The most important thing in life is to be happy.
William Fitzsimmons knows this all too well. The songwriter has endured his fair share of heartache, while a job as a clinical psychologist exposed Fitzsimmons to the debilitating effects of mental illness.
Informed by his own battles with the mind’s more troubled moments, William Fitzsimmons released his new album ‘Gold In The Shadow’ earlier this year. An imposing figure, his stark songwriting was matched to honeyed tones and the odd electronic inflection which pulled the album away from traditional acoustic fare.
Returning to the UK for a one off show, ClashMusic cornered William Fitzsimmons to ask the songwriter about his literary influences.
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What is your favourite book and why?
If I had to choose only one, I’d say it’s probably ‘The Metamorphosis’ by Kafka. I’m not entirely sure why it edges out all the others, but I suppose with the number of rather large changes that I’ve had to endure over the last several years, Gregor’s ordeal is something which resonates pretty strongly. Certainly nothing to that extreme, but it’s felt like it from time to time.
What other authors do you like?
Orwell is probably my favourite author as far as a total catalog goes. But I spent so many years studying psychology that I spend a lot of time with Adler, Freud, and especially Jung. When I’m touring, however, that stuff is way too erudite, and I’ll switch to biographies or autobiographies, which tend to be much easier to pick up and put down; very helpful given the sporadic nature being on tour.
What draws you to certain books?
Disclosure. The level to which an author is willing to get into the deep shit that she wouldn’t want anyone else to know, but is willing to confess it broadly in writing, is the degree to which I’ll connect with and enjoy a piece. For that reason I tend to have a difficult time really pouring myself into fictional works for the most part, unless it’s something which is attempting to reveal something personal through another story.
Have you ever discovered a real lost classic? What is it and why?
Oh I still have so much ground to cover just in terms of hitting all the books which I should have already read, that I’m probably an awful person to ask about something most people wouldn’t know about. An incredible book which might be a little under the radar, though, would be “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat,” by Oliver Saks. It’s a bit dry in terms of style, but the subject matter is just mind-blowing. It’s basically Saks (who’s work the movie “Awakenings” was based on) detailing some of the more important and rare psycho-neurological and psychophysical illnesses he’s encountered and the treatments he’s used. It’s very sobering, but I think it’s a healthy thing to try to better understand the ways in which the mind and body can become ill and the ways it can be best mended.
Do your literary influences have a direct impact on your writing?
I think the subject matter has a much stronger influence than the style. The process of writing prose is so entirely different than the manner in which songs are written, that it’s a bit difficult to translate one into the other. In a way songwriting is a bit trickier, as you’re forced to say a great deal (or try to) in a very limited amount of words. Not that literary writing is easy by any stretch of course. But the affectivity that a brilliant writer is able to communicate is something which I’m always trying to be influenced by.
What are you reading at the moment?
I just finished reading “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer, about the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster. A terrifying true story but an amazing book. At the moment I’m reading Moby Dick and Prozac Nation while on tour. Doing two at the same time gives me the ability to pick one up depending on whether or not I’m in the mood for something quite sweeping and escape-granting, or something more raw and true to life.
What is the first book you remember reading as a child?
Honestly as bad as it sounds I can’t quite remember. Nearly all of the books we had in our house growing up were in braille as both of my parents are blind. I remember my mother reading to me all the time when I was young, but I can’t recall specifically what any of them were. The odds are it was a Bible story of something like that.
Did you make good use of your library card as a child/ teenager?
Absolutely. I wasn’t really all that social as a kid so I spent a lot of time with books and music. We had a great little library in the town I grew up in and lost a lot of days in there. Truth be told I probably read way more science fiction and fantasy (Tolkein, C.S. Lewis, Star Wars, etc…) than James Joyce, but those were great worlds to be lost in.
How do you think literature achieves timelessness?
By connecting with individuals in a potent and lasting way. By communicating at a deeper level than most of us are used to.
Do you read book reviews?
As someone that is involved in making some manner of art, which is then subsequently reviewed, I try to spend as little time as is possible with reviews of any sort. At best, I’m lead to a conclusion which I would have been better off finding out for myself, and, at worst, I’m prejudiced against (or towards) something which I would not have ideally been. I’m certainly not suggesting there is no value in criticism, but for me, I’m much happier to form an opinion entirely on my own.
Would you ever re-read the same book?
I would and have many times. Tolkien’s trilogy, Orwell’s books, even old textbooks. I don’t pretend to have the best memory, so I think if something is well worth it the first time through, it’s certainly worth another period of thought down the line as well.
Have you ever identified with a character in a book? Which one and why?
I’m going to let me nerd flag fly pretty heartily here, but it’d probably be someone like Pippin from Lord of the Rings. Somebody who seems to find a way to mess shit up pretty regularly. He ends up coming through pretty great in the end. I’m hoping I can find my way there.
Do you read one book at a time or more than one?
At home it’s almost always one at a time. I like to go on a marathon if I’m really into a book. Read it for hours at a time and digest it quickly. But on tour, it’s definitely a pick it up, put it down situation.
Is there an author/poet you would most like to collaborate with?
I think Dave Eggert is probably the most interesting and engaging author alive at the moment. He’s somebody I definitely would love to sit down and do some writing with. Or at the very least share a pint with.
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‘Gold In The Shadow’ is out now.
