Quick Q and A with Spitzer Space Telescope
 by Kathy S-B  ·  1 May 2009

Dan MacDonald is Spitzer Space Telescope. You’ve got to love it. He is a talented artist by day and a dangerous musician by night. Check out his exciting (and dangerous) music on MySpace. Come on, when’s the last time you’ve listened to a twenty-something who cites the Clancy Brothers as an influence? One listen and you’ll hear it. I promise! And a dash of Radiohead to boot.

So what made you decide to call yourself Spitzer Space Telescope?

I came across the name Spitzer Space Telescope by accident, but decided to use it when I starting performing solo. Picking that name was more functional than anything. I preferred the ‘band’ persona as opposed to the ‘singer-songwriter’, and I found that having a goofy name like that helped me stand out at open mikes etc. Personally, I think is far too long which I should have considered, but I feel I’ve grown into the name.

Tell us about your new album! Are you going to tour again this summer?

The new album was a vision I’ve had from the beginning of SST, so its really cool to have it finally realized. I kept six songs from my previous two EPs and took my time writing four new songs. I knew what the vibe of the whole album was going to be, so most of the process was waiting for the right songs to be finished. Then, my friend Greg Garrod offered to finance the album, and he started Good People in Lansing, MI. So I contacted my good buddy, Dave Suchanek, about producing the record. Dave and I had always shared a similar vision for this album, so it was really nice to work with him. I knew what I wanted from the record and he got it for me. We did all the recording live in the studio within two days to make sure the record was fresh and not too overproduced. So the three of us together are taking this record as far as we can. It will be released exclusively on vinyl with a digital download card. They will be available on myspace.com/spitzerspacetelescope very soon.

I will not be touring this summer. It was so expensive touring last summer that I’ll have to work, but I’ll be doing some loose shows here and there. I’ve been accepted to the Yale/Norfolk Summer program, so I’ll be painting in CT for all of June. You can see some of my work at www.danmacdonaldartwork.blogspot.com

You have described your sound as a “resurrection of traditional and 60s revivalist folk music.” There’s folk music and there’s folk music. Who would you say are your biggest influences from the 60s?

My ’60s influences are: The Clancy Brothers, Bob Dylan, Buffy Sainte Marie, Ian and Sylvia, John Jacob Niles, Paul Clayton, Joan Baez, and some others. Each contributes specifically to certain songs.

And what about now? Do you have any favorite contemporary music favorites?

Contemporary artists I like are . . .And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, m83, Radiohead, the Radio Department, Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, My Bloody Valentine, The Shins, The Rentals, Interpol, Olof Arnalds, Broken Social Scene, and tons more stuff.