A Conversation with Jules Shear (continued)

PM: Are you an avid co-writer? Is that something you like to do? Or do you prefer to write alone?

JS: I'd say I am definitely not an avid co-writer. I prefer to write alone. I prefer to write songs by myself, although I have written songs with other people.

PM: Sometimes they've been good experiences?

JS: Sometimes they have, yeah, but not enough so it would make me go seek them out. I never seek them out. Sometimes people come to me and say, "Would you try doing this?" That's another thing about Asheville: since I moved to Asheville, people don't ask me about co-writing, because I'm not in New York or L.A. anymore, so they can't just go, "Hey, my guy is coming to town, I'm going to put you guys together in a room for one day, and I want you to write four songs. Okay, I'll see you later." And they're gone!

PM: That sucks.

JS: And it's not like that, now. People don't come to Asheville very often, and they don't know I'm there, and so it has really taken that part of my life away, and I enjoy it. I like it.

PM: Have you played out down there, at the Grey Eagle, or anything like that?

JS: No. I'm going to play at the Grey Eagle. It's time now, because the record is out. They told me they just booked a thing at the Grey Eagle.

PM: It's a good room.

JS: It is a nice room. I've been there a few times. And I've actually seen Tyler play there, and some other people coming through town. It's a nice room. So it'll be fine.

PM: We should book you a good gig in Nashville. I mean, it's traditionally considered a lousy place to play.

[laughter]

PM: But I mean, if you book the right room, and--

JS: That's right. I wonder about that, booking the right room.

PM: I'll talk to Grimey, who books The Basement. It's not a big room, but it would get nice and full, and with the right people. And Grimey would know how to work it.

JS: I'd appreciate that, thanks.

PM: Have your songs found good homes in films or TV?

JS: A little bit of film stuff. I mean, every once in a while something happens. This movie, The Goonies.

PM: Oh, my!

[laughter]

JS: Yeah, I got a song in there, one I wrote with the Bangle girls that ended up in that--but not really that often. I don't know. It seems to me it should happen, but it always seems to the songwriter that it should. I don't know.

PM: Who is your publisher, or the person most likely to make that happen?

JS: Yeah, well, right now I have no publisher, so I am my publisher. But my manager should do that stuff, I suppose. Yeah, he's out there working those angles.

PM: How much will you tour behind this record?

JS: Well, I guess I'm going to play as much as they want me to, as long as I can put up with what they book me. If they're all like last night, I'm not going.

PM: Yeah.

JS: And if they're all like the night before, I will go gladly. I would stay out on the road for a while if they wanted me to, if it was going well. But if it's going to be like it was last night, I wouldn't really bother. I mean, I don't know why anybody bothered--the only reason would be so somebody could say, "Hey, I booked him a tour," and doing their thing where they're going, "I did my job. I booked him the tour," even though that means that I have to go out and play shitty places. I don't want to.

PM: Thanks, Jules, I appreciate your time today. I think you're one of the greats.

JS: Well, thanks.

PM: And it's fun to talk to you about songs and how to move them around. We'll enjoy having you on the cover, and I hope it helps to move Dreams Don't Count in the right direction.

JS: That'd be great. It's good to meet you, and it was my pleasure.  

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