squarepusher FRENCH INTERVIEW

[Pitbulle]

Complete French mail-interview from Trax magazine >

 

Tu viens de sortir la série des Analord, dans le même temps Warp rééditait ton Hangable Auto Bulb qui datait de 95... Pourquoi n'as-tu rien fait de "vraiment nouveau" depuis Drukqs? Difficile de croire que tu n'as pas créé de nouveaux tracks depuis 2001...

 

Ta réponse est dans ta question. Les six mois de sortie des 11 maxis d'Analord.

 

Parlons de Chosen Lords, le best-of en un disque de tes 11 maxis. Je pense que tu dois être au courant que la majorité de tes fans attendaient un coffret CD complet. Pourquoi as-tu choisi de ne sortir qu'une sélection ? Comment as-tu procédé?

 

À la base, je n'aurais voulu qu'une sortie vinyle. C'était plus adapté au type de tracks présents. Mais beaucoup de personnes tenaient à cette sortie CD. Alors, on a trouvé un compromis et je leur ai proposé un tracklisting.

 

Quelle était ta visée derrière le concept Analord, C'était une idée que tu avais depuis longtemps?

 

Non. J'avais juste énormément de tracks analogiques que mes potes ado¬raient. Ce sont eux qui m'ont poussé à en faire quelque chose.

 

Tu ressens toujours le besoin impérieux de composer chaque jour?

 

Pratiquement.

 

Considères-tu toujours la musique comme un facteur de ton équilibre quotidien ?

 

Oui.

 

Est-elle encore comme un jeu pour toi?

 

Oui, vraiment. Tant que je ne suis pas dans l'obligation de faire un disque.

 

Ou serait-elle plutôt une sorte de prison mentale parfois ?

 

Non, je ne ressens que de bonnes vibrations quand je fais de la musique.

 

Y a-t-îl des moments durant te processus de création où tu sens que ça "bloque" ? Ressens-tu alors des difficultés à te renouveler?

 

La plupart du temps, non. Même s'il m'arrive parfois de m'enliser un peu sur une section très petite d'un morceau, mais c'est le signe que je dois l'abandonner et en commencer un nouveau.

 

Es-tu toujours intéressé par la musique électronique aujourd'hui ?

 

Absolument. Pourquoi? Pas vous?

 

Quelles orientations musicales t'excitent te plus aujourd'hui?

 

La musique que j'aime m'excite toujours autant. J'ai toujours eu une préférence pour celle qui sonne un peu old-school mais impossible à obtenir avec de vieilles méthodes. Je ne pense jamais à la musique en termes de "directions", ça, c'est un truc de journaliste.

 

Quels sont Ses instruments, machines ou autres jouets que tu préfères manipuler?

 

Ceux qui sont beaux et qui sentent bon. Je préfère le look d'une machine à ce qu'elle te permet d'exécuter. Tu vois, j'ai ce synthé chez moi qui a un design formidable et qui sonne de manière incroyable. Problème: je n'aime pas son odeur. Impossible de m'en servir donc.

 

Selon toi, où se cache l"avant-garde" musicale de nos jours?

 

Une fois de plus, je ne pense pas en ces termes. C'est encore un mot créé par les médias pour désigner ce qui ne peut être assimilé par la majorité car trop atypique. Il n'y a aucune musique qui ne me paraisse inécoutable ou agressive, à moins qu'elle ne soit vraiment faible.

 

Accordes-tu toujours autant d'importance à tes rêves ?

 

Je recommence tout juste à rêver depuis que j'ai arrêté de fumer de l'herbe. Je n'ai aucun rêve quand je fume un joint avant d'aller me coucher.

 

Tu as composé un track qui s'appelle "Mont St Michel". Est-ce à dire qu'il y a des endroits dans le monde qui t'inspirent particulièrement?

 

Bien sûr. J'étais en Bretagne avec mon laptop où j'ai composé une partie du track. L'autre partie, je l'ai réalisée dans un endroit qui s'appelle St Michaels Mount aussi, mais en Cornouailles. J'avais bossé là-bas pour la construction d'un tunnel sous-terrain quand j'avais dix-huit ans.

 

De manière générale, quelles sont les activités qui t'inspirent le plus dans ta vie de tous les jours, celles qui t'amusent le plus (les voyages, les disques, le cinéma, les livres, les filles, les rencontres entre musiciens,..)?

 

Un peu de tout ça, mais le plus important pour moi qui suis une personne plutôt négligente, c'est d'avoir des amis musiciens qui sont tellement forts qu'ils n'ont pas besoin de potes, comme Squarepusher.

 

Pourquoi utilises-tu si souvent des titres incompréhensibles voire illisibles (spécialement ceux de Drukqs et des Analord)? Qu'est-ce que ces mots bizarres représentent pour toi?

 

J'aime juste jouer avec les mots comme je le fais avec la musique.

 

Jusqu'à quel point il est important pour toi de rester insaisissable et mystérieux?

 

Je suis allé jusqu'à créer un petit culte autour de ma personne sous la forme d'un groupe de gens qui vivent chez moi maintenant. On fonctionne comme une sorte de communauté. C'est génial.

 

Tu ne te sens pas complètement isolé parfois, coupé de ce monde ou règne la concession, toi qui as toujours développé ta musique sans la moindre contrainte? Cette solitude que tu as constamment recherchée te satisfait pleinement?

 

Tout à fait. Je ne ressens pas le besoin d'appartenir à un groupe quelconque, je ne l'ai jamais ressenti en fait. Cette sensation m'a même toujours donné une énergie particulière. Je suis dans mon univers musical, je fais ce que je veux. La seule chose qui compte, c'est que mes meilleurs amis soient près de moi. Le reste n'a que peu d'importance.

 

Pour quel genre de choses serais-tu à la rigueur prêt à faire des compromis?

 

Je n'en ferai jamais.

 

Quels sont tes tracks favoris de ta discographie officielle ?

 

Pas mal issus de Drukqs et la plupart des Analord.

 

Si tu avais un voeu musical totalement barré qui puisse d'exaucer, ce serait lequel ?

 

Disposer d'un choeur d'un million de personnes, les faire frapper des mains pour obtenir un breakbeat tout en leur faisant exécuter des bruits bizarres que je leur aurai préalablement enseignés.

 

Tu sortiras encore des disques chez Warp ?

 

Oui.

 

Combien de temps devrons-nous encore attendre avant d'écouter un VRAI nouvel album de toi ?

 

Quelque chose comme un an et demi, je pense.

[Guest AlexPallas]

you speak French, can you give it a try?

what date is this from?

[Pitbulle]

you speak French, can you give it a try?

what date is this from?

 

French Trax Magazine n°94-April 2006

[kokoon]

You have just left the series Analord, in same Warp time republished your Hangable Auto Bulb which went back to 95... Why didn't you do anything "really again" since Drukqs? Difficult to believe that you did not create new a tracks since 2001...

 

Your answer is in your question. Six months of exit of the 11 maxis of Analord.

 

Let us speak about Chosen Lords, the best-of in a disc of your 11 maxis. I think that you must be with the current until the majority of your fans waited a box complete CD. Why did you choose to leave only one selection? How did you proceed?

 

At the base, I would have liked only one exit vinyl. It was adapted more to the type of tracks present. But much of people held at this exit CD Then, one found a compromise and I proposed a tracklisting to them.

 

Which was your aiming behind the concept Analord, It was an idea that you had for a long time?

 

Not. I had analogical tracks just enormously that my pals ado¬raient. It is them which pushed me to do something of it.

 

You always feel the imperative need to compose each day?

 

Practically.

 

Do you always regard the music as a factor of your daily balance?

 

Yes.

 

Is it still like a play for you?

 

Yes, really. As long as I am not obliged to make a disc.

 

Or would it be rather a kind of mental prison sometimes?

 

Not, I feel only good vibrations when I make music.

 

Do Y a-t-îl of the moments lasting to you process of creation where you feel that that "blocks"? Do you then feel difficulties of renewing you?

 

Most of the time, not. Even if it arrives to me sometimes of me enliser a little on a very small section of a piece, but it is the sign which I must give up it and to begin new.

 

Es you always interested by the electronic music today?

 

Absolutely.

 

Why?

 

Not you?

 

Which musical orientations excite you today you?

 

The music that I like excite always as much. I always had a preference for that which sounds a little old-school but impossible to obtain with old methods. I never think of the music in terms of "directions", that, it is a trick of journalist.

 

Which are Its instruments, machines or other toys which you prefer to handle?

 

Those which are beautiful and which smell good. I prefer the look of a machine so that it enables you to carry out. You see, I this synthé at home which has a formidable design and which sounds in an incredible way. Problem: I do not like his odor. Impossible of me to thus be useful about it.

 

According to you, where is hiding place musical l"avant-guard "nowadays?

 

Once more, I do not think in these terms. It is still a word created by the media to indicate what cannot be assimilated by the too atypical bus majority. There is no music which does not appear inécoutable to me or aggressive, unless it is not really weak.

 

Do you always grant as much importance to your dreams?

 

I just start again to dream since I stopped smoking of grass. I do not have any dream when I smoke a joint before going to lay down me.

 

You composed a track which is called "Mount St Michel". Is this with saying that there are places in the world which inspire to you particularly?

 

Of course. I was in Brittany with my laptop where I composed part of the track. The other part, I carried it out in a place which is also called St Michaels Mount, but in Cornouailles. I had worked over there for the construction of an underground tunnel when I was eighteen years old.

 

Of manner general, which are the activities which inspire to you more in your life of tous.les.jours, those which amuse you more (the voyages, the discs, the cinema, the books, the girls, the meetings between musicians,..)?

 

a Little all that, but most significant for me who am a rather negligent person, it is to have friends musicians who are so strong that they do not need pals, like Squarepusher.

 

Why do you so often use even illegible incomprehensible titles (especially those of Drukqs and Analord)? What do these odd words represent for you?

 

I just like to play with the words as I do it with the music.

 

Up to which point there is significant for you to remain imperceptible and mysterious?

 

I went until creating a small worship around my person in the form of a group of people who live at home maintaining. One functions like a kind of community. It is brilliant.

 

You do not smell yourself completely isolated sometimes, not crossed from this world or reigns the concession, you which always developed the your music without least forced? This loneliness that you constantly did seek satisfies you fully?

 

Completely. I do not feel the need to belong to an unspecified group, I never felt it in fact. This feeling even always gave me a particular energy. I am in my musical universe, I do what I want. The only thing which counts, it is that my best friends are close to me. The remainder has only little importance.

 

For which kind of things would be you with the rigour loan to make compromises?

 

I will never make any.

 

Which are your tracks favorite of your official discography?

 

Not badly resulting from Drukqs and majority of Analord.

 

If you had a completely barred musical wish which can of exaucer, it would be which?

 

To have a chorus of a million people, to make them strike hands to obtain a breakbeat all in their making carry out odd noises that I will have taught to them beforehand.

 

You will still leave the discs at Warp?

 

Yes.

 

How long will we have to still wait before listening to a TRUTH new album of you?

 

Something like one year and half, I think.

[Guest AlexPallas]

i'm about to reorganize the interviews in the download section, i'll put this one up too, thanx

 

edit: i'm guessing you ran this through a free translation site

 

edit2: this one is funny:

 

Up to which point there is significant for you to remain imperceptible and mysterious?

 

I went until creating a small worship around my person in the form of a group of people who live at home maintaining. One functions like a kind of community. It is brilliant.

[kokoon]

You do not smell yourself completely isolated sometimes

[Guest Mr. Magoo]

can someone please translate correctly thee squarepusher part

 

i don't understand what he means

[Guest iep]

hmm its remarkable that afx also experiences this 'loss of dreams' when smoking the ganja regularily... i wonder how this works... i also get intense dreams when i stop smoking the green....

+ i wonder which synth smells so bad :))

maybe its his minimoog? that one is probably 25+ years old, no wonder it smells like shit :)))

[Guest Mr. Magoo]

my rotten cunt would stink of shit

[Guest fox]

I just start again to dream since I stopped smoking of grass. I do not have any dream when I smoke a joint before going to lay down me.

 

he stopped smoking of grass has. have what of dream when lay down he?

[Guest AlexPallas]

that just means he forgets his dreams. lol

[Bob Dylan]

That's a great interview, but even in French there's some stuff that makes no sense (that Squarepusher thing... very weird, perhaps a typo as the interview was done in English and then translated to french probably).

 

He's trying to demystify himself...

[acid1]

You do not smell yourself completely isolated sometimes

 

Problem: I do not like his odor. Impossible of me to thus be useful about it.

[acid1]

i think as far as the squarepusher thing is concerned, is that he's saying that various things like friends inspire him in his day to day activies, however squarepusher doesn't need friends for inspiration, and aphex rather be that way

[mcbpete]

I'm guessing that's a Babelfish translated version of the interview rather than a real translation....

[kokoon]

actually it's google translated

[Guest theflame...]

actually it's google translated

 

even worse :teeth:

[Guest AlexPallas]

i posted this interview in the download section, if someone can give me a better translation i'll repost it

[Guest absolu]

i posted this interview in the download section, if someone can give me a better translation i'll repost it

 

 

Well if there's enough demand I may translate it.

But obviously not if no one cares || the Google translation is good enough.

PM me.

[Guest An urban black kid]

This is the second instance seen have i of odor smelling machines

[Guest AlexPallas]

i posted this interview in the download section, if someone can give me a better translation i'll repost it

 

 

Well if there's enough demand I may translate it.

But obviously not if no one cares || the Google translation is good enough.

PM me.

 

the interview is as good as archived in WATMM forever, if you're so inclined a translation would be helpful

[Guest Tophee Cheesecake]

Please feel free to go over it and correct it into proper english ;)

 

Topher.

(http://www.myspace.com/topheecheesecake)

 

You've just released the Analord series at the same time Warp reissued your Hangable Auto Bulb from 95... Why didn't you do anything "really new" since Drukqs ? It is hard to believe you haven't created any new tracks since 2001...

 

Your answer is in your question. The six months of release of the 11 Analord EP's.

 

Let's talk about Chosen lords, the greatest hits of your 11 EP's onto one record. I think you must be aware that the majority of your fans was expecting a full CD box set. Why did you choose to release only a selection of them ? How did you carry that out ?

 

At first, I would only have wanted a vinyl release. It was more adapted to the kind of tracks featured. But many people were insisting to have this released on CD. So we found a compromise and I offered them a tracklisting.

 

What was your aim behind the Analord concept, Was it an idea you had had for a long time ?

 

No. I just had a lot of analogue tracks that my mates loved. They're the ones who pushed me into doing something with those.

 

Do you still feel the urge to compose every day ?

 

Practically.

 

Do you still consider music as a factor of your daily balance ?

 

Yes.

 

Is music still as a game for you ?

 

Yes, really. As long as I don't feel pressured to make a record.

 

Or is it sometimes some kind of mental prison ?

 

No, I only feel good vibes when I make music.

 

Are there moments during your creative process when you get stuck ? Then do you have difficulties in renewing yourself ?

 

Most of the time, I don't. Even if I sometimes get bogged down a bit on a very small section from a piece, but it's the sign that i have to give it up and start a new one.

 

Are you still interested in electronic music today ?

 

Absolutely. Why ? Aren't you ?

 

What musical orientations excite you the most nowadays ?

 

The music I like excites me always just as much. I've always had a preference for the old-school sounding kind but impossible to obtain with old methods. I never think of music in terms of "directions", that's a journalist thing.

 

What instruments, machines and other toys do you like handling best ?

 

Those that are pretty and smell good. I prefer the way a machine looks than what it enables you to do. You see, I have this synth at home that has a great design and sounds unbelievable. The problem is, I don't like its smell. Therefore i can't use it.

 

According to you, where is the musical "avant-garde" lurking these days ?

 

Once again, i don't think in these terms. This is yet another word created by the media to design what can't be assimilated by the majority because it is too atypical. There is no music that seems unlistenable or aggressive to me, unless it is really weak.

 

Do you still grant as much importance to your dreams ?

 

I've just started dreaming again since I stopped smoking weed. I never have dreams when I smoke a joint before I go to sleep.

 

You have composed a track called "Mont St Michel". Does that mean there are places in the world that particularly inspire you ?

 

Of course. I was in Brittany [Transl. Ed. Where the "Mont St Michel" is located] with my laptop where I composed one part of the track. The other part, I made it in this place called St Michaels Mount as well, but in Cornwall. I had worked there to build an underground tunnel when I was 18 years old.

 

In a general way, which activities inspire you most in everyday life, the ones you enjoy the most (travelling, records, films, books, girls, meeting fellow musicians,...)?

 

A bit of all that, but the most important thing for me who am a rather neglecting person, is to have musician friends who are so good they don't need mates, such as Squarepusher.

 

Why do you so often use incomprehensible or even illegible titles (especially those of Druqks and Analordx) ? What do these weird words represent to you ?

 

I just like to play with words as I do with music.

 

Up to what point is it important for you to remain unseizable and mysterious ?

 

I went as far as to create a little cult around my person under the form of a group of people who live at my place now. We function as some kind of community. It's great.

 

Don't you sometimes feel completely isolated, shut off from this world where concessions reign, when you have always developed your music without a single constraint ? Does this solitude that you have constantly sought satisfy you completely ?

 

Absolutely. I don't feel the need to belong to whatever group, I've actually never felt that need. This sensation has even always given me a particular energy. I am in my musical realm, I do what I want. The only thing that matters is that my best friends are beside me. The rest has very little importance.

 

For what kind of things could you maybe make compromises ?

 

I will never make any.

 

Which are your favorite tracks from your official discography ?

 

Many from Drukqs and most of the Analord.

 

If you had a totally out-there musical wish that could be fulfilled, what would it be ?

 

Have a 1 million people choir, make them clap their hands to get a breakbeat and make them execute weird noises that I would have taught them beforehand.

 

Will you still put out records on Warp ?

 

Yes.

 

How much more time do we have to wait before we hear a REAL new album from you ?

 

Something like a year and a half, I think.