He Is Beautiful

Andrew W.K. on ... something

by Will Dean

Andrew W.K. is doing what he wants to do. Known for infectious anthems like "Party Hard," "It's Time to Party" and "Party Til You Puke," the 27-year-old long-haired force of nature is now branching out into the not-so-obvious field of traveling lecturer and discussion leader. He's appearing at the First Unitarian Church to discuss, among other things, the fact that "you can only do what you want to do, and that's the only thing you can ever do."

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City Paper: Your event is billed as "The Glory of Our Time." Previously, it was called "A Lecture on Total Fun." So what's it going to be about?

Andrew W.K.: I don't know, exactly. I'm gonna allow my mind to wander in these days leading up to the lecture. I will roll that title around in my head and then in my mouth and allow it to come up with its own ideas as to what exactly that means. The ideas that we'll probably be talking about are those that are broad and inclusive ideas about the glory of our time, about being alive right now, and the glory that can be found in that.

CP: So is it going to be mostly you talking, or will there be a Q&A?

AWK: It's going to be a discussion. ... We can call it a lecture, we can call it any number of things, we can call it a concert, we can call it a party. The point of all this is to get a feeling developed, and it certainly takes more than one person to really build up a feeling for a whole room. So no matter the particulars of the engagement, I think as long as that feeling is being focused on by each individual, then it will be a success.

CP: What kind of feeling are you shooting for?

AWK: Well, for me, it's one specific thing that I'm going for, [but] everybody else will have their own version of that. But we might all be able to agree that it's a good feeling. We might all be able to agree that it's a feeling of possibility and energy. We might be able to agree that it's a loving feeling of excitement. ... All these events are opportunities to practice feeling good and learning about what we feel is good to us. What we think is good.

CP: Are you going to start incorporating music into these meetings?

AWK: Maybe — we'll see. It's never going to be formal enough to be summed up. That sort of kills it for me. ... It just is whatever happens and that's really all I want to do. Some people have reacted negatively to that. They thought it was not specific enough. ... [They needed] to be able to understand it in some way. You don't need to understand, you just need to experience it. I don't want to understand what I'm doing, you know?

CP: After the meeting, are you going to go out and party? And if so, could I come with you?

AWK: [Laughs] Yeah, sure. Please, please, please. If you introduce yourself and remind me of our great conversation here, it will come flashing back to me. Then maybe we'll go and get some cheesesteaks or hang around. I would love to enjoy the town while I'm there — that's for sure.