WFUV at SXSW: Brendan Benson Interview

Brendan Benson has been putting out records since 1996, and kicked things up a notch by co-founding The Raconteurs with friend Jack White, but now he's facing a new challenge: Starting his own record label, and releasing a new record on it.

That kind of thing brings many an artist to SXSW, and the serious fun makes 'em stay, as he joked with WFUV's Rita Houston at the Hotel San Jose: "I'm just trying to stay sober enough to play. It's tough!"

Brendan is also an in-demand producer, based out of his home studio, and having a child means that role has been growing lately. "I want to stay home. I want to be with him while he grows up. And I love to be in the studio... I can produce records and hang out with my kid, instead of hoofing it on the road, and missing out on so much."

The new Readymade label had a SXSW showcase, where he played songs from the upcoming What Kind of World - its April 2012 release date is on his son Declan's second birthday. Brendan and Rita talked more about the songs and the musicians involved, you can see it all below.