Mark Knopfler, ‘I’m A Songwriter First’

Since emerging as the frontman of the iconic British group Dire Straits in 1977, Mark Knopfler has deservedly been seen as a guitar icon. From his first top ten hit, “Sultans Of Swing,” Knopfler established himself as one of music's greatest guitarists, someone whose prowess was so great that he was named the twenty-seventh best guitarist in music for rolling stone.

However, when talking to Knopfler about his new collection, the magnificent and intellectual A deep river, is very clear about the fact that he sees himself first as a composer. As he says, being a composer is different from being a musician.

Indeed, when discussing the possibility of touring for this album, Knopfler says sadly that he believes his touring days are behind him. While it may be sad for his fans, for Knopfler, he feels it's more time to focus on his writing.

I spoke with him about when he realized he was a songwriter first and a musician second, the new album, his friendship and fandom of Bonnie Raitt, his favorite Beatles song and more.

Steve Baltin: How is it in London today?

Mark Knopfler: It's always good in London.

Baltin: Was there a song that really drove the idea of ​​making this album?

Knopfler: I think “One Deep River” made me think I was going places. So, I think “One Deep River” came out pretty well and the seeds were started, for me, for a lot of the record. Also, it can be applied, I'm not going to say that it applies to one person or that it's not a message for anyone. It can be whatever you want it to be. I found with songs in the past if I try to get specific, I find you can get away from it as fast as you can get there. I don't even see that it's about a specific person or something specific.

Baltin: Nick Cave talks in his book, Faith, hope and carnage about being on stage a year after writing a song and realizing what the song is about. Have you had this experience?

Knopfler: (Laughs) Oh, sure. You think you're so smart, “That's right. What are we really talking about here?” I'm always ready for that and always willing to admit that there are things that happen to us that we don't necessarily have to admit at the time. Good thing we don't know, don't you think?

Baltin: Yes, I agree. Are there any songs of yours that you go back and look at over the years that you listen to differently or understand in new ways now?

Knopfler; Oh yes, probably. I don't claim to have all the answers myself. I'm just the guy who wrote it. I think it adds to the awesomeness, being the songwriter because I think I came to it reasonably late. First of all, you start to think of yourself as a sort of guitarist and then as a songwriter. I just went to all these things slowly. I didn't go around telling all these people, “I'm a composer!” I've realized that a composer is different from a musician and that's okay. I'm just a guy who sticks with it, I'll take it. I'm the songwriter and all I try to do is write a good song, hopefully. That's all I want to do and I hope it comes out and you can make a good record of it. That's all I want to do. It's pretty simple really. The process, by the way, is wonderful. The band is wonderful, it's the highlight. Songwriting is totally lonely, for me. So it's a wonderful time when everyone is in the room. Of course this time we had Greg Leeds along and it was lovely to have Greg. It was as if he had been with us for many years. We all talked about it, including Greg. We had a great time with Greg. It was a happy time and he doesn't spend much time with the band. Fortunately, because the band is as good as they are, they clicked very quickly and I don't have to work very hard. It's like a director is given a stellar cast of characters to make a movie. They're just there to enhance everything, make everything come alive, make the words on the page really come alive. It's not a very different thing. Also, they don't need much direction. I certainly never feel like I have to tell people on this band what to do. That's part of the joy, too.

Baltin: Will you be touring with this band?

Knopfler: No, I don't think I will. I think I've reached the end of this particular road. That means I'll be looking forward to more time to write. Because I've always tried to write on the road and at night in hotel rooms and I'm looking forward to being able to spend a little more time at home. He has been a little kinder to the people around me. Physically, the tour was no easier. So, I have to say that I think I'll be better off and work better by staying home a little longer.

Baltin: Are there any aspects of the tour that you will miss?

Knopfler: It got harder, but I love touring. Don't get me wrong. If you're playing in ancient Rome in the ruins and you see one of those stadiums full of people standing up doing bananas, it's a wonderful thing. The tour is full of memories like this for me. It was a good way to end. We actually ended up at Madison Square Garden with Bonnie Raitt opening for us and it was a lovely way to end.

Baltin: It's hard to beat. It's one of the most famous places in the world and Bonnie is an amazing person. adore her

Knopfler: Me too. I've known her for years, from the first time we came to the States, Bonnie and I bonded. So yes, we are back on a fair track and it was a delight to be able to finish the tour there. She always makes me laugh. She said, “Your band sounds so good, you made us sound like we were doing the music for wrestling.” I said, “What the hell are you talking about, girl?” (Laughs) She's fantastic. I've always loved Bonnie. Of course, I loved Bonnie for years before we met. It was on my record player for a long time before the band was heard.

Baltin: This is a fairy tale ending. There's no way you'd have imagined when you started with Dire Straits in 1977 that you'd end your touring career nearly 50 years later.

Knopfler; Yes, exactly that (laughs). But of course you never think you're better than anyone else, so when you say opening up, music isn't about that. But it was lovely to be in the same building as Bonnie.

Baltin: Going back to something you said earlier, at what point did you realize you were the composer?

Knopfler: It became a gradual thing. I guess I was obviously influenced by the greats, Bob Dylan and Randy Newman, people like that. I went in the right direction, I think, because of that. I guess when I realized that if I didn't play a guitar, it wouldn't bother me. In terms of playing an instrument, the guys in the band got their identity from their instruments and their relationship with their instruments. I, early on, was thinking in terms of songs. I was thinking in terms of where I was with the songs. So when I was working with Bob Dylan, for example, or people like that, I would see them with their songs, their relationship with their songs, and I would realize that it was the same. That if I was working on a song it wouldn't have so much to do with my instrument. Now even more has happened. I don't know if it's because of the pandemic or what, but not having the same relationship. I have a beautiful relationship with the guitar. It's a very personal thing, and it's an intimate thing. But for me, where I am with the songs is more interesting. The guitar goes on forever and there are people who play fantastically well. That's wonderful, but my thing is, with the guitar, if anything, it's gotten simpler. And my relationship with the song has become more complex in the sense that through simplicity, I see more value in “You are My Sunshine” as a song. I see more value in this kind of simplicity as a writer.

Baltin: From a writing standpoint, I'm a big fan of Raymond Carver.

Knopfler: Me too.

Baltin: He was the master of simplicity. From a songwriting standpoint, I think John Lennon was like that. I always say you look at a song like “In My Life” and it sounds like something anyone could write, but only John Lennon did.

Knopfler: This is one of my favorite Beatles songs. I think I've played it before as my favorite. Exactly, the overwhelming simplicity of it. As you say, “If it's that easy, write it down.”

Baltin: Are there songs? A deep river what do you come back and are you satisfied with this simplicity?

Knopfler: Yes, “One Deep River” itself does. And he's not the only one. Also, even if you have a complex setup, in the sense that you're in one character, another character doing something else in the song, the story is pretty simple to follow. It's not too complicated and not too difficult, I hope, for people to identify with. Being a composer is not like being a musician. It's not the same and I've gotten used to it. I'll send a song to the band because I'll have written it at home or on the road. The song appears in front of me with her playing it on the guitar.