Nissue #10: Sondre Lerche, Musician.

I first saw Sondre Lerche in 2002 at Cafe du Nord in San Francisco when he was literally a kid (he wrote and recorded Faces Down, still my favorite album of his, when he was 16!). His mom was on tour with him and I remember him joking from the stage about not being able to drink in the U.S.

He’s gone on to make some of the best rock and pop music, some nine albums’ worth, and while his sound has matured, there’s a timelessness and continuity to all of his songs. I tracked down his publicist Joe Sivick at Missing Piece Group, who was more than helpful in getting Sondre to answer my questions (thanks, Joe!).

I have seen Mr. Lerche in concert four times now, and I can’t wait to see him when he comes back to the Bay Area one day, someday soon. Patience, as he might remark.

Sondre poolside at The Monkey Tree Hotel in Palm Springs.

Nish: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Sondre: a balance between independence and affection.

Nish: What was your worst job ever?

Sondre: making 100 shrimp baguettes at 5 in the morning. 

Nish: What was your first job ever?

Sondre: putting up concert posters for local bands around town.

Nish: What was your best job ever?

Sondre: being able to do exactly what I most like to do (write songs, record and perform them, engage a delightful audience here and there), while getting better at it all has been my job for 20 years now, and it's a true privilege  

Nish: What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? 

Sondre: the lengths I'll go to in order to avoid confrontation in any department not related to artistic stuff. 

Nish: What is the trait you most deplore in others? 

Sondre: insecurity-based macho bravado and lack of generosity

Nish: What’s some advice you’d give to yourself at 23? 

Sondre: be less responsible, be less moralistic  

Nish: What is your greatest extravagance?

Sondre: the last song I wrote

Nish: You have dinner reservations for 4 at Noma, excluding family and close friends, who are the 3 people (alive, dead or imaginary) you’d invite?

Sondre: Joni Mitchell, Esther Perel, and Billie Holiday

Nish: What is the theme song of your professional life?

Sondre: patience and pleasure

Nish: What is your motto?

Sondre: life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself 

Nish: What is something you’re really excited about right now? 

Sondre: I've been writing my next album and it's most exciting and intense process I've ever experienced, it's a whole new world

End Interview.

Photos by Jen Steele, who did all the Patience photography as well.