Two of the Wookie’s first loves entwine in this latest interview; metal and Star Trek. Glaswegian rock experimentalist Geordi La Force is much admired round here for his magnificently titled song ‘The Baguette of Phil Collins’.
He’s playing Hinterland and has a lot of interesting things to say, especially on the relationship between the internet and modern music.
Check him out at www.myspace.com/geordilaforce
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Hinterland – we’re excited; how are you feeling about it?
It should be fun! I am more so excited about debuting new music and seeing what people think of it. Also this is one of my last few shows in this country and specifically my hometown before i move to Japan (Tokyo) so its also a farewell for me in some ways.
What got you started in music and who are your influences?
Probably Tool’s “Lateralus”. I bought it in a black market in Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur when it was released. I remember listening to it intently as we went through Malaysian countryside and instantly i fell in love with the complex time sigs/song structures and more specifically Danny Carey’s drumming – If it weren’t for that album i don’t think i would have ever got into music.
What’s the best aspect of live performance?
For my music anyhow, it has to be the fact my music sounds alot better live than on record. I personally don’t have funds nor the support to get really good recordings for my music however when i play live, you pretty much experience my music as it should be…which so far according to people has “blown them away” – So…i’m proud!
What’s your favourite gig played so far?
I think i’ve yet to play a show which i can finally call my “favourite” but based on the factor i played with this band, I would say back in December 2007 when i played with Meet Me In St Louis – For the sheer factor they are one of my favourite bands, shame they split. However 2007′s show with Cinemechanica was also AMAZING, loved watching that band live!
Who at Hinterland are you most excited to be sharing the bill with?
Probably Prego and 85 Bears – Two very good bands! Can’t forget Edie Sedgwick though!
Of the less well known acts at Hinterland, who would you recommend to check out?
I thought i was one of the less well known acts?! Haha! In all honesty i would yet again have to say 85 Bears – VERY cool band!
What does the rest of 2009 look like for you?
Well i’m focussing most of my time on Dissident Genro (my main band) and i’m moving to Tokyo, Japan. So…really 2009′s outlook for me is all going to be about trying to play as many shows as possible in Japan. Might be starting a small independent label, but we’ll see…
How important do you feel art is in reflecting society?
Pretty important dependent on your country and who is creating the art AND who has deemed it “fit to portray the word of the “worthy” – In other words you have good music which i think will always show evolution of society, but then again there is an extreme “quality control” by Magazines/Zines/Radio/Record Labels/TV/Promoters on what the people will listen to and not listen to.
So there is alot of over-hyped done before shit out there which honestly baffles the mind how its popular – Lady GaGa getting popular on…what? (Nice use of Auto-tune by the way!) Then you have the oh-so-many cloned Metal-Core/Emo/VK/J-Rock/”Insert Popular “Scene” Name Here” bands – though not all bad, its quite awful how they can get away with the same song wrote a 1000 times already by other bands and rehash an image change to compensate – No matter how plastered someone’s hair is to make it look like a helmet, i still can’t force myself to find something i like in these bands.
In the end its a big circus of bullshit which applies to any art or expression of human contact which you can only then reserve yourself to pick out what means the most to you and give respect when its due and not when your told to (or peer pressured to) – Kind of like a musical cognitive dissonance.
Art v Commerce – Is it possible to be hugely successful and hugely respected at the same time? What’s most important?
The more popular you are the more people are going to hate you anyhow. Its just human nature to be honest, especially the attitude here for some reason. So really its unavoidable.
I just think its different in some other countries/regions, for example the Americans have bands who built their success and the respect system for them is built on what they have done, you have the Japanese who explore every type of act/band and respect musicianship and technical ability of their craft…then you have the UK who pretty much is cynical to everything anyhow so its a 50/50 chance of you being over-hyped and hated or small/unknown and still hated.
In the end no one is going to care about the figures. All you can really care about is creating music which people love in the end, but don’t get me wrong i think playing a show to people who appreciate the music is the best thing ever and that for me really matters.
I could then care less about the “fame” or “fortune” aspect – Which sadly is always abused on pimped out cars/cribs and never actually given back to those who need it.
It’s an interesting time for the music business – has technology been a help or a hinderance to aspiring artists? I think its not changed anything to be honest. I think its just shown what human nature is like in certain different isolated conditions and maybe for bands created a semi-illusion of self-efficiency.
In other words, i find when your press releasing/promoting stuff online, it gets you nowhere really in the end of the day. For example you’ll have people saying “Yea that’s awesome man, i’m going to that show tonight” or “I’m going to buy that CD” – but they never really do. The internet is such a strange place with strange people who really don’t support your band sadly – most of the people i’ve seen supporting other bands and even my own i actually met at the band’s shows…not on the internet.
You have also to take into consideration that MOST people don’t have time to create Facebook/MySpace/Twitter accounts nor have the interest, so really its a pointless endeavorer to cross your fingers on solely internet promotion.
A great positive achievement is letting bands sell their music on-line. This is wonderful and lets people have easy access to what your creating (This includes physically sending the CDs but buying via your website).
In the end, the real stuff is done “on the ground” still. Whether it be promoting or playing a show or selling merchandise. The only REAL form of promotion which STILL hasn’t died out is TV – If your plastered on there, people are gonna know about you.
Who are the most overrated and underrated artists in music?
It would be easy to name a pop act and since we kind of already know that already i would say bands like Underoath, Gallows or Dir En Grey are pretty overrated – Honestly, we as human beings can do better than this i’m pretty sure?!
As far as underrated, probably bands like Traindodge (America) or Ikd-sj (Japan) – It simply is not fair how these bands consistently go under the radar, their musical ideas basically topple almost every band i’ve heard – There is too many bands that have split which were too amazing for their own good; Meet Me In St Louis, Shiner, Candiria etc
You have one bullet and immunity from prosecution – who’s getting it?
If Hitler was a Radio DJ, its Chris Moyles – Any asshole who self-proclaims they are the personified reason for the “resurrection” and “creation” of the “popular” (may i add TERRIBLE) music in this country (UK) should never exist. We simply have too many problems in the world right now to be dealing with another asshole, specifically quite a large one in both mind and body.
Filed under: gigs Tagged: | "Chris Moyles", 85 bears, chris moyles is fat, diverse, gallows, gallows are shite, geordi la firge, geordi la force, hinterland, metal, rock, tokyo
