this is your brain on instant coffee

time out magazine - tel aviv - interview questions and answers

1)      You have a new album that's supposed to be released next month after two years that you kept quiet -  a rather long hiatus in your terms. What were you doing in this time?

i worked on ideas,built a studio in berlin and took a year off from the not stop lifestyle.i would like to do soundtracks in the future,so i enjoy writing music everyday,but not all of it is meant to be shared like songs or album tracks....it's just me trying to be creative.

2)      Musically speaking, what is your focus on this album? What are the refrences you used?

to honest,when i go into a stuidio i have no plan other then to make up songs that i like.i am very much interested in reflecting some kind of full spectrum of my own moods and emotions and not filter that too much.i'm very interested in writing and working with other people that speak/sing in other languages...and to reach out and try new things.i am very interested in other cultures,more so then nationalities..and i am enjoying the process of redefining what it is too be myself as an artist...and what i can do as a project internationally.

3)      The name of the album reffers to hegel. Why did you choose the name?

it refers to the concept of having to rip something up and rebuild as a means of preservation... when you think of the word in the terms of german culture,they had to destroy and rebuild the entire thing to preserve it.i applied the same meaning to humanity and so it is in reference to the the image from the voyager space program on the cover.this image was sent to outer space on two crafts beyond our solar system,with a gold record giving examples and explantions about who we are and our location in case we make contact or these crafts make contact with inteligent life.i thought it would have been funny to include this german word suggesting that humanity needs to be destroyed to be saved.

i'm silly like that.

4)      You have quite an impressive output. In 1996 you even released 3 albums in one year. Do you have a punk attitude towards recording music, in terms of just playing and improvising?

i am interested in conceptual art and communications.my goal is to create ideas,so when i understand what an idea is hinting at,often that is enough for me artistically speaking,and i can move on.but yes,i am inspired by the do it yourself ethos.

5)      After making so many albums, do you still get excited when going into the studio?

yes,and i am looking forward to the future.

6)      How many different musicians did you have in the band over the course of the years, and how do you explain this instability?

right now the bjm consists of 4 people who have been in the group for 10 years or more and 4 that have been in for 20 or more.happy shinny people like rem we may not have been at times...but then again we are not writing songs about happy shinny people holding hands.

fun fact: chuck berry never had a "chuck berry band".i play with the people that are around and have time to do so...my desire to create is not attached to any random or select 4,5 or six people.

7)      You like to make a lot of references to rock music. Why is this dialactic approach so important to you? What do you think about other bands who do such pastiches, like lcd soundsystem for instance?

i think lcd were quite talented.in life we are bombarded with stimuli.i imagine primitive tribes incorporating bird calls in their music....i don't see a problem with using points of reference,pastiche or these tools.art is whatever and artist says it is.its something else to the critiques but then...who cares about what they think? :)

8)      Seems like you've dabbled throughout your carreer with every possible genre, except for electronic music, which is something you almost never touched. Why is that?

i dabble in that too. ha.for the most part,electronic music is disposable.dj's are a dime a dozen.electronic...the term is so vague.i'm into electronic...hmmm pierre henry?dilia derbshire?...or do you mean preset beats and auto-tune?
i've been playing mini-moogs since 1980 and programing non stop since then.

9)      It's very hard to make interesting and original rock music today. How do you overcome these difficulties?

"interesting" is an interesting word.to provoke the interest... yes but of whom.the police?the critiques?your fans? or the lowest common denominator? a very large percentage of popular music or what passes for music i find to be obnoxious.the same goes for mainstream media of all types...i try to make things that i enjoy...rather then write for an imaginary fan base or demographic that someone thinks will open doors for me,or receive awards or make me rich and famous or something like that.i am very fortunate to have some ideas and that i am able to express them and share them and have our network function the way it does...label,distribution touring and management...

10)  Any current rock bands that you like?

insert bands and albums i have released on our lable:

dead skeletons (icelandic artist collective with  dark spiritual illuminations...rythmic,esoteric,heavy psychedlic drone)

the third sound (another icelandic group based in berlin/former guitarist from singapore sling.eaqual parts jesus and mary chain / galaxy 500 .)

magic castles (minnasota sweet vocal harmonys gental summer psychedelic sound)

blue angel lounge (young moody group from hagen germany... they sound like the children of nico and the velvet underground...)

11)  Did san francisco have a big effect on your music? After all, it was the capital of psychedelic music back in the day.

when i first moved to sf,it was a healthy place for a young bohemian type "non-joiner" (that means a person that sort of makes their own way of life within the greater context of society watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn5MDaEqlSw )
at a certain point the dot com feeding frenzy thing happened and rents went through the roof and all of that hippy holdover stuff was sent packing.make no mistake,we fought our way up.we were not welcome to play the clubs..we rented masonic temples and threw giant parties...then the bookers took notice.but just to let you know...as liberal as the greatful dead fanbase might seem they are also the most narrow non minded non musical loving people.groups like i guess the starship,carlos santana or whoever from the 60s were so rich and so self exsorbed,just like the entire generation really,just busy aquiring wealth rather then supporting the quest for freedom of expression.we very much made our own way.

12)  I've recently been to san francisco and noticed there were a lot of homeless people. I even heard the rumor that the guitarist who used to play with fleetwood mac (I think it was peter green) is now homeless. Is this true or just a myth?

i live in berlin.germany takes care of its people.pays its debts and values hard work.the american system is bassed these days on something for nothing.win the lotery.sue the shit out of someone.buy a house on a loan,flip it and turn a massive no money down morgage and end up with thousands or millions for nothing...billion dollar bonuses,talen show inners and pop idols,internet start up ipo offerings and 26 yearlds with 100 billion...the dark side of capitolism is an ugly un-natural and ultimatly destructive force... have no illusions.western civilization is long over due for a radical rethink in my opinion,we are only as strong as the weak among us.we could all try harder to help eachother.

13)  Has acid played a big role in your music? Do you have a memorable trip that you can share?

i see no need to advertise or glorify psychedelic drug experimentation.i love to learn and have spent my whole life making information and exploration my hobby and job,and making work as play. alan watts shaped my music every bit as much as acid.

14)  I saw “dig” the other day and thought it was really good, but I understand that you disagree. Can you explain why?

it's advertised as a documentry about two groups,but really it is a story told with film clips...WRITEN BY ONDI TOMONER... not captured by....think about it.it did a great disservice to the dandy warhols in many ways.i wrote a statement about the movie as it was being shown at sundance.i feel the same today as i did then...no need to add or subtract to it.

15)  A lot of artists boycott israel because of pressure from pro-palestinian organizations. Were you approached by people telling you not to come here, and did it cross your mind to cancel (if so, please don't)?

finally we get to a question that i feel is worth talking about - thank you :)

let's not use my visit as a political statement of some kind... rather let me explain my own feelings on this complex issue.

 it really bothers me that groups or artists would accept an invitation to play,and then bow to pressures from anyone and cancel.it also troubles me greatly that they try and defuse the negative dialog and people trying to pressure them into joining a boycott.
if you are invited,and you accept the invitation go.
 on a personal level i do not care for the hawkish stance of bibb's style,but then i am not the leader of any nation ha.it is my understanding that there are many voices in israel...i can not solve the issues of security and nation building.its fooling and hypocritical to boycott israel and play in the usa or london or china or come on.why do people hold israel to some standard that only exists for them?is it antisemtism?who knows.all i know is the status quo needs to be looked at and worked on...but its up to israel to deffend the jewish people for obvious reasons that can not be left up to the world to decide...we have an example of that and its a dark stain on humanity.there are many people that are better quilified to speak about all sides of the many issues at play.
 i am an artist,i make music and play concerts.the action of me playing or not playing isn't going to solve the worlds problems...me being honest is a step in the right direction.i am not going for money,and i am not concerned with upsetting anyone with my actions or the repercussions etc.i am for peace, security and humany dignity for all people... i hope some of that makes some kind of sense - you can ask me to be more specific.

at any rate thank you for your time.

interview for jpost

QUESTIONS for ANTON NEWCOMBE

From The Jerusalem Post  / David Brinn

www.jpost.com

 1. How are you? How do you feel about coming to Israel for the first time?

 i'm doing well thank you.i am really looking forward to visiting tel aviv.

2. You seem like the ultimate music fan, and much of your musical career has been about creating tributes to some of your favorite albums and artists – what do you enjoy about that?

 pastiche is part and parcel of popular art - from bob dylan and the beatles to samples and remix culture.to me it's all about what you as an artist have to add to the lexicon.i feel as though,know in my heart i have made a solid contribution .
the music business tends to play up record sales/dollar/volume of units,but there is a whole other level of success,and that is being able to inspire others to study the arts,to start record lables,groups magazines etc.i'm interested in the organic model of life and building eco systems so...where were we :)
 

3. Is there an artist you haven’t gotten to honoring that’s on your to-do list?

i tend to be very quiet when i come in contact with people i respect i.e. if i see bob dylan in a supermarket i let them shop and go about my way.it is my hope in the future to work on soundtracks for film,not have my music placed in a film,to do something like ennio moricone and truely make a great film even better...if and when i get the chance to do that,i think it would be a great time to "honor" people i respect by bring them into that project...

4. Where does your seeming interest in cults derive from?

good question.perhaps it started with quasi-esoteric television,like leonard nemoy's "in search of".i enjoy non fiction,don't care for war movies or slasher films,video games..etc,but i am interested in belief systems,and relating to my own group name,it is interesting how cult leaders are like rock stars in many was.however,my goal is to be neither.

let me clear something up for anyone reading this: 99% of my art deals with love,on a spiritual level.i chose to wrap the project in certain abrasive iconography as a means of self preservation as i am acutely aware that the  business has away of turning beautiful songs into advert for feminine hygine product gingles and the like.i chose to try and make it all too hot to handle and somewhat dangerous like some exotic fruit with spines...but very tasty.

5. The band is infamous for some wild live shows in the past – are there shows you regret now because the focus maybe moved away from the music or you didn’t give 100 % in the performance?

 no regrets,for the most part we show up and play well.i wish that members of the group in retrospect would have perhaps understood how unique some of these concerts and,just being able to travel and make a living from what you do,your art...but you know...life happens when you are busy making plans.you have to remember when we started,there were zero bands like us...in america or very few on earth...some people react in negative ways to somethings they don't understand,and we represented a certain amount of freedom...then,other hearing tales of riots,and there were some...would come to try and provoke a reaction...and we would stand up for ourselves or leave.it's much better now...this is old news...and a topic played up in the edited version of the film.joel,matt ricky?i've played with them for 20 years or more...rob frankie colin ten or more...we lasted longer then myspace :) or the beatles as a group.

6. The bad seem to be on a resurgence after a few laying low years. How has having Matt Hollywood back in the fold changed the band – has it given it some new momentum?

i like matt & hope we end up creating more ideas in the future.it's quite hard to record/write with me because i tend to come up with complete ideas - all at once,symphonic even if rough,and matt tends to be thoughtful,and refines his words and parts.the strong point is that we truly learned to teach eachother how to play music so there is a connection like "twins" on a certain level,where we know how where an idea is headed from the genesis.that can be powerful when the communication is working.
 

7. Tell me about Aufheben – is there a theme to the album?

i am very interested in eschatology,and i've been aware of the anxiety many people associate with 2012 etc.the cover art is based on the carl segan graphic included as a part of the voyager space program.two probs sent to the outer reaches of the solar system and beyond,each containing this graphic describing who we are,our location in our solar system and gold disks containing audio examples of hundreds of greatings in every language and music like js bach etc...reaching out to i don't know...inteligent life elsewhere.i thought it would have been funny if a scientist or someone...added one word on this plaque "Aufheben". it's a german word with many meanings at the same time...but to explain it: to destroy,to lift up,to preserve. all at once,if you think about german culture,the positive parts,and relate it to the history of the last century,society had to destroy it to save and rebuild as a way to preserve...with out getting too heavy,the implication is a suggestion to these unknown aliens or whatever....that the earth be destroyed to be saved...toungue in cheek...kind of...it's obvious that we love the beautiful parts of life,and could do with less of the filth,fear and hatred etc.

(i hope that makes sense)

8. I see it has “I Want to Hold Your Other Hand” on it – is there a Beatles reference musically as well?

 i'm being silly - but yes,assuming a person has two hands,even if john lennon was holding one hand there would be in theory one free for me to hold too.

9. When  and why did you move to Berlin?  Do you find it stimulating?

 berlin leaves me alone and i love that about this place.germans are very civil for the most part and as a culture they just don't get in your face ever,anywhere.berlin has made a very solid effort to support the arts so much so that it attracts great people here and it's a very safe place for women and children.i love that.to be honest,it seems to me that a certain new type of fascism is creeping into the western world,not just right wing extremists,but from top to bottom.most of us want and demand to be safe etc. and that is understood and accepted,however it occurred to me,that because of history...this would be the last place that either the police or the people could ever look and act like fascists...and that to me,is worth more than gold.the people will not stand for any of it and that is a beautiful thing.

just being honest. :)

10. Did you know there’s around 15,000 young Israelis living there

 yes indeed and i am friends with quite a few.we cook at my studio.life is good here these days,and i follow the israeli art scene because you know,to me,it's just the "art scene" too.i think it's great to be apart of any forward thinking culture and very important for the jewish comunity to define itself in berlin and germany.it speaks volumes about the business of life,and moving forwarda and a very powerful lesson to humanity.it really defines the human spirit and when standing side by side with the history,its inspiring to me.

11. Do you agree with the film reviewer’s assessment of you in Dig that you came across as "deeply troubled, drug-addicted, often downright scary."

no.i don't drink,i'm not on drugs.i am alive and productive,very productive.i've talked about my feelings reguarding the film and the film makers...you can find that dialog online.

12. Are you less scary these days?


is this a trick question?

Eschatology  

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