With someone as prolific as Superchunk leader and Merge Records co-owner Mac McCaughan, it’s hard to believe that he ever has any trouble creating the music that he wants to hear. But with his newest solo album The Sound of Yourself, McCaughan has created an album that combines the elements we all know and love from his beloved band, the synth pop influence from his 2015 solo album Non-Believers, and the textural experimentation he explored with his recent collaborative albums with musician Marry Lattimore.
McCaughan joined me over zoom a few weeks back to discuss the influences behind The Sound Of Yourself and what it was like returning to the road in support of it. We also talk about the 20th anniversary of Superchunk’s often overlooked masterpiece Here’s To Shutting Up and his memories around the band’s decision to take an extended break after its release. Of course, we also discussed Merge Records, his feelings on the vinyl shortage and a possible resurgence in the popularity of CDS, soundtracking film, one special night that Superchunk played with Guided By Voices and so much more.
Previous Episodes of In Conversation:
- Marissa Nadler
- The Beths
- Hand Habits
- Deerhoof
- Bush Tetras
- Full of Hell
- Tropical Fuck Storm
- Caleb Landry Jones
- Chubby & the Gang
- Museum of Love
- Anika
- Cassandra Jenkins
- Steve Turner of Mudhoney
- Alexis Marshall of Daughters
- Current Joys
- Tom Scharpling
- Sarah Lund of Unwound
- Genghis Tron
- Ben Swank of Third Man Records
- The Men
- Rick Maguire of Pile
- Damien Jurado
- Slim Moon of Kill Rock Stars
- Caveh Zahedi