Amiga Music Preservation -

Interview

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`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.

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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?

My dad made the mistake of buying me an Atari VCS games system when I was
about 7 or something. That was the end of life as I knew it. :) I bought a
Spectrum when I was 11 and later had a C64. I heard Lightforce by Rob
Hubbard and was hooked. I think that was when I realised that computers
are a major danger to my life, ha ha. I mainly got in interested in games
obviously, but later the focus changed a bit and I got really into demos and
especially computer music. I was about 17 then. Erm, that was 1990.

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

Well, just in terms of computers (not games consoles, too much to list really)
It was a ZX80 (!), Spectrum, C64, A500, A1200, A2000 and two Macs.

The ZX80 was just a waste of time, Spectrum was mostly used for games and so
was the C64. On the Amiga, I started tracking and on my Macs, I sequence my
"proper" music.

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

Family history and urge to be better than others probably. There's a history of
music in my family (classic, opera, jazz etc) and I was the odd one out - doing
music without musical education and on a computer! My dad thought I was nuts.
I got heavily inspired by Chris Huelsbeck's Amiga soundtracks and Tip and
Mantronix' music disks. So I just had to make music.

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

Some weird ones I can't remember at first but I ended up using Protracker and
sometimes Octamed. Today it's Cubase VST on Mac.

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

"Destiny Calls". But that never got released in any production. There are parts
in it that were very inpired by the Last Ninja game on C64 and also some demo
stuff from other guys but there are segments in there that made me happy with
it. In general, the early stuff was aweful but the Jazz tunes I did for Relax
later were quite nice. I think?

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

"Deliverance" because the first part is just crap. Strangely enough I did a
search on the Aminet once and found it to be highly rated. I don't get it.

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

It's just as important as graphics today and an integral part of the
presentation. Just like in movies, you want to be inspired by the music and
it should set the right atmosphere. In games, it should make you want to reach
the next level and make you feel like a hero.

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

In September, the first commercial CD with my music will be released: Remix64
Vol.2: "Into Eternity", a studio CD with classic C64 game tracks. My
contribution was Giana Sisters by you know who. :) I am working on several
potential projects beyond that and have a PS2 games music project up my sleeve
but that's still unofficial really.

There are a number of free tracks that can be downloaded on my web site that I
have created in my studio over the last 2-3 years. Also, there are 2 C64 remix
tracks on http://remix.kwed.org/ and 1 Amiga remix (X-Out) on
http://www.amigaremix.com/ that were released on the web.

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

Very high standard in terms of sound quality. I personally think that modern
tunes lack the melody kick we had back on the 64 or Amiga. Back then, music
inspired by the notes alone, not by effect quality.

That said, there are some great tracks out there - I really liked the
Headhunter soundtrack on Dreamcast and PS2. Resident Evil send shivers down
my spine with it's eerie piano sounds.

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

Wizball title theme (C64) by Galway
Lightforce by Hubbard
Lizardking's Theme by Lizardking
Turrican (all tunes nearly and also the CD) by Huelsbeck
Too many Maniac of Noise tunes to mention
Yummy Gap by Tip and Mantronix

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

Maybe. Depends on time, finances and energy. So right now - no. :)

12-What bands are you currently listenning to?

LIfelines by A-ha. I'm a sucker for good pop bands that don't try to sell
themselves by image.
I listen to a lot of Depeche Mode and find their modern stuff even better
really. Actually, you'll find me listening to lots of music across the charts,
pop, rock and in many cases trance tracks by ATB, Chicane tc.

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

A lot of fun then and nostalgia now. I made me stay at home and away from
drugs and alcohol I guess. That's what my mom says at least. :)

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

No. You can find me joning discussions on the Remix64 forum and arranging new
versions of 64/Amiga games music but the demo scene is all but a memory now.

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

Just want to say "hi" to Bjorn who can probably just answer these questions
with the same answers (well some at least) and who's my longest enduring
friend. Neil and the R64 team for being a nice bunch and anybody who I had
fun with in the Amiga days.And Pete, my brother who's trying to get rid of
his goose pimples as he reads this. (insider joke) ;)

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please note: this interview is ©opyrighted in 2003 by crown of cryptoburners
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