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"Synthetic/Moving on" was one of the best Detroit releases back in '98 - yet your based in Sweden & British. Do you think that your geographical location/origin was important in terms of the reaction you got in Detroit and the rest of the world?
Yes I definitely shocked a lot of people when they found out that Wildplanet wasn't from Detroit. I realized fully when I was booked for a live gig in Germany because their favorite Detroit band was Wildplanet... When they found out I was not from Detroit but was an English guy living in Sweden they were very disappointed!
Many of your releases are heavily syncopated and complicated rhythmically - is Jazz a large influence in your production style?
Actually Iīve never been a great listener of Jazz music though the improvisation I appreciate very much. The combination of complicated but groovy rhythms & good melodies & textures is what I love in music.
For the techies out there, what is the basis of your production set-up?
Akai MPC & samplers for drums, Analog synths for Bassīs & melodies, digital synths for FX... all put through the mixerboard with lots of external FX units, Digital edits & post production at the end using my sexy new Mac G4!
Who do you feel are your major influences? Are there any particular releases that stand out as changing the way you think about music?
Itīs hard to pick out just one!... New order, Human league, Enya, Rhythm is Rhythm, Model 500 & of course Kraftwerk.
How is the scene is Sweden after the initial hype surrounding Cari Lekebusch et al?
A few years ago the Swedish police formed a special department called the "Rave Commission" & basically closed down the Clubs & killed the scene here in Stockholm... now a few years after the Commission thereīs good music to be heard again, mainly in bars though.
Is there an environmental message behind the Wild planet releases? The logo of the world surrounded by barbed wire seems quite symbolic?
I canīt say I intentionally had an environmental message when i recorded the Transmitter LP, though I feel very strongly about us fucking up the Planet! I could live perfectly fine without cars for one thing.
What's next for Wild Planet?
After the Transmitter LP I did a US tour and played live here in Europe, then I took a break from releasing to build my dream studio which I almost have!
Iīm very hard on myself when it comes to releasing tracks... and only if Iīve worked 100% on it will I then maybe release it. Expect something different from the rest out in the next year or so! & every now & then a good live performance!