John Cale, Ever Restless, Keeps Moving Out of His Comfort Zone

The legendary musician and avant-garde royalty, John Cale, continues to push boundaries and create new music, even at the age of 81.

John Cale, a Welsh musician, producer, and founding member of The Velvet Underground, has had a profound impact on experimental music in the late 20th century. With a career spanning decades, Cale has collaborated with and produced for numerous artists, including Nico, The Modern Lovers, Patti Smith, and David Byrne. Despite his influential past, Cale remains restless and continues to explore new musical territories. His most recent album, “Mercy,” released earlier this year, showcases his willingness to collaborate with a diverse range of artists and experiment with different genres.

Collaborations on “Mercy” showcase Cale’s openness to creative exploration

Cale’s album, “Mercy,” features collaborations with artists such as Weyes Blood, Sylvan Esso, and Animal Collective. In an interview with All Things Considered host Juana Summers, Cale explained that he wanted to work with these specific artists because they brought their own unique atmosphere to the tracks. He allowed them to express themselves freely, resulting in a diverse range of emotions and performances. Cale praised Weyes Blood’s deep and emotional voice, Animal Collective’s multi-voice personality, and Sylvan Esso’s harmonizing style. The serendipitous nature of some of these collaborations further highlights Cale’s openness to unexpected creative opportunities.

Embracing hip-hop and unconventional songwriting approaches

Cale expressed his admiration for hip-hop and its unconventional approaches to songwriting. He sees hip-hop as the avant-garde of today, pushing boundaries and challenging traditional song structures. Cale appreciates the lively and creative nature of hip-hop, which disregards the usual trappings of solos and embraces unconventional emotions. By embracing hip-hop influences, Cale demonstrates his willingness to incorporate diverse genres and push himself beyond his own musical precedents.

The importance of pushing boundaries and embracing discomfort

Cale believes in pushing himself out of his comfort zone to find new solutions and ideas. He emphasizes the importance of not giving up when faced with creative challenges, urging artists to work through the process and allow their audience to be their friend. Cale’s mantra is to embrace discomfort and trust that something will happen to lead to a solution. This mindset has allowed him to continuously evolve as an artist and explore new territories throughout his career.

Conclusion:

John Cale’s relentless pursuit of creative exploration and collaboration sets him apart as a legendary musician. At 81 years old, he continues to push boundaries and create music that defies expectations. His recent album, “Mercy,” showcases his openness to new ideas and willingness to work with a diverse range of artists. Cale’s ability to embrace discomfort and seek new solutions serves as an inspiration for artists in all disciplines. As he embarks on future endeavors, it is clear that John Cale’s restless spirit will continue to shape and influence the music industry for years to come.

Learn more:

To listen to the full interview with John Cale conducted by Juana Summers, produced by Noah Caldwell, and edited by Sarah Handel, visit [link to the interview]. “Mercy” is now available for streaming and purchase on various platforms.