HIGH FREQUENCIES: Murray Attaway is at it again

Murray Attaway is riding tall in the saddle with the release of a new album, Tense Music Plays, his first in three decades, and a new video, "Breath," for the LP's first single. Longtime readers of Creative Loafing, fans of Atlanta’s db Recs, and those enthralled with the jangly pop of the late ‘80s to early ‘90s college radio will remember Attaway’s first band, Guadalcanal Diary. That band released the EP Watusi Rodeo on EOD Records before signing to db Recs for their first full-length LP, Walking in he Shadow of the Big Man. The band’s constant touring and their receiving airplay on college playlists across the country rewarded the four members — Attaway, guitar and vocals; Jeff Walls, guitar; Rhett Crowe, bass, and John Poe, drums — with a contract with Elektra Records, which re-released Walking, plus financed three more albums for Marietta’s finest, before the members parted ways.

Attaway then signed to Geffen Records’ DGC label for a solo album before changes at the label saw his second solo effort get shelved.

All only bumps in the road for the singer-songwriter who has since scored a number of films, become a graphic designer, created many websites you may unknowingly use every day, and, produced an ongoing podcast. 

It’s been 30 years since your last release. Why the wait? Why now?

I just kept getting distracted. Parenting, running a business, moving back to Atlanta after 30 years, traveling: all the stuff that decent God-fearing folks do.

I did this album now because it began to feel like a lie when people would ask when I was going to make more music and I would answer “soon”.

When I mentioned to Mark Williams (producer/mixer/engineer supreme) that I was thinking of doing new music, he offered to come out of semi-retirement and mix it. That made it inevitable.

The music landscape has changed greatly since your last album, released by a major label. Do you think the current environment is better for artists?

To me, the ability to deliver music to a more focused audience is invaluable. Since I made my last album (in 1993, or was it 1913?) the whole revolution in technology took place. Any independent creator now has endless tools available to expose their work directly to smaller groups of people. With a major label, the push was to have hits and to ultimately make the artist a "household name”. I have no delusions about such things. I can make the sort of music I like and not worry about industry concerns, plus music hasn’t been my “job” for years, so, although I want to sell the record, my survival doesn’t depend on it.

What music are you currently listening to? Is there any band you would travel to see or can recommend to others?

I really like the Silk Sonic stuff Bruno Mars has done. I like the Linda Lindas, Ginger Root, Washed Out, Labi Siffre. I love Peter Holsapple’s new album. Blueburst, an Atlanta artist, did a fine record recently. I listen to a lot of Serge Gainsbourg, and gobs of scratchy old 78s. The scratchier the better. Clay Harper is always worth listening to.

What is something you have done that most people who know you would not expect from you — the most unmurrayattaway thing that you have done?

What a question! I’m not sure what people who know me expect from me besides clumsy acerbic wit. But: I ride my bike every day. I can automatically read words backwards. I’ve been learning French and speak it like a really stupid child. I can give you street directions in Skövde, Sweden.

Tell me about your podcast? Is that still an ongoing project?

Dazzle Dudes is the epic story of four misguided knuckleheads attempting to start a glam-rock band in a fictional central Georgia town in the mid-1970s. I wrote two seasons of it with some assists from my wife Layla, voiced all the characters, wrote and played all the music, and produced it. It’s available on any podcast platform or here.

Dazzle Dudes was probably the catalyst for making my new record. The podcast was a chance to write bad songs on purpose instead of accidentally. Hopefully I got that out of my system and Tense Music Plays, my new album, is the result.

And, yes, I intend to do another season.

Murray Attaway celebrates the release of Tense Music Plays with two shows this month: Thursday, May 8, 7:00 PM (doors at 6:00 PM), at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur; and Saturday, May 17, 8:00 PM (doors at 6:00 PM), at The Foundry in Athens, GA. Click venue name to purchase tickets. Clay Harper will open each night.