Welcome to Amiga Music Preservation - Forum. Please log in or sign up.
Ganja 
Handle: Ganja
Real Name: Markus Castrén
Lived in: Finland
Ex.Handles: Slice, Ganjaman, Mark i
Was a member of: Abuse (ABS), Delusion, KONE, Mystic (MST), Nerve Axis (NVX), Red Zone, Scoopex (SCX)

Modules: 83  online
Interview: Read!
Pictures: 4  online

Interview


                           .                  
          `n.          .rP'
           `qb       ,dP'
            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  ·      ___________            
      ______dP                                _____________            \         /              
      \    ,N'\____   _____________.  _____   \            \_____.  ____\       /
       \___P___/  .\--\__    __/__ |--\____)---\        _____/__ |--\_   \    _/
        |     |   | \  |      | \__|   |  _     \      /    | \__|   |   /\   |
        |    _|   |    |     _l_       |  |      \    /    _l_       |     ___|
        l___/=l___|====l____/===\______|==l______|\  /l___/===\______l____/
                                                   \/


    Handle: Ganja

    Group: Nerve Axis

    Date of birth: 08-04-78


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

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

  • It was around 1985 when my dad brought home our first MSX 64k-computer which
    he kept playing games with and so I got into playing games, cos they were like
    really cool :D .. Anyway, when MSX kind of died, I started typing Basic
    programs from mags etc., but soon things got really boring with my MSX and at
    Christmas '89 I got my first Amiga 500 - now that was something! I was really
    amazed with the audio capabilities, but I still mostly played games and
    watched demos. Finally, later in 1993 I got my A1200 which last year turned
    into a tower model.


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

  • Maybe it was music, because I'm simply shite at drawing anything and poor at
    maths etc. that has something to do with coding. I did code with Amos and
    Basic, but dropped it later to start making music full time. Amiga's audio
    programs and capabilities were so amazing back then that it really got me
    hooked. And simply because I've always been very musical.


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

  • I've always been into tracking as they're so darn confortable to use. I first
    started with some Soundtracker, but it changed into ProTracker1.3b a bit
    later. Since I got PT2.3D I've been using it as I think it's the best one
    available (the new PT's being crap). I've never been into Octameds cos they're
    so user-unfriendly - DigiBoosterPro might be an option if I get a sound card.


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

  • There are plenty, but very few of them are available. There has been one "big"
    successor every year, since I started making music in early 1992. Some of the
    most liked tunes, which aren't covers or anything are probably the track from
    Pulse called "Three Minutes" and my latest track "My Fluffy Angel" which is
    made for Seenpoint #8-diskmag.


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

  • There are a few of them especially from 1994, as I started spreading my
    modules back then. Especially the crappy hardcore remixes etc. could have been
    left out, but luckily they're really hard to obtain nowadays. :)


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

  • Even though music is always the atomosphere creator, it has the least
    improtance in everything. You can always watch a demo or play a game without
    the original music, but not without the gfx or code. Still, to me a music
    track in the production means a lot as a bad one can ruin the whole feeling.


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

  • Yes, I'm still composing for "scene" purposes :) plus I'm making musics for
    few hobbyist game projects. That's about it. I'm always open for new projects
    though as I have lot more time to compose than there is need at the moment.


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

  • I think the music is moving too much to the commercial direction, and thus I
    still prefer the 4ch modules best. It really shows the skills of the composer
    and doesn't limit your work if you know the skills of fitting everything into
    the four channels.


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

  • Christ! There are so many of them. I listen to a lot of modules, but the
    best have always been the ones from all the musicians from Kefrens and then
    some single mods like... mod.klisje paa klisje, mod.solitude2, mod.digital
    express and many many more! Nowadays I prefer jungle modules.


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

  • Yes, but with new material - and that'll be the day when I'm finally satisfied
    with me music (ie. not for a while).


  • 12-What bands are you currently listenning to?

  • Again, loads! There are still the absolute favourites like The Prodigy,
    Chemical Brothers, Raver's Nature, Ozric Tentacles, Propellerheads,
    Portishead, Red Snapper, DJ Misjah, Roni Size, Goldie, Metalheadz etc. etc.
    and most jungle, drum&bass and triphop.


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

  • It has given me (and still does) lots of challege, endless experiences and
    will of composing and trying harder - and my efforts have been rewarded.


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

  • Sure am - and I'm planning to be for quite some time as well.. Hey, I'm only
    getting started here :)


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

  • Well, respect to all who still faithfully stick with the Miggy and people who
    make the scene worth "sceneing". Thanks to my good mate Tsibe for lending me
    his sampler all the time cos without him I wouldn't prolly be here. And
    finally greets to all my mates in the scene - you know who you are!


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    please note: this interview is ©opyrighted in 2001 by crown of cryptoburners
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


who's online?


1 Guest, 0 Users

Processing Time: 0.0823 Secs