Interview Danny King
Interview with: Chinese Theatre
Question nr 1: Considering the number of guest vocalists on the album itself, it must have been both longer to record, and more difficult too complete the album itself, particularly in comparison to a standard album. But, can you give a brief insight to how the album itself was actually put together - between the vocalists and their lyrics, and how long did the album itself take too finally complete?
Answer: When I started up this Chinese Theatre project for a couple of years ago. I made remixes for other bands. And I received voice tracks and the original track and I made the music after the voice. I copied that idea to this project. I though that maybe I can do my own music this way. Send it to other people and they write lyrics for it and sing to it. And it was a great way to work. They sended me in return back just the vocal part to me. And I rebuild the song so it works perfect with the music. It took me not really a year to go from idea to this full album. And almost all I asked was interested to join me for this project.
Question nr 2: Regarding the album itself, and particularly the number of different vocalists that have contributed towards it, do you feel that with the album now released that there are any tracks that simply don't work as well as you would have liked, tracks in some way haven't really filled their full potential? Further more, are there any vocalists that you would have liked to have worked with, and in turn appeared on the album itself, but for some reason where unavailable?
Answer: I think that with this album I have done everything that I want for this album. I have used different vocalists and I have used them for different things. Some of them have voices that are perfect for a slower song and some has voices that are perfect for a faster beat. If I should be honest I really like an album that have different voice types. The songs will not be to repeating. And I am very glad that it was just two artists that said no when I asked them for help with voice and lyrics. They had no time for it since they working with own material for the moment.
Question nr 3: I know that Chinese Theatre now have their own vocalist, but why did you choose to simply feature so many different vocalists on the album itself? And without the guest appearance of these vocalists, would the album itself have actually been released?
Answer: For the first I only liked to have Chinese Theatre as a project. Not a regular band. But I really enjoyed Martinas voice on I'm not like you and breaking free so I asked her if she was interested to be a part of Chinese Theatre and she said yes. So the next album will not have so many different singers but I will for sure use some other singers to mix it up a little. I think that the fact that I have used many different vocalists is that I have lost the chance to get signed on many record companies. They don't like the idea to not have only one singer. (I cant see why).
Question nr 4: Considering the current level of interest in general in Synth Pop, and particularly its small market and fan base combined with an almost complete lack of promotional opportunities, why choose in 2006 to release a Synth Pop only album, and one in a more traditional style of Synth Pop itself?, do you think that the time, work and money put into both recording and releasing this album is simply worth it?, and if so why? :-)
Answer: It is a good question. But hopefully there is more people than me on this planet that like this kind of synthpop. I have made this album in first hand for my own pleasure. I love this music and I cant get enough of it. So of course I think it is worth every minute, money I have spend with this album.
Question nr 5: Regarding releasing the actual album itself, and taking into account the name Chinese Theatre being already something of a familiar name within the scene, and largely through you remix work. But, did you have any problems in both finding, and getting a label to release the album itself? Also, what was the level of interest, and response in general from the more familiar labels within the scene itself towards you once they knew you where releasing an album?
Answer: I had no real problems to find a label that was interested to release the album. I asked 5 or 6 labels if they was interested and the last one was interested to release it. But 4-5 of the labels would not take the risk to release an album with various singers on so I suppose that is something that scares away many labels. They also told me all that today they not sign up any new artists cause the selling are so low since many people prefer to download the albums for free instead.
Question nr 6: Do you feel that having added a number of guest vocalists from well known acts within the Synth Pop scene may add additional pressure to yourself, and the bands vocalist when it comes to releasing your second album on the basis that people may have draw the conclusion that a large part of the reason for liking "Voices & Machines" was the addition of these familiar guest vocalists?
Answer: That is a risk I have to take. But like I said before I will not only use 1 vocalist for my next album. In some way I will ask a couple of other singers to join the album. But not so many as this time. Martina will be the lead singer for the album. But I hope that the music will speak for itself.
Question nr 7: Despite being a member of a number of previous bands, your main work within the music scene in recent years has been more in the field of remixing, but with the release of your debut album, will you now be concentrating more in that direction, and continue to write new material while putting your remixing to one side, or will you now simply work on both remixing, and writing new material?
Answer: This is a good question. I have already started to work on some new songs. And I have also said alright to remix a couple of artists in the near future so I think I will mix everything. And I think i will make a Best Of With my old band Melody Lane. I really liked some of our songs and in new good versions I think people will like it too. So the future is wide screen.
Question nr 8: I briefly know that you've been a member of a number of other bands, both Synth Pop, and non-Synth Pop, but I'am sure you will agree that all have been largely without any success. But, considering too date what you've done under the name Chinese Theatre, including the release of your debut album, why do you think Chinese Theatre has simply worked more then your previous bands?
Answer: I'm pretty sure that it is the time. On my old bands I have not spend much time in the recording progress. The ideas has always been there but we have always recorded everything to fast. Recording a demo with 8-9 songs in two days doesn't work.
Question nr 9: Germany may be seen by one and all within the Synth Pop scene as the main country for Synth Pop itself, but your fellow Swedes have kept alive a healthy Synth Pop scene within the country itself since the early-80s. Do you feel that there is something within Synth Pop that simply appeals in some way to the Swedes?, and do you think that the Swedish Synth Pop scene really gets the interest, and credit it deserves? Particularly in comparison to that given to the German scene.
Answer: Yes Sweden is a very good country to produce good synthpop. And it has always been so. I think people in west and south Sweden are more into this poppy sound and in north and east there is harder tunes like ebm and industrial stuff that are bigger. But synthpop in Sweden has never been really big. The music has always been underground. That is both good and bad but I think that the reason is "synthpop" the word. If you call it eurodisco instead I´m sure you will sell a lot more records than if the sound is named synthpop.
Question nr 10: Despite having already made three releases under the name Chinese Theatre in the single "Breath In Breath Out", and both the "Synthphony Remixed" and "Voices & Images" albums, what future plans do you have for Chinese Theatre?
Answer: The future plans is to not rush into anything right now. I will spend the summer with my family and when the autumn is here again I will continue working with a new album or a best of with melody lane. I'm not sure yet. But if the response will be good for Voices And Machines I suppose that will give me a extra kick to make some new songs sooner.
Question nr 11: Finally, the last words are yours...
Answer: Go out and buy Voices & Machines when it comes to your favorite shop. Maybe it is an album that will fit your style perfectly.
/Krister
Interview by: Danny King