|
|
You've both achieved a considerable degree of success with your Simian and Wiseguys projects. What was behind your decision to record together?
THEO: I wanted to do some tracks with Simon, as I was a fan of Simian. But we never planned to make a whole album. It was only ever meant to be 3 or so songs. But we kept writing them. It wasn't until we had about 9 that we decided to become The Black Ghosts and release an LP. I think we both wanted to do something new. we'd both been working on our own for a while, so a new collaborative project seemed like fun.
The music you guys are making as The Black Ghosts is quite far removed stylistically from the Wiseguys/Simian, what creative steps took place to get you from A to B?
THEO: I don't think it is that far removed. You can definitely hear elements from both in there - the way I treat my beats / programming, and Simon's songwriting. But it is several years later, so we have picked up all sorts of different influences along the way. Simon was writing a lot more acoustic and folk inspired stuff after Simian, whereas i had gone down a more electronic path, so the meeting of the two was quite interesting. But nothing was a conscious decision where this album was concerned. We never had any sort of masterplan. We just made whatever sorts of tracks we felt like, irrespective of style, genre, etc.
How do your DJ sets differ from your live show? What kind of stuff can we expect you to play - and are there any live elements ?
THEO: Our DJ sets ARE our live show! I am on CDJs, but Simon has his laptop plugged into the mixer as well, so we can not only take turns playing tunes, but we can do loops and effects over each other's tunes. But the killer element is that he sings live whenever we play one of our own tracks.
You've notably had Damon Albarn providing guest vocals on one of your tracks. Are there any artists you'd like the opportunity to work with and why?
THEO: I'd like to work with Joanna Newsom, Thom Yorke, and Busta Rhymes. They all write incredible songs. And Micheal Nyman for his arrangements.
Can you share a favourite DJing trick with us that you use?
THEO: No! Come up with your own stuff!
What's your favourite way to unwind after a gig?
THEO: Eating snacks while laughing at the videos on Channel U.
Can you think of a bad habit that you have to put up with as an unwanted side effect of working in a duo?
THEO: Just the odd bad mood I guess. From both of us!
What do you think of the current electronic music scene - who do you think are producing the most fresh and exciting music out there?
THEO: I think there is loads of great music out there at the moment. It's an exciting time - so much good stuff across the whole spectrum. And I am always finding new unsigned people on Myspace whose tracks I play out, so the future looks good, too!
http://www.myspace.com/blackghosts
|
|
|
|
