Kieran Webber
Director and Founder of CLUNK Magazine, CLUNK Events, and other CLUNK affiliate businesses. You’ll probably find me tucked away somewhere sending emails, listening to music, and creating content.
James Petralli AKA White Denim chats about his twelfth studio album ’12’, the trials and tribulations of being a musician, and more!
I remember the first time I heard the groove laden rock sound of White Denim, it was back in 2016 and I’d just graduated University. I was a little lost in many ways and I discovered the album ‘Stiff’ almost by accident, within seconds of ‘Had To Know (personal)‘ I was hooked. The sultry, soulful vocals matched by the 70’s infused rock sound had be in a tailspin. Since then, White Denim has continued to develop his sound, as well as release countless other records. Today, he gears up to release his twelfth studio album, aptly titled ’12’. It again promises to deliver a velvety rock n roll sound that is reminiscent of Little Feat, The Travelling Wilburys and more.
We caught up with James Petralli (AKA White Denim) to discuss the new record, life as a musician (the good and bad), and much more!
Kieran: Hey! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us. We’re massive fans of your music, been listening since ‘Performance’, how’re things lately?
James: That is nice to hear. I’m glad you like the music. Things are good mostly-thanks for asking. Hope the same for you.
Kieran: How has your 2024 been treating you so far? Any highs? Any lows?
James: It has been a good year. My children are healthy and growing and I have not yet had to get a day job. There have been both highs and lows not unlike anyone else’s life. I feel lucky to be alive and have a house and a partner and my addictions and impulses mostly under control.
Kieran: It’s not long till your next LP ’12’ is out in the world. How are you feeling about this release?
James: I feel good about the music. I have delivered another work that is musically strong and texturally interesting. I think the poetry is improving as well. I think that the music industry and the culture around music is pretty awful and getting worse every year though. I love creating and pretty much despise everything that comes after that.
Kieran: Being 12 albums deep must feel pretty amazing! Did you ever think you’d be releasing music this consistently?
James: Yes. I am a person that is committed to the work. I will continue as long as doing so doesn’t jeopardize my well being.
Kieran: That’s also a lot of music, and I am curious to know how do you keep it fresh for yourself and the listener?
James: I am working to be confident enough to disregard the listener entirely. What I do is inherently generous and to think too much about what the listener wants is a tremendous disservice to them. I am the expert. It is my responsibility to give them an honest work to consider in order to help all of us grow together spiritually and emotionally. This intention keeps it fresh for me. There is so much to discover in life and music-if someone becomes bored in life it is not life’s responsibility to entertain them. One has to be proactive, curious, and willing to endure some discomfort in order to live a full life. There are millions and millions of half empty mother fuckers out there and I’m not trying to be one of them nor do I care particularly if they know about me and what I do.
Listen/watch a live performance of ‘We Can Move Along’ here:
Kieran: When heading into this album, did you have a specific vision or was it something that developed the more you played/jammed?
James: I just wanted to make more good work with good people. The mantra was “make it different, make it true”.
Kieran: Was there anything done differently for ’12’ in comparison to previous releases?
James: Yes, I engineered more of this one on my own.
Kieran: What are your favourite tracks from the album and why?
James: ‘Swinging Door’. This song is very complicated from an arrangement standpoint but maintains its nursery rhyme simplicity. I like it when music contains contrasting ideas that complement one another.
‘Light On’. I wrote this for my kids after we lost someone in our family. It’s a nice simple song played extremely well by musicians that have dedicated their lives to being incredible at what they do.
Kieran: Are you looking forward to playing them live?
James: Sure. The group is excellent and I love playing with them whenever possible. They are truly expert musicians and each of them is a very deep person. We have never been successful enough to bring our families with us on the road so it is bittersweet for me to tour. I love being with musicians but I miss my partner and children so much and the guilt of not being with them is at times unbearable. Touring is a huge personal sacrifice that we make and I am deeply resentful that it is the only way a musician can survive in the trade in this day and age. Every time someone sends me a link to a song on Spotify that ‘changed their life’ or ‘got them through some hard times’ it validates an aspect of what I’m trying to do but also reminds me of how I’ve been victimized and exploited in this industry for 20 years and there is seemingly no change coming.
Discover more from Clunk Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
You must be logged in to post a comment.