Interview #9: TRANSATLANTIC ALLIANCE

 

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Interview #9

1.What pedal or instrument you take for a mission to Mars?

Tom: I view myself primarily as a producer, rather than a recording artist. So for me it would probably be my Kontakt library - I've got 10+ years of instruments, samples, etc. all fine tuned and organised exactly how I need 'em. I'd be lost without that.

Trevor: If it’s a pedal, I’d choose the Hologram Microcosm.  That thing takes you right to space with all of the granular delays, reverb, and looping capabilities. Total space machine.

2.What album you take for a neverending moon travel?

Tom: Probably Boards of Canada - Music Has The Right To Children - that feels like a suitable soundtrack to travel to the moon.

Trevor: Radiohead - Kid A - One of my favorite albums of all time. It feels like it paints the picture of a cold, baron landscape, so it seems fitting.

3.What are your conditions, your habits or your inspiration when composing a new track?

Tom: I need to be in the right headspace to be creative. For me that means a clear schedule in terms of life commitments. Recently I trained for and ran the London Marathon so music took a back seat for a while. With a clear schedule, I typically then need some sound or hook to get the juices flowing. I find it difficult to start with a blank canvas in terms of having an idea to work with. A little bit of noodling and playing around is required to initiate things but from there I find the creative juices start to flow and I start to form a direction for the song. In the case where Trevor sends me an idea he is working on I've found it pretty easy to get into the right headspace to take the song forward. The hardest part for me is starting from nothing.

Trevor: I’ve got a little upstairs loft studio at my home. I usually spend a few hours up there per day just tinkering around and recording any ideas that pop up. A small percentage of those end up being worthwhile to explore in more depth that I might share with Tom. So I guess I’m always trying to create new music and new ideas. Once a song starts to take shape, it’s much more about the emotion of the piece that we’re trying to get across. Once we get to that stage, there's this great momentum that seems to build until it's fully written. I should also add that Tom and I write songs without ever meeting in person, so our approach is to send files back and forth and piece together the songs with each pass.

4.Do you have any information to give us concerning a new album or a new track?

Tom: The project we're currently focusing on involves "collaborating" with some of our favourite musicians. I think people will be excited by it; at this stage we can say no more. Watch this space!

Trevor: We’re also actively writing new original music . There's lots of half baked ideas that will hopefully take form.

5.Which artist would you like to work with? (musician, illustrator, movie director or composer)

Tom: I'm a huge Burial fan, I have so many questions regarding his approach to music making and production, how he sculpts such beautiful soundscapes out of samples and foley sounds. Getting the chance to work in the studio with him would be my choice.

Trevor: Radiohead is my all time favorite band, but they say you shouldn’t meet your heroes, right? I think Mogwai would be incredible to work with. They've been such a huge influence on me, and seem like very down to earth dudes.

6.For which film would you have liked to make a sound track?

Tom: I loved 'The Road', a book by Cormac McCarthy, and the movie that subsequently followed was pretty captivating. That's the kind of dark landscape I feel my music is well suited to, so it would be cool to write a soundtrack for that.

Trevor: It's hard to answer because I immediately start to think of movies with great soundtracks, and then I don't think I/we could do a better job!  Some of my favorites are There Will Be Blood, 28 Days Later, and Suspiria - but again, they are perfect the way they are! I am working on the score for a horror short film right now, and did the music for a comedy short last month as well. Got my first IMDB credit :D