MORPHEUS MUSIC INTERVIEW - CHRONOS AND CJ CATALIZER

08.06.09 - on release of Quid Est Veritas

CHRONOS:
I grew up on electronic/newage music since childhood, listening to Station 106.8 fm – the most well known electronic music radio in Russia of last twenty years.
It was the influence of my older brother who was in the “Virtual Mode” electronic musical project in mid of 90th
They made jungle, breaks & dream trance stuff.
Since 97 I started listening to psychedelic trance music & collecting cd’s (which is more than a thousand for now) and in those time started experimenting with different poor computer programs, trackers, tape recording & arranging.
I was a smiling 12 or 13 age kiddo but with many ideas, stubbornness & energy, no music education, but playing a lot on keyboard for the last ten years.

C J CATALIZER:
Was born, learning, listening to the music, going to the clubs etc.=)

CHRONOS:
Seriously it happened in 2002, when I was fifteen & discovered more serious musical equipment & starting learning secrets and tips with sound production.
And also starting playing sets like a dj in different clubs in Moscow & other cities in Russia.
Since that time I deeply understood that music is my life, my air & a way to express soul language.
It was a time of a bridge in a more spiritual & esoterical way of life, understanding & feeling of higher purpose of life.
So, while mates were playing foodball, gonna drink bear & dating with girls, I’ve sit over computer for hours like idiot & develop sound!
First serious abroad release was “v.a. True Reality” by Alkaloid Productions in 2004 under Shankar Project & a first Chronos release on Russian label Kvadro Disc with first Chronos track – Mandala.
Since 2005 focusing only on chillout, psychedelic chillout & deep downbeat sound.
In 2007 I have first album released on Canadian label Sunline rec – Chronos – “Steps To The Great Knowledge”
Start to develop chill culture here, in Russia with running chillout radioshow “Fly Before Dream” on internet media station.
Organizing parties, playing live, taking interviews & writing reviews on releases (Side lIner, Terra Nine etc)
Since those times 35 tracks in 16 releases (compilations & albums) under Chronos name & more ideas on the way!
Huge activism to make chill stage here bigger & better & to invite good musicians around the world.

C J CATALIZER:
In early 90s I'd listen to the first tracks of U-96,Snap & KLF & was really amazed with different, new and so beautiful sounds after so boring & predictable electroguitars & drums combinations. In 1994 after listening to non-legal cassette with hardcore music I understood that electronic music is our future. In 1996 I discovered my first sound production software: Fast Tracker 2.08, Sound Forge 3.1 on my ultrapower computer (for that time) And it was a first time of experimenting with sound, first demo tracks. Also I was hooked with radio Station 106.8 – the most popular Russian electronic music radio in 90s.
After lot of experiments with sound, learning & composing music in different styles, in 2005 I created the “Across The Universe” track which was like a real start to my musical career. And after – my first album, meeting with interesting people etc.

CHRONOS:
When we met with Dimitry I felt a closeless with his unique sound & ideas. We both had released albums & had some new ideas on the way. One sunny day I invited him to my home & asked: what do you think, man? Chronoliser? C.J. Catahronos? He said: Cool!
S o we start!

C J CATALIZER:
Once upon a time I was @ Nick’s place first time and he ask me : “Would you like to b a part of Chronos” And I have no chance to cancel this suggestion – we were deeply connected with same source of ideas & thoughts.

CHRONOS:
The intention was to combine ideas of each other in one source of musical language & make a challenge for us for a new level of production & sound – more live instruments from friends, serious live acts on great festivals with great names on stage & some good releases on our lovely labels.
The main idea still the same – Awakening Consciousness. I start to use it in the first album after discussions with my brother which was (and till this moment) drawn in spiritual & esoterical movement worldwide.
The main thing & reason to make music is to give to more & more people inspiration, force for their lives, more faith in yourself, more smiles, gladness & higher feelings using music like a universal language of soul.
This is Veritas – power of present moment & gladness. No expectations. Here & Now

C J CATALIZER:
Actually it’s Nick’s slogan – “music of awakening consciousness”. Using different synthesizers, live instruments & lot of ideas we tried to show to listeners a beauity of space, fantastic nature & human consciousness.

CHRONOS:
We had two home studios, not so bad for those moment & some unfinished ideas & tracks, most Dimitriy's – like 4 A.M., Spiral Clouds, Voice Of Infinity, Sounds Of The World, Across The Universe etc which I had reworked & added more Chronos spirit & melodies & mixed it for final mastering as well.
And some Chronos ideas which was included in the album – Ice Hearts Age (was remixed by Side Liner), Unknown Civilizations, The Call & Quid Est Veritas tracks. The last one was made in 2004, but reworked just now by adding more lyrics in the piano sound.
Also had wonderfull live recordings with our session friends-musicians – Misha (duduk), Wei Guo – Chinese Flutes, my brother Alex – Hotiku flute, me – vargan & voice, Sergey & Andrey – Shakuhachi Flutes, Charles Farewell voice in “The Call” track & Galina Gribanova – female voice in “Crystalic Sea” track.
So the project seems to be really global by adding so many ideas of different people & their patience & help

C J CATALIZER:
Rhetorical question. We work TOGETHER.
If one of us has an idea, by the force of working together this idea transforms into….what you can hear on cd.

CHRONOS:
This magic starts when I''ve ended sound engeneering lessons & learned from tons of films & books about production! Also – we had a Virus TI Polar synth which sounds truly fantastic & at last – real magic – killer professional mastering from Huby Sea – mastering engineer of Ultimae rec.

C J CATALIZER:
It’s Nick’s work. I’m not a lover of working too much on each lead or sequence – it’s better for me to find needed sounds on Virus Ti, change it a little bit & create a whole track! And also..the killer mastering from Huby/Ultimae rec…..have no words to describe his professional work.

CHRONOS:
First of all – playing live on many festivals around Russia with great musicians - Asura, Abacus, Aes Dana, Shulman, Jaia, Scann Tec, Unstable Elements, Khooman, Koan, CBL, Shpongle etc.
It was a huge platform of inspiration & great connections for development of creativity.
Also experience of our friends – musicians also inspired on new creation, people, traveling, places, books & music in everything.

C J CATALIZER:
Many concerts, live acts with famous projects...lots & lots that Nick already wrote about

CHRONOS:
Oh yes…many moments of fun!
The “Ice Hearts Age” & “Unknown Civilizations” tracks @ beginning were one track of about 12 minutes.
It took 3 months to create, arrange & mix it – more than 50 midi channels & 30 audio channels to bring it to life.
And closer to the end of the process computer was feeling bad….there was not only no opportunity to listen to the whole project in the sequencer live but also no opportunity to render the whole project to the wave file…cause project was real monster (you could scroll it up & down by mouse for a few minutes).
And when we finished it & recorded on cd-r no more listening to it for half of year heheh.
The Call track – we had duduk samples from our friend Misha & needed to add an introducing voice. My English still sounds terrible & when Charles Asura come to visit Russia & had stay for a fiew nights @ my place we had
r ecorded his monolith voice in one time – and it’s sounds so cooool that intro got the name The Call.
It’s like hypnosis – after listening to the intro you have no chance to ignore other tracks hehe)

C J CATALIZER:
Lot of Fun. Across The Universe track for example. Will never say to anyone how it was written, but @ finish of track, when it was almost done, I had serious program damage after which I had to fix the computer & relive the track again. Serious work. Crystallic Sea, Sound of the World, Voice of Infinity... first versions were recorded over one day because I needed to include some new material for my live act=) 4 A.M. track…my computer had no chances to finish it. If you could listen to my bad words during that moment, I’m sure you learned something new. :-)

CHRONOS:
We had another (first) variation of the cd cover – but Mouka, Ajana rec manager didn’t like it too much.
So we decided to do a really professional cover with quality pictures & an 11 page booklet with photos & text for every track – it’s like a chapter of full creation. Also it’s a little bit pop’ish cause if you’ll carefully look on back cover you can see our faces?
This pic just suited well in the background & we decided to leave it.
Huge thanx to my brother as a main developer of this wonderful design work

C J CATALIZER:
Nick’s work :-)

CHRONOS:
Separation was not easy but very useful for both of us.
Now we’re working on our own projects independently, having a good friendship!
I’m working on a new album for Chronos which is 50% done & planning to finish by winter 2009.
It will be less psychedelic, more lightened & truly high emotionally.
Also participating in wonderful v.a.compilations of Altar rec by Dj Zen, Gabriel, our Great Friend.
Making sounds for different synths (korg, spectral audio) & some commercial audio work, organizing chillout stage on big events & teaching sound engeneering & sound design in my studio.

C J CATALIZER:
About the separation - nothing to say.
About future plans… no words too… Check up new releases ? :-)

Q:  Looking back at the finished product - what would you say are your
thoughts now?

CHRONOS:
We’re really glad now that our kiddo is released. It was not an easy period of waiting, preparing etc.
But finally – it’s out – and gladness is so powerfull!
We absolutely love what we have done & wish the same good feelings to you through the non-easy ways of searching out the answer on “Quid” Est Veritas”? - question.
Love,
Nick

C J CATALIZER:
Our way to the album was long & not easy – with a lot of work, misunderstandings & at last done it & now very glad with result.
As for Mouka @ Ajana, he helped a lot, huge power to let “Veritas” be alive. So big respect for his work, trust in us & Ajana platform.
And what about you? Do you like it? :-)

Thanks to Nick and Dimitriy for allowing us that interview.