Eytan Mirsky chooses on Lord, Have Mirsky! deliberately for a richer, more extensive sound palette. It is not unrecognizable. The combination of his voice and the subjects he sings about makes his music unique, doesn’t it? Well, let’s ask and find out.

Your arrangements are different. Did that happen organically, or was it a conscious choice?

I wanted the arrangements to be different from my earlier albums. I don’t want to keep repeating the typical power pop arrangements. That’s not even what I like listening to most of the time. Even on the last couple of albums, I got away from that, but I took it even further this time. So we have horns on a few songs, pedal steel on another, more piano.

 

How did Lord, Have Mirsky! come about?

The album just evolved over the last couple of years with the thought that I wanted to do different things. As far as the title goes, it’s something I had in mind for the last year or so, and it seems to represent the style of music and also the humorous side of my personality.

Your sound is so unique that you have created your own genre. At least I think so, do you think so too?
If yes, how could we name it?
If not, to which other artists do you feel connected?

My own genre? So it would be like Adam Ant had Ant Music? So I guess it would be Mirsky Music. Or if you want an adjective, it’s Eytanic! I don’t know if I have created my own genre, though I appreciate your saying so. I think it’s just that I would like to transcend genre.

If you project a strong enough sense of yourself in the music, then you can do anything and still sound like you. That’s what I like about Nick Lowe, who will mix in a little of different styles. Or Jonathan Richman, who evolved over the years, but you always know it’s him.

A lovely portrait as cover. That must have been a conscious choice?

Yes, it was a conscious decision to put my picture on the album. I had my pictures on my first few albums, but then I got tired of seeing my face! I figured it was easier to do my Mirsky Mouse drawings and use those. But now I realized that so few people put their pictures on the cover anymore. So I figured I would go against the trend. And, again, maybe it’s good to flash some personality. Also, I’m not getting any younger. By the next album, maybe I won’t want to show my face anymore!

Somehow Don’t Be Afraid feels like a huge song. Ever wondered what would happen if you dropped that one in Nashville?

“Don’t Be Afraid” was inspired by some Doug Sahm music I was listening to. A friend of mine did try to pitch it to a pretty big group that does Tex Mex music, but they passed. I really wouldn’t know how to get it to anyone in Nashville. But sure, I’d love it if someone covered it.

Nice, that a saxophone solo is allowed again?!

Are sax solos too much? I had a couple before: “Everyone’s Having Fun Tonight” and “It’s a Jungle Out There.” The way the song evolved, we were going for a Sam Cooke and Van Morrison feel, so the sax seemed like it could work.

You’re Getting It on Me is almost impetuous. Was there a direct reason to write it?

“You’re Getting It on Me” was a title given to me in a Secret Santa exchange by my friend Tim King. I got the title without knowing who came up with it or what it was supposed to mean. I then created the story of what I imagined the words meant. It ended up being one of the more aggressive numbers, if that’s what you mean by impetuous!