Jack White on Perfectionism

The Guardian: What life lessons did you take from working in the upholstery business?

Jack White: Well, from Brian's shop it was perfectionism to the hilt – to the last nail and the last tack. He's got it down to the last wrinkle. And I just recently rebuilt my shop in Nashville, so I've got it back going again. But I learned to take a step back from perfectionism: that there's beauty in not achieving it. The pursuit of it is interesting, but the actual achieving of it can be a disaster at times – especially with technology, and the sounds that come from trying to achieve perfect recording. There's a balance going on there. I'm glad I had perfectionism in the mix, because I think a lot of artists don't get that in the mix. Like, if you come up through punk you think: "Well, I can just do anything – and it's punk!" But if you have a mix of that with the perfectionist side, then something interesting can happen.

Read the full interview at The Guardian.

The Name and the Meaning: Pregnancy Scares

"I came up with the name because I thought it fit the music well. We wanted to write loud, nasty music that makes you just wish it was over. It’s a name that immediately bums you out, but I see a glimmer of hope at the end. A pregnancy scare implies that it was just that. A scare. It was a momentary fear, a sense of panic, but in the end everything is fine."

 - Emmanuel Sayer, Pregnancy Scares bassist

I dig it. Read the full interview by White Lung singer Mish Way at Vice.com.

"Serious Jibber-Jabber" with Conan O'Brien Featuring Jack White

Watch Conan O'Brien's 75-minute interview with Jack White in which they discuss gender dynamics in artistic collaboration, the romance of the Titanic, Jack's relationship with Bob Dylan, Catholicism, U.S. history, comedy, upholstery, work ethic, inspiration, the perils of technology on creativity and consumption of art and more:

The Best Compilation Album I've Heard in a While

Various Artists - Strange Passion: Explorations in Irish Post-Punk DIY and Electronic Music 1980-83

Since I can only name two musical acts from Ireland off the top of my head (Imelda May and U2, and I only like the former), and I've never associated Ireland with any musical scene or movement beyond Irish folk music, this compilation is great and totally eye-opening. Plus, it's post-punk and electronic music. All the better! Here's a brief interview by Fact Magazine with the compilation's curator Darren McCreesh in which he touches on Ireland's underground music history and shares a few tracks, some of which appear on Strange Passion.

Interview: Pete International Airport

Great interview with the Dandy Warhols' guitarist Pete "International Airport" Holmstrom by the Portland Mercury.

It's always interesting to hear form Pete. I've always considered him the silent, most level-headed Dandy, and his opinions on the Dandy Warhols' recent material and his sentiments towards the band's creative process proves it. It's good to see that at least one member of the Dandy Warhols hasn't been down with the band's last two albums and thinks that having all the time and digital tools in the world to create is not necessarily a luxury. Hopefully, the Dandy Warhols will follow Pete's prescription for their future albums.

Pete International Airport releases his debut self-titled solo album on September 21 via Custom Made Music.