Rufus Wainwright is an American-Canadian singer, songwriter, and composer. He has created two classical operas, Prima Donna and Hadrian. He also has ten studio albums and has contributed to many film soundtracks. He’s been nominated this year for a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Every week he also hosts a Rufus-Retro-Wainwright-Spective, where he plays music from his past studio albums.
Nick used to manage Rufus back in his very early career and has gotten to know his family throughout the years. Madonna also believes Rufus stole Nick from her. Nick and Rufus discuss his opera work, what it’s like to make a pop album, and how family life has changed Rufus for the better.
Key Takeaways
[2:15] Rufus has been working on Unfollow the Rules for the last three years, but it is a compilation of about 10 years’ worth of songwriting.
[3:15] COVID-19 really threw a monkey wrench in a lot of people’s plans.
[4:50] Rufus discusses his two Grammy nominations for Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
[7:30] Rufus shares the mental space he has to be in to go from writing an opera to writing a pop song.
[10:00] Rufus’s definition of pop is quite different than the “standard” pop definition.
[10:55] What kind of music did Rufus grow up on?
[12:10] Rufus and his sisters are doing a “Not So Silent Night” family Christmas show. It’s really needed in times like these.
[15:15] The classical music press really tries to pick your work apart.
[17:10] Hadrian was a much bigger production compared to Rufus’s first opera, Prima Donna.
[18:35] How does Rufus make an opera come to life?
[20:55] What’s next for Rufus now that he has a bit of downtime at home?
[22:30] Rufus is open to doing more films but feels like you really have to have gusto and an immunity to rejection if you want to make it in film.
[25:35] If you’re new in your career, it’s important to really listen and take in all that’s around you.
[29:00] Rufus knows people were worried about him while he was abusing drugs and alcohol, but he was just searching for answers.
[32:05] Rufus is very grateful for Nick fighting for him and pushing for his work to be more mainstream.
[33:15] How has having a family changed Rufus’s perception of the world?
[35:55] What is Rufus currently listening to?
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Find out more about today’s guests, Rufus Wainwright
Find out more about your host, Nick Terzo
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