The ever prolific British singer/songwriter Ed Harcourt is about to add film scoring to his repertoire, as he’s signed on for "S. Darko," the supernatural sequel to the cult favorite film, "Donnie Darko." Set in 1995, seven years after the original, Donnie Darko’s younger sister Samantha is the focus as she deals with her brother’s death and finds herself caught in the midst of a meteorite crash. The movie, which began shooting in May, is slated for a 2009 release and directed by Chris Fisher ("Nightstalker," "Rampage: The Hillside Strangler Murders"). "I read the script and loved it, so I jumped at the opportunity," exclaims Harcourt. "I’m really looking forward to experimenting and getting to do whatever I want. I have tons of ideas. This is all I’m thinking about – Darko on the brain."
While Harcourt has returned to the states for another round of touring in support of the U.S. release of his acclaimed album, The Beautiful Lie, [June 3, Dovecote Records] he maintains he will be hard at work composing while on the road. "I’m coming up with ideas all the time," he explains. "My goal is to compose something every day." Venturing outside of the world of conventional songs, Harcourt says his references and inspirations run the gamut from "weird electronic music like Autechre and Aphex Twin to Clint Mansell’s score for "Requiem for a Dream," to "Phillip Glass and Arvo Part." "I plan for this to be sort of a merging of organic, acoustic instruments, like chamber strings and such with heavy atmospherics and drone," he explains. "It will be surreal and psychedelic just like the movie. Greg Dulli recently turned me on to The Disintegration Loops I-IV of William Basinski, so that’s a big influence right now."
Harcourt has spent a good portion of the year touring with Dulli’s The Gutter Twins, both opening and playing guitar for them, and just shared the stage with them again in Los Angeles before heading across the country with his band for a handful of solo dates. While in Seattle, he will stop by the venerable KEXP for a live session the afternoon of his show, July 15. The performance can be streamed live online via www.kexp.org
That same day, Harcourt’s popular Mania TV segment, which showcases both his culinary and musical talents, has been selected by viewers to appear again on All Access’ "Best of – Episode 1," its premiere. To view the show, log on to the broadband network’s site [maniatv.com].
Upon return to England, Harcourt will continue work on an EP he hopes to have finished by September. "I already have six or seven songs shortlisted," he reveals. "I want it to sound like Randy Newman and the Eels with glacial Sigur Ros elements." And that doesn’t even include his plans for the next full-length.
ED HARCOURT ON TOUR
July 14 – Portland, Ore. @ Doug Fir
July 15 – Seattle, Wash. @ Chop Suey
July 17 – Nashville, Tenn. @ 3rd and Lindsley
July 18 – Chicago, Ill. @ Schubas
July 20 – Woodstock, N.Y. @ Bearsville Theatre
July 21 – Hoboken, N.J. @ Maxwells
July 22 – New York, N.Y. @ Rehab (Midway)
July 23 – Boston, Mass. @ TT the Bears
