James Acaster • Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip #512
May 9, 2023
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James Acaster, renowned comic and grand producer, discusses his new role in the music project 'Temps' and brings together a diverse range of musicians. They touch on the challenges of leaving social media and the excitement for their upcoming album release.
James Acaster has released a music album called 'Temps' featuring collaborations with renowned artists from various genres.
The album 'Temps' is an experimental and crossover project that evolved from a mockumentary idea, incorporating diverse contributions from drummers, bassists, vocalists, and instrumentalists.
Despite initial doubts, James Acaster successfully transitioned into acting, securing a role in Ghostbusters through auditions and impressing the director and producer.
Deep dives
Overview of the Podcast Episode
This episode of the podcast features James A. Castor discussing his new music album. Castor talks about the formation of a massive collective during the pandemic, with 40 people involved in the project. He explains how the album evolved from a mockumentary idea and discusses his collaborations with artists such as Kaitlyn from Wheelchair Sports Camp, Open Mike Eagle, Quelle Chris, Denmark Vesey, and Yoni Wolf. Castor shares his excitement about working with these talented musicians and the creative process behind the album. He also reflects on the challenge of releasing music as a well-known comedian and the anticipation of hearing people's reactions.
Collaborative and Experimental Approach
Castor's album, titled 'Temps,' explores an experimental and crossover style, incorporating elements from different genres and featuring diverse artists. The project was a result of collaborations with musicians during the lockdown period, with contributions from drummers, bassists, vocalists, and instrumentalists. Castor emphasizes the trust and freedom given to the artists in their contributions, highlighting the process of receiving unexpected recordings and creatively rearranging them to form cohesive tracks. He expresses gratitude for the artists' commitment and dedication to the album, mentioning that the final product transcends his initial expectations.
Notable Collaborators
Some of the notable artists featured on Castor's album include Kaitlyn from Wheelchair Sports Camp, Open Mike Eagle, Quelle Chris, Denmark Vesey, and Yoni Wolf. Castor shares the process of reaching out to these musicians and their enthusiastic response to being part of the project. He highlights the distinctive styles and contributions of each collaborator, such as Denmark Vesey's unique vocal style and Open Mike Eagle's straightforward rap approach. Castor also mentions John Kearns, a comedian who played a role in the mockumentary that inspired the album, adding a touch of humor to the project.
Feelings about Release and Audience Reception
As Castor prepares to release the album, he acknowledges that some people may not listen to it due to their preconceived notions about a comedian's foray into music. However, he is excited about the prospect of dedicated listeners discovering and sharing the album, gradually finding its audience over time. Castor also discusses the emotional aspect of releasing a project, including the vulnerability and anticipation that comes with sharing creative work. He eagerly awaits the audience's reactions and the discussions that will follow, signaling his pride and appreciation for the collaborative effort of the album.
The Journey of Getting into Acting
James Acaster discusses his journey of getting into acting and the challenges he faced as a comedian trying to transition into acting. He shares how he had to navigate preconceived notions based on his comedy persona and the difficulty of finding roles that aligned with his own identity. Despite initial doubts, he managed to secure a role in Ghostbusters through auditions and impressing the director and producer. Acaster emphasizes his enjoyment of acting and the diverse range of projects he's involved in.
Insights into Celebrity Hunted
James Acaster shares his experience of participating in Celebrity Hunted and provides insights into the behind-the-scenes aspects of the show. He mentions how certain aspects are not fake, but there are moments where they were asked to retake scenes to capture them on camera. Acaster also discusses the rules of the show that guide the participants' actions, which he believes should be made known to the audience to enhance their understanding of the challenges faced. He concludes by mentioning his upcoming album, Party Gator Purgatory, expressing his excitement and the pride he feels for the project.
Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip!
This week Pip is joined by show favourite, renowned comic and now grand producer JAMES ACASTER!
Some might consider this a kind of trojan horse episode, in that it's not wall to wall "Let's talk about comedy and Taskmaster" - no, this time, Pip catches up with James about his new role as producer and orchestrator behind the new sprawling music project 'Temps'! The project itself is a truly adventurous step to bring together a ton of different worlds, but revolving around a main concept of everyone being a unique and necessary presence on the album. Highly regarded rappers and musicians coming together in ways that even us fans would be refreshingly surprised by. It features so prominently in this episode because don't forget - Pip comes from this world, but has also been a fan and friend of James' for many years now, so if you're feeling wary of hearing the comic you like talking about an album of music, leave that wariness at the door and put your faith in the podcast. It's excellent stuff, and there's some acting and TV bits at the end too of cours! Have fun!
