The Oshkosh West Index - All the world is a stage for streetside surrealist

Volume 106, Issue 1

Online Features

All the world is a stage for streetside surrealist

By Luke Harrison
posted September 26, 2009

Wisconsin's own small taste of Bohemia, Madison's State Street boasts a wide assortment of cultural and artistic rarities that make it a breeding ground for creativity and non-traditional entertainment. Often under appreciated, Madison's quirky music scene relies on DIY ingenuity and a raw passion for music over media coverage and critical acclaim. Embodying the heart and soul of this unconventional environment is street musician Art Paul Schlosser. Found on State Street playing for anyone who will listen, Art Paul Schlosser fuses his own unique brand of irreverent humor with minimalist guitar strumming and the occasional kazoo solo to create surrealist folk tunes that audiences won't soon forget. With a recent shout out on national television from Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert, it appears that this local artist is on the rise.

Q: What inspired you to be a street performer?

A: I saw Allen Hill do it here in Madison on State Street and thought if he could get all those people to stop and watch him maybe I could too. That was 24 years ago. I started playing seriously 23 years ago on State Street, on a warm February day. I made $2.OO the first day!

Q: Have you ever considered a more traditional musical career path?

A: In Madison there aren't as many venues to play for solo artists but I did start out writing lyrics for a band. With a band, there can be politics about who can sing and what lyrics they want you to write. A solo artist has more control over those decisions, so when the band I originally helped form said I couldn't sing, I started to consider playing by myself. My mother buying me a guitar also helped me to decide, as well as the fact that I didn't feel as comfortable or as part of the band when I was no longer able to be the singer. With very few venues to make money in as a solo artist and not being in a band, as well as needing a job… Well, State Street looked more and more like my cup of tea, especially since I had had enough of cleaning jobs.

Q: Who has influenced your particular musical style the most?

A: That's hard to say, but I do feel my mom's weird sense of humor and collection of a wide variety of records may be one of my number one influences.

Q: Describe the average day in the life of Art Paul Schlosser

A: There are no average days in my life. Each day is different. Everyday is full of surprises. Things happen on the internet, by phone, by mail and during open mics and I never know what to expect. It helps to keep writing and recording. It also helps to pray to God for opportunities.

Q: With a recession and withering album sales, the music industry hasn't been particularly successful as of late, do you fit the starving artist stereotype?

A: I think the recession is hurting stores more than musicians. I think musicians are still getting the money, but sometimes through downloads instead of CD sales. I am different though. I'm just a local street musician, so I don't make the money the touring groups do. However though I am poor, I am not broke or homeless. I am a musician who is willing to eat free meals and live in a small one room apartment with cheap rent rather than give up being a musician. I make a living but a poor one. However, I would rather be poor and do what I want, than get paid minimum wage doing what I hate.

Q: I've noticed you use a lot of online marketing tools like MySpace and Facebook. How have these social networking sites helped with your career?

A: Facebook is better because it asks people to verify who they really are. Facebook seems to work better than the phone, and it doesn't cost anything. MySpace worked at first, but now it seems more of a place to spam. But who knows, in a year or two maybe there will be something better. I love playing chess and scrabble on Facebook.

Q: Playing on State Street, you must see a lot of interesting people. Overall, how are you received by the public?

A: Lots of people like me, some hate me, some don't understand me and some really get me. People change their mind. Someone who at first doesn't like me may end up buying my CD later.

Q: Many of your songs feature rather absurd and humorous lyrics (i.e. "Pink Pants," "Purple Bananas on the Moon"), how do you write your lyrics and are they simply meant to be straightforward and silly, or are you an esoteric secret genius?

A: A lot of my songs like "Pink Pants," "My Cat Was Taking a Bath", and "Have a Peanut Butter Sandwich" are just simply straightforward and silly but "I'll Meet You on Mars" is a lot more esoteric and "Purple Bananas on the Moon" isn't just silly but also about being gullible… So I would say I am both.

Q: Are there any other under appreciated local artists such as yourself that our readers should check out?

A: If you like my songs you might also like Ken Lonnquist or Pat McCurdy. I think they both have a bigger following than me. Also, Lou and Peter Berryman are quite funny are very popular in Madison. If you're really into strange stuff you might want to try Da Yoopers who do hunting and fishing songs, or the great LukeSki, who does sci-fi rap.

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