where we ’ re at — people can look at that and make an informed decision . So I guess what I ’ m trying to

spaces . So it was crazy , fortuitous timing for all kinds of things . Like that song “ Goodbye Year , Goodbye ” — John had that for quite a while , about a year . So it wasn ’ t like we wrote all these songs all of a sudden — these are old writings that have been turned into new writings , new music . And it came out really good , I think . We ’ re very happy with it . It was just a perfect lucky moment there . IE : And you ’ re not a fan of social

say is , nobody really knows what ’ s going on or what to think , and even though we know it ’ s bad , we just don ’ t know where it ’ s headed . So it ’ s kind of tough .

IE : But none of Alphabetland resulted from this situation . EC : No . And some of the writing goes back 20 or 30 years . There are things that I wrote down that I turned into songs , then worked on and had a melody I was singing , and then I handed it over to John ( Doe , bassist / covocalist ), and he put bass on it and then helped me fill in all the empty

media . EC : I ’ m not on social media , so I don ’ t hear as much news , and I don ’ t know what some other people might know . I ’ m kind of sticking to a very small group of people that I intermittently hang out with . And that ’ s the thing — some people forget to tell you stuff if you ’ re not on ( social media ), so you ’ ll eventually find out about certain things , but not always in a timely fashion . But that ’ s okay . But I think we ’ ve kind of lost our veneer as a civilization — over the last few years ; it ’ s thinned considerably . So I think it ’ s actually much more important just to be a good person , keep to yourself , try to make

X , 1981

better changes in the world , be supportive of others , and not get too pulled into the whole online thing . And do it with no negative thoughts — that ’ s the other thing . And it ’ s tough to do sometimes .

IE : Are you telling me that I , ahem , must not think bad thoughts ? EC : Yes ! And if I have to tell you , then that means that you already are . But basically , I ’ m just saying that you have to concentrate your efforts on what you actually have control over , which can be painful , too , at times .

IE : Listening to Alphabetland — and watching your ex-husband Viggo Mortensen in the amazing filmGreen Book — it ’ s great to see artists doing some of their best work after many years in the profession . EC : Yeah . And I did see that movie But that was always hoping what would be the case , so you should never give in to that feeling that you can ’ t do your best work past a certain age . Of course , you can . You can do your best work at any point in life .

IE : Speaking of movies , the TCM channel showed summer concert