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stay below 92 on the FM dial , and there ’ s always weird stuff , like college shows or foreign DJs playing random stuff . And you can find such a magical world of modern weirdness and classic unheard-of stuff . So you just listen to that and Shazam it , this world of magical music unknown to most people . But with Cult , we ’ ve kind of pared everything down on the label side . But Promised Land is this guy we have who ’ s really cool , and we ’ re putting out the Surf Borts record . But we ’ re doing less and less of that . It ’ s not that I don ’ t like doing it , but just working collaboratively , I prefer doing it with people I know , and who I know how to work with . Because it can basically go awry really easily , and if things go bad , it ’ s always your fault . I don ’ t know how music business people do it – it seems really hard .
IE : What do you know now that you didn ’ t get in the “ Is This It ” beginning ? JC : I guess what we were talking about earlier comes to mind – that continuing sober confidence inside you in this crazy world is much more powerful and important , gratifying and enjoyable than the short-cut party way . And I ’ m not saying this as some anti-drug PSA . But I guess people are in a little more control these days . And they might not even need that .
IE : You still can ’ t help thinking ‘ If only I had all the money back from my cocaineand-crack twenties . Holy crap , would I be rich !” JC : Yeah . But if you can learn to be that way without the drugs , you dig a lot fewer graves . I just wish the people I admired hadn ’ t glorified drugs . But you believe it and think , “ I like The Doors . So I need to drink a bottle of whiskey like Jim Morrison , then I can be The Doors .” And on some level , I get it . I ’ m human , and as a kid , you can think someone ’ s unattainable if they ’ re just sitting on a motorcycle , smoking a cigarette . But it ’ s the equivalent of playing Russian Roulette . He doesn ’ t fear anything , and that ’ s an admirable quality , and you ’ re drawn to those things . But then when it comes to your own life , you always end up taking the shortcuts . Maybe that ’ s the problem with the world today . That ’ s kind of ingrained in our society .
Appearing at Riot Fest in Chicago ' s Douglas Park . september 2018 illinoisentertainer . com 39