Hi Alain, it’s a pleasure to speak with you again. How have things been going for you in the last year? Considering this very tough period we’ve been facing.
Well, like everybody I’ve had to get used to the whole new situation, shifting from a total surprise last year to a form of resignation right now where this crisis will obviously last for quite some time. Basically I just respect the sanitary rules and spend most of my time at home. Regarding the touring part of my activity well it’s a very bad situation as all clubs are closed, however in terms of music writing and producing, staying home days at a time can be quite positive, so basically I am just making music, preparing new releases.
Let’s talk about your new release - “Silence at Sea”. You’ve chosen a very worthy collaborator in Ian Urbina. How did this whole concept come about, and did it take long for you to write the four tracks?
Ian Urbina contacted me last year and explained me the basic principle of the Outlaw ocean music project, which is a collaboration melding music and journalism around the topic of criminality and lawlessness on the Oceans around the globe. During his diverse reporting Ian did a lot of audio field recording. The idea was to combine original music with these audio field recording. Ian Sent me a lot of files, basic waves and boats sounds, gunfire, talks, people talking over boat radio & spoken Interviews, and then I picked up some very basic demos in my notebook and started to develop the musical ideas around the selected audio field recording. It’s been a quite fast process, approx 6 weeks for the whole EP.
Well, like everybody I’ve had to get used to the whole new situation, shifting from a total surprise last year to a form of resignation right now where this crisis will obviously last for quite some time. Basically I just respect the sanitary rules and spend most of my time at home. Regarding the touring part of my activity well it’s a very bad situation as all clubs are closed, however in terms of music writing and producing, staying home days at a time can be quite positive, so basically I am just making music, preparing new releases.
Let’s talk about your new release - “Silence at Sea”. You’ve chosen a very worthy collaborator in Ian Urbina. How did this whole concept come about, and did it take long for you to write the four tracks?
Ian Urbina contacted me last year and explained me the basic principle of the Outlaw ocean music project, which is a collaboration melding music and journalism around the topic of criminality and lawlessness on the Oceans around the globe. During his diverse reporting Ian did a lot of audio field recording. The idea was to combine original music with these audio field recording. Ian Sent me a lot of files, basic waves and boats sounds, gunfire, talks, people talking over boat radio & spoken Interviews, and then I picked up some very basic demos in my notebook and started to develop the musical ideas around the selected audio field recording. It’s been a quite fast process, approx 6 weeks for the whole EP.
Listen to the EP below:
We’re seeing an emergence of a new style musically for you. Are you really enjoying the creative process again now? What drives you to sit in the studio and make music after such an illustrious career as a musician?
Illustrious career is certainly an overstatement :) Well I am still enjoying the creative process, and I am glad it’s the case otherwise it wouldn’t be an easy situation. I’ve realised over the years that the more I try to polish the music and make it sounds better, the worst it gets, so I just do simple things now, trying to avoid overthinking and I mainly trust the very 1st demo when the basic idea emerges. I am still working with a Buchla modular so very often I do session of pure modular randomness, I record a lot of takes and then afterwards I edit and use these recordings as main ideas or just additional ideas in various tracks. Most of all when I switch to studio mode I try to relax before and get my mind free of any preconceived idea.
I’m always interested in how artists and friends make music. Have there been any significant equipment additions or subtractions in your studio since 2019?
For now it’s all about subtraction. I’ve just kept a basic Buchla set up, a MPC 3000, a pair of Electrodyne EQ’s & Pre’s and one Bus Compressor. One addition though, a computer using Digital performer for editing and arranging and also processing through some selected plugins. By the way I’ve recently discovered the Plugin DF-XCITE by Drum Forge, it’s dedicated to drums processing, EQ & Saturation and it’s not expensive at all but does an instant great job that no other plug in does.
Outside of music and this world crazy scene we are involved in, what do you like to get up to in your free time? Are there any other areas of art or business you like to delve into?
To be honest, I am oscillating between making music and taking care of my kids, basically that’s it :)
Illustrious career is certainly an overstatement :) Well I am still enjoying the creative process, and I am glad it’s the case otherwise it wouldn’t be an easy situation. I’ve realised over the years that the more I try to polish the music and make it sounds better, the worst it gets, so I just do simple things now, trying to avoid overthinking and I mainly trust the very 1st demo when the basic idea emerges. I am still working with a Buchla modular so very often I do session of pure modular randomness, I record a lot of takes and then afterwards I edit and use these recordings as main ideas or just additional ideas in various tracks. Most of all when I switch to studio mode I try to relax before and get my mind free of any preconceived idea.
I’m always interested in how artists and friends make music. Have there been any significant equipment additions or subtractions in your studio since 2019?
For now it’s all about subtraction. I’ve just kept a basic Buchla set up, a MPC 3000, a pair of Electrodyne EQ’s & Pre’s and one Bus Compressor. One addition though, a computer using Digital performer for editing and arranging and also processing through some selected plugins. By the way I’ve recently discovered the Plugin DF-XCITE by Drum Forge, it’s dedicated to drums processing, EQ & Saturation and it’s not expensive at all but does an instant great job that no other plug in does.
Outside of music and this world crazy scene we are involved in, what do you like to get up to in your free time? Are there any other areas of art or business you like to delve into?
To be honest, I am oscillating between making music and taking care of my kids, basically that’s it :)
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