The New Cue #499 June 9: Ty Segall
"You could never pay me enough money to get in a hot air balloon."
Hello there,
Let’s start the week in the front seat of a car racing across Topanga, California, with the hardest-working musician in Los Angeles, psych warlord Ty Segall, his wife Denée and their two-year old daughter in the back seat. The trio are off to finalise a house sale, but as Denée drives, Ty will answer our Life & Times questions.
Friday before last, Ty Segall released his 17th album in as many years, Possession, a sharp-focussed collection of poppy, high-powered psychedelic rock. He is bemused to be asked what he puts his prolific work-rate down to. “I don't know, that's a funny question,” he replies, initially through the car’s stereo as his bluetooth automatically connects. “I guess it's a compulsion. It's like a painter, you know. I get in the studio, I throw paint around, I see what happens.” And every twelve months a new album appears. Have a listen to Possession as you read Ty’s answers.
And maybe watch this video of My Best Friend, which came out in January 2024 and may well have been filmed in the house Ty was selling while on the phone to me.
Enjoy the edition, please. I hope to announce an Oasis-themed event this week if I can get organised by Wednesday, otherwise it’ll definitely be Friday. Keep ‘em peeled.
Ted and Niall,
The Life & Times Of…Ty Segall
What was the first record you loved?
I guess the first record that I really, really loved, became obsessed with, was Abbey Road. You know, classic thing. It was a cassette tape, I had a Walkman, I was maybe nine. There was lots of music I loved before then, but that was the first record that it was, like, my record.
And the last?
That's a harder question because I love records all the time. Something that I over-played and I had to stop playing was the Doechii record. That record's insane. It's just raw, nasty, the beats are insane, and she's amazing.
What is your earliest memory?
Oh boy, these are good questions. I think being at my grandma's house and being in the backyard. It's not like I have some nice memory of my mom giving me a kiss or something like that. That ain't me.
What is your daily domestic routine?
Well, my wife and I trade off sleeping in and waking up with our daughter, who is two. Depending on the day, I'm waking up and giving my daughter breakfast and then going out in the garden and drawing with chalk, walking around, playing games. Then sometimes I have a project I’ve got to do in the studio. Or, you know, maybe it's a chill day, I get to go to the park, eat a burrito or something like that.
Who or what is the love of your life?
Yeah, my daughter. Oh, sorry, and my wife, of course.
What's your worst habit?
I like candy a lot. And I'm a worrier. I'm kind of worrying a lot, all the time. My whole life I’ve been working on not worrying and living more in the moment.
When were you most creatively satisfied?
I don't think I operate like that. I don't really think of things as being satisfying in that sense. I think I've been creatively satisfied for a while, but I'm a pretty restless person when it comes to that. I haven't gotten to the point where I'm like, I'm satisfied.
Has anyone you've met ever made you feel starstruck?
Robyn Hitchcock. It was some festival, he was just there, and so I just had to say something. ‘You’re one of my favourites.’ ‘Thank you so much.’ He was nice, but it's that classic thing where I'm just some random dude and probably ruining his lunch.
Oh, you know? We just ran into Ad Rock of Beasties Boys at the grocery store! Our daughter loves Intergalactic and so I was, like, ‘Hey man!’, and he was so nice. He was buying a watermelon.
Who or what is the greatest influence on your work?
I think my wife is. I mean, she's my partner, and we have a hive mind, and she's very much been my creative partner. I'm always bouncing things off of her and getting her opinion. She's a harsh critic, but that’s good. Not to get too corny or anything.
What do you wish the 18-year-old you knew?
I've gotten really wrapped up in my head, and I've been really stressed. I haven't enjoyed certain things because of what's been going on in my head. So, if I could go back, I’d just reiterate and stress the importance of enjoying the moment and not letting some stuff that isn't really real or you shouldn't worry about effect living in the moment.
What one book would you recommend we read?
I haven't read in a long time. Let me think. I just got it: Moby Dick. I gotta read it again. I like the collected stories of Philip K Dick, yeah, all those volumes. But see, this is a hard question: what's the most mind blowing, life affirming novel that'll change your mind. That's a pretty heavy thing, because I'm the kind of person that feels like there isn't one book that would do what I want to do to people. But one book can be a gateway to other books, I guess. Philip K Dick, sure, that's a that's a good gateway and the more the modern world progresses into actual, real science fiction maybe it's more poignant because these ideas and themes are now becoming more real.
What was the home you grew up in like?
I'd say it was pretty chaotic. Chaos and let’s leave it at that
What's the best advice you've ever been given?
Being kind seems to be the thing that I go back to. Someone told me once it's better to be kind than right, and that's a complicated phrase, but I think that the world would be a better place if people were just kind instead of right.
What's the secret to a happy relationship?
Being willing to change and being open. It's standard, human stuff there.
Can you cook - what's your signature dish?
I think I'm kind of a chaos chef. I throw the whole kitchen sink in the kitchen sink. My favourite dish is my ceviche. I'm also famous for my Fettuccine Alfredo. Man, it's like you can't even have plans the rest of the night - and the next day too. You'll be done.
What is your desert island disc?
Ah man, oh man...I'd have to cheat and do something like a box set or something. Maybe The Beatles In Mono. I got all of the Beatles records. I cheated and I rigged the system.
On what occasion do you lie?
When it's better to be kind than right.
Have you ever been arrested?
No!
Do you have any phobias?
Now I know I can die, I don’t like flying. I think heights is the main thing. You could never pay me enough money to get in a hot air balloon. I'd much rather scuba dive in a cage with sharks around me, and I wouldn’t love that.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Walking on stilts? That would be cool at a party, pick up my stilts and get on up. What talent would I most like to have? Mind reader. Another good party trick.