Featuring Peter | Interview by Ruud Dreessen aka ebm-industrial.nl | Date:20 februari 2009 From: People Theatre
Thanks Peter that you have found time to give answers to these questions,
Well first of all thank YOU for founding me in that jungle called internet :)
How and why did you come about starting People Theatre?
After my first teen age bands, and even before, i knew music would be my life. I started People Theatre in 1993 as a one-man-band, because everyone around me was too lazy or just too slow in the studio. I was looking for a name that wasn't too corny. My biggest problem is i'm too romantic, lol. I was reading a book from Emile Zola and his opus (21 books or something) is called « human comedy » , so a name with Theatre came to my mind. In an interview the same year, Pet shop boys 's led singer Neil Tennant said he spent his twenties in a theatre, a People's Theater. I found the name justthat way, adapting to the french way of writing theatre.On a musical plan, I wanted to make electronic music from the satrt, though Mum and Dad never had any keyboard, just a little piano. When i heard Depeche Mode and Yazoo, i knew i would go electronic ! So i bought a drum machine and a little synth, composed a lot, and finally recorded some decent songs i just wanted to spread around the globe. Internet decided differently : i realised it would be a good promo making remixes and it took me by storm!
What else inspires you to create?
Birds in the trees, stains on the carpet, bubbles, waves... and tons of records. But the biggest inspiration still is the sounds from the keyboards... they are leading me.
Can you give an introduction People Theatre?
Well at least i can try, lol. I'm trying to be the Pet shop boys helped by Vince Clarke, supported by New order, guided by Depeche mode, on a dancefloor. But to be honnest, it's very hard to sum up what is or isn't the band : i compose from little concertos to dark electro music. I would say « electro for the heart and for the feet ». The band is me Peter Rainman, but my mate Ptibo is now helping me on stage, and also more and more in the studio. I think the band is again a duo now.
Tell me about your project NUN debut album "sunlight" Produced by People Theatre?
Nun is a fantastic polish band that contacted me years ago for remixes and finally asked me to co-produce their first album. I have to say i love being a producer, so i said yes i never regret it! Im now finishing my work with Splendor Projekt, and three songs with !Distain, and that would never have happened without Nun, because they allowad me to dare everything, bringing their own ideas, mixing them with mine and it always sounded awesome !
And this Platenlabel Sec+ion 44 records?
It's much more than a label, it's a family, a community. Feels like home. They let me free of working on whatever, knowing it's also very good for them when one of S44's artists is on a cd, a compilation, a remix.
And your myspace remixed by People Theatre : tell about this?
As time goes by, lots of people think i only make remixes. It's true i've done many (187 in 3 years and half), but i wanted to make a difference between my songs on the regular profile and the remixes. Therefore i created another page to show some of my works, http://www.myspace.com/remixedbypeopletheatre From Psyche to In strict confidence, including Anne Clark or even less known bands, i think you have the choice!
Can you give us some insight into the beginnings of People Theatre a musical project? How did it initially come to be?
At the » end of the eighties i felt i had to choose between creating a rock band or a techno pop band. Then i realise the music i love the best was made by computers and machines. I founded a first band by the guy i was composing with had to give up few years after. Therefore i decided to change the name into People Theatre. On a technical plan i made a room a studio full of keyboards driven by a drum machine. I have very good memories about that time, working only for music, composing five days a week, even i was far far away from the pro sounds.
Can you tell us a bit more about the musical projects and bands you were involved with prior to People Theatre?
Oh God there's nothing left to say now about it : they were just teen age bands, we were making covers from Depeche Mode as we all did, but 99% of the people weren't musicians, i mean there were not made for that. The most important is i learnt about production and patience (lol).
What are your views on the current state of the electropop scene in french,in terms of creativity and audiences? And the scene in other countries?
We use to think France is a dead scene about electronic music, and it's true, twenty years ago, the radio braodcast makers turn their back on blips and pads , choosing guitar, maybe because at that time making electronic stuff seemed easy to make, maybe too easy. I can sware making a rock song is far easier, even now...Anyway, France isn't totally dead, i have a dozen of cool french bands : Foretaste, Nouvelle Culture, Commuter or Buzz for instance. The cool thing is, as always, our sound is a mix between lots of identities : we have the big basses coming from Germany, melodies from Italy, sounds from Great Britain and... fun from Scandinavia!
you have very nice numbers in your myspace and the lyrical compositions. what you can tell about the done work? How does your music creation process work? How do you create a song/musical piece?
Thank you so much, i truly appreciate. I use to have an idea that comes to my mind, and luckily i find the same in the studio. If it inspires me enough i try to put some lyrics on. I always write in an automatic way to let my soul speacking. It sounds rather classical, but it can take from one hour to a month.The thing i'm sure about is if i change a sound, the magic disappears, and therefore changing the production is almost impossible. One song, one sound.
What inspires you to keep growing as a musician?
The other people's songs, first of all, technology then. I also read tons of books about writers and paintors, i'm fascinated by colors. I still feel like a child, sloly growing up. Music is my way to get peacefuly older.
What ideas, movements and personalities would you say were crucial for the definition and development of People Theatre as a creative entity?
Let's be honest : Vince Clarke. Then and only then, Depeche Mode and many others. The fact i love working quickly also helped me choosing electronic solutions, because no one would think, compose or act as fast as me among my friends and relatives.Meeting artists always brings some cool ideas, as when i met Front 242. We talked a lot about production and i learnt sooooooooooo much i have to thank them still !
While ebm / industrial is your main musical pallet,what other music do you listen to?
Right here on my left, i have Foretaste's second album, a tribute to Mute records i'm part of, Electropop compilation volume 1, PSYCHE latest album, Covenant's DVD, aaaaaaaaand Allegri « Miserere ».I'm still surprise by cool new bands such as Martin Philip or Loic the frenchman, thanks to Myspace.Actually i think i love and listen to everything that has not only a sound but a soul.
How long have you been in the music industry and how has it changed over time?
As a dj, i started around 1990. The music industry have changed, a lot : i'm shocked by the way majors are trying to find new bands : they search for what could be sold, whatever the quality. I find the eighties were much more innovative. Nowadays we don't often DARE !
Now I have to ask,what's the inspiration for the People Theatre story?
From my early childhood, two things made this band a long story : love and hate. My heart is full of both. That's why i compose pop or Ebm ...
Why various electronic styles?
I would say, in reverse, why do so many bands never change of style or sound?
Tell us about your unique style of music and who are your major influences? Where do you typically get your inspiration for numbers?
I know it sounds absurd, but i'm inspired by life : walking, driving, watching : factories, lovers, movies, etc.
I guess i'm very much inspired by club music, because the kick comes first, but it's not only made for the feet, it's also a music for the heart. Vince Clarke comes first, as i wrote, but also Anne Clark, Rollo, Omd and all the cool songs i mix every saturday night !
Are you currently working on or planning any new releases? What is the future for your music?
The remix compilation will come first, then the debut album (a double volume), but also around 20 remixes will be released, close to cool people such as david Carretta or David Harrow. But i'm also practising for gigs, and i can't wait to face the audience!
What do you think of its intermingling with the ebm/dark/goth/electro-industrial scenes?
I think it's very cool because i always thought my music is very dark, not like those mindless stuff i see on Tv everyday. The dark music has someting to say, still, and is one of the few who still have a soul !On the other hand, i don't feel only part of that world, and that why i still try to innovate, hoping i will surprise you.
It has been a pleasure to interview you on your musical activity,Well,any last words to your ebm-industrial fans?
« Ignore alien orders »as i always say, be yourself and pump up the volume while listening to Psyche !!!
What is next on the Frankrijk agenda?
Two remixes for Foretaste, Janosch Moldau and Disreflect (i love his downtempo work !) and i'm finishing Splendor Projekt's production (they are fantastic!).
In closing this interview, we'd like to thank you for your time. Do you have any final words or requests?
Well thank you there ! It's been a pleasure indeed! Request? Only one thing : If you like it, buy it. I think i work hard enough to deserve my wages.Don't i?
Excellent website you have, i'm proud you contacted me !
People Theatre - At night (the best electronic music from France 2007)
Links to the People Theatre
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