June 2008
|
||
This month interview takes a closer look at Paul Freegaard, who, as part of the remix out fit Chamber, made a rather snazzy remix of Empire State Human for the CD compilation The Very Best Of that was released in 2003. He has made quite a name for himself in the electronic genre since his CV also boasts the names of both Martin Gore and Depeche Mode, and I'm very pleased he took time out to answer a few questions about his work. |
||
Interview by Niels Kolling |
||
First a
little background. How did you become involved in the music business?
The band split in 1986, one part of the band formed Meatbeat Manifesto and I went on to form Supereal Progressive House duo on Guerilla Records in 1990 and had a underground hit with Body Medusa and United States Of Love. Album was called Elixer.
Then released a single on Mushroom Records in 1998 called With The Sun under the name United with Elastica producer Mark Waterman.
Also in 1998 formed
electro outfit Chamber on Hydrogen Dukebox Records and released 3 club
singles and album Thrust. Then worked on Exciter and then 2 years later on
Martin Gore's solo album Counterfeit 2.
What
was your knowledge of The Human League's vast history and back catalogue
before you started working on one of their tracks? Would you label yourself
a fan or more a casual listener?
I was
approached by my agent who was working on Chamber and had really liked the
remixes of Depeche Mode and Robert Miles and put Chamber forward.
Did
you make more than the one mix for the release? And if you did, was that in the same style?
Listening to the mix 5 years after it was released, anything you would have done differently?
Good question !
Probably would love to have fucked around with the bass a lot more and added more warmth.
What kind of gear did you use for remixing back in 2003?
Mac G4 / Logic 5 / JP8000 /
Nord 1 fully booted / Novation Drum Station / Battery 1.
And how is your set up
these days? Is it all virtual synths for you or do you like to "fiddle
with the knobs" from time to time? |
I don't get soft synths!
I have tried and tried to find one that matches the Nord , but to no
avail. If
you know of such a device please let me know.
Out of their vast back
catalogue, can you name your favourite Human League album and single?
If you
could pick any Human league song, which one would you like the most to
remix?
The Black
Hit Of Space, A Crow And A Baby, Dignity Of Labour. Any early stuff.
You
are both remixer and producer in your own right. Could you see yourself
producing the next Human League album?
You
are situated in St Albans, where Human League frequently tour. Have you
ever experienced a Human league concert and if you have, what did you
think of it?
You
have a very impressive CV. I’m as big a Depeche Mode fan as I am Human
League fan, so the heavy link to Martin Gore (Counterfeit 2) and Depeche Mode
(Exciter) draws my
attention! How did you become involved in working so closely with Martin
Gore?
Then we
both remixed the Garbage single Queer together and hit it off.
Your name sound Danish, any relations to Denmark?
No, it's not Danish. It's a very old West country name, but I am half Polish.
Check out Paul's webpage:
|