INTERVIEW: Alec Empire
- Posted on February 19, 2008 1:58 PM
- 1 comment
IN THE HOT SEAT: Alec Empire
Interview by Katie Spain
I have to admit, I was a tad nervous before meeting German artist, Alec Empire. It wasn't a case of star-struck jitters or trepidation about the unique German sense of humour; I guess I just envisaged the former Atari Teenage Riot frontman as an overflowing melting pot of political angst and opinion. What I got was a straight talking, highly amusing and multi-talented individual with a knack for DJing. I guess I should have known. As our conversation unfolded within Soho's Bar Chocolate, we talked Berlin, English thugs, the demise of French Electro Disco and God.
Something tells me his March 5th Camden Dingwalls gig is going to be one hell of a show.
First of all, what do you think of London?
Good question! I have to be honest, I am more excited about Berlin as a city; the club scene, the music…Berlin is so avant-garde and I kindof need that right now. I am finding new approaches to the things and the way that right now. I think there are a lot of things in London that are quite conservative. London, for me, always used to be a city that gave impulse to places around the world but now, I think it thinks too much about itself. I don’t know if that British island mentality makes sense anywhere else.
If we were to come to Berlin for the weekend, and immerse ourselves in Alec Empire’s world, what would we do and where would we go?
There are lots of places to go to. It depends on which DJs are playing and what the line up is. The buildings are something that you will never get in England; all these different floors and different rooms. There are so many little places which just exist for a couple of months and then close down. That is a big advantage in Berlin; you are freer to choose your destinations.
I hear that French Electro Disco is over and that the sound of new Berlin is the way forward. These may not be your words but I assume that you agree?
Well, time will tell! I can see why people were saying that because last summer, it was so dominated by that sound. I can understand that some people got tired by that kind of music. The feedback that we are getting right now shows that people want more substance to music.
Another thing that has been said in the past is that you thought that the whole of England is going to turn into a nation of sissies - I love this quote – because of the Pop music that they listen to. I think you were just talking about the men?
Yes, the football fans!
Do you still think so?
It’s kind of weird, you see these guys with their shaved heads and they are so angry, and they listen to Cold Play. I mean, I don’t care, whatever, but I never really respected men like that. I don’t know, not because of their music taste, just their attitude towards women and each other. Once, last year, after I DJ-d in Dublin, the taxi driver told me that in Ireland, they drink for fun, and in England, they drink to fight. In a way, there is something true in that; a weird aggressiveness that is not event here for a reason. That is why I made that quote – to provoke these people!
What song at the moment makes your heart sink?
Is it Craig David that sampled a David Bowie song?
Yeah, Hot Stuff.
I don’t understand how he could sample a song like that. It has been sampled about five times already. To me, it almost describes to me what shape Pop music is in at the moment. It has no innovation. It always goes back to material that used to be successful. It’s like marketing a new phone that can’t send text messages. When we ask why we need it, they just say, well, it works doesn’t it. I like Pop music when it gets the balance between something new and exciting and when it crosses over to something that people understand.
On the flip side, what makes your heart skip a beat?
Uhh, there is too many! What I really like is John Coltrane, A Love Supreme. It is a very special piece of music.
There is a band in Germany at the moment that I am sure you’ve heard of called Tokio Hotel. What do you think of them?
They are huge over there aren’t they! It is the biggest thing ever. They are bigger than the Beatles in Germany! A guy that did a video for me did their live DVD. Every East German band becomes huge. The East German bands have a very natural thing about them and that’s why I like them. Tokio Hotel could have a real attitude but they don’t. I think that is nice.
You’re gigging all over Europe. Is there a particular place that you are looking forward to?
England! I always like playing here because it is very different. The venues, the people, there is just a different atmosphere. Also, people are very realistic and hard in their judgement. I quite like to play to a crowd who really go against bands and either like it or hate it. There are some places that we play and you feel bad about it but the crowd go crazy anyway. You want to feel that people really do care.
You said that you used to get quite burnt out from the Atari Teenage riot gigs and that you would only go on stage with painkillers. Are you in a better place now?
Yeah, I have been for years now. It was a crazy group. Everybody was so intense. Some people that talk to me now say it is the most intense thing that they have seen. If you can imagine, we did that every day. But, it doesn’t mean that my shows aren’t intense, they are, but on a different level. It’s more about the music and less about the crazy stuff going on.
What is your first musical memory?
I can tell you that right away! It’s Kraftwerk and Trio. They were my first records that I got as a Christmas present as a kid. I remember because it was so cool; Kraftwerk! But as a kid, I didn’t like it. I loved the Trio record though. Later on, I appreciated Kraftwerk. I don’t think many people in England or Australia would have Kraftwerk as their first record.
You certainly had some cool parents.
Maybe they thought "Oh, he likes robots!"
Now, let’s talk about The Golden Foretaste of Heaven. If there is a God, what do you think he is playing in heaven?
I think He will play music that is done in an honest way. It is important with music that it has not been manufactured at all. It has to be an honest expression of emotion and that is what makes music important. Sometime sit becomes all about the marketing.
If you were God for a day, what would you do?
I would give that power to everybody so that everyone has the same power.
Will we see you at any festivals this year?
Yeah, we are discussing France and Germany and it would be great to do something in England. I would love to play a festival.
What is the best festival out there at the moment?
It’s hard to say. There are so many. What I like is variety, especially in Europe. You can get smaller festivals with a very special line up. They are put together with such idealism. It also depnds on the bands that are playing. A good quality about a festival is finding new stuff. There also has to be room for that as this is a good advantage for younger bands.
What is the most memorable concert you have been to as an audience member?
One of my first shoes ever was Sham 69.Of course I was very young, they were doing a reunion tour in the middle of the 80s. They started playing new songs with a synthesizer. The whole show ended in a riot and the singer was in tears. To me, this was really amazing because I saw how the audience made a decision. It was almost a democratic process. You can’t do something at a show that the audience has to accept. There is a dynamic going on.
Alec Empire's European tour is in full swing. Catch him at a venue near you. He performs at London's Dingwalls on March 5th.
Related links:
Alec Empire's official site.
Alec Empire on MySpace.
Alec Empire listings and tickets.
Comments (1)
Ash
ATR rock and AE is great.
Posted on February 21, 2008 11:59 AM
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