CYRKは違うタイプのイベントも手掛けるようになって、映画イベント(1回はバーミンガムのIkon Gelleryで、もう1回は同じくバーミンガムのThe Electric Cinemaで)のキュレーションもやったんだ。そこでLuke Fowlerの2作品、『Pilgrimage From Scattered Points』(英国の作曲家、Cornelius Cardewについての映画)と、グラスゴーの精神分析学者R.D. Laingの研究についてのドキュメンタリー『What You See Is Where You're At』を上映したりね。
When and how did you start to create the music and DJ?
I started to actively record myself around 11/12 years old. Logging some very basic tape collages! I had no idea what I was doing really, I thought it was funny and I had a little machine that allowed me to record, so naturally I did! - But I was dj'ing occasionally on radio in Birmingham around the age of 16 or 17 and I went to a studio to with some samples on a tape to make a track around 19/20 years old…
What inspires you to create music?
Many things I guess. But I suspect that I use it as a tool to escape the mundanity of life.. I have always made or played around with things (sound) since I can remember, so it's hard to judge why I would do it having always done it…
Do you have a concept when you start to make new record?
Mainly I work with concept as a facilitator to a record. So, sometimes I have a definite idea of how I want to approach something (like Diversions 1994-1996) for instance and other ideas are more loose and the conceptual frameworks simultaneously develop alongside the creation of the actual music. So, there’s always a ‘swinging’ between these poles. Sometimes I need concept to create more than musical frameworks, other times not…
How do you feel about the label "PAN"?
I feel very close to it! I have known Bill (Kouligas) for many years and we share many interests, so it feels a good place for me to release my work. It's important for me to have a label where I can be open to create and be involved directly in all aspects of the project too…
You are joining the project "CYRK". Could you introduce about it?
I started CYRK (with a couple of other people) in 2004/5. It started as a regular night in London. We would book mainly noise, computer music, and improvisation performances but DJ dance music sets in between the live shows. In London at the time you either had a dance club or a noise night or an improvisation night, so we decided to make something happen that encompassed several of our interests..
CYRK ended up curating some other types of events too, Film events - one at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham and the other at The Electric Cinema, Birmingham. We showed Luke Fowler's two films 'Pilgrimage from Scattered Points' - a film about the English composer Cornelius Cardew and ‘What You See is Where You’re At’, an exploration of the work of Glaswegian psychoanalyst R.D Laing.
CYRK curated three radio series for Resonance FM 104.4 in London ? ‘Utter_Neevs ’(2006), ‘Active Cancellation’ (2008) and ‘Pattern Compulsions’ (2010)
It also worked as a kind of design platform for Dave Gaskarth to build the look of CYRK around and develop his work, and in some way CYRK has now manifest itself as myself and Dave’s live A/V show and the video work he’s done for my PAN releases..
You will come to Japan soon. We can't wait! How do you feel the Japan Tour?
I'm looking forward to it. I always remember the ‘Jeff Mills at Liquid Room’ from around 1996, seeing videos of Jeff Mills djing in that club, so I’m super excited to do the same in 2015! I'll definitely throw a Mills record into that set!
I think this tour will be your first time Japan. How do you feel about "Japan"?
I have been to Japan once before, but not to perform. It's an intriguing country with what seems both a deeply historical, spiritual aspect and a super futuristic one.
Do you have some Japanese favorite artists?
Yasunao Tone, Nam June Paik, Sachiko M, Incapacitants, Toshimaru Nakimura, Merzbow, Aki Onda, Corrupted, Yutaka Makino, Takashi Miike..
Please let me know near future plan.
I have just started a label ‘UIQ’ which will be releasing some music. I am working on a few more live shows, continuing with my NTS radio show, dj'ing, working on some projects and music. Keeping busy and out of trouble..
Please give a message to Japanese fans!
Thanks for the invite! Xx
INTERVIEW in MAY 2015
TRANSLATED by Naoko Yamamoto
TEXT by Masato Hoshino