ACL Fest 2014 Interviews
5:15pm, RetailMeNot stage
By Abby Johnston, Fri., Oct. 3, 2014
St. Vincent
Though occasionally landing in New York, Annie Clark effectively doesn't have a home. If she does, it's on the road performing as St. Vincent. The Texas-reared guitarist does, however, migrate back to Dallas for part of the year.
"I love Texas," she acknowledges. "Texas is my home. I'm very glad I was raised there. I think it breeds a very specific kind of weirdo."
It's said demographic that's been ensnared with quirky choreography and inverted pop chops for fourth solo LP St. Vincent. The multi-instrumentalist, always on the vanguard of critical praise, preserves her grounding nonetheless.
"If you're Texan, it means you don't come with the pomp and circumstance," she explains. "There's always this grounding that I really appreciate. The expression I always heard growing up was, 'Don't get too big for your britches.'"
Despite that adage, Clark acknowledges the Lone Star State's penchant for producing incredible talent – a category she likely would not place herself in, although it fits neatly.
"It's not a crabs-in-a-barrel situation. There are so many successful people from Texas. It's a place where people can really thrive. I don't know if it has to do with physical space, or resources, or whatever."