releases planned?

VOODOO RYTHEM RECORDS IN SWITZERLAND AND TX CATTLE DOGS IN AUSTIN, TX ARE GAME TO IT. I NEED TO FIND A HOME AND GET WORK DONE. IT'S ME THE MISSES THE TWO DOGS AND 75 ACRES IN COLORADO, SO THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING SOON.

Tell me about that!

THE SOUND NOW FEELS CALMER BUT NOT LIGHTER. STILL DARK BUT LESS FUCKING RAGE. I WAS ANGRY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE AND IT CAME OUT IN MUSIC. SERVED IT'S PURPOSE AND FELT GREAT, BUT NOW IT'S SOMETHING NEW. FOR ME YOU DO MUSIC AND SHARE IT WITH PEOPLE SO IT FEELS SINCERE, NOT PUSHED FOR BULLSHIT.

In what way is being a one-man-band better than being in a group?

GOOD AND BAD. YOU MISS CREATING WITH MUSICIANS, BUT YOU DON'T MISS THE EGO, THE MISCOMMUNICATION, THE BULLSHIT.

What are your plans for the future?

CHOPPING WOOD, HIKING AROUND THE MOUNTAINS, WRITING AND PLAYING WITH OLD MINER LOOKEN FELLAS, SHARING A DRINK AND TAKING A SHIT. LIFE IS GOOD.

Would you like to say anything else before we say good-bye?

NO I'M FINE. MUSIC IS ONE THING. IT FEELS GOOD TO SHARE IT BUT I LIKE DOIN DIFFERENT THINGS. I'LL PICK OR BUSK AROUND FOR A LONG LONG TIME, BUT IT'S JUST AS GOOD TO SIT ACCROSS FROM MY BABY, TAKE A BIG ASS BREATH OF MOUNTAIN AIR AND SPIT.

Thank you and Good Luck!



Links:

http://www.myspace.com/possessedbypauljames