1.) WHICH RECORD HAS HAD THE MOST PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON YOU?
I’m not sure I could be that specific, but my time working with Coil in the early 00s and subsequently with Cyclobe completely rewired my musical thinking.
Coming from a traditional classical background, I’d been transported by the works of such ground-breaking 20th century composers as Ligeti and Berio, but my training and the way these pieces were analysed by academia had led me to believe that the strange worlds they evoked could only be attained through the rigorous application of advanced music theory.
The music of Coil and Cyclobe took me to the same places and beyond and yet their working methods were not only completely accessible to me but also a lot more fun.
2.) HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU SPEND A WEEK RECORDING/PLAYING/CREATING?
I spend 3 days making bagpipes in the workshop most weeks. Playing and recording is more sporadic. With The Utopia Strong we do 99% of the work when we’re together and these sessions usually involve us all living together for several days recording, listening, discussing and editing.
As far as recording and composing on my own, I’m extremely undisciplined and easily discouraged by my own inner critic. I rarely come up with anything I like when I set out to compose. All my favourite ideas are a result of preparing myself for a performance or doing a specific session assignment and then getting distracted messing around afterwards.
3.) WHICH OF YOUR OWN CREATIONS IS YOUR FAVOURITE?
Spirans Amore from The Witching Tale’s debut album.
I’d recorded a synth part that I was quite pleased with. To this Katharine Blake added a beautiful vocal arrangement. We then combined this with a dawn chorus which we captured in my back garden one Beltane morning. I can’t take any credit for the vocals or bird song but somehow all 3 elements come together to create something that, to my ears, is far greater than the sum of its parts. It’s one of my favourite pieces of music ever, by anyone. I wish I could remember what I was doing.
4.) WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST REGRET?
Many of the things I enjoy doing the most are very bad for your health.
5.) WHAT DO YOU DO TO RELAX?
Sleep
6.) OTHER THAN FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHAT IS YOUR MOST CHERISHED POSSESSION?
Probably my Armenian made duduk in A and my favourite two reeds. The geometry of the instrument itself is extremely simple compared to the chanters I make, yet the close copies I’ve made don’t sound anywhere near as good, even using my best reeds, I really don’t understand where the magic lies but I love the mystery.
As far as the reeds go, every one I’ve bought is different and most are no good, but these two just work for me. I’ve heard of players giving up for a year or more after losing their favourite reed.
7.) TELL ME THREE OF YOUR HEROES/HEROINES?
Katharine Blake
Andrew Liles
James Hetfield
8.) WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD?
My home near Glastonbury. This area has been enchanting visitors and pilgrims for thousands of years and I’ve fallen prey to its heady spell.
9.) IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE YOUR ART WHAT OCCUPATION DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE DOING?
I’ve often thought being a hot air balloon pilot would be a fun career path, but I fear my nervous disposition might be unsettling for my passengers.
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 really like the first two Sabbat albums, History of a Time to Come and Dreamweaver (Reflections of Our Yesterdays)
Photo by Rob Kelly.
