Hi Chris, it’s
been a while since Clarence Park. What have
you been up to in the last two years?
Writing new material and eating too much. High metabolism.
What is your musical background? What made
you come to electronic music?
It smelt tasty... metallic.
When you were recording Clarence Park,
you were studying. How did you manage to fit everything
in?
By forgetting a lot of things. Terribly forgetful chap,
ya know. Always have been. The brain seems to just filter
out things that I don't care about of its own accord
Did the release of the album impact on your
studying?
No. I left a few copies around the campus, in bushes.
The students weren't really my bag, to be honest I hated
student life. Nice jacket potatoes, though.
It sounds a bit like a fairy-tale story for
a student to be signed by one of the most legendary
record labels around. How did this happen?
Me sent music, they released it eventually.
Clarence Park was a real mix bag of
stuff. What are your influences?
A real mix bag of stuff? Nice!
You’ve been compared a lot to Aphex Twin.
Isn’t it a bit daunting? How do you react to this?
Do you fear this might be a bit detrimental to your
work?
It really doesn't bother me. Afx is a very talented
musician. It is such an obvious, lazy comparison to
make. Do you really think I am the first person to be
compared to him? The music press need their little boxes!
Bless their mediocre little minds...
How did you react to the way Clarence Park
was received by the press, and its consequent success?
Was it a success? It just paid the rent for a bit. Yeah
you tend to become a bit abstracted from yourself if
you read and believe a complete stranger’s inarticulate,
dribblingly arbitary opinions about what you do. Reading
it and letting it affect your existence, Jesus that
must work on at least 7 levels of stupidity.
Do you attach any importance to what the press
say about your music and your live performances? Does
it influence you in any way?
Yeah I attach it to things all the time.
What inspires you to compose?
I guess part of it comes from feeling dissatisfied,
like life would be completely cheap and grim and oppressive
without music. If your life was fine and you were content
then you wouldn't bother writing. It comes from mainly
wanting to build these internal struggles, almost like
mazes, within yourself, just so you can find your way
out of them. I guess on one level it is entirely an
irrational impulse.
You are currently touring a lot. What can we
expect of Chris Clark live compared to the records?
More new tracks.
Ceramics Is The Bomb, your new EP,
seems to be more focused than Clarence Park.
Is this an indication of what your next album is going
to be like?
I certainly hope so
There was quite a few tracks on Clarence
Park that featured piano sections. Will Empty
The Bones Of You, the new album, continue this
thread?
No
What do you listen to at the moment? What is
the latest album you bought?
Lightning Bolts. Very very very good. Full of energy
Would you like to collaborate with other musicians?
If yes, who?
Radiohead, Eno, Parmegiani… or am I getting too
big for my boots?
A lot of electronic musicians release their
music using pseudonyms, but you use your own name. Why
is that?
It's just such an interesting name
What do you think of musicians who release
different kind of music under different names?
Oh I just can't stand them, man... horrible bastards...
You’re currently touring, your new EP
is out soon, and your album is planned for this autumn.
What’s next for you?
Sleep>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Forever>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Email interview May 2003
Thank you to Chris, Chloe & Lauren
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