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Q&A with Bochum Welt.
Translated from the Sony Japan website ('98). Inteview by Tosh Takamuku.

When did you start making music and what was the first gear you got?

I started studying composition on a piano when I was 12, I began buying analogue synthesizers during that period: Moogs, Oberheims.. Samplers were very expensive, owning a Fairlight was like being part of an exclusive club, you had the privilege of being the first with technology.

What style of music you were into at that time?

I was into Trevor Horn productions: ABC's "The Lexicon Of Love" or The Art Of Noise; Thomas Dolby, Kraftwerk, Herbie Hancock...

How did you become involved in electronic music?

I have always liked the fusion between electronics and romanticism, I started playing music with my piano, but I was really fascinated by the atmospheres which could be created by the fusion of analogue synthesizers and classical compositions.

What gear you are currently using?

Apple Newton 2000, Macintosh SE30, Powerbook 5300c, Power Macintosh 7300 604/166mhz 96mb ram 2gb HD, Open Music System, Beatnik, Opcode Studio Vision & Cubase VST for audio/video editing + Korg 1212 multi channel audio interface; Oberheim, OSC, Moog, Roland synthesizers and drum machines, Akai and EMU samplers, Mackye consoles, Yamaha monitors, Sony portable and desk DAT recorders.

What other artists have influenced you?

I'm producing content for Thomas Dolby's Headspace Inc. and it's an exciting experience, I wanted to build the new tracks in a really hi tech way. Thomas has created a new computer synthesizer/sampler, called Beatnik which is still in beta. It offers 16 bit stereo interactive CD audio quality. This way of making music is revolutionary because, in the past a good quality audio track used for a videogame used 60-100 mb, a 16 bit audio track built by Beatnik uses a few Kylobytes thanks to the plug-in synthesizer!!!! Finally computer games programmers will not have to sacrifice precious cd rom spaces for obtaining a lush audio on their games.

Do you listen to acoustic music such as jazz, rock, or classical?

Yes, I grew up listening to pop, jazz and classical music, I often listen to Claude Debussy, don't know if my music could be considered part of the dance scene, I have never thought about it.

What was the concept behind the Module2 album?

I used 12 bit samplers. I wanted it to sound like a vintage videogame mixed with sweet melodies of the eighties. I had DATs full of absurd noises I collected everywhere from game rooms to science fiction b-movies of the fifties, so I started editing samples and sequencing with Oberheim and OSC synths.



Have you ever worked with other musicians?

Chris Jeffs remixed a track I composed in 93, it has been included in the "Scharlach Eingang" EP on Rephlex and I'm actually working on orchestrated tracks with musicians of the Conservatory G.Verdi of Milan.

Can you tell me your current top5 as well as all-time top5?

At the moment I'm listening toThe Gate To The Mind's eye soundtrack by Dolby, the new album by Prefab Sprout, Sweet Revenge by Sakamoto, Rephlex stuff ....
All-Time:
Thomas Dolby - The Golden Age Of Wireless
The Aphex Twin - Ambient Works Vol.1
Kraftwerk - Tour De France
Ryuichi Sakamoto - Illustrated Music Encyclopedia
Ennio Morricone & John Barry

Can you give a message to the Japanese boys and girls?

"Love's pleasure drives his love away, the painter's brush consumes his dreams" 2 verses by William Butler Yeats.