E (from Eels) Talks Art, Persistence in the Face of Tragedy, and Cookie Monster
Summary
John Moe interviews Eels frontman Mark Oliver Everett about his new album, Cookie Happened, and its philosophical title. They discuss E's lifelong battle with depression and the profound grief of losing his father, sister, and mother, which inspired the 1998 album Electroshock Blues. E reflects on how he transformed these tragedies into art, finding a positive outlook on life's hardships. The episode concludes with Moe’s personal reflection on grieving the suicide of actor RJ Mitte and other artists, arguing that deep connections through art are valid grounds for mourning.
Topics discussed
Intro: The sorcery of songwriting and show welcome
Context: E's history, grief, and the new album
The concept and title of 'Cookie Happened'
Analyzing the song 'Clobbered' and writing in character
Discussion on Outkast's 'Hey Ya' and hidden sadness
Finding the 'blue sky': The origin of Electroshock Blues
Audio clip: Electroshock Blues title track
Family lineage of depression and childhood insecurity
Forming surrogate families and touring dynamics
Carrying grief and being death-obsessed
Prioritizing life and the bucket list
E's father and the theory of parallel universes
Audio clip: 'Congratulations to Me' from Cookie Happened
Sponsor segment: Maximum Fun member of the month
Sponsor segment: The Jackie and Lori Show
Processing the death of his father and early music
Early career: From drummer to frontman in California
Therapy and the therapeutic power of songwriting
Favorite cookies and the 'E' name controversy
Outro: Links to 'Hey Ya' covers and social media
Monologue: Grieving artists we never met (RJ Mitte, Cobain)
Next episode preview, credits, and production team
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