Filler #1: Chicago, 7/1/92
Filler #2: KPFK Studios, 1991
David Byrne: The last tour you did was very theatrical. I saw it here at The Academy. I thought it was great. But I had read some interviews where you had second thoughts about the whole theatricality and artifice and the dresses and the whole thing. Do you think you'll have second thoughts about that forever or is that something that you might try again in a different sort a way? PJ Harvey: I don't think I could ever say, that's forever. It is just one day at a time and at this moment, I'm really enjoying being more myself in some ways. Just being myself on stage. I feel more than ever that I am the same Polly on stage as I am when I'm off making a cup of tea or whatever. Before it always felt like it had to be some sort of metamorphosis and I think that was reflected in me, feeling that I needed to dress for the stage and all the elaborate make-up and costumes. But I think I was much more lost as a person in some ways then, and having more a stage persona would help me be strong for being on stage in some way. David Byrne: Do you think that problems in people's lives can bring out creativity and the reverse. Do you think that contentment kills creativity? PJ Harvey: I think that problems bring out creativity and I think that contentment brings out enormous creativity, personally. I feel that I'm actually most creative when I do have a sense of contentment or a sense of safety. Stability allows me to be much more creative although distressing hard times can also bring about creativity in a different kind of way. It brings about darker, more confused kind of feelings which can often translate a lot more powerfully through whichever creative medium. That is, personally, how I feel. But I do think that when I'm content that I'm much more open to receiving a lot of creativity. David Byrne: Do you think there is a relationship between humor and horror? PJ Harvey: Definitely. I think there is a very fine line between them. David Byrne: We laugh at things that are genuinely frightening. PJ Harvey: Yeah, I think so. It can be almost like an automatic nervous reaction. But I think they are very close to each other. It's hard to separate. The classic thing is laughing so much that it turns into crying or vice versa. That's happened to me many times. David Byrne: After some time has passed, after you've written something, recorded it, played it, do you ever turn around and then realize what it was you were saying? PJ Harvey: Definitely. I think that's the case with everything I've ever done. Albums kind of make sense to me two years down the line. It makes such perfect sense, lyrically. I was so confused at the time but some part of me did know and that was there in the words and the music. I think that is so true, I really don't quite understand what's coming out, when it's coming out but you do on reflection. Do you find that's the case too? David Byrne: Exactly. And I think people expect the artist to know what it is they're doing and I think it's almost the artist's duty not to know what they're doing. PJ Harvey: Absolutely because I think then, it's coming from the right place. It's just happening and you're letting it happen and it's not a real mental thing that you're having to make happen. You're just allowing this out and you don't understand it at the time. David Byrne: Yeah. And that's your job in a sense. PJ Harvey: I totally agree with that.
