>1. How would you personally describe the music yourself and Jas are
>creating as 'ROCOCO'?
Dance, Jim, but not as we know it. It doesn�t fit comfortably in any
genre
because we�re always mixing it up. We�re working on a trance number now
but
the last song had acoustic guitar and harmonica on it � go figure. The
one
uniting factor, apart from Jasmin�s voice � it that it�s all pretty old
school; the production values, the vibe. So �Old School, cross-genre
dance.�
>2. What do you think of the prevailing music scene in Britain?
I�m excited by a lot of stuff at the moment � from Britain and abroad �
The
Flaming Lips, Mr Scruff, Coldplay, Queens of the Stone Age, David
Holmes,
Roots Manuva � I could go on. But I�m simultaneously dismayed because
of all
the Pop Idol/Fame Academy stuff. It�s not that they have what I want �
far
from it � but it undermines the value of music itself. And the indie
scene�s
often a bit of a joke too � you look at Q�s top 100 albums of All Time
and
there�s stuff like The Vines in there � over Pet Sounds! They�re good
and
everything but fuck off!
>3. What are the best and worst things about trying to promote your
unique
>crossover dance music in Croydon and how is the live music scene down
>there? I hear you guys are doing a gig soon...
The beauty of our outfit is that we have the 2-pronged approach of
clubs and
gigs. We�ve been played as part of DJ sets and, yes, we�re hoping to
hit the
stage on April 10th. Croydon itself has a nice underground element
which I
hope will always be there but I�d like to see it broaden out a bit. At
the
moment it�s great but it�s mainly rock. I want to see a backlash
against all
the shitty Shirts & Shoes venues playing so-called dance music to
drunken
morons. The drunken morons deserve better! So that�s the idea behind
this
night we�re putting on � we�ve got dance, rock and plenty in-between
but,
hopefully, nothing you�d expect.
>4. Do you think it is important for bands to set-out with the
intention of
>being as innovative and ground-breaking as possible? And what's that i
hear
>about Rococo being short-listed in a prestigious UK songwriting
>competition?...
Not really. I think it�s important to write good songs and have
something
you feel is worth expressing. If, after that, you want to be innovative
then
that�s great but it�s not a pre-requisite. Most artists who are
considered
innovative didn�t set out to be so. Brian Wilson never consciously set
out
to make Pet Sounds the ground-breaking milestone that it became � he
just
sought to interpret the sounds in his head and eventually the world
came
round to it. I only innovate because I�m too poor to afford a big Akai
that
does everything for me so I�m reduced to stuff like banging spoons in a
bowl
and running the sample through an FX unit (which I did recently). As
for the
UK Songwriting Competition � I don�t know how prestigious it is but
1200
people entered and one of our songs � �It�s On� � got short listed to
the
final 14 in the dance category. It�s a nice ego boost though.
>5. What drove you as a couple to write and record the type of music
that
>you are?
I just make the music that I want to listen to.
And I'm just glad I have a wife I could do music with. And one with so much
talent. We
put it of for a long time when we were dating � the old business and
pleasure thing � but you can�t fight fate. So she brings her music
tastes to
it and so do I � what you end up with is a load of big beats and
oblique
samples with the soulful female vibe over the top.
>6. Some of your songs sound incredibly complex with their fantastic
beats,
>grooves and clever samples. How do you write your songs, and what
equipment
>do you use in order to generate the tracks that you produce?
As I�ve said, a lot of my synths are cheap or old or both, which means
you
have to push the envelope to make it sound different but you also avoid
the
predictable programmed sound that you get if you just plug in and play.
I
have 2 little samplers which I use to co-ordinate drum loops and over
that I
make samples any way I can and try to keep them in tune with the music,
which I�ve already written before I put it all together. I try never to
programme something that I can�t play but, of course, I need to use a
PC
running Cubase to sync it all up. Then I just build it up with layers
of
keyboards and, if I need live instruments, I�ll get them in � so Jas
might
stick a flute loop over the top or my mate Dave (who�s a genius) will
add a
sax break or some clarinet. Usually I have an idea about the kind of
sound I
want and it all ends up totally different. I love scratching but my
turntable is rubbish and butchers my records, which leads to some
pretty
interesting results. Right now I�m down to scratching stuff like Kenny
Loggins and The Bangles. It�s a real 80�s revival. Anyway, I digress �
we
record all this on a little minidisc 4 track and there you have it.
>7. Do you think that music press institutions such as the 'NME' still
have
>their finger on the pulse of all that is great about underground
music, or
>do you think more and more people and turning to what fanzines have to
rant
>and rave about?
The NME is worse than Smash Hits in its flagrant idolatry of anything
it
thinks is �cool�. It�s no more about music than Take A Break. The way
they
fawn and salivate over their chosen few is nauseating. Take The Datsuns
�
there�s a million 4 piece rock bands out there doing the same thing but
better and they must get so discouraged by the seemingly arbitrary
championing of an act that will be fogotten in a heartbeat when the
next
Guitar Hero Pin-up of the week comes along. I blame publications like
NME
who want to forget that, for better or worse, the 80�s ever happened
but
really what it comes down to is this perennial desire to separate Dance
and
Rock. I�ve written a long rant about it on Glamage but it�s my
principle bug
bear � this divide in music. The fanzines have it right because it�s a
reaction to all that. People are sick of being told what they ought to
listen to � whether it comes from NME of Simon Cowell. I don�t think
mainstream recognition has ever had less cache. Look at The Streets �
that�s
innovative, home-made dance that doesn�t conform but now he�s up for a
Brit
there�s a sour taste to it. I remember when the Brits seemed to
represent a
standard of some sort but that�s going back a bit. I want to see a time
when
the discerning listeners tell the industry what time it is but, so long
as
children are aloud to run loose in HMV, it�s never going to happen.
>8. You are setting up 'The Collective.' What's all that about then?
Well, partly what I�ve just been talking about � it�s a collection of
like-minded musicians, DJs reviewers and fanatics who believe in each
other�s work and want to engage in mutual encouragement and promotion.
Some
of us gig together, appear on each other�s tunes, put each other�s
stuff on
club sets and compilations and produce reviews. We all benefit from
each
other�s contacts and knowledge and we all have the kudos of
association. So
far, all those on board are very good in their chosen field. For
example,
I�m delighted to have Black Lines on board, who exemplify everything
that�s
still exciting in live rock. Now they�re joining us for this gig in
April,
where there�ll be collective DJs, musicians and reviewers from all over
the
UK � from Driffield to London via Gloucester. Eventually, this thing
will
grow to include many more acts from all sorts of genres but presently
we�ve
got talented players in dance, rock and folk for starters. I�m building
the
website now so keep �em peeled.
>9. What is ROCOCO's ultimate ambition?
To stay together as a couple. To still fancy each other when we�re 64.
To
keep making the music we want and have good people say positive things
about
it. The reviews we�ve had from Juxta and Glamage mean more to me than I
imagine a Brit nomination ever would. Still, it would be nice to have
some
basis for comparison! No, I mean I�d love to quit the day job and make
enough money to pay off the mortgage on our little flat but I don�t
think
I�d cope with untold riches and fame. So I�ll settle for writing good
tunes
and getting props for doing so.
>10. If there's anything else you'd like to get off your garters, now's
the
>time boy-o...
I think I�ve reached and breached my rant quota. It�d be nice if Jasmin
did
the washing up a bit more often though.
>THANKS!
Not a prob, Bob.