ireallylovemusic vs foetus
no introduction necessary. the man known as foetus answers some questions.
Hello Jim, Welcome back. "LOVE" is a fine fine album. I have noticed that you have pulled back a lot of the sonic excess and allowed your vocals to the fore .. was this something you deliberately intended to do - following "FLOW" ?
there isn't a conscious effort to "curb sonic excess",tho LOVE started life as an album which i wanted to be more spacious and with softer songs. as it progressed the arrangements got bigger but it is probably informed by my work with manorexia and with arrangements in steroid maximus.i have been delving into orchestral territory for twenty years or so, it is getting more refined, and yes probably coming more to the fore at the moment.
Has technology caught up with your approach to making music - after all in 1987 you were at the cutting edge production wise... How have you changed with your approach to crafting your songs?
the technology i use always has a bearing on my music as i have always used the studio as a tool manipulating the performances which effects the compositional process.
Have you become a massive laptop fan - or do you record via old school methods?
I have a couple of laptops and have written on laptop. my project babay zizanie was laptop based. But i prefer to work on a tower computer than a laptop.and also i still like to use hardware instruments in addition to software, and organic instruments occasionally as well as electronic ones.
How do you decide which songs will be released as a FOETUS track or Manorexia?
the foetus ones have a lead vocal.
'Thrush' - a vocal collaboration which is one of the albums highlights - how did this come about, and, is this a first for a FOETUS album (not incl. the Don't Fear the Reaper single)?
it might be the first for a foetus album. i have known jennnifer charles for a long time and we have done some other duets both live and in the studio. it is a breakthru having another singer on a foetus album,(york notwithstanding)
What's with the Elton John dig in the other album highlight - "Aladdin Reverse"? Has he mentioned you in song and this is a hip hop beef thing going on or what ?
no i dont know why that line came out, i just wrote it and it fit. i actually intended to take it out but i decided to keep it. it mentions that he eulogizes me in song, a la marilyn monroe/princess di in candle in the wind. The song is about aging, the peter pan complex, dorian gray. there are also a couple of veiled references to david bowie elsewhere on the album!
Do you still listen to hip hop in 2005, as there is very little hip hop influence in "LOVE"?
i cant say i am terribly interested in mainstream hiphop in 2005 in fact i find it dull as dishwater apart from the occasional missy elliot track.i used to dig it....of "urban" sounds i find dancehall/bhangra/ragga/grime type stuff more interesting, and what some breakbeat/breakcore people are doing.
One of the strongest factors in FOETUS product has always been the red/black/white artwork you create . why the deviation for the single - (not adam)?
i allow myself to deviate when it is not a "primary" album (ie one intended from the outset to be an entity unto itself) each "primary" album is accompanied by several "satellite" records. The (not adam) EP is a satellite record.There will also be a remix album spinning off this record (so far confirmed are Mike Patton, Matmos, Donna Summer aka Jason Forrest, Fennesz, Phylr, Tweaker and myself) and an album of rarities and unreleased material which will come out thru my website.
You seem to be gearing towards becoming an artist that at last is being regarded as 'seriously' (awful phrase - but hopefully you understand what I mean by this !) - with all your various projects and orchestral experiments, was this what you always intended to work your way into - or has it all just happened by chance and provided opportunities to stretch yourself in way that as a young man you would never have believed would have presented themselves to you ?
i have always been serious about what i do! and a serious artist. i am now occasionally being recognised in different worlds and i welcome the opportunity to challenge myself and take detours.
There was a period when FOETUS looked to almost crossover to the mainstream (Sony budgets, high profile remixes, MTV associations) were you ready for it?
Many would say that at that point i was constantly shooting myself in the foot and they are partly right,i am very wilfull and maybe perverse. But there are only a couple of letters different between perverse and persevere!
I read you tried to reclaim "GASH" for a vinyl release - did this ever come off - or does Sony still have "GASH" under their control?
Sony still has "GASH" though it is deleted as far as i know. There are no plans for a vinyl release.
Why did you go for a remix project with "FLOW" and will there be a follow on for LOVE?
see above
Do you still do remixes as I haven't seen/heard anything for quite a while,is this intentional pulling out and saving all your energies for your own product?
no occasionally i do a remix. i recently did remixes for end and snax.
and finally - THE question I have always wanted to ask :
"THAW" tour (1988) - London - Saturday night gig (opening night of 2 shows) -you and bassplayer (Algis Kizys), were both rather wound up during the show, ending in you joining the moshpit for some serious physical one-on-one action .. do you recall the incident ? and what provoked such extreme reactions from yourself ?
yes i remember it and i think i broke some guys nose. i jumped into the pit cos people were gobbing and i found it infuriating. unfortunately when i jumped into the crowd they parted like the red sea and i landed splat on my back, i was very sore the next day. algis probably jumped in to cover my ass.
thanks for everything.
over and out
lots of love
mark e
ireallylovemusic
the new foetus album 'love' is out now on birdland records.
other stuff :
foetus video : details