MORPHEUS
MUSIC INTERVIEW - JANET ROBBINS
02.08.06
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Q:
What's your musical history - how did you get to your present
position?
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Well,
I got into my present position because my father sold a
lot more records than I ever will and made a lot more money
which he generously passed on. Now I'm able to make some
equipment purchases, stay home, make music, ...see I'm a
bit of a recluse. I played in bands in the '80s, '90s, didn't
really start writing music till somewhere around 1990. |
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Q :
Your musical style has undergone some changes of late
- what brought that about?
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Probably
the turn-around from writing on guitar or piano and using
a reel to reel, to the tools I write with now-Logic Platinum
software, samplers and synth modules, a looping device...there
was a move from California to New York during this time,
where I was introduced to Logic and digital recording. I
grew up playing classical piano and some of those tonal
sensibilities have worked their way in, as well as the blips,
bleeps and deep space sounds I love. I think I have a variety
of voices that found a more integrated expression through
this platform. I still have more prog blood in me, and that
will see the light of day in new material to be released
over the next year or so.
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Q :
What was the driving force behind the current series of CDs
you're producing - did you have a specific vision?
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I think of
these pieces as sound journeys to re-connect with different
states of feeling, many conflicting and complicated but hopefully
towards a resolve. Being in Woodstock was a fairly isolated
but emotionally dramatic time and I ended up with mountains
of unfinished material that I felt overwhelmed by. Taking
small bites and releasing short volumes seemed a worthwhile
approach.
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Q :
Was there any specific influence behind the Carrying the Bag
of
Hearts series?
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These
pieces all reflect an experience of a sort of
soul retrieval nature, a shamanistic quest of journeying
through various realms of a timeless state to regain lost
parts of yourself.
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Q :
Can you tell us how your music comes about - what methods
do you use for writing?
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Sometimes
I might respond to the quality of a sound I hear while playing
with libraries or while looping-I might resonate with it and
in turn am inspired to develop that sound melodically. Sometimes
I'll sit at the piano and plunk out chords or a movement,
then put it into Logic. Of course, it will never sound the
same after that. Or, I might hear a melody over a rhythmic
sequence of some kind.
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Q :
Is the next in the set underway? What might we expect there?
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I'm currently
working on vocal versions with lyrics-music that is of the
same realm but a bit more 'song' formatted. I'm not sure yet
if I'll release these before the next 'atmospheric' CD but
I'm preparing to go out live next year with a vocal set, so
there's work on these to be done. |
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Q :
What is your musical ambition - if everything went according
to plans and dreams, where would you like to be?
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I don't
know right now-to be writing music that creates an impact
on people to feel more, to dream more...to be involved in
projects
That bring some benefit to the planet, human rights, animal
rights...lofty and not very concrete goals at the moment.
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Q :
Do you prefer working alone or would you wish to work with
other
musicians should the right arrangement arise? |
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I like working alone but
am open to working with others.
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Q :
What do you consider to be the most interesting developments
going on in music right now?
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This isn't so much a development
but more of an acceptance of and deeper awakening to the
effects of sound on consciousness-the body, emotional state,
our well being. I love that there is so much magic in sound.
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Q :
Any plans beyond the Carrying the Bag of Hearts collection? |
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Sure. I want to record at Real World Studios
with Peter Gabriel but I don't think he knows this yet. |
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Thanks
to Janet Robbins for allowing us that interview.
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