Chords for Eliot Sumner - SXSW 2016 Interview
Tempo:
102.4 bpm
Chords used:
G
B
A
F#
Em
Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret
Start Jamming...
What's up everybody?
This is Tommy Cleaves from Austin Underground and I'm here at South
By Southwest with Elliot Sumner.
Elliot, how are you doing?
I'm doing great, thank you.
How are you?
Excellent, I'm excellent.
So you have a pretty busy week here at South By.
You're about halfway
through your run of shows.
Tell me how it's been going.
We've been having the best time.
It's our first experience of South By and I love the
city of Austin.
Yeah, but it's been very intense.
It's quite overwhelming.
But yeah, the best
way to deal with that is just to kind of experience it.
We've just been splitting up and doing
our own thing really.
Have there been any South By moments, either on or off stage, that have really stood out
to you from this week?
Yes, but I don't remember details, which is probably a good thing.
That's the way South By is meant to be.
No details, you just know it's a good time.
So I want to talk a little bit about your journey as a musician, because I think it's
a really interesting and cool one.
So about six years ago you released your first album
under the band name I Blame Coco.
And since then you've taken a few years off, at least
from making music.
I read you lived on your own in complete isolation with just your dog
for five months.
You renamed the band to your name, Elliot Sumner.
And you released a new
album at the beginning of this year, 2016.
So tell me a bit about how that journey, how
it came to be, and how it shaped the artist you are today.
I mean, yeah, that was probably the last five years you described.
It was on Wikipedia.
It was, yeah, the South By bio.
Oh, I see, yeah.
Yeah, I moved to the Lake District, which is the area that's wedged
between England and Scotland.
It's a bit like living in Game of Thrones.
It's very isolating,
very dark, quite bleak, but it's insanely beautiful.
And I moved there with my dog that
[B] Yeah, the dog was kind of there [G] to give me a [N] routine every day so I didn't go completely
insane.
You know, you've got to walk the dog, feed the dog.
And then, yeah, so I have a
schedule.
And then I just started writing songs every day.
It was kind of like my purgatory.
How did having a musical family, an artistic family, help you during this purgatory time
where you're kind of writing music and searching for yourself as a musician?
I think, yeah, like growing up when I was younger, I mean, those instruments were very
accessible.
So, yeah, I picked up guitar very quickly when I was about [Em] four.
I wasn't very
good when I was that age.
It was terrible, obviously.
But, yeah, I just, I liked to make noise.
Congratulations, you played Jimmy Kimmel not too long ago.
Amazing performance.
Oh, thank you.
Yeah, yeah, I really enjoyed that.
So as an artist from the UK, what does it mean to have
played, you know, on a national television show here in America?
It was the most terrifying experience I've ever had.
[G] But, [B] yeah, the ultimate buzz, I
think.
It was so much fun.
And I got a guy called [C#] Tobias who's a really amazing lighting
[A] guy to do lights.
And, yeah, I was really happy.
Yeah, the lights were insane.
Awesome.
Okay, so from what I've seen, you know, on social media and the tour diary,
three-part tour diary you posted, you and your band enjoy being on the road.
You have
a good time.
We do.
Yeah, so I want to ask you, what is your favorite and least favorite thing about tour life?
Of course, excluding playing live shows, because I think that's the obvious favorite.
I love touring.
I mean, I think I'm physically built for touring.
Yeah, we all are.
We have
the best time.
[G] I think we make each other laugh.
It's quite an excessive lifestyle we
lead.
But, yeah, going home is the hard part.
Like, just kind of adjusting back to reality
[F#] is the [Dm] bad part of touring.
And you have a bit of a break coming up where you're going to be going home after South
By.
What are you planning on doing in your free time?
What's next for Elliot Sumner?
[Bm]
Well, yeah, we have a little bit of a break, and [A] then we're going to come back to the U.S.
in May and June [G] for a much larger extended tour, which I'm really looking forward to.
[Am] Good deal.
Good deal.
Yeah, we're looking forward to it [F#] too.
[B] Thank you so much for talking
to us.
Good luck at the
This is Tommy Cleaves from Austin Underground and I'm here at South
By Southwest with Elliot Sumner.
Elliot, how are you doing?
I'm doing great, thank you.
How are you?
Excellent, I'm excellent.
So you have a pretty busy week here at South By.
You're about halfway
through your run of shows.
Tell me how it's been going.
We've been having the best time.
It's our first experience of South By and I love the
city of Austin.
Yeah, but it's been very intense.
It's quite overwhelming.
But yeah, the best
way to deal with that is just to kind of experience it.
We've just been splitting up and doing
our own thing really.
Have there been any South By moments, either on or off stage, that have really stood out
to you from this week?
Yes, but I don't remember details, which is probably a good thing.
That's the way South By is meant to be.
No details, you just know it's a good time.
So I want to talk a little bit about your journey as a musician, because I think it's
a really interesting and cool one.
So about six years ago you released your first album
under the band name I Blame Coco.
And since then you've taken a few years off, at least
from making music.
I read you lived on your own in complete isolation with just your dog
for five months.
You renamed the band to your name, Elliot Sumner.
And you released a new
album at the beginning of this year, 2016.
So tell me a bit about how that journey, how
it came to be, and how it shaped the artist you are today.
I mean, yeah, that was probably the last five years you described.
It was on Wikipedia.
It was, yeah, the South By bio.
Oh, I see, yeah.
Yeah, I moved to the Lake District, which is the area that's wedged
between England and Scotland.
It's a bit like living in Game of Thrones.
It's very isolating,
very dark, quite bleak, but it's insanely beautiful.
And I moved there with my dog that
[B] Yeah, the dog was kind of there [G] to give me a [N] routine every day so I didn't go completely
insane.
You know, you've got to walk the dog, feed the dog.
And then, yeah, so I have a
schedule.
And then I just started writing songs every day.
It was kind of like my purgatory.
How did having a musical family, an artistic family, help you during this purgatory time
where you're kind of writing music and searching for yourself as a musician?
I think, yeah, like growing up when I was younger, I mean, those instruments were very
accessible.
So, yeah, I picked up guitar very quickly when I was about [Em] four.
I wasn't very
good when I was that age.
It was terrible, obviously.
But, yeah, I just, I liked to make noise.
Congratulations, you played Jimmy Kimmel not too long ago.
Amazing performance.
Oh, thank you.
Yeah, yeah, I really enjoyed that.
So as an artist from the UK, what does it mean to have
played, you know, on a national television show here in America?
It was the most terrifying experience I've ever had.
[G] But, [B] yeah, the ultimate buzz, I
think.
It was so much fun.
And I got a guy called [C#] Tobias who's a really amazing lighting
[A] guy to do lights.
And, yeah, I was really happy.
Yeah, the lights were insane.
Awesome.
Okay, so from what I've seen, you know, on social media and the tour diary,
three-part tour diary you posted, you and your band enjoy being on the road.
You have
a good time.
We do.
Yeah, so I want to ask you, what is your favorite and least favorite thing about tour life?
Of course, excluding playing live shows, because I think that's the obvious favorite.
I love touring.
I mean, I think I'm physically built for touring.
Yeah, we all are.
We have
the best time.
[G] I think we make each other laugh.
It's quite an excessive lifestyle we
lead.
But, yeah, going home is the hard part.
Like, just kind of adjusting back to reality
[F#] is the [Dm] bad part of touring.
And you have a bit of a break coming up where you're going to be going home after South
By.
What are you planning on doing in your free time?
What's next for Elliot Sumner?
[Bm]
Well, yeah, we have a little bit of a break, and [A] then we're going to come back to the U.S.
in May and June [G] for a much larger extended tour, which I'm really looking forward to.
[Am] Good deal.
Good deal.
Yeah, we're looking forward to it [F#] too.
[B] Thank you so much for talking
to us.
Good luck at the
Key:
G
B
A
F#
Em
G
B
A
What's up everybody?
This is Tommy Cleaves from Austin Underground and I'm here at South
By Southwest with Elliot Sumner.
Elliot, how are you doing?
I'm doing great, thank you.
How are you?
Excellent, I'm excellent.
So you have a pretty busy week here at South By.
You're about halfway
through your run of shows.
Tell me how it's been going.
We've been having the best time.
It's our first experience of South By and I love the
city of Austin. _ _
_ Yeah, but it's been very intense.
It's quite overwhelming. _
But yeah, the best
way to deal with that is just to kind of experience it.
We've just been splitting up and doing
our own thing really.
Have there been any South By moments, either on or off stage, that have really stood out
to you from this week? _ _
_ _ _ _ Yes, but I don't remember details, which is probably a good thing.
That's the way South By is meant to be.
No details, you just know it's a good time.
So I want to talk a little bit about your journey as a musician, because I think it's
a really interesting and cool one.
So about six years ago you released your first album
under the band name I Blame Coco.
And since then you've taken a few years off, at least
from making music.
I read you lived on your own in complete isolation with just your dog
for five months.
You renamed the band to your name, Elliot Sumner. _
And you released a new
album at the beginning of this year, 2016.
So tell me a bit about how that journey, how
it came to be, and how it shaped the artist you are today.
I mean, yeah, that was probably the last five years you described.
It was on Wikipedia.
It was, yeah, the South By bio.
Oh, I see, yeah.
Yeah, I moved to the Lake District, which is the area that's wedged
between England and Scotland.
It's a bit like living in Game of Thrones.
It's very isolating,
very dark, quite bleak, but it's insanely beautiful.
_ And I moved there with my dog that_
[B] Yeah, the dog was kind of there [G] to give me a [N] routine every day so I didn't go completely
insane.
_ _ You know, you've got to walk the dog, feed the dog.
And then, yeah, so I have a
schedule.
And then I just started writing songs every day.
It was kind of like my purgatory.
How did having a musical family, an artistic family, help you during this purgatory time
where you're kind of writing music and searching for yourself as a musician?
_ I think, yeah, like growing up when I was younger, I mean, those _ instruments were very
accessible.
So, yeah, I picked up guitar very quickly when I was about [Em] four.
I wasn't very
good when I was that age.
It was terrible, obviously.
_ _ But, yeah, I just, I liked to make noise.
Congratulations, you played Jimmy Kimmel not too long ago.
Amazing performance.
Oh, thank you.
Yeah, yeah, I really enjoyed that.
So as an artist from the UK, what does it mean to have
played, you know, on a national television show here in America?
It was the most terrifying experience I've ever had.
_ [G] But, _ [B] _ yeah, the ultimate buzz, I
think.
It was so much fun.
And I got a guy called [C#] Tobias who's a really amazing lighting
[A] guy to do lights.
And, yeah, I was really happy.
Yeah, the lights were insane.
Awesome.
Okay, so from what I've seen, you know, on social media and the tour diary,
three-part tour diary you posted, you and your band enjoy being on the road.
You have
a good time.
We do.
Yeah, so I want to ask you, what is your favorite and least favorite thing about tour life?
Of course, excluding playing live shows, because I think that's the obvious favorite.
_ I love touring.
I mean, I think _ I'm physically built for touring.
Yeah, we all are.
We have
the best time.
[G] I think we make each other laugh.
It's quite an excessive lifestyle we
lead.
But, _ yeah, going home is the hard part.
Like, just kind of adjusting back to reality
[F#] is the [Dm] bad part of touring.
And you have a bit of a break coming up where you're going to be going home after South
By. _
What are you planning on doing in your free time?
What's next for Elliot Sumner?
[Bm]
Well, yeah, we have a little bit of a break, and [A] then we're going to come back to the U.S.
in May and June [G] _ for a much larger extended tour, which I'm really looking forward to.
[Am] Good deal.
Good deal.
Yeah, we're looking forward to it [F#] too.
[B] Thank you so much for talking
to us.
Good luck at the
This is Tommy Cleaves from Austin Underground and I'm here at South
By Southwest with Elliot Sumner.
Elliot, how are you doing?
I'm doing great, thank you.
How are you?
Excellent, I'm excellent.
So you have a pretty busy week here at South By.
You're about halfway
through your run of shows.
Tell me how it's been going.
We've been having the best time.
It's our first experience of South By and I love the
city of Austin. _ _
_ Yeah, but it's been very intense.
It's quite overwhelming. _
But yeah, the best
way to deal with that is just to kind of experience it.
We've just been splitting up and doing
our own thing really.
Have there been any South By moments, either on or off stage, that have really stood out
to you from this week? _ _
_ _ _ _ Yes, but I don't remember details, which is probably a good thing.
That's the way South By is meant to be.
No details, you just know it's a good time.
So I want to talk a little bit about your journey as a musician, because I think it's
a really interesting and cool one.
So about six years ago you released your first album
under the band name I Blame Coco.
And since then you've taken a few years off, at least
from making music.
I read you lived on your own in complete isolation with just your dog
for five months.
You renamed the band to your name, Elliot Sumner. _
And you released a new
album at the beginning of this year, 2016.
So tell me a bit about how that journey, how
it came to be, and how it shaped the artist you are today.
I mean, yeah, that was probably the last five years you described.
It was on Wikipedia.
It was, yeah, the South By bio.
Oh, I see, yeah.
Yeah, I moved to the Lake District, which is the area that's wedged
between England and Scotland.
It's a bit like living in Game of Thrones.
It's very isolating,
very dark, quite bleak, but it's insanely beautiful.
_ And I moved there with my dog that_
[B] Yeah, the dog was kind of there [G] to give me a [N] routine every day so I didn't go completely
insane.
_ _ You know, you've got to walk the dog, feed the dog.
And then, yeah, so I have a
schedule.
And then I just started writing songs every day.
It was kind of like my purgatory.
How did having a musical family, an artistic family, help you during this purgatory time
where you're kind of writing music and searching for yourself as a musician?
_ I think, yeah, like growing up when I was younger, I mean, those _ instruments were very
accessible.
So, yeah, I picked up guitar very quickly when I was about [Em] four.
I wasn't very
good when I was that age.
It was terrible, obviously.
_ _ But, yeah, I just, I liked to make noise.
Congratulations, you played Jimmy Kimmel not too long ago.
Amazing performance.
Oh, thank you.
Yeah, yeah, I really enjoyed that.
So as an artist from the UK, what does it mean to have
played, you know, on a national television show here in America?
It was the most terrifying experience I've ever had.
_ [G] But, _ [B] _ yeah, the ultimate buzz, I
think.
It was so much fun.
And I got a guy called [C#] Tobias who's a really amazing lighting
[A] guy to do lights.
And, yeah, I was really happy.
Yeah, the lights were insane.
Awesome.
Okay, so from what I've seen, you know, on social media and the tour diary,
three-part tour diary you posted, you and your band enjoy being on the road.
You have
a good time.
We do.
Yeah, so I want to ask you, what is your favorite and least favorite thing about tour life?
Of course, excluding playing live shows, because I think that's the obvious favorite.
_ I love touring.
I mean, I think _ I'm physically built for touring.
Yeah, we all are.
We have
the best time.
[G] I think we make each other laugh.
It's quite an excessive lifestyle we
lead.
But, _ yeah, going home is the hard part.
Like, just kind of adjusting back to reality
[F#] is the [Dm] bad part of touring.
And you have a bit of a break coming up where you're going to be going home after South
By. _
What are you planning on doing in your free time?
What's next for Elliot Sumner?
[Bm]
Well, yeah, we have a little bit of a break, and [A] then we're going to come back to the U.S.
in May and June [G] _ for a much larger extended tour, which I'm really looking forward to.
[Am] Good deal.
Good deal.
Yeah, we're looking forward to it [F#] too.
[B] Thank you so much for talking
to us.
Good luck at the