Featuring Deep Sleep Interview by Ruud Dreessen aka ebm-industrial.nl | 9 januari 2010 15:21
1- For the first question will be - do you know the Netherlands?
I never had the opportunity to visit your country yet. All I know of the Netherlands is either from books or the TV. I was a fan of the Netherlands football team during Italia 90! I also have admiration for your classic 'celebrities' like Van Gogh, Rembrandt or Spinoza.
2- Do you follow the electronic music scene, do you have any other favorite bands?
I try to pay attention to the music scene in general. In terms of contemporary electronic driven bands, I like very much the work of Air, Ladytron, Ladyhawke, Justice, Prodigy, Daft Punk, Crystal Castles… to name a few.
3- Greetings Deep Sleep could you please shortly introduce our readers your music project Deep Sleep Please fill also a biographical resume about how,when and where...give us a more background information?
Me and Hugo Mesquita met each other back in 1995 when we were starting our studies in graphic arts, a couple of months later we formed a band. By then I was a bass player and Hugo a drummer. This short lived, yet fun as hell project was more or less like a pact made by four misfit kids: a place for absolute liberty and experimentation. Of course this liberty and experimentation was conditioned by the fact that we could barely play our instruments, yet we were seeing (and hearing) many things for the first time, experimenting the toughness and kind of beautiful arrogance of the teen years... pretty much inventing the wheel! Strangely enough we managed to create some fuzz on the underground scene, but by 1997 this adventure was over, leaving behind a handful of gigs, an obscure demo-tape, many sleepless nights and irreparable brain damage.We both collaborated in different musical projects since then, getting back together in 2005 to form deep sleep. We released SESSION EP that same year and started using the internet as our main stage for showcasing our music to an audience. Some exclusive Myspace singles followed up and finally in 2009 our debut album SHADOW OF A DREAM was released.
We started playing live to promote the first album, and Daniel Mota joined the band to fill in the Drums.
4- How did you start to make Electronica / Pop / Indie and what is electro for you?
Making music was something that was always natural to me; I can't honestly tell you when it started… I don't sit and decide if I'm going to make Electronica or Death Metal, for me is just music. I tend to choose the kind of sounds that I feel that better suits the 'spirit' we are chasing at that moment.For me, Electro is a broad musical genre and a super cool villain that fights Spiderman.
5- What and who are some of your influences in Electronica / Pop / Indie?
We are influenced among others by David Bowie, Roxy Music, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division, Bauhaus, Virgin Prunes, The Smiths, Soft Cell, Pet Shop Boys, Elastica, Suede, Air, Goldfrapp… to name a few.
6- What are your top ten favorite Electronica / Pop / Indie Club Songs of all time? Who are you influenced by? What would you consider your favorite cd's?
I don't have a current top ten of songs… it all depends of the mood, you can catch me shaking my skeleton to Depeche Mode the same way you can catch me the following day doing it to Franz Ferdinand or Rammstein.Some of my favorite albums (in no particular order) are:
Space Oddity/ Station to Station/ Songs of Leonard Cohen/ The Queen is Dead/ Louder than the Bombs/ Violator/ Music for the Masses/ Nocturne/ Express/ In the Flat Field/ Night Music/ First And Last And Always/ Dummy/ Coming Up/ Moon Safari/ The Virgin Suicides/ If I Die… I Die/ Avalon/ Flesh and Blood/ Pornography/ Wish…
7- Do you have a favorite track and album?
No, every song and album has a different meaning to me… I can't name a favorite.
8- What is the main idea, the message you want to leave to people who listens to you? What is your motto?
Be yourself. Live, Learn, Love, Evolve.
9- What's the name of your band? What's the origin of that name? Have you changed the band's name before?
The name was chosen for its wide metaphorical value. I can't currently recall the exact moment I came up with it. I love both words: deep and sleep.This band has always been called Deep Sleep.
10- "shadow of a dream" where did the concept come from? and whats planned now that your album is finished? or anything else you're working on? Tell me why this title,"shadow of a dream" Tell us a few words about the concept of this?
Shadow of a Dream is just a reflection on everyday life and an interpretation/questioning of our society and its values. We are all chasing shadows in a way…Millennia ago, an ancient thinker wrote a still very relevant text about caves and shadows, I believe he never imagined those shadows would be made of neon, computers, magazines and tv screens.We're planning to continue our live dates, currently booking European concerts for the Spring/Summer 2010. Hopefully we may be able to play in the Netherlands too.
11- When's the new album coming out?
Next year.
12-How is the current promotional tour going for supporting this album?
Considering all the limitations that are imposed to a completely independent band it's going quite well.
13- What do you think of a modern Electronica / Pop / Indie and about Gothic scene?
I think it's great to see more and more creative people coming up with new music in all the scenes.
14- Our usual question - what is music for you?
Life.
15- What was your best live experience so far?
So far, every experience has been great.
16- You have very nice numbers`.............. tell me about lyrical compositions what you can tell about the done work? How does your music creation process work? How do you create a song?
It comes mainly from necessity. Some people go to psychiatrists; we make music… although it's a common place: it's kind of a therapy. The first glimpse of a song always comes with inspiration/ intuition… then comes the hard work, trying to make it the better it can be at the time.
17-Since the music industry is more open now to purely electronic music has this made things easier for you?
Not a bit. The market has never been so competitive and aggressive.
18-How do you see the future of download / Copyright in area of goth-Electronica / Pop / Indie music ? What are the best ways to develop it in your mind ?
It's a tricky question… The current trend is to assume that the money made on downloads is not relevant for musicians and that the real prize is on playing live. However, people forget that not every band earns cachets or royalties like Metallica or Britney Spears… independent bands and small labels are many times putting albums out with their own money and can't afford big tours. If they can't get support from their fans then they won't get it from anyone else.I think there is not a single answer to these questions, it all depends of the individual conscience and judgment of each of us… do what you feel it's right.I don't believe in forbidding, I believe in developing conscious judgment.
19-Please let us know about your upcoming plans, some new releases you like to confirm here.
A new EP is coming out in the beginning of the next year, so stay tuned.
20-It has been a pleasure to interview you on your musical activity,Well,any last words to your ebm-industrial fans?
Thank you for your warm support and open mind.
21-thanks for your time! great work on the albums and good luck with everything. How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?
Thank you! People interested in our music can find our work at:
This page,and all contents,are © 2003 / 2010 permission by ebm-industrial.nl
