Trying to Ride Out Dangerous Impulses

R ufus Wainwright’s first album was one of the most acclaimed debuts of the ‘90s, a 1998 self-titled collection of songs about romantic yearning and heartbreak that mixed the sophistication and sparkle of Broadway, cabaret and pop. Despite the raves and Wainwright’s almost constant touring, the album sold only about 95,000 copies in the U.S.--respectable for a debut, but not the blockbuster figure the music deserved.

The son of songwriters Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, Wainwright, 27, returns June 5 with a new album, “Poses.” The DreamWorks release sheds some of the cabaret flourishes in favor of a more straightforward musical trim. The themes, however, remain personal and often evocative. (See review, Page 60.)

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Question: How frustrating was it to get such glowing reviews and then have your first album fail to catch on commercially?

Answer: You’d like to say that the joy is simply in making the music, but you do want to reach people and you hope all the [reviews] encourage people to check it out and for radio stations to play it. So it was frustrating. But I know enough to understand that great reviews don’t mean great sales. Some of my favorite artists didn’t enjoy a lot of commercial success, but I hope it’ll be different this time.

Q: You spent more than a year on the road promoting the album. Was that draining?

A: No, no. I think being on the road runs in the family. I tend to be a messy guy. If I’m anywhere for more than 24 hours, it’s a slum, so I have to kind of get out of town. In writing this new record, I did settle down in a way. I moved to New York and took advantage of whatever fame I’ve acquired to get nice tables and go to clubs and be recognized. I definitely enjoyed that.

Q: Tell me about the character in “Poses,” the title song.

A: When I moved to New York, I set myself up with a piano at the Chelsea Hotel and then started going out. I found myself in this [world of] artists, hustlers, drag queens and club owners, and this character started to develop in the song ....This guy who goes into town with all these dreams and then comes out destroyed. I saw it happen a lot. There were lots of people who wanted to be involved with me and use me, but I also wanted to climb that ladder. “Poses” is about that.

Q: “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk” is an interesting song about conflicting, dangerous impulses. Is there some of you in that song?

A: That’s very personal, a song that is down to the actual skin and bones of me. It’s about being young and having fun, and maybe walking a thin line. There’s a time in your life when you’re into a bit of debauchery and craziness, and I’m kinda in that now, but I want to survive too. The song is about trying to ride that line and not have it ride me.

Q: You were very upfront about being gay. Do you think that had any impact on your career?

A: I don’t think it was an issue. The fact that I was very honest with it from the beginning kind of neutralized it. In fact, it might have been an asset, which is something I would tell anyone out there who is gay. For all the detractors, there are a lot of people with open arms who are willing to help you.

Q: Why do you do one of your dad’s songs?

A: I have been doing “One Man Guy” for a while in my shows. Someone told me it is their favorite song on the record, which made me kinda annoyed [laughs]. But the truth is it’s an unknown classic. I still have a way to go before I am as good a songwriter as my dad.

Q: What is your relationship with your dad? I thought you were closer to your mom, who raised you.

A: We have had our ups and downs, but my dad can be incredibly supportive and involved. On the other hand, he still wants people to hear his music, so there are moments of tension. Basically, we have a good relationship I think.

Q: Why are you so hard on Los Angeles in the song “California”?

A: Oh, sorry about that [laughs]. I wrote it a long time ago, a time when I didn’t know anybody in town and I was feeling isolated. The song was a reminder to myself not to become what I saw as an L.A. person. Life can be awfully easy out here, and I didn’t want to just sit around in the sun, having my brain fried. But I’ve eased up on L.A. since I wrote that song. I am much more comfortable here now. But it was too good a song to just throw away, so I kept it on the album.... So please forgive me, L.A. *