LIFE IN A BOX

Life in a Box is the musical project of Fabien Dortel, a french electronica producer.

Who are you?

Hi i'm a french electronica producer and my musical project is called « Life in a box ». I'm not used to answering interviews, but there's a first time for everything !

- Why did you choose this pseudonym?

Hum, it's quite hard to explain, let's try. I found the name « Life in a box » during a night of the year 2008 : it emerged from nothing and i realize now it perfectly fit with my way of conceiving music creation. « Life » is what i aspire to infuse in my music, through simple melodies, evolving like living things through geological eras or like a particular organism that is born, lives and dies. The creative process is always characterized by trial and error, adaptations, until you reach the point where the song is an entire thing, coherent and full of sense. Consisting of simple sounds, drums, timbres, like the elementary building blocks of life, the DNA, the song becomes, through a process of emergence, a being by itself... « the whole is more than the sum of its parts ». The « box » is either the human brain (mine or the one of the listener) or the machine i principally use to produce music, or every boxes that contain atoms, cells, living things, planets, concepts or anything else . Well, i didn't think i could explain it in a few lines !

When did you start to play this music?

Well, i started playing the piano at the age of 7 and during 10 years after that. But the studies kept me away from music and i realized i missed it a lot. I decided to create my own songs on the piano (i was hiding from my parents and played my creations alone, maybe due to bashfulness). And i discovered home studio in 2006 with Fruity loops and never stopped creating music since then. It became an important element of my personal balance.

-Talking about the compositions of your songs: how and where they born?

Like a living thing, a composition begins in a very simple way : some little melodic or rhythmic loops, or even a background soundscape that gives me the mood, the skeleton, the elementary parts of the finalized track. The difference with a living thing is that there is no predefined intention or comprehensive plan, but a simple frame where my mind rambles. i'm very influenced, mostly unconsciously, by all the music i've listened to, a few days/weeks or years before i create a new track. i usually listen to the different « work in progress » versions many many times, to soak my brain with the track, and i take several pauses of a few days, to make it « decant ». it helps me to sort between the essential (the evidence) and the accessory (my first versions are often « overloaded » because i explore many possible paths from the elementary parts)... little by little, a « destiny » emerges and the story is told.

- How would you define your sound?

Melodic, Chill-out, epic, peaceful, melancholic... are some of the adjectives i find in the soundcloud comments (someone even told me my music was « mind-expanding » : great compliment!)... I'm used to say i try to compose experimental pop.

-What genres and artists influenced your music the most?

When i started producing music, my musical culture was very poor, but i think i've always been attracted by making my own melodies. The first feedback on my tracks was : « cool, it's like early autechre » or « not so bad, aphex style » or « reminds me plaid or boards of canada »... to be honest, I discovered these great artists thanks to those first comments and, when i first listened to these compositions i told to myself : "the best sounds i've ever heard, it's 100 times better than my tracks, i'll need 250 years to reach it "^^ . But i recognized some similarities that helped me understand why my first listeners have established a link between my music and the musical approach of these artists. Since 2008, i've discovered a huge amount of IDM and electronica artists and among them, i find it very hard to write a restrictive list of my influences... let's try anyway : Kelpe, Kettel, Boards of Canada, Plaid, Ochre, Lusine, Apparat, Alva Noto, Steve Reich.... Recently I think my sounds are taking new directions, with more real sounds from my friends who are « real musicians », great collaborations with Lisa McKeon, the singer you hear in "Etendue des Possibles", and some groovy stuff.

-You come from Nantes, France. What do you think about the music coming from your country and how how do you see yourself in relation to them?

It's quite an hard question..i've never understood what was the « french touch ». To me, music is universal and I always find something interesting, whatever the style or the origin. I'm particularly sensitive to counterpoint, arpeggios, melodies and complex rhythms, exotic sonorities and soundscapes, pads, glitches and sound design, merging of real and virtual sounds, all that makes music come to life and arouses emotion.. There are always at least one of these elements in all musical styles... i only try to propose my own retranscription of these elements, putting them together. Electronica is, to me, a style that deserves to be more popular, a style which gathers such a big amount of musical influences... after reasoning, Electronica is not a style, it's a state of mind, open to the world, without frontiers or priorities : The codes exist but they're designed to be broken.

-What's your favourite artist and song?

If you allow me to mention 2 songs, i'd say :
Kaini industries by Boards of canada : one of their most minimal tracks, only consisting of a little arpeggio loop, but so complex at the same time and opened to multiple possiblities. Bibio has explored some of these possiblities in a beautiful reworked track for Warp records 20 years box (recreated).
Herzog by Clark : very powerful yet incredibly melodic track, both dark and surprisingly shiny, so cleverly « sound-shaped », a total journey.

-Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowadays and who are you listening to the most?

I assume they are the same artists ^^ + i've recently discovered an artist called flaKo, very original (usually i don't like house style but he's quite unique in that genre, so many influences). The tracks i've listened to most during the few past weeks are by Ventolyn & Becotyde, a young producer to whom i wish a great future ! Very interesting sounds. The last Jon Hopkins, Lusine and Bonobo are really excellent, too ! Floex is also a very, very interesting artist. And obviously, i'm very looking forward to listen the forthcoming album by Boards of canada « Tomorrows harvest ».

-If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who would you choose?

It will never happen but...maybe singers like Björk or Thom York (or both together^^)!

-What do you think about the music industry nowadays?

It's in deep mutation (i don't teach you anything). Music is no longer mainly a product or an industry but becomes what it should always have been : a legal, free and safe drug, contributing to humanity's evolution, a vital need like water and air, what the world needs. Money is only a way to thank the artist when he/she succeeds to arouse a positive emotion, to awaken an old happy memory. A simple friendly word can be even more rewarding !
Creative commons are the musical revolution. Bad Panda, that releases a huge number of artists for free, are definitely one of the first promotors of this (not so) new way to connect artists and listeners

-What is the message that you'd like to express to the people who listen to your music?

Music is life ! Spread it !!

-How and where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

Let's wait and see... there are so many paths to follow and so little time to explore them all... just follow the stream and your mood : make your choices when they become obvious and hope you'll reach a sunny bay, with all the people that matter to you and who have accompanied you on the way. To me, creating music follows exactly the same process.

-Pc or Mac?

Metaphysical question ! both

-What about your future plans? Album, EP, Live ecc

I plan the release of a full album in a few month ! You'll find new collaboration tracks and quite a big amount of songs that are close to my heart. The album will be called « Holon ». i prepare a Live too but never played in front of a "real" public yet. Live production is a different approach and i have to work hard, but it's worth doing so 

-Beatles or Rolling Stones? 

Beach boys (melodic kings)

LISSON

facebook fanpage

22 years old producer/sound engineer from UK

 -Who are you?

I'm Sam Ellison, I'm 22 and I currently live in Guildford in the UK. I've been there for the past four years studying sound recording on the Tonmeister course. Now I'm about to graduate and move up to London where I've recently started working in a recording studio.

- Why did you choose this pseudonym?

Well... Firstly it's *really* hard to think of a good name without it being pretentious... I was deliberating over it for a while, but I needed to pick something fast so I could release on the first Wizard Sleeve compilation (check it out here -http://www.wizardsleeve.co.uk). I chose Lisson because it sounds like 'listen' and it's a play on my own name if you break it down (sam L isson...).

- You are young. When did you start to make this music?

I only really started making this sort of electronic music just over a year and a half ago. It's progressed a lot since then I think - I used to make tunes around 140bpm, and now I don't have much inclination to anymore. I think I'll stick between 120-135 mostly, as that encompasses the majority of music I've been into recently. But it's a constantly evolving process, and my sound may be something entirely different in a year. Watch this space... 

-Talking about the compositions of your songs: how and where are they born?

Most are born out of experimentation - I'll make something I like and branch off from there. I'm still trying to fully define my technique for compositions, it can be a bit of a haphazard process and I worry that there is a certain incongruence between the results. I'm working to try and make my own sound, so people hear a track of mine and know it's me. Since getting a Maschine I've got more of a defined process to starting my tracks. Problem is it's not the right software to finish tracks in, so from there I move to Logic Pro but often get stuck if I'm not quick to realise my ideas. In terms of where: I'll begin a track on the Maschine at home, do as much as I can on that, and then I'm always pulling out my laptop on train journeys and free moments to try and make progress and come up with ideas. It's definitely not ideal - I don't have any controllers with me when I'm travelling so realising ideas is often quite hard. It's a good time to program synthesisers though :)

- How would you define your sound?

I don't know exactly... How would you define my sound? I'm very interested to know what others think, it's quite easy to lose perspective when you're the only person working on the music. I try and aim to sit under the umbrella of 'bass music' - as a term it isn't very well defined, and I like that, since I just like making music that works well in the sub frequencies. I want to push the subs in a club (like this - https://soundcloud.com/lisson/ohkehdruh)  - I think bass can move people in a different way and I really like that. I'm still working to achieve that control though.. still working on it.

-What genres and artists influenced your music the most?

I think the biggest influences on my sound are my peers who make music too. I started this type of music at university, so people and collectives there such as Wizard Sleeve and Presha Bass Music helped develop my interest and my sound. I got into electronic music through IDM, followed by drum & bass then dubstep. It was after dubstep was killed that I started making my own tunes. The artists that influence my sound most... too many to name, but a couple that come to mind are Randomer, Paleman, Dark Sky, Blawan, Jon Convex, Objekt, Rumah and Tarquin.

-You come from UK. What do you think about the music coming from your country and how how do you see yourself in relation to them?Well theres a lot of music coming from the country - I've only got into this scene in the past few years so I'm certainly no authority on it all. I think the music coming from my country is great - but I feel it's not defined by the country, it's a much more international thing. All the blogs that have posted about me so far have been from outside of the UK! When I move to London soon I'll try and DJ more and be a bit more lucrative with my own tunes, then I'll get back to you!

-What's your favourite artist and song?

I don't have a constant favourite song anymore, though when I was younger it was Citizen Erased by Muse. My current favourite song... maybe Freak Dub by Randomer? That one's fun to drop. But it all depends on the vibe doesn't it!

-Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowadays and who are you listening to the most?

I don't know about relevant - if I try and answer this I'll just end up repeating myself - see above :)

-If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who would you choose?

It'd be pretty fun to play with an electronic outfit that do their live sets properly, like Mount Kimbie...

-What do you think about the music industry nowadays?

Oh god. Don't get me started... So as I mentioned above, I'm working in a recording studio in London. I've also worked for one of the major international publishing companies in London for some time. Doing that gave me a first hand view of how the commercial music industry works. It was pretty down-heartening - but I'm trying to keep positive about it all since I'll be a close part of that at least for a while. It's all about making money, but I like good music. The two just don't co-exist very well. I'm not going to provide you with any insightful suggestions about the whole situation. But yeah, it's either music, or money, it seems. But the underground scene is awesome, and never was about making money in the first place, so that's all cool. Weird/interesting to watch an artist I consider/considered good make the cross from underground to commercial releases. Disclosure are a great example of this.

-What is the message that you'd like to express to the people who listen to your music?

HA. I don't take myself that seriously. Neither should any of you.

-How and where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

I reckon I'll still be around London. Ideally I'll strike a balance between DJing and producing, and some sound engineering work. We'll see won't we! No WAY did I think 10 years ago that right now I'd be sitting at work in a studio full of high tech equipment, good musicians and hazy air. It's a pretty sick job.

-Pc or Mac?

Mac. But whatever your machine is, as long as it works, that's fine.

-What about your future plans? Album, EP, Live eccNot much as of yet, still need to develop my sound a lot. Might be doing some collaborative work soon, also might be releasing a track through a blog in the USA.

-Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Not much of a preference - but Beatles.

MSK

photo by Rus Anson - www.rusanson.com 

Antonio Musco ( aka MSK ) is an eclectic italian artist. Born in Sicily, Italy and he traveled across the Europe before moving to San Francisco in 2010.

San Francisco inspired the 6 tracks of the EP ( MadeinSF ), a blend of electronic , downtempo, funk and  world music.

-So, let's start with name , MSK. Why did you choose this and what does it mean for you?

My last name is Musco, so when I started to produce electronic music back in 2003 i needed a name. Just took the consonants of my last name, changed the C with a K (sounds more exotic, isn't it?) also because a famous cruise ship company. Then i figured that MSK is already used worldwide by graffiti crews, soccer teams, frequency shifting, Moscow time, etc so i wanted to stick with MSK but I added .fm to make it unique. Also because of my love for the radio. That's MSK.fm

- But who are you?

Antonino Musco, a simple human being that loves music and seeks harmony in this existence. I was born and raised in Sicily, Italy but traveled a lot and lived in different countries, trying to learn as much as I can and to keep my mind deep and interested.

-And if i ask you why do you make music and what does it mean to you?

Music is something that i need, at least I need to be around music every day. Music feeds me, its food for my soul. Making or listening to music is a serious thing, you can compare to a nine-to-five job but with longer, sometimes endless, shifts.

bandcamp page

-Let's talk about the birth of your new EP “Made in SF”.

I was on production hiatus for 5 years, since I published "MSK - Am I Scared?" and "Sicilian AV project - live bootleg" in August 2008. Since then I traveled a lot and lived in different places until finally settling in the Mission District in San Francisco, a place I can call home now.

Here I've set up my music studio and recorded with local artists and great musicians just visiting in town. I've learned a lot and gained much more experience in the past 5 years so these songs are, for me, a more mature approach to songwriting and production. The EP was published by Bad Panda Records in April and so far got a great feedback from the listeners. It represents my experience in the City, even the lyrics, wrote by the singers, are tuned into that.

- How would you define your sound?

I love jazz, funk, afro-american music in general and also love experimental stuffs, electronic and world music. I feel the downtempo is the best pace for this project, with a blend of acoustic and electric instruments. Also during these years I've opened and really got into hip-hop and urban sounds a lot, influence that you can find in MadeInSF mood.

-What genres and artists influenced your music the most?

My biggest influences were, are and always be Ennio Morricone, Nino Rota, Charles Mingus and Frank Zappa.

-You come from Catania, Italy. What do you think about the music coming from your country and how do you see yourself in relation to them?

You know what, according to the music that I love and make, there is not a big scene in Italy and neither in Sicily. Catania in the nineties was great for the alternative rock scene, here in San Fran I always met some musician who tells me that he was playing in Catania during those years and was a blast. Nowadays it's different and it's also hard for me to find a gig over there. So i do my things here in SF and go to Sicily in the summer for vacations.

- Why did you choose San Francisco?

Was love at first sight. At that time I was living in Rome, came here visiting and decided to stay. This City meant a lot for me, was a big challenge to re-start from scratch in another continent but I dealt with it pretty good and after 3 years i'm still happy of my choice. I've grown professionally a lot here. 

San Fran is very progressive city, maybe the most progressive in the US, and California is just lovely, whose landscapes remind me Sicily and Italy.

Also living in here helps my radio and music job a lot, being surrounded by great musicians and artists and sharing knowledge and feeling with them easily.

-Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowadays and who are you listening to the most?

Too many to mention! Nowadays, I'm talking about the independent scene, the average quality level is higher comparing the past. I host two weekly radio shows so I'm listening a lot of new stuff every day but never get bored.

-Do you have a favorite artist and song?

Maybe Fabrizio De André - La domenica dell salme. I grew up listening De André, I've listened his records million times but still find new meanings in his lyrics. Definitely another cornerstone of my musical education.

facebook fanpage and official website

-How much does the live element matter in your music?

It's very important because I grew up listening to jazz and improv music. I always bring musicians, singers, MCs and other performers to my shows. A visual elements is also included: can be a live painter, a live sculptor, a mime, belly dancers, a VJ or an illustrator. I firmly believe in mixed arts and always being a promoter of multimedia performances.

-If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who would you choose?

Rage Against The Machine, period. Do you remember them? I've seen them live in Milan in 1996 and so far is the best live concert I've ever attended, these guys were on fire and the crowd too, unforgettable show!

-What do you think about the music industry nowadays? Wanna talk us about your experience with the labels? What advice would you give to all the young artists looking for a record deal?

I currently collaborate with Six Degrees records, pretty well respected world music label worldwide. It's been almost a year now and thanks to them I'm getting to see the insights of the music industry. Also working with radio helps a lot to get a sight of the industry; but honestly, what can I tell to young artists looking for a deal: don't get demotivated if the record label you sent your demo never write you back, keep pushing your band/act with music production and live shows. There is way much (never too much) music out there and for a record label is hard (impossible) to listen to all the unsolicited demos they got in the mail. Even the smallest record label gets tons of unsolicited demos in the mail, how can you blame them for not replying you? 

So just do your thing and keep getting better and better, in the studio and especially live.

- Talking about Sicilian AV Project

Sicilian AV project is an audiovisual antimafia collective started in 2005, a "serious" approach to music at least for the topics exposed. It's something started as a research/study on sicilian literature during my university years that ended up in a multimedia show describing Sicily as a metaphor - an analogy - of the entire country or maybe the entire world.

Jazz, downtempo and electronic live music played by a quintet accompanied by live illustrations thematic visuals. We recorded a self-titled debut album in 2007 and a "live bootleg" the following year, we did a number of shows in Italy (also playing at the prestigious Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival in Rome) and Slovakia but since I moved to San Francisco the project is on hold. This coming summer we are recording some new stuff with the collective to release by next fall/winter. 

-And at last an easy one: Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Beatles please!

FOG

-Who are you?
My Name is Jake and I'm from London but i'm currently on a quest travelling around the world.

- Why did you choose this pseudonym, "FOG"?

FOG was originally a doom band a friend of me played in and we made a soundcloud - I ended up just uploading beats to it and it all went from there.

-Why do you make music and what does it mean for you?

I mainly make music to stop me from being bored or if i'm feeling down or whatever.

- How would you define your sound?

Forever changing, I'm currently working on loads of new stuff.

-Talking about the compositions of your songs: how and where they born?

Different samples, different sounds whatever, i don't know to be honest.

-What genres and artists influenced your music the most?

Probably like, uh, lots of Norwegian 1st and 2nd wave black metal bands, UK music as a whole, I think there's a great spectrum of house/garage/whatever emerging at the moment and has been steadily for a while.

-You come from UK. What do you think about the music coming from your country and how how do you see yourself in relation to them?

Well, I'm not near as talented as half of the people that are making music in the UK right now, but I try and keep up.

-What's your favourite artist and song?

Black Cascade by Wolves In the Throne Room or Cosmia by Joanna Newsom - But I wouldn't be able to tell you what my favourite song is.

-Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowadays and who are you listening to the most?

Everyone, I'm currently listening to a Boards of Canada record as I write this but earlier I was trawling soundcloud and listening to my dashboard - Everything is great.

-How much does the live element matter in your music?

 It doesn't really - I just throw a bunch of stuff together in my bedroom and if you like it you like it.

-If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who would you choose?

Not particularly interested in live sets from myself at the moment, who know's what may happen though 

FOG WEB PAGE

-What do you think about the music industry nowadays?

Saturated? I don't know - some good people get noticed - lots of bad people get noticed and vice versa, you need to hunt for the gems I find these days.

- We read that you have collaborated for the "London Fashion Week". Talk us.

I made some music that got featured on runway's and promotional videos for both London and Paris.

-What is the message that you'd like to express to the people who listen to your music?

If it makes you feel something then listen and let me know, if not, that's cool too.

-What is your favourite book and movie?

Lord of the Rings

-How and where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

No idea to be honest.

-Pc or Mac?
Mac

-Beatles or Rolling Stones?
Stones all day.

Mehawk

–                    Who are you?

We are Aleksei from Arnhem (NL) and Search from Landau (GER). And together we are called “Mehawk”.

–                    Why did you choose this pseudonym?

We have been looking for something short and catchy. Also for something that evoke a description of our sound. Mehawk is derived from „Mihawk“, the name of an anime character of 'One Piece'. But in fact, it has no special meaning.

–                    How was your  collaboration and project born?

Aleksei: Actually we were  living very close for a long time without knowing each other. However we have kind of the same circle of friends. I found some  tunes of Search on Soundcloud and totally fell in love with his voice.  After contacting him I asked around and randomly discovered that he’s a friend of a friend.

Search: Then we made a song together and after becoming very good friends, we started a serious project out of it. This was one year ago and it sounds like a really beautiful myth. Destiny!

–                    Why do you make music and what does it mean for you?

You always need to express yourself. Doesn’t matter what kind of art but music seems to be the most easy one for us to capture moods, feelings, thoughts… it’s also great to have the chance to make people forget their everyday life.

–                    Talking about the compositions of your songs: how and where were they born?

Because of our distance we are not a band which meets once per week. Most of the time s.o. starts a basic idea and sends it to the other. Then everyone is adding some parts. Sometimes it is created pretty quick. A few days and the song is almost done. In some cases we immediately know that there is sth special which brings us in certain kind of moods we were looking for. But for sure not every output is exactly what we needed. For us it is really important to be honest with ourselves and if it’s not good enough we just leave it. 

–                    Talking about your tracks ,what is your favourite?

Actually none of the both tracks we have online is our favourite. We really like them, that's why we made them public, but we got  a few new songs which are more advanced but not completely finished yet. It depends from time to time. Mostly the newest track is our favorite. 

–                    How would you define your sound?

We think that most of the songs are kind of deep and have a certain kind of darkness in it. Some songs also have a certain kind of Asian touch.

In general we define it as „Emotional Electronic, Future RnB, Organic Electronica“. But everyone has a different view on music.

–                    What genres and artists influenced your music the most?

There would be too many to name. There isn’t just music which influences/inspires us. We like art and graphic design a lot. A great movie/book and also nice or sad moments in our lives can have a deep impact. But to name some artist we like the most, there are Sufjan Stevens, Flying Lotus, Ryan Hemsworth, Ifan Dafydd, Nicolas Jaar, Lapalux and many more.

–                    You come one from Germany and the other from the Netherlands. What do you think about the music coming from your countries and  how do you see yourself in relation to them?

There are lots of great artists from Germany: Apparat, Sizarr, Roosevelt, Nils Frahm, Sven Kacirek, Christian Löffler, Matthias Grübel, LO or I Confess. We are influenced by German acts who make an international sound. That's what we try to make, too, in our own style.

And the Netherlands are in love with techno and house. There are also many guitar bands which are more a copy of famous bands. Both in a way we don’t like. Nevertheless there are also some bands to name: Iamoak, Machinefabriek and Mineral Beings. 

–                    What's your favourite artist and song?

Aleksei: Changes from time to time…we really like 'Left Alone' from Flume             feat Chet Faker.

Search: ...we listen to that song before we go on stage. But if I had to choose     just one, I would name 'Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland,                  Illinois' by Sufjan Stevens.

–                    Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowadays and who are you listening to the most?

We think the producers are more relevant than the artist in most cases. Producers like Diplo or Timbaland.

–                     How much does the live element matter in your music?

Playing live is very important for us. Instead of just listening you can see and even feel the music. We try to create a special atmosphere with our music and also visuals.

–                    If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who would you choose?

Search:Sufjan Stevens

Aleksei: Apparat

–                    What do you think about the music industry nowadays?

In music we get a kind of a revival of the vinyl. It can't compensate the great losses of the record industry. Many artist have to tour almost the whole year to make a living.

The music industry is not willing to take any risks at the moment. That’s why many people started their own label.

–                    What is the message that you'd like to express to the people who listen to your music?

It's different from song to song. Most of them shouldn't be obvious. Everyone can make his own interpretation to the songs. For example the song 'Rocket Bolt' can be seen in a negative and sad way or in a positive one.

–                    What is your favourite book and movie?

Search: My favourite book is 'Things The Grandchildren Should Know', the autobiography by Mark Oliver Everett. The movie which impressed me the most is 'Jacob's Ladder'. I've seen that movie just once, and I want to watch it again, but I dread it, this movie catches your brain!

Aleksei:The Map and the territory by Michel Houllebecq

            I recently watched wrong from Quentin Dupieux but my all time fav is      Caché by Michael Haneke.

–                    How and where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

Living together in a mansion!... Released two Lps with both best new music on Pitchfork... Well we don't really look that far.

–                    Pc or Mac?

We always argue about that … and we will never be in complete agreement...

–                    Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Beatles!

Mehawk – Abovt from Mehawk on Vimeo.

Mehawk Music - Facebook Fanpage -

The Lad and The Others

The Lad and The Others Facebook Fanpage

-Hi The Lad and The Others! Let's start with the name of the band, why did you choose this?

Hi, I'm Alex from The Lad and The Others, I'm glad to talk with you about the band. We choose this name because it's cool and sounds good, we love it.

-Why do you make music and what does it mean for you?

I personally make music since I was 16. I don't know exactly what is the process that brings me to write a song, all I know is that's important for me, is life that become music as for everyone in this band. We also do it for the money, we want to be rich! (laugh)

- Talking about your new album "Lightout Tales".

This is our first work together, we're totally proud! Lighthouse Tales is for us the boat that leaves the port and sail away to nowhere. It means so much for us just because we started something, a new beginning, direction unknown. It smells of dreams and that's so important for us.

-Talking about the compositions of your songs: how and where they born? Do you have a favourite?

I write songs in every place. When I was young I used to write songs in the bathroom because of my family, I don't know, maybe I was just young and insecure. Now during a road trip, I love road trips. Together we work in studio, our second home, we spend many time there, is the coolest place in the world because we are such a family.

- How would you define your sound?

As Marco says every time: "Woody, sweet, biting, floating". We all agree with him.

-What genres and artists influenced your music the most?

No artists, no genres in particular. Everyone in this band got his personal music background made of genres and artists completely different from the other one, what you listen is what we are together. Luca and Marco loves metal or similar, Simone mexican folk music. I've got no ears.

-You come from Rome (Italy). What do you think about the music coming from your country and how how do you see yourself in relation to them?

Good bands, bad bands.. We don't wanna talk about other bands, it's your job! (laugh) We just can talk about us, listen to The Lad and The Others, they surely are a good band at all.

-What's your favourite artist and song?

That's so personal.. "I'm only sleeping" is my favorite song of all the time.

-Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowadays and who are you listening to the most?

In a "Pop" world, it's hard to say who's the best, "who got the most expensive distribution and the cheapest production?" it's the right question. Anyway, Frank Turner is the artists I'm listening in these days, I really like him and his music but of course Noel Gallagher is the most relevant musician at the moment.

-How much does the live element matter in your music?

The live show is the most important thing for us. We meet the crowd and little or big it remains the boss. Every show is a great moment for us. 

-If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who would you choose?

Nobody, we're in love with our sound! (laugh) If we have to choose, surely Sid Vicious because he doesn't really play the bass and it means no variations!

-What do you think about the music industry nowadays?

Less artists, less quality, less investments, less products; what do you think about the music industry nowadays?

-What is the message that you'd like to express to the people who listen to your music?

We haven't a message, we aren't Messiahs! (laugh) We talk about what we live, what we need. The way we are is concrete, true; this is what you can find listening to our music our having a beer with us. We haven't a message but we'd like people find out the way we are.

-What is your favourite book and movie?

Marco's favourite book is "High Fidelity" by Nick Hornby, we talked about that book days ago. I'm blind, I can't read but my favorite movie of all the time is The Snatch by Guy Ritchie, it inspired long part of my life.

-How and where do you see yourself in ten years from now?

Rich and famous, surely on Sunset Boulevard, obvy! No mustaches, We promise.

-Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Beatles.