Carole Pope of Rough Trade fame is a Canadian Icon who has just released one of the best albums of the year! The album is called "LANDFALL" and it expresses the feeling you get when the sun is starting to fade, the air is still warm and the heavy dark clouds are moving in.. The wind picks up and the air is unsettled as you feel a sense of peace and excitement rolled into one.. Then the sky opens up - (Thunder) BOOM! I am like the Tin-man who has just been given his real heart standing there, hoping not to get hit by lightning! Anyways that is how this album makes me feel! Here is a recent interview I did with Carole... Enjoy!

Tell me about some of the collaborator's on the new album and how they came to work with you on "LANDFALL"?

CP: I co-wrote with the track My Flame with Hawksley Workman. We'd been talking for while about writing together and it just fell into place. He's also playing almost every instrument on the track. I've known Rufus Wainwright for a few years and asked him if he wanted to sing a duet with me. He's crazy busy but we put Landfall together in New York. He came in and did some beautiful vocals. Our voices sound good together. I co-wrote Landfall with Rob Pruesse who used to play with the Spoons. He brought Jeanne Leblanc in from the New York Philharmonic to play cello on the track. I've been working with Tim Welch since the late 80's His work is all over the record and he co-produced some tracks with me. Drummer Randy Cooke used to play with me and then he moved to LA and has worked with Ringo Starr and Dave Stewart . He always brings it to any track. I met Lyris Hung in New york. She works with Slanty Eyed Mamma, Indigo Girls and has a metal band called Hung. She played all the violin tracks on Tourniquet.

What would be your ultimate career Highs and Lows?

One of my Career highs was touring with Bowie and one of the lows is trying to work this album. Radio is pretty useless except for the CBC and you just have to beat people over the head every day.

How have your priorities changed from your years with Rough Trade and today?

Rough Trade was all about making good music and being true to yourself as an artist. I'm still doing that.

What inspires you in your art and your life?

I'm inspired by looking at great art, hearing good music, being in nature and my brilliant friends.

Tell us something that we would be surprised to hear about you?

People are surprised that I like to cook and hike. Not sure why.

Any other projects in the works?

The next big thing in the works is turning my auto biography Anti Diva into a film. It's an ongoing process.

I just read her book and it's amazing so check it out! For more on Carole check out www.carolepope.com
Here is a classic from the Anti-Diva - this is Rough Trade with "High School Confidential". Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsJHtzdvfKg
Happy Summer!