Fred Armisen shares hotel hacks, insights from hanging out with David Bowie's producer, and nerdy facts from David Byrne. They discuss Talking Heads, Paul McCartney, Portlandia sketches, SNL audition nerves, and New York accents.
Fred Armisen discusses his experiences meeting music legends like David Byrne, highlighting his passion for music and admiration for iconic musicians.
Fred Armisen showcases his talent for capturing accents and sound effects, revealing his comedic prowess in imitating various speech patterns and creating unique effects.
Fred Armisen shares his admiration for Paul McCartney, emphasizing the Beatles' enduring legacy and McCartney's down-to-earth demeanor, providing insight into their shared experiences as performers.
Deep dives
Fred Armisen talks about his career and collaborations
Fred Armisen discusses various aspects of his career, including his time on Saturday Night Live, working on Portlandia, and his collaborations with musicians like Carrie Brownstein and Bill Hader. He also touches on his love for music, his experiences meeting some of his musical heroes like David Byrne, and his own musical endeavors. Armisen shares insights into his creative process and the challenges of balancing music and comedy. Overall, the conversation provides a glimpse into Armisen's multifaceted career and his passion for artistic expression.
Fred Armisen's thoughts on New York accents and sound effects
Fred Armisen discusses his ability to mimic various accents and shares his fondness for capturing the nuances of different regions, such as Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Long Island. He also reveals his interest in creating a sound effects record, where he would explore imitating different sounds and creating a variety of effects. Armisen's remarks highlight his love for the comedic potential of accents and sound effects, underscoring his unique skill set as a performer and his ability to find humor in everyday sounds and speech patterns.
Fred Armisen's appreciation for Paul McCartney and his experiences meeting him
Fred Armisen expresses his admiration for Paul McCartney, sharing anecdotes about their meetings and conversations. He describes McCartney's down-to-earth nature and his warm interactions with fellow comedians. Armisen highlights the musicality and longevity of McCartney's career, as well as their shared experiences as performers and musicians. Through his appreciation for McCartney, Armisen reflects on the impact of The Beatles and the enduring appeal of their music.
Fred Armisen's insights on the challenges of blending comedy and music
Fred Armisen opens up about the difficulties he faced in trying to create sincere music and blend it with his comedy career. He acknowledges the fear of judgment and the struggle to strike the right balance between humor and earnestness. Armisen shares his preference for creating parody and comedic music, as it feels more natural to him and allows him to tap into his comedic instincts. His candid remarks shed light on the creative challenges he has encountered in navigating the intersection of comedy and music.
Fred Armisen's reflections on the documentary 'Get Back' and his love for music
Fred Armisen expresses his deep appreciation for the 'Get Back' documentary, reflecting on the impact of the Beatles and the thrill of seeing their creative process unfold on screen. He remarks on the emotional intensity of the documentary and its significance during the pandemic. Armisen also shares his current musical interests, including bands like Real Estate, Def Rain, and Kurt Vile. His reflections showcase his genuine passion for music and his ability to find joy and inspiration in diverse genres and artists.
Adam talks withAmerican actor, comedian, voice artist, screenwriter, producer and musician Fred Armisen about hotel hacks, what Fred and Matt Berry learned when they hung out with David Bowie's producer Tony Visconti, the Stop Making Sense nerd fact David Byrne told Fred, how Adam could help Talking Heads get on better, why you can't beat Paul McCartney, why Fred wasn't nervous for his Saturday Night Live Audition, the Portlandia sketches that summed up the show best and Fred takes us on an accent tour of New York.
This conversation was recorded face-to-face in London on 25th November 2023.
Thanks to Séamus Murphy-Mitchell for production support and conversation editing.
