The prolific singer songwriter Rufus Wainwright is tickling the ivories in Chicago this week to the tune of his sixth album, All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu. He spoke frankly and thoughtfully to Windy City Times about his recent endeavors.
Windy City Times: So, let's talk about the new album. It was made for Robert Wilson with the Berliner Ensemble?
Rufus Wainwright: I mean the sonnets were, yes. Not the whole album.
WCT: OK, so you go to do your own thing and do the sonnets too?
Rufus Wainwright: Yes, this album was a cross-section of many aspects of my life. Whether it is the project I do with Robert Wilson or my opera or my own personal dealings. So, it is sort of a snap shot of Rufus of very very intense yet fruitful times.
WCT: Yes, so you have written an opera. Would you ever want to write a musical?
Rufus Wainwright: I had many offers and it would certainly be a good idea financially because there is such a machine behind a hit musical that pays off significantly for everyone involved. So, I'm eyeing that prospect for sure.
WCT: I like your song "The Dream." Can you talk a little bit more about that?
Rufus Wainwright: Well, "The Dream" is an interesting song. I initially wrote it with this theatrical vision in mind and part of this element dedicated to Lulu. I thought of this character that Louise Brooks plays in this silent film from the '20s and I had this vision of her being in the film dead and in a man's arms and the gentleman singing about her. That's sort of how I wrote the song. Now, the more I sing it the more it permeates into my consciousness. I'm struck on how it's just a plain song about my mother and I. It's very much about us.
WCT: And very emotional, I am sure.
Rufus Wainwright: Yes.
WCT: You got to finally write a your song for your sister Martha?
Rufus Wainwright: Yes, she's fantastic.
WCT: Is she going to be on the tour with you?
Rufus Wainwright: Yes, she's coming on tour. She's opening for me in Chicago. She's amazing. She's doing her own work, such as working on her own songs and raising her first son. So, she's become Wonder Woman.
WCT: What's this live show going to be like? Is it acoustic?
Rufus Wainwright: It's just the piano and me. The first section of the show is the new album and it's performed as a song cycle. It's very dark, very depressing. There are amazing visuals by Douglas Gordon and I'm also wearing a beautiful outfit by Zaldy who designs costumes for Lady Gaga. It's very dramatic and dark and I ask for no applause. It's done as full cycle and then second half I come out and it's bright and cheery. I sing all of the old songs and have a fun party. Night and day, you know? Like my life…
WCT: So, you're going to have all the banter? I love it when you talk to the crowds.
Rufus Wainwright: Yeah, but that'll happen in the second half. No banter in the first half.
WCT: There's something about you that reminds me of the classical piano player Franz Liszt.
Rufus Wainwright: Well, yeah, that's a great compliment. He's sort of an Elvis of his day.
WCT: He just comes sweeping in with his capes and I can just see you doing that with a big long cape. How's everything going with your boyfriend?
Rufus Wainwright: Everything's great. We bought this house on the ocean in Long Island and we are just planted a bed of roses. So, we are up with the birds watering things and making tea and I have coffee. We just enjoy the good life for a few seconds and then I'm ripped onto tour bus.
WCT: So, he doesn't go with you out on the tours?
Rufus Wainwright: No, he has job. He has to work.
WCT: Well I'm happy for you with him. And I heard you kind of changed your opinion on gay marriage and all of that because of your relationship.
Rufus Wainwright: Yeah, I'm in a position now where gay marriage can be very useful in terms of granting my boyfriend American citizenship. So, we are at this crossroads where it can be practical but I'm still not rushing to the altar by any means. I do feel some sort of trepidation, you know, homosexuals becoming too straightified. I think there are some things we should try to hang on to. There's some things that we have inherited because we've been under wraps for so long and it's I believe in that as well. I do think there's some middle ground that we can get to and create our own some invention of what marriage is but a part of it as to be legal, too.
WTC: Your soundtracks are where I first discovered you. Do you have more coming out?
Rufus Wainwright: Nothing at the moment. I just been so occupied with this opera and I'm also, in November premiering five of the six Shakespeare sonnets with the San Francisco Symphony. I'll be singing that with them. I'm orchestrating all the time. So, I would love to go back and do some film work, that'll be great.
WCT: You're playing with Kylie at this concert, I heard.
Rufus Wainwright: Yeah, at the end of the summer.
WCT: That's crazy.
Rufus Wainwright: Which will be exciting.
WCT: Her new album is incredible. It's fun.
Rufus Wainwright: Yeah, I know it really is.
WCT: Do you want to work with someone you haven't?
Rufus Wainwright: I always wanted to work with Bjork. I'm not always crazy about everything she does but I love the chances she takes and she seems like someone who can stir it up.
WCT: She's one of my favorites. We need to get her back out in the music scene. I just wanted to tell you your music has always meant a lot to me. Being gay myself and maybe not always fitting in with the commercial world has made me feel that in common with your art.
Rufus Wainwright: Oh, thank you.
WCT: How has that been? You have always had to battle being a pop star.
Rufus Wainwright: I definitely have always paid a price for that admission. The price of admission—there you go. So I didn't get all of the greatest support and I didn't get the greatest placements. I'm slightly under the radar and I do think part of that is because I'm gay but on the other hand I think my fans have appreciated my honesty and truthfulness and consistency. Their support is that much more solid and till the end. So, it was a good trade-off. What I gave up for immediate success and gained in long terms staying power.
WCT: Your crowds have definitely gotten bigger in Chicago.
Rufus Wainwright: Yes, they are bigger by leaps and bounds.
Be a part of the crowd when Rufus Wainwright comes to Bank of American Theatre, 18 W. Monroe, at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13. Visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.rufuswainwright.com for details. And remember: No applause during the first half of the show!
