Dry Ink: Where are you right now?

Tom Cheshire: I am in Puerto Varas Chile, about 14 hours South of Santiago. It’s a small German town.

DI: What are you doing there?

TC: Writing songs, drinking Stella and trying to find myself.

DI: What else have you been drinking?

TC: I have been drinking Pisco Sours, Piscola and a lot of red wine. The Chileans make fantastic wine.

DI: What is pisco?

TC: Pisco is a South American liquor distilled from grapes. It is messed up. I drink the 80 proof stuff. It is an iconic drink in Peru and Chile. Some would say it is a way of life. Pisco Sour has lemons and sugar in it and some prepare it with egg whites. You can also just drink it with Coke. The Chileans call it Piscola. It is so much fun. It creeps up on you. You can have two drinks and you’re falling down on the floor.

DI: It seems you’ve grown up a bit this year?

TC: Well let’s just say I’m learning to appreciate things. Sometimes you have to just stop and smell the roses you know. I spent the past few years hating most things and people. Now, I am all about love. I guess I’ve become a bit of a hippie but I have good fashion sense. Being in Chile has been good for my soul.

DI: What have you been writing about lately?

TC: I write about what I have always written about, relationships and life. I see things and observe things and just jot them down on a napkin or piece of paper. I also observe my own screw ups in life and write about them too. Most of my songs and poems are autobiographical I would say. I have been working on a musical on and off for the past couple of years. It’s just stuff based around my life and things that I’ve done. Some days I just document myself running errands. So some songs are about getting drunk and some songs are about getting groceries. It should come out in 2012. I’m hoping for Danny Bonaduce to play me if it makes it to Broadway. Excuse me while I make another pisco drink.

DI: How would you describe the music you’ve been writing lately?

TC: Well, I’ve been on a bit of a spiritual journey so obviously the songs have taken on new meaning. I guess you could describe it as Christian Jazz, Scientology Rock, Bible Blues and Hair Jazz. I’ve been on a journey but I also want to take you the listener on the journey with me. The songs though, sound nothing like the band Journey. I’ve been thinking about changing my name to Yanni Difranco.

DI: I heard you’ve been working out?

TC: Yes, I have to lose 38 pounds by next Wednesday. I have a photo shoot in Vina Del Mar. I’ve been running in place to Chilean Ska and doing push ups in the ocean. I’ve also been dancing to Alejandro Jodorowsky films. I have two more chins to lose.

DI: What do you expect to get out of 2010?

TC: I want a happy, healthy and productive year for myself and all of my loved ones. I want all of my family and friends to be doing what they want and be successful at it. It will be a good year I think. I will spend most of my time writing things down and putting napkins in my pants and of course drinking pisco. I will be shipping a few cases back to the United States.

DI: What have you been listening to lately?

TC: The great Chilean singer songwriter Victor Jara, Miles Davis, Wesley Willis and Mos Def.

DI: What else have you been doing in Chile?

TC: Took a bicycle wine tour in Santiago through the Maipo Valley, did some hiking in the mountains, swam with some penguins and a lot of dancing. We were dancing to Debbie Gibson last night. I really think 2010 may be her year to make a comeback.

DI: Have you seen any famous people since you’ve been here?

TC: Last night I had dinner with a Tom Jones look alike and we ran into Fran Tarkenton at the club for a minute. This is the place to be. They love Charlie Chaplin here and Depeche Mode too. Chileans have good taste.

DI: What can you say about the Chilean people?

TC: That they know how to live. They just do it and they will outlive the average American by at least 10 years. My cousin is 68. She drinks pisco and wine like a fish, smokes like a chimney, doesn’t wear underwear and rides a bicycle. She just did a wheelie in my face. Yesterday she was skiing the Osorno Volcano. They are really good and loving people and just seem to get life better than I ever have. I will try to start living my life more like them.

DI: Any words for the young kids out there?

TC: Yes, to be the BEST you gotta BEAT THE BEST!

DI: Anything else?

TC: Yes, spread rumors not diseases. Another thing kids, stay in touch with yourselves. No, on a serious note, go out there and start a band, paint a picture or write a poem. It’s good for you.