Интервью немецкому фан-клубу
Эксклюзивное интервью, взятое у Gazebo главой немецкого фан-клуба Cat:
About your songs
1. Cat:
Would you please describe shortly, what inspired you to (write) the following songs?
Gazebo:
A) Lunatic
Well, Lunatic was inspired by a certain curiosity (and admiration) I?ve always felt for people with «special» talents like alchemists, mathematicians and artists. My archetype is «L'Albatross» by Charles Baudelaire, these people are so high above us that when they fly they?re majestic but when they land they?re pathetic, in fact most geniuses are weird !
B) Love in your eyes
This song is definately a naive justification for the "illness" most of us electronic musicians have and that is a certain indulgency towards wanting to go to bed with our gear, which of course girlfriends and wives must put up with !
C) Coincidence
Have you ever thought about casualty in our life ? So many times I thought about people I've crossed in the street and that at a certain point of my life for one reason or another became important to me. Remember «Doctor Zivago» ? The final scenes ... and some Lelouch movies...
That's life, and what if it wasn't casual ? what if we're all part of a screenplay ? Matrix !
D) Wherever you go
It's a story of a fan, one of those faces in the crowd ... Dedicated to Japanese girl who used to call me (wonder where she got my number) from Osaka (and that's far !) every two or three days for a year or so without being able (in the beginning) to say a word in English ! She eventually learned a couple of words but I don't think it was the best investment of her life !
E) Bloodlink
I'm quite affectionate to this song, it's dedicated to Gabriel, my son and it's part of «Scenes ..» my last «real» album, «Scenes ..» is a special record, it's story and it's stories are very close to my real life (at the time), the awakening, after those nice and superficial 80's , I found out that very close to where I lived (Italy) there where wars, massacres and hatred developing at an incredible speed.
And memories from my early childhood came back (my father was working at the Italian Embassy in Amman ) I saw all those scenes of bombing and desperation .
This song is about the importance of life and life beyond our own — I see myself going on in my son just as I see my father in myself every day etc …
F) Tycoon
Well, there is only one thing a tycoon and a beggar in the street have in common and that is that one day or the other they will die.
This song is more optimistic than this explaination, we should all do something to help those who have been unlucky because we (well some of us) have gained an abundance that is far above our actual needs. I mean what will Bill Gates do with all his $$$$ once he's off ?
I'm quite happy to notice that finally some nations (like Italy) have decided to reset the credits with of some third world countries.
G) Smile
This song just as «Wherever you go» are part of a B side tracks CD only released in Germany.
As such it isn't very representative. However it's a nice instrumental for supermarket or whateveruwant use ! I also like to play around with my gear sometimes as opposed to «work» !
H) Woman come Women go
I've always felt like once a sentimental relationship comes to an end many things are bound to disappear forever like some words, scents and sounds that have come to a very special meaning in this relationship.
This is what I actually miss the most from my ex girlfriends.
And this is why I'm worried because I keep the backdoor still open ! It's a simple voice-guitar thing to sing to friends around a fire on the beach etc...
Cat:
Is there any song that relates you to a special story or is valuable to you for any other reason?
Gazebo:
As I said most of the songs from «Scenes ..» onwards are related somewhat with my personal life and my impressions as opposed to the former CDs where my lyrics where based on pure imagination.
Cat:
Your song «Masterpiece» was dedicated to Gloria Swanson. Do you have a special affection to the movies of that era? Which do you like most (probably more than one)?
Gazebo:
I've always been interested in the b/w era in motion picture. In fact those movies remind me of books, they leave a lot to your fantasy because the b/w definition is very bad and all you have is lights and shade... (so blurry)
As for Gloria Swanson , well it's more about her character in «Sunset Boulevard» than about herself ...
I've always preferred Greta Garbo's mysterious emptiness ...
Cat:
Your album «Telephone Mama» seems to tell a story. Was that your intention? What did you inspire?
Gazebo:
I wrote the whole screenplay (because that's what it was in my intentions) at The Keio Plaza hotel in Tokyo in June 1984, I wanted to do a concept-album as opposed to a fragmented single collection of lyrics, the story is a mixture of a Bond movie and a «noir» Jean Gabin thing mixed up with a bit of Orwell (Blade Runner) and some of those hermetic USSR movies from the seventies (Tarkovsky).
The main character was codename «Bolivian Dancer» sent to East Berlin form some whatnot mission, he steps into «Fraulein» and things turn bad...
For details check the album ;-))
Cat:
Are you influenced while composing new songs/a new album?
Gazebo:
Of course, that is the basics in any creative form !
Cat:
Where do you get your ideas?
Gazebo:
Anything, anywhere and anyhow ! I remember I got the idea for «Dolce Vita» (a song originally performed by Ryan Paris) at the ... (reading a gossip magazine) but don't tell anyone !
Cat:
What ist going on in your brain when you're creating a new melody?
Gazebo:
Well , I think there are quite a few thousands of glorious books out there that can explain scientifically the process of creativity, all I can say is that it's a «trance» state for me and it's very, very addictive ! It's also the best therapy I know for stress, anger and depression.
As for the results ... it's up to you ...
Cat:
Do you write your songs according to situations out of your daily life?
Gazebo:
As I said before , yes ultimately, but I do like to «generalise» and «idealise» (whatever that means)...
Cat:
If you listen to «I Like Chopin», «Love is a miracle», «Smile» and add your project «The Ark» it soon is clear that your music depends on many different styles. Is there any style that you dislike completely?
Gazebo:
Music is an art form and I like it as such, I'm intrigued by frequencies (audible ones at least) and how they relate to us.
These frequencies have been boxed in what we call «scales» of which we basically deal with a particular one called «well tempered».
Most of the music from the world and from the past doesn't know what a scale is and expresses itself from the simplest growl to a stomp on the floor, these sounds have a precise meaning.
When we listen to music at a rave party we listen to 90% bassdrums in a very simple 4/4 beat, this beat is exactly what all of our forbears used (stomping or hitting the flour) for their rituals or for their alert signals. This sound is so fundamental to us because we have it "memorised" in our DNA, it belongs to the chemistry of our body.
Therefore I can't say there is a particular form of music I «dislike» (I've been brought up in the Seventies where blending was fashionable) I can just say that I like «good» music and I hate «bad» music.
Now don't ask me what is «good» and what is «bad» !
Cat:
This year you published a «Greatest Hit»-album (Portrait/Viewpoint). When do you think you'll publish new songs?
Gazebo:
Now that's a Billion $ question ! I have a lot of material (10 years since «Scenes ...») but I'm waiting for the right moment (if it will ever come).
Unfortunately making records is strongly related to a market and markets are strongly related to commercial rules which are strongly related to publicity which is strongly related (sorry about this) to .... money.
And the money is handled by the big corporations ... which will invest on what the market wants which at the moment isn't exactly what I do , so .....
I'll probably produce the new record and sell it exclusively on the web, mail order on Softworks and MP3 on Vitaminic, but this involves some work and therefore some extra time.
Stay tuned !
About your work in general
Cat:
How do you compose your songs? Which instrument do you use?
Gazebo:
Depends, usually it starts with some sort of beleep or scmuntz from my computer but some songs have been written on a piano or on a guitar. I even wrote a song once only on a score (but I'll never release it !)
Cat:
What does your work look like when you're in a studio? Do you work in a crew or do you prefer to work alone?
Gazebo:
Well, my studio is the only tidy place in my environments ! There are so many wires, floppies and teacups around you're bound to give it some kind of order to get in !
There's no specific rule as to how a song develops, sometimes it's just me from note 1 to the final mix (Sweet Life was made like that) sometimes it's people all over the place (Projekt Jon).
Usually once I've configured my ideas I call in my friends and get them to play ...
I've worked with my faithfull Emanuele Donnini (engineer) for quite some time now (since «Scenes ...») and I'm spoilt, I don't have to deal with the technical stuff too much.
But the way music is produced has changed and much of it is around a computer nowadays so I do a lot of my technical twidlings by myself now, also because Emanuele is betraying us with Radio Vatican (ah, those priests !)
Cat:
What musician would you like to work with?
Gazebo:
There are quite a few ...I would love to have Manu Katche' and Tony Levin on my next album !
Cat:
What do you do on a very «normal» day?
Gazebo:
Wake up early, make breakfast to every body (believe it or not !) once they're off do my email stuff and then rush to the studio (not far, just downstairs) and pretend making music !
But then when is «a normal day» ?
Cat:
How long does it take you to create a new album?
Gazebo:
Another Billion $ question, «Sweet Life» took a month and the new one is taking me 10 years ! Usually it's a three or four months (just for the production).
Cat:
Is there any chance to see you on stage next time?
Gazebo:
I'm afraid not, at the moment.
About you
Cat:
Which kind of music do you like most nowadays?
Gazebo:
I'm back on classical music (Debussy mostly) and Fusion (Miles Davis) but that will change !
Cat:
Which was your very first record?
Gazebo:
«Don't let me down» by the Beatles, I was six or seven ...
Cat:
What kind of music are you influenced basically?
Gazebo:
All music, basically Classical, Jazz , Rock and Ethnic.
Cat:
Is there a special musician who influenced you basically?
Gazebo:
I've always admired Peter Gabriel's work, whether with Genesis or alone.
But I'm very carefull not to be influenced by anyone, it's too easy and self indulgent. It blurs your identity.
Cat:
Which instrument would you like to learn to play?
Gazebo:
I've always dream't of playing violin really well, boy that's difficult !
Cat:
Have you thought of studying at the University as you left school?
Gazebo:
I have actually, I even have a degree in Litterature (could you believe it !?)
Cat:
What would you have liked to study at the University?
Gazebo:
I've always wanted to be a veterinarian but wasn't good enough in math, so ...
Cat:
What did make you go to London?
Gazebo:
I had some demos and a lot of time off !
Cat:
Which bands/groups did you work with in London?
Gazebo:
Many, I worked a lot with Denis Haines from the Tubeway Army.
Cat:
How do you spend you free time?
Gazebo:
I like carting and have in the past done some Formula 3, if Schumacher could play an instrument like he plays with the gas pedal of his Ferrari he'd be a «Lunatic» !
But I also love nature and like to go for long walks in the woods (confession : I always take mini disk recorder with me , there are some many beautifull noises in the forests !)
Cat:
Do you like to read books? Which author?
Gazebo:
Yeah I love reading, but unfortunately don't have much time.
Of course when I travel I always have a French Eighteenth century guy along !
Cat:
What would you tell a young musician starting his career now?
Gazebo:
Good luck !
Some «indiscreet» Questions...
Cat:
What would you take by when you have to spend time on an island with no one else there (three items, water and food are there)?
Gazebo:
My Ramirez guitar, my Powerbook and a solar cell for my Powerbook !
Cat:
What kind of human behavior do you dislike most?
Gazebo:
Arrogance
Cat:
What kind of human behavior do you like most?
Gazebo:
Human behavior
Cat:
What is your strong point?
Gazebo:
Creativity
Cat:
- your weak point?
Gazebo:
I'm Lazy !!!!!
Cat:
What do you fear most? What are you afraid of?
Gazebo:
The future of this planet (ozone and stuff) and the quality of life for my children.
Cat:
What would you think is your most disliked habit?
Gazebo:
I always say what I think and people don't usually like that (or don't like what I think !)
Cat:
What can make you furious?
Gazebo:
Betrayals (friends) and taxes !
Cat:
What would you enjoy most? What would make you feel most happy?
Gazebo:
Professionally I'd love to have a big hit (in case you thought the opposite) and have the opportunity to tour and therefore meet you all !
Personally nothing gives me more joy than to play around with Eve and see Gabriel win in his swording (is that the right word ?) competitions.
Cat:
If you had the possibilities; what wish would you like to make come true for yourself?
Gazebo:
I'd like to win a Billion $ in a lottery game and buy that island in your question above !
No really, I consider myself so lucky to be able to make playing for a living, I couldn't ask for more !
Cat:
If you could travel into the Past; would you change anything or do a different way?
Gazebo:
Well , I've done a lot of mistakes specially for my career but I don't regret anything, it's not in my character. All and all I'm happy with the way things went, in Rome we say : «Chi s'accontenta gode» (time for a dictionary !)
Cat:
Do you have a pet?
Gazebo:
Of course, I've always had pets, when I was in Denmark (67-70) my bedroom was a Zoo, I had an aquarium, five cages full of all sorts of birds, guinea pigs, hamsters and even white mice (a heritage from my class).
Now (more wisely) I have a beautiful female Maremmanian Shephard called Bianca and five tough red fish in small pool in the garden (Rome is quite tempered, don't worry).
Cat:
If you could be an animal; what would you prefer?
Gazebo:
Unicorn ?
Well, that's it. Hope you had some fun....
Cat:
Thank you for this interview and all the best for the future
Gazebo:
Thank you and all the best to you and all your friends!
