2008 Woodie Awards
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The Scene
Songster grooves to 'delicious' beat of life
Doughty busy with new label, side projects
By TY BUDDE on 3/3/08
Mike Doughty, indie pop artist formally of Soul Coughing, recently released his second major solo record, "Golden Delicious," to solid reviews. It's a free-wheeling follow-up to 2005's "Haughty Melodic." Immediately following the release, he started his own micro-label, appropriately called Snack Bar. He also deejays a show called Dubious Luxury at The Knitting Factory, a popular New York City club. In short, he's got his hands in a lot of pies.
"With 'Haughty Melodic,' it was layer upon layer upon layer," Doughty said in an interview. But with "'Golden Delicious' it was pretty much a straight shot."
Much of "Golden Delicious" was recorded live in studio, giving the album a funky, go-with-the-flow feel. That same attitude exists in all of Doughty's projects.
His DJ gig, Dubious Luxury, is an improvisational electronic-beat project.
"I've kind of been on an electro binge," Doughty said. And Snack Bar, his new label project, has the relaxed feel of a hobby - his side project, so to speak.
"I'm not putting him in the van, he's not sleeping on the bus like the rhythm section," Doughty said of his new label. "It's super low-maintenance."
Yet his laid-back approach doesn't seem to hamper his success. Instead, he's found a formula that pulls in listeners from around the nation.
"I have a band that is very much leaning towards the groovy," he said, speaking of his band's ability to launch into foot-stomping pop-jams.
Doughty's vocals often contribute to the jam as well, building the sound with syncopation. Oftentimes, he abandons lyrics all together, preferring to flow with vocalizations such as "bums," "dengs" and "na-nas."
"Some people are upset because I'm a poetry guy and I'm sticking with the na-nas, but I love na-nas," Doughty said.
Doughty learned lyrical poetry from professor Sekou Sundiata at New School University in New York City where alternative folk maven Ani DiFranco was in his class. In 2003, his book of poetry, "Slanky," was published. He credits Sundiata on the first page of the liner notes for "Golden Delicious."
"With 'Haughty Melodic,' it was layer upon layer upon layer," Doughty said in an interview. But with "'Golden Delicious' it was pretty much a straight shot."
Much of "Golden Delicious" was recorded live in studio, giving the album a funky, go-with-the-flow feel. That same attitude exists in all of Doughty's projects.
His DJ gig, Dubious Luxury, is an improvisational electronic-beat project.
"I've kind of been on an electro binge," Doughty said. And Snack Bar, his new label project, has the relaxed feel of a hobby - his side project, so to speak.
"I'm not putting him in the van, he's not sleeping on the bus like the rhythm section," Doughty said of his new label. "It's super low-maintenance."
Yet his laid-back approach doesn't seem to hamper his success. Instead, he's found a formula that pulls in listeners from around the nation.
"I have a band that is very much leaning towards the groovy," he said, speaking of his band's ability to launch into foot-stomping pop-jams.
Doughty's vocals often contribute to the jam as well, building the sound with syncopation. Oftentimes, he abandons lyrics all together, preferring to flow with vocalizations such as "bums," "dengs" and "na-nas."
"Some people are upset because I'm a poetry guy and I'm sticking with the na-nas, but I love na-nas," Doughty said.
Doughty learned lyrical poetry from professor Sekou Sundiata at New School University in New York City where alternative folk maven Ani DiFranco was in his class. In 2003, his book of poetry, "Slanky," was published. He credits Sundiata on the first page of the liner notes for "Golden Delicious."
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