If you’re into the experimental weirdness that is Man Man’s music, then you should probably be listening to Honus Honus already. After all, he’s the singer and songwriter for the band, and now he has a solo album out called Use Your Delusion that serves as a much more personal look inside the veteran musician’s brain.
From his inspirations to the decision to release a record without his band, we dug into the strange and wonderful mind of the man known as Honus Honus to celebrate him as our Artist of the Day.
Homebase: Los Angeles, CA
How would you describe your solo music to people who had never heard it before?
It’s an acquired taste [laughs]. I guess I’ve always been a hard songwriter for people to peg because I don’t like trafficking in the same vibe for every song. People have a lot of dimensions and angles, why can’t albums? I think this record is funky, fun, weird, will make you dance, will make you cry. In many ways, it’s my love letter to LA, though you don’t have to know the city at all to appreciate the storytelling and music. If you do, though, there’s a lot of easter eggs hidden in the grass — snake eggs.
How did you decide to go solo?
I was wrapping up a three-year touring cycle for the last Man Man album, On Oni Pond, and my drummer was going to have his first kid, so he wanted to take time off to focus on family. I wanted to keep trucking along, so I just kept writing songs figuring that I’d just fold them into the next Man Man album like I always do. My brother from another King Cyrus King was all like, “You’re making a damn solo album, and I’m gonna continue to kick you around until it happens.” We spent a year recording the tunes, not really thinking about how the songs would come together live. I was lamenting having to put together another band to my friend Kevin one night and he asked to hear the rough mixes we had. The next day, he called up and said, “OK dude. I got all the bass parts figured out. When’s the first practice?” That kind of kickstarted everything.
What's the coolest experience you’ve had so far as a solo artist?
I self-released the album with my buddy Rolin under a new label called New Neighborhood and launched a rad pre-sale campaign through Pledge Music. It was really cool to be able to connect with the fans on such a personal level. Aside from playing shows, I got to direct a couple music videos that were produced by JASH. The last one I did (for the song “Will You?) stars Pauly Shore. That was incredible.
Where do you draw inspiration for your music?
I always write about where I’m at in my life (mentally, emotionally, and geographically). Living in LA is a real wellspring of odd-knockers, so it seemed appropriate to start a new band and explore the storytelling possibilities. I’m also an insomniac, and my brain is melting. That has a lot to do with the sound.
What's something you've learned over your time both being in a band and solo?
Always surround yourself with talented, loving, creative humans that inspire you to be greater. Life is too short to put up with people that make you miserable.
Are there any specific goals you have in mind?
Soundtrack as many lives as possible. Have Selena Gomez cover a song of mine.
What's your songwriting process like?
I labor away by myself until I have a skeleton structure of a song — or even just parts worked out — then I take it into the studio with Cyrus and together we’ll give it a body to wear. It’s how I’ve always worked, the only difference being that we work together really quickly. Cyrus is such a talented multi-instrumentalist, and it’s very easy to express an idea of what I want or what I’m hearing to him and see it immediately realized. I also trust his instincts whenever he suggests alternatives or new ideas. Unless, it’s this damn blues melody/phrasing he keeps foisting on me to sing. I hate it, Cy!
If there's one thing you wish everyone on the planet knew about your solo music, what would it be?
You like Man Man? Yo, this dude sang and wrote those songs. Wake up.
For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.
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