Conor Oberst
Conor And Jenny Interview Each Other In Mexico
CONOR: How are you doing today?

JENNY: I'm chilling. This is my first time in Mexico City. First show in Mexico period

CONOR: Nice

JENNY: I don't know happened back in the day with the Kiley, we never came to Mexico

CONOR: That's a shame. Well, we've talked a lot in our life but I think this is the first time we've talked with this many cameras
We met at a vegetarian restaurant in Omaha, Nebraska. Rilo Kiley played in the corner and I liked her-- we had some friends in common and we went and saw them play. And then we became like, yeah, fast friends

JENNY: Was that the first time?

CONOR: Fast, furious friends

JENNY: Or did we meet in a basement? See, cause I feel you came to that show at the vegetarian restaurant but I don't know if we actually met in that moment, but there was a formal party

CONOR: Later

JENNY: Later. Yes, and where we all dressed like we were going to the prom. And I remember you were wearing a suit. Or a part of a suit. [laughing]

CONOR: Not the pants, top, huh?

JENNY: Just like Winnie the Pooh. Just like a shirt, no pants

CONOR: That was my old style though
JENNY: I was like, I like this guy

CONOR: It was the 60's you know? Things-- times were different

JENNY: It was great

CONOR: I don't know who's supposed to be interviewing who? You wanna ask me some questions? As long as they're not math questions

JENNY: OK

CONOR: I'm fine

JENNY: Do you remember that uh, project we were working on a decade ago called "Blood On The 4-Tracks"?

CONOR: Oh, I do

JENNY: What do you think about releasing that at some point in the future?

CONOR: I'd be into it as long as it's some kind of edible 7" or something. We can talk to Jack about making us something edible 7"

JENNY: Yeah, we want a Fruit Roll-Up 7" of "Blood On The 4-Tracks."

CONOR: Isn't it weird that, I don't think we ever really made any, with the exception of "Blood On The 4-Tracks," I don't think we've made any proper studio recordings together, have we?

JENNY: You've never asked
CONOR: I think I've asked many times and you've never accepted

JENNY: What? You've never asked for me to come in and sing

CONOR: Jenny used to have a really um, very cute, but kinda run-down um, apartment in Silver Lake. Uh, this was kinda before it was as happening as it is these days. And uh, yeah we camped out in there with uh, this other friend of ours Nate and...

JENNY: Jimmy Tamborello from The Postal Service

CONOR: Yup, and we made, like, a weird record. We stayed up for like 2 days and made a weird record. Which I don't think I've ever heard since then

JENNY: I've got it

CONOR: But she's got it so...

JENNY: I was the engineer. I-- at the time I remember it being uh, pretty ragtag

CONOR: I feel like some of the songs or some of the ideas were stolen and then like put into other songs

JENNY: Or proper records. Like, the first time I ever heard that song of yours, "Gold Mine Gutted," it was on "Blood On The 4-Tracks."

CONOR: Uh-huh

JENNY: And, uh, for me I think "It Just Is," that old school Rilo Kiley song, we also kind of started recording

CONOR: So there was some fruitful, fruitful things came out of that session
JENNY: But it was a really crazy time. You guys were visiting me and there were fires in Los Angeles and so the whole city was just covered with...

CONOR: Ablaze

JENNY: A layer of smoke and haze and ash. And Elliott Smith passed away during that same week

CONOR: Uh huh, sad

JENNY: And it was such a sad emotional time for us. Ya know?

CONOR: It's true

JENNY: We walked to the wall, the figure 8 wall, where-

CONOR: There was like a mural

JENNY: Yeah, a mural that was on his album cover on figure 8, and we walked from my apartment to this mural

CONOR: Impromptu shrine. All these candles, it was sad but...

JENNY: Beautiful

CONOR: Beautiful. Let's talk about happier things!

JENNY: Conor, all these years I've known you I don't think I've ever seen you -

CONOR: Without sunglasses on?

JENNY: [laughing] Without sunglasses on...I don't think I've ever seen you writing a song. When do you manage? When the hell does that happen? Cause I've never witnessed it

CONOR: Um, well I do it, usually it's a pretty solitary affair

JENNY: Secret time?

CONOR: Yeah, you know I think you've gotta, I've gotta have a little privacy before I can write a song. But you know I know I like to hang out, so a lot of times I end up just hanging out instead of getting any work done, you know? I do appreciate your work ethic though. I think you're-

JENNY: Mine? [Knuckle-bump]

CONOR: Yeah, I think you're very hard-working

JENNY: Well I try to write every day a little bit, even if it's crap. I just try to take a moment by myself and sit down at the piano

CONOR: That's what I'm talking about. I go, like, 5 months without picking up a guitar unless someone's giving me money to pick up a guitar

JENNY: Where's the new heat coming from? Got any new jams?

CONOR: Not-

JENNY: One? You've got one

CONOR: I mean we're not playing any songs today, but...

JENNY: I mean just in general like private guitar time?

CONOR: I might have something brewing up, we'll see. We'll see

JENNY: Ohhh shit. I can't wait to hear!

CONOR: Well thank you

JENNY: I look forward to all the new jams

CONOR: I look forward to being your friend 'til the day we die

JENNY: Cheers

CONOR: Can we shake on it? Alright. Bam! Cool