April 16th, 2014 
Brian Leak 
“If you can express yourself without hurting others and bring something into this life, well that’s the point of the thing.”
We recently had the chance to speak with San Francisco-based Adam Dishart, who goes musically by his solo moniker Books On Fate, a project started after working with his previous band, The Catholic Comb.
After the jump you can read through our conversation as we discuss the beautiful Bay Area, the works of Books On Fate, and the various projects he’ll be exploring in the not so distant future.
How did you land on Books On Fate as the name for this project? Any story behind that?
The story would really bore someone to tears. Let’s just keep it a mystery. A tiny insignificant mystery. The world could do with more of them.
And how would you describe your history with music? Was it around you a lot growing up? And when did you realize that this is the path you wanted to follow?
Music was not a part of my upbringing. It just wasn’t around. I suppose my first introduction to music was around 13 or so. A few of the older guys (by older I mean 18) whom I rode skateboards with were in bands. Straight edge bands, punk bands, one was a ska/rocksteady group. But I didn’t really fall into music until pretty late. I suppose I never felt like this was my path or anything. Writing songs still interests me and I feel challenged by it, so I just keep doing it. This answer doesn’t really make any sense.
I live a couple hours north of SF and The City is one of my favorite places in the world to visit. Sometimes I just get the urge to drive down and spend the day walking around soaking in the atmosphere. Does San Francisco have a prominent influence on your music, be it the sound you’ve developed or the way you write?
I’m not sure. I suppose there is a sad or romantic quality to my songs that could be influenced by San Francisco. San Francisco is very beautiful and there are a few buildings that have started to make me think about song ideas. We’ll see…
Where are some of your favorite SF places to hang out or venues to play?
Death Guild is a weekly goth night that is always a blast! The Plough and The Stars is the great Irish pub with music almost every night of the week. Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach are always beautiful. Cartoon Art Museum? Wow, I am a super nerd. Guess I don’t do much “hanging out” these days. As for venues, I like them all. I’m not picky.
Any albums that have been released this year so far that you could see topping your ‘best of 2014’ list?
You’ve got the wrong guy to ask about this. “Album Of The Year” always seems to translate to “Most Annoying Record Of the Year.” Sun Kil Moon and Neil Finn both put out new records that I like. Did Disintegration ever win album of the year? Maybe 2014 is the year!
You’ve got “Myth of Trust” and “Natural Sin Reprise” on your Bandcamp. Are there plans for an upcoming release that these will be on or are they just a “tide you over” kind of a/b-side?
They are just a one-off thing. I am recording a full-length right now and I just wanted to put something else out. “Myth Of Trust” was recorded a bit ago, but I didn’t really feel that it had a place with the other songs on Memory. “Natural Sin Reprise” is just an acoustic version of a song on Memory.
How would you say you’ve progressed and evolved as a musician since writing and recording Memory? Are there any influences that have come into your life since that album process that you can see playing a major role in the development of your next release?
Well I learned that I could actually do a record without a band. That was pretty frightening but ultimately liberating. This next one I feel more relaxed and confident I guess. As for experience and how it will effect this next one, I suppose I’m not as miserable right now as I was recording Memory. So we can only hope the songs will reflect that.
The artwork for the two releases on your Bandcamp is fantastic. Are they by the same artist? How did you choose what to use for both records?
Dave Pauls did the artwork for Memory and has done all my artwork since I started with my previous group. Vincenzo Barkasy did the artwork for “Myth Of Trust.” I really love illustration and I’ve been very lucky to have such talented people to work with. The process is the closest I have to bandmates really. I like to be involved with the concepts but pretty much just let them do their thing and let whatever inspiration they have come to life. Thanks, guys!
Do you have any touring plans in the works at any point this year?
I would like to. These days I play whenever and wherever I’m invited to.
Are you currently working on anything outside of BOF or is this your primary focus right now?
I am recording a full length titled Blossoms On The Creek — should be done this year. Also planning a re-issue of my previous band The Catholic Comb’s record for next year. And working on a duet I wrote with my friend Kim from a local group called Ghost Town Jenny. Should keep
me busy for a while.
Do you have an overall goal for what you want to achieve with this project?
Touring would be nice. Putting out quality music is enough for me. In my previous group I guess I wanted more, but it was a terrible hinderance. Feeling that you are learning and growing in your art and that it may find some sort of usefulness to another person are my goals.
Have there been any specific opportunities presented to you during this career choice that have really made you feel that sense of “this is why I do this” when it all clicks and everything seems right about what you’re doing?
I don’t really need anything to legitimize what I do. Every once in a while someone will say something at a show or in a message about how they relate to a song or how it gave them some comfort or made them laugh, and that is pretty damn great. To think you can actually affect people in these small ways is so wonderful. For me, songwriting is still so much fun. If I get a coherent thought across I feel pretty satisfied. If you can express yourself without hurting others and bring something into this life, well that’s the point of the thing.
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