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| Remora, photo by David Haught from the Silber 15 year show back on April 2 |
BRIAN JOHN MITCHELL of
REMORA, QRD 'ZINE, SILBER MEDIA
by Ian C Stewart
SO......DID YOU MISS AUTOreverse?
Yeah. Early TapeOp felt like a continuation, but they veered away into more "professional recording" than what I am into.
Is there anything you’re feeling particularly MOUTHY about at the moment?
At the moment I’m into the upcoming Electric Bird Noise, which is a party record I suppose. I’m not sure when it’ll come out.
Let’s talk about your musical influences. Who are your biggest influences and why? Who were your early musical influences?
The Stooges & Joy Division & Low &; Swans & pretty much all kinds of metal prior to 1995 or so. The metal because that’s what I grew up on. The Joy Division because I like Peter Hook’s bass lines, the sparsity of the music & Ian Curtis’s vocals are as crappy as mine. The Stooges because of their first album being the best album of all time. Low because they made me realize how to do more with less. Swans because they made me learn how to do more with more. It’s also worth noting that my biggest influences in reality have probably been a few people I’ve worked with musically like Russell Halasz (Vlor), Martin Newman (burMonter, Plumerai), Peter Aldrich, & more recently Brian McKenzie (Electric Bird Noise).
Where do you see your music heading?
I don’t know. I work on different things simultaneously. I’m working on an a capella thing. I’m working on a dance pop thing. I’m working on a long drone thing. I’m working on a traditional band thing. It’s hard to say what’s going to win.
What music software do you use?
Sound Forge 6.0, Acid 3.0, Little Drummer Boy, Analog X Tap Tempo, & sometimes a version of Cubase that came with my Lexicon Omega sound card. So yeah, all that stuff is old & I don’t believe in constantly updating stuff.
Is there any other music software you plan on getting?
Not really. I guess theoretically I would get Saw because a few of my friends use that.
What’s in your home studio setup?
Right now I go into a Lexicon Omega soundcard & then into a PC running Windows 2000 NT that is not capable of going on the internet. I also sometimes record on an Edirol handheld thing, I think it’s an R-09. I still have my Tascam zip disc recorder & Tascam 424 cassette (4track) & a Soundblaster Extigy soundcard & a minidisc recorder, but those things are rarely used.
Do you write songs on keyboards or guitar?
Yes. I write a song on what’s around. I am a bit out of ideas for guitar lately & writing riffs on a glockenspiel. I also write a ton of vocal melodies just randomly that I record on my phone & then if I’m lucky I remember to make demos of them.
Can you describe your songwriting methods?
If I could, I’d probably right more songs. I have gotten less into writing a ton of songs the past few years. I think after your first couple of hundred bad ideas you only bother pursuing good ideas & it lowers your song output.
What made you decide to start making music of your own?
I didn’t know anyone doing the kind of music I was capable of/interested in making.
Are you active in your local music scene?
I suppose so. There’s an area code noise thing here; I suppose a lot of folks would list me as a major member.
Who would you like to collaborate with on new music?
I don’t know. I do this supergroup thing called Vlor that has been pretty successful collaborating with a lot of the folks on Silber. I’d like to work with more people in some kind of producer capacity at some point. Oh, & I want to do guitar riffs for rappers one day.
What other bands are you excited by?
I’m less excited than the old days. There’s this band called Irata who are pretty freaking awesome & this russian dude who makes music as Thorn1. Basically if you look at the Silber records roster you see a list of what I’m excited by.
What’s next for you, musically speaking?
New Remora CD is in my house, no release date set yet. New Small Life Form CD coming out soon on Blondena Music. Theoretically working on a couple other Remora things & a new Vlor thing & a duet with my biological son. We’ll see what ends up happening.
What did I forget to ask you?
Why I play a Powerman5000 guitar, for which I don’t have an answer other than it looks cool. Also about my ton of mini-comics.
OVER THE YEARS I’VE NOTICED THAT YOUR WORK HAS A CERTAIN ... (INSERT PROVOCATIVE-SOUNDING WORD HERE).... HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AT THAT?
Wait a minute, this question is confusing me. Hmmm. I’m guessing primitive? & part of that is that I have problems with small motor skills that often makes me a little bit adversarial with an instrument & makes me play guitar differently than most folks.
WHERE DO YOU FIND THE ENERGY TO KEEP CREATING AFTER ALL THIS TIME?
To be honest it’s just a lack of interest in some other things. I don’t play video games, don’t play sports, don’t watch many sports, don’t do drugs anymore, & that leaves some time & energy.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?
Hopefully making a record so good that I never need to make another one.
WHAT SERVICES DO YOU USE FOR PEOPLE TO DOWNLOAD YER STUFF, AND DO YOU LIKE IT? SHOULD I USE IT?
I use Linklok, it’s awesome. You should use it. Here’s a link where I get a couple bucks for referring you.
And give me a full discography.
I don’t even know all the stuff I’ve done, I’ll just go with the main current projects & skip comp appearances. A lot of it is available for free download these days…. I didn’t realize how much crap I have until just now….
Remora
Anaaron (cassette – Silber) 1996
Acroyer (cassette – Silber) 1997
Eneded (cassette – Public Demand) 1998
Amerse (CDR – Silber) 1998
Anadia (CDR – Silber) 1999
Ambient Drones for One Guitar (CDR – Silber) 2000
Some Future’s Past EP (CDR – Best Kept Secret) 2001
Some Past’s Future (CD – Silber) 2001
The Alcohol EP (CDR – Silber) 2002
Live in Oslo (cassette – Morc) 2005
Enamored (CD – Silber) 2005
Reversion (MP3 EP – Silber) 2005
Songs I Sing (CD – North Pole) 2007
Clear Field (with Slicnaton & Northern Valentine) (MP3 – Silber) 2008
Ensoulment (MP3 – Ping Things) 2008
Derivative (CD – Gears of Sand) 2009
Guitar Antihero (MP3 – Silber) 2009
Mecha (CD – Silber) 2010
Scars Bring Hope (CD – Silber) 2011
Vlor
Lavished (CDR – Silber) 1996
Luxate (CDR – Silber) 1998
Sacred Places in the City (MP3 – Silber) 2006
A Fire Is Meant for Burning (CD – Silber) 2006
Six-Winged (CD – Silber) 2009
Small Life Form
One (CD – Silber) 2003
Alive (MP3 – Silber) 2008
Lost Kisses Soundtrack (MP3 – Silber) 2009
Satsop (tentative title) (CD – Blondena) 2011?
4.5 (tentative title) (MP3 – Silber) 2011?
Brian John Mitchell/Andrew Weathers
The Drone is in the Blood/Father & Son (MP3 – Silber) 2011?
thanks, Brian!
http://www.silbermedia.com
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