Amiga Music Preservation -

Interview

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TLb. ,dMP' all rite, now you get the chance to read

TML.dMMP some facts about some of the major amiga

,nmm`XXMPX musicians. read about their history in

,#MP'~~XNXYNXTb. the scene and their plans in future.yes,

,d~' dNNP `YNTb. that's meant to be read while listening to

,~ ,NN' `YNb their modules. read 'em over and over and over..

dNP `Yb.

,NN' `b. · i n t e r v i e w · ___________

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\___P___/ .\--\__ __/__ |--\____)---\ _____/__ |--\_ \ _/

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| _| | | _l_ | | \ / _l_ | ___|

l___/=l___|====l____/===\______|==l______|\ /l___/===\______l____/

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Handle:

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Group:

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Date of birth:

1-How did your interest for computers start? Which year was that?

Probably with an ancient standalone version of "Frogger" which I had for my
6th birthday (1982).

2-What machines did you previously have? What did you do with them?

A pong machine and the "Intelevision" (a bizarre early console), both now lost;
then I got a C64 in about 1985, which I still have. I moved on to an Amiga A500,
than an A500+, both of which I have in my garage collecting dust. Since then
I've started collecting old computers, so I also have a ZX81, a Dragon 64
(remember them? I didn't) and a second C64. They're the antiques of the future,
I tell you!

3-For what specific reason did you end up making music rather than gfx, coding?

I'd always been musical, and started playing the piano quite young. Then I got
my C64 and was inspired by a lot of the music, so I just kind of fell into it
naturally. I messed around with paint packages on the Amiga and Basic on the
C64, but I was never that good at either. (10 print hello/\ 20 goto 10)

4-Which composing programs have you been using? Which one in particular?

On the C64 I used Ubik's Music and MicroRhythm, which was a really cool drum
sequencer which used real samples and took about 5 minutes to load. On the
Amiga, I started out with the Games Music Creator, then tried several different
trackers (Soundtracker, Noisetracker, Protracker, Delitracker, Futuretracker)
before discovering Med, which I fell in love with and stuck with from then on.
When I got my first PC 4 years ago I started using Propellerhead's "Reason".

5-With which module did you feel you had reached your goal?

I'm not sure I ever had a goal. I was never totally happy with anything I wrote,
because I always wanted the next one to be better. I usually really liked new
songs for a couple of weeks, then started wanting to change them completely.
I'm probably most happy with Apocalypse (a very early tune from "Musically
Challenged"), InputSlochip and more of the later mods.

6-Is there a tune you would like not to remember? For what reason?

Some very early PD compilations I released when I was about 13. Thankfully, I
think I have the only existing copies.

7-In your opinion, what's the value of a music in a demo, game?

As in a film, the choice and music can make or break it. It should always
enhance the overall experience; if it's rubbish or doesn't fit the mood it's
very noticeable. It's not the most important aspect of a demo, game or film,
but it can do an awful lot of damage if it's not done right.

8-At present, are you still composing? For professional or leisure purposes?

I'm still composing on "Reason", mainly for leisure. I also write for the band that
I'm in.

9-What do you think of today's pieces of music such as mpeg,wave,midi,etc...?

They've certainly made the sound quality far better than it used to be. With all
the new formats it's easier than ever before to create professional sounding
music, which can only be a good thing. For me, though, the downside of this is
that as so many people are now doing it, the sense of community and of being a
part of something special isn't there any more. I also find it takes much
longer to write music now that I'm not using a tracker. With all the freedom and
options that a program like Reason gives you, it slows down the process of
writing considerably; programs like Soundtracker and Octamed enabled you to get
ideas down very quickly, and were great tools for creative brainstorming.

10-Could you tell us some of your all times favourite tunes?

There's so many! I can't remember specific tune names, but some of the people
I most respected were the three great C64 masters, Martin Galway, Rob Hubbard
and David Whittaker, and on the Amiga, Dr Awesome, Fleshbrain, 4-Mat, Jester,
Bruno, SLL, Mantronix, Tip, and many more. The tunes from Phenomena Enigma
and Red Sector Cebit '90 are great.

11-Are you planning to make an audio cd with some of your music remastered?

Yes, at some point.

12-What bands are you currently listening to?

Green Day, Muse, Underworld, Chick Corea (Return to Forever), Stevie Wonder,
Scissor Sisters, Eurythmics, Mogwai, Beach Boys, Beatles, Pink Floyd, Sting,
Goldie, anyone really.

13-What does/did the amiga/c64 scene give you?

Inspiration, mainly; there were so many talented people pouring their efforts
into a non-profit making creative endeavour, and I wanted to be part of that.
It was also a musical education. At the time, I listened to far more Amiga mods
than any other music, and I learnt an awful lot from it! not least, how to make
4 tracks of audio go a long way.

14-Are you still active in the scene these days?

No, unfortunately

15-Anyone to greet? Anything left to say? Feel free...

Big hello to everyone I knew back in the good old days, especially those from
Voodoo Design, and Chris Wright of "Friends of Paula".

Support AMP and keep downloading tunes!

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please note: this interview is ©opyrighted in 2005 by crown of cryptoburners
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