Andy Votel

1.) WHICH RECORD HAS HAD THE MOST PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON YOU?
I’d honestly have to say Midnight Massiera by Jean-Pierre Massiera. Although it’s technically a compilation it’s the only way I can express gratitude for the outlaw influence he has had on me as a noise maker. His work is self-motivated, genre-defying, lawless, individualistic and retains a bizarre commercial pop sensibility but via his many name changes and endless recycling of the same ideas he never slowed down for criticism or let any person nor company derail him. The fact that he is a very early exponent of blatant vinyl sampling (what must have only been known as theft back then) is also awe inspiring to me. Other artists who have genuinely physically motivated me are Bruno Spoerri, Suzanne Ciani and Sean Demdike.

2.) HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU SPEND A WEEK RECORDING / PLAYING/CREATING?
I’m not going to do the maths, but virtually all my awake time is spent balancing design, music and writing and for this I consider myself very lucky. I try to complete a high percentage of my projects in less then a day once I’ve started, I think this is the most honest way of working.

3.) WHICH OF YOUR OWN CREATIONS IS YOUR FAVOURITE?
A lesser known album under the name Anworth Kirk.

4.) WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST REGRET?
Not many… But I once lost a teenage photo of my mum. She really didn’t want to lend it to me but I persuaded her to…. I stole her youth… twice!

5.) WHAT DO YOU DO TO RELAX?
I ring Rick Myers. Unfortunately I don’t relax enough.

6.) OTHER THAN FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHAT IS YOUR MOST CHERISHED POSSESSION?
A tiny Japanese woollen doll that fell out of an broken antique Pachinko machine’s ball-tray. It must have been stuck up there hiding from engineers as a mystery obstruction for 30 years.

7.) TELL ME THREE OF YOUR HEROES/HEROINES.
Suzanne Ciani
Jean Claude Vannier
Malcolm Mooney

8.) WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD?
Slavonice.

9.) IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE YOUR ART WHAT OCCUPATION DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE DOING?
I’d resort to crime in a heartbeat.

10.) IF THERE IS ONE THING THAT YOU WOULD WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT YOU HAVE NEVER CONVEYED IN AN INTERVIEW BEFORE WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
I don’t love music.