WINDMILL is the nom de plume of one Matthew Thomas Dillon, a 28 year old from Newport Pagnell (south of London and home to the Aston Martin). After many home recordings created lovingly on his 4-track he decided to record a proper record and PUDDLE CITY RACING LIGHTS (Friendly Fire Records) is it. Through a parade of influences the record is a classic in the pop tradition. Matthew was kind enough to answer some questions via email......

 

Tell me about your hometown, Newport Pagnell?
Imagine a place where cleaning your car means more than loving the dearest people in your life.


When was your first trip to London on your own (no parents). What did you buy?I was thirteen or so. There used to be this magical comic book store, called Stateside Comics. It was at the top floor of this huge toy shop on Regent Street. It's one of those toy shops that has drama students demonstrating toys. Flying little helicopters into your lips. I bought a Flash No.1 for £7.50. It was the first comic in the 'Wally West' Flash series. It was beautiful.

What was the first record you remember buying with your own money?When I was six years old I bought a 'Shakin' Stevens audio cassette, with my pocket money. 'Shakin' Stevens is the Welsh Elvis. I got it home and pumped it out. It didn't sound right so I hollered for my Mum to take a listen. She agreed that something was out of place. On closer inspection by the rest of the family we realized that I had actually bought an audio cassette by a 'Shakin' Stevens' impersonator. I was crying as my Mum and I returned the cassette. It was the embarrassment of my error that was the cause of my upset.

Is Windmill your first band? If not tell me about your first.
It really isn't a band, it's a MACHINE! It's what I have been doing for a long time now. Sitting at home, recording. The real difference is now I have people that are interested in what I do. They support me, they give me the joy of being able to release my records. They help me build and deliver a live show. You hear about 'sharks' in the music industry. The waters in the 'Little Chef' in I worked at in college were more infested. A large part of the close relationships I now hold are a byproduct of Windmill. Maybe that's the best part of the universe running me a warm bath of alternative, left field, pop music.

How/why did you come up with the name Windmill? Is there an interesting story there?
I wanted to call it 'The George Michael Backache Program'. My testosterone fueled brother joined me in writing some stupid songs for a bit and someone said we should start a band called Windmill. This was because my testosterone fueled brother used to get into fist fights and whirl his arms like a Windmill. It's a strange thing that stuck. Oops.

I know PUDDLE CITYY RACING LIGHTS is your first proper record, but tell me about some of the other home-recorded ones.
I recorded under the name of 'Dillons Son'. I was playing the game of pretending my records were going to get released. So, I would make artwork and stress over the tracklistings. At no point did I ever seriously think any of my recordings would be released. It was something other people, not in my town, not in my head did. You can hear and read about one of these early works over on my UK Label's blog. www.melodic.co.uk. 'Puddle City' was written on returning to recording after giving up for two years. By then, the internet had been discovered by bears and I took the first step to becoming Windmill.

What is your favorite song you have written? Name one song you wish you would have written?
I listen to my records over and over in order to convince myself they sound ok. I am a long way from having a favorite. That's the mission, I guess. To do something you are happy with. I certainly can't do it. The beginnings of wanting to record was to try and do something great, like everything in my record collection. The beginnings of being completely isolated whilst recording were because I just couldn't get there.

What is the best and/or most interesting gig you have ever played?
Last year was crazy. Out in Europe, they don't wait until there is a buzz. If they love your record then you are up there. We ended up on bills with The National, Smashing Pumpkins, Patrick Watson, St. Vincent and many others, touring in beautiful cities. From nothing to that, was a trip. Going to see Eef Barzeley play in London and seeing him do his version of my song 'Fit' was a proper "Fuck, I have pulled this off!" moment.

5 band dream bill?
Paperplain, Mirah, Eels, REM, Clem Snide

Top 10 desert island discs?
Due South Original Television Soundtrack – Various Artists
Entering Pale Town - Paperplain
C'mon Miracle – Mirah
You think it's like this but really it's like this – Mirah
Advisory Committee – Mirah
XO – Elliott Smith
Electroshock Blues – Eels
End of Love – Clem Snide
Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind Soundtrack – Jon Brion
This Desert Life – Counting Crows

What is next for Windmill?
The new record, 'Epcot Starfields'. It's all done and is going into the studio for engineering in January. It is a study of some of our grandest ideas and the acceptance of the inevitable demise of those ideas through our mortality. I am really busy making sure it ends up being everything I imagined it to be. It's very stressful having a vision and not being able to breathe until it's done. It's very different from the last one. 'Puddle City Racing Lights' was finished Novemeber 2006, a long time ago.

Bonus question: Have you ever owned an Aston martin?
No. But I have owned James Bond at Goldeneye 64.

 

www.myspace.com/windmill