A Conversation with Tywanna Jo Baskette (continued)

PM: So how and when did Dennis Herring and Sweet Tea Recordings come into the mix?

TJB: Okay. I'd write the songs and I had a friend that was living in Oxford at the time. And he said, "These are so good! You should make a cassette and send it to Clay Jones. He'd get this. And I'm going to start playing it for Dennis." And I said, "Who?" So then I thought that sounded good because he told me some people he'd produced, and I liked some of those people, like Cracker and Sparklehorse and stuff. And so I was really amazed that he liked it, and Clay liked it a lot. Clay's musical sensibility is amazing. We have so much in common musically, so that was a good pairing.

And then Dennis asked me if I'd be the first one on his Sweet Tea label. And I had to go cry. We were at this meat 'n' three in Oxford called Ajax. And we were kind of sitting in the back and nobody was back there. And I said, "Just a minute." And I had to go cry in the bathroom.

PM: Wow.

TJB: And so I did that and came back and I said, "Yes, I would love to do that." So I did. And now I think I'm having my second record with him too, which is really great.

PM: And now you're packing up, right at the moment, to go down to Oxford, Mississippi, and record your second record before this one even hits the street.

TJB: I know. Crazy, huh? How exciting.

PM: I've never heard of such a thing. It's beautiful.

TJB: I'm so excited. I can't wait to record.

PM: So who prompted that scheduling, and what's the thinking there?

TJB: Maybe I prompted it, because I'd say, "When, when, when can I record?" So they're finishing up Modest Mouse right now, Dennis and Clay. And then--

PM: What is that, Modest Mouse?

TJB: It's a really great band with this guy named Isaac something.

PM: Let's spell his name right. Do we know how?

TJB: No. But you could find out information about Modest Mouse probably on the internet. They're a really good band.

PM: And are they an Oxford band, or a southern band?

TJB: No. I think they're from Seattle or somewhere in Washington, or Portland, something like that.

PM: Way out there. Well, and so you'll go in with Dennis and Clay again?

TJB: No, no. Clay is my producer. Dennis owns the label, Sweet Tea, and he owns the studio.

PM: Right. So I guess I just mean him figuratively. It's his record, but you'll go in with Clay, right?

TJB: Yeah. And Ted Gainey is the engineer, and he plays drums.

PM: And then will Clay play a bunch of things like he did on Fancy Blue?

TJB: Yeah, I'm sure. And then, the way we do it, we just do vocal tracks with guitar, and then I go home. And then he puts a bunch of stuff on it, and then I come back and do some more and listen to that stuff. Or maybe not, maybe he hasn't done anything else yet and then I come back and do more vocal tracks with guitar, and then I go back home, and then come back, and go back home, and come back and go back home.

PM: Right. I remember meeting Clay with you years ago, and what a nice person he was.

TJB: Yeah, he's great.

PM: Yeah. And a great player and producer. But also there's an unbelievable musician in your band now. What's Derek's last name, your drummer?

TJB: Greene, with an "e."

PM: Derek Greene with an "e" is really great. And John Jackson, the guitar player, truly is a remarkable musician, I would say.

TJB: Yeah.

PM: Aren't you tempted to use John Jackson and Derek Greene on the record as well, and is that possible, or is that just not in the scheme of things?

TJB: Oh, I'd love that. There's just no money, you know. So if they're willing to go down and play and hope to get paid someday, then I would love for them to do that.

PM: Oh, and so that's perhaps a standing offer?

TJB: Oh, sure. I would love for them to play on there. It's just the way the record is, there's no money, so no one has gotten paid for anything, ever. [laughs]

PM: Yeah. When I stopped by the other day to hear your sound check before your World Cafe taping at Emerald Studios, I was so impressed with the acoustic sound of the three of you. It was really super good.

TJB: It did sound good, didn't it. I was happy with it.

PM: Yeah, I was too. I love seeing the evolution of the girl Ty Baskette that I met just a handful of years ago and now she's getting flown to New York and talking to Interview Magazine.

TJB: You know, I can't believe it. And I loved Andy Warhol so much growing up, and Edie Sedgewick. I'd read everything I could find about them. And I forgot to tell that to the Interview Magazine people. And I guess it's okay, because I called him already three times. I shouldn't call him again.

[laughter]

TJB: It's like, "God, she's stalking me."

PM: And you guys had fun in New York, right?

TJB: Yeah, it was really great. It was just so fast. There was no time for shopping. I wanted to go to the $10 shoe store where all the shoes are $10. And I hear that you can find great stuff if you have a lot of time to look.

PM: Wow. What are your hopes for this record, for Fancy Blue?

TJB: I hope to get a washing machine, and I hope people like it.

PM: Yeah, a washing machine. And a dryer, too. I mean, it's no good without--well, I hate drying stuff on the line.

TJB: Yeah, I need a dryer, too. I've never had a washing machine or a dryer. It's got to be so much nicer. Central heat would be good, too.

PM: You don't have that?

TJB: No.

PM: How do you heat your place?

TJB: I have little space heaters everywhere. Oh, it's stupid and dangerous. And it uses more electricity, I think.

PM: And it's expensive.

TJB: Yeah, and expensive for lousy heat.

PM: I like your place, though, even though it's funky and in a kind of gamy part of town. It's nice, though.

TJB: Oh, thanks.

PM: If you make good dough on Fancy Blue will you move to a different place or stay in your digs? I guess it depends on how much, huh?

TJB. Yeah, because who wouldn't want to live in Spain or Bora Bora or something?

PM: Right, Italy, yeah.

TJB: I would love to see the world anyway.  continue

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