Circus-James Iha

Circus: So why did you release a solo album? Why not write some songs for the pumpkins?

Iha: The songwriting is more or less Billy's domain. The songs I wrote for the Smashing Pumpkins were mostly B-sides, if they ever made it that far. I harbored the idea for a solo album for quite a while and after out European tour last summer I decided that I should'nt wait any longer. Some of the songs on "Let It Come Down" were written a while ago but they werent on Mellon Collie because Billy didnt like them for the Smashing Pumpkins.

Cir: Billy Corgan didnt like them?

Iha: A pumpkins album basically consists of Billy's songs, hes the creative force of the Smashing Pumpkins. I guess my songs didnt fit into the concept of the album, maybe even the concept of the band. I loved the songs and I wanted them to see the light of day, so I made a solo album.

Cir: How did the band react? Were't they afraid that you might leave the Smashing Pumpkin?

Iha: That was never an issue, really, it was all about the songs. The pumpkins are my band and I'm still a member of the pumpkins. As a band we went through a lot I never wanted another band or wanted to have my own band, that was clear from the begining, it was really never planned as a side project. One of the reasons why I recorded the album with lots of diffrent musicians was, because I see myself mainly as a member of the Smashing Pumpkins.

Cir: From what you've told me, it sounds like Billy would rule the Smashing Pumpkins with an iron hand. Is he like a dictator?

Iha: (Laughs) No, he isnt a dictator, he's mostly responsible for the sound of the pumpkins, he defines our sound and thats OK. It there's a question that concerns the band, that concerns us all, then we all decide. I would rather call him the "supreme court". He doesent carry a whip or anything.

Cir: Thanks for clearing that up...

Iha: The Smashing Pumpkins are definitely a band of decisions that concern the band getting handled by all of us. But Billy sings and he was always the main songwriter. I think every band has its roles, jobs.. The songs Billy writes seem to work best for the Pumpkins and that's OK.

Cir: But still, your songs are very very diffrent from the songs the Smashing Pumpkins usually play.

Iha: I wrote the majority of the songs on an acoustic guitar, after I did that, I didnt want to change the charactar of the songs very much and I thought the traditional arrangements and insterments would work better with them. Piano, strings, all that seemed to fit the mood of the songs better than keyboards and trip-hop beats.

Cir: What inspired you to record an album like "Let It All Come Down"

Iha: I always liked that kind of songs, I always liked listening to albums from Neil Young or The Band, I like the quality of song writing, the way its produced. There's something warm about it, something that talks to you, its like a story, the songs tell a story.

Cir: Your line up of guest musicians on Let It Come Down, featuring Nina Gordan, of Veruca Salt, Matt Walker, D'Arcy, is more than impressive!

Iha: I always wanted to work with them, I like what they do and admire their musical abilities, it was great to work with them and I know Matt Walker from the time when he replaced Jimmy. It was great to work with all of them.

Cir: Since the Smashing Pumpkins sound is different, was it a reaction to the sound of the band?

Iha: I think so, in a way it surely was.... That doesent mean that I dont like the sound of the Pumpkins, dont get me wrong, I love it. But live we're pretty rock orientated. Loud guitars from massive amps... Its great, but if you're on tour and you come back to your hotel room, you dont want to hear anything loud, you dont want a massiva sound... Ive never been an aggressive person, so I came back to the hotel room and wrote a couple of love songs. It just happened and Let It Come Down is the result.

Cir: Were you in love when you wrote the songs?

Iha: I am in a relationship and it's a great relationship, but I dont think that influenced the songs. I just thought my voice would go better with those kind of songs.
I also dont think you've got to be in love to listen to the songs, as long as you're not angry you can enjoy them. In case you're angry, well the songs will calm you down or get you more angry and you smash the CD... Sounds like an interesting concept, maybe I should try the theory out....

Cir: How does Billy like Let It Come Down?

Iha: I think he likes the songs. He's pretty busy with his own songs and the recording kept him busy for weeks and months.

Cir: Any idea how the new SP album is going to sound like?

Iha: I think its too early for that... I think it would not be an acoustic album, but I also doubt that it will be a rock or electronic album. More or less a combination, a mix from all of it. I think it will definitely show another side of Billy's song writing.

Cir: Do you think your own album influenced the SP sound in any way?

Iha: Billy will stay the major songwriter of the Pumpkins, he'll be responsible for the song writing, but I think I made enough experiences with my own album - especially where producing is concered - that I might be able to do more than just playing my guitar parts.

Cir: The Pumpkins went through a rough year in 96'.

Iha: That's true and it influenced us, it influenced me and Let It Come Down and I think it will influence the new SP album. We started working to suppress what happened, that's a very human reaction and as a musician you express yourself though your music.
1996 was a very rough year for us, we had a lot of success but some things that happened.. I think we rather have sold less records, had less fame, if we could avioded the deaths of Bernadette (the fan who was crushed in moshpit in Dublin) and Jonathan. But life doesen't work that way, you can't foresee things and you can't reverse things.