CC's Interview by Nocturna (Metal Dragon Promotions) 22 Feb 2008
Hi How are you ? You are just preparing to go in to the studio with talented Alan Lee Shaw in Rotterdam, this must be a very exciting time for you, how are you feeling ?Hi Nocta, I'm fine, thanks for asking, well I feel incredibly fortunate I could do some studio stuff with Alan, the guy's a legend and the fact alone of playing with him was an honour by itself ! For those who don't know him, he was a member of the legendary "The Damned" back in the days…we were introduced by Robbie Kelman (The Dripping Lips) who was in Rotterdam also. This is in fact a side project of the three of us, we'll be writing some more tunes together, record and see where we go from there…
CC you have been a highly sought after and talented musician for years, however this is your first independent project, what motivated this decision and what are your hopes for the future ?I wanted to do my own thing for years, but never got into it seriously. Too young I guess, and it would have been a financial disaster at the time also, so it wasn't a bad idea to wait the right moment.
It was more fun to play on stage and to record for others in studio than to take it to the next level and actually write an album. Travelling all over Europe and Asia didn't help either, on the other hand what better school can one have as to play music with local musicians in different countries…Now I'm much more confident to start my own thing, and also my close friends who kicked my butt to actually do it !
How I see the future…I wish I could…lol… I love music and that's what I'll be doin', whatever happens !
I hope for the best, but in the end it's the fans who'll accept my music or not and there's always the opportunity to work in the background as a songwriter.
Listening to your music there are many different styles and genres present creating a mixture all of its own, though paying homage to previous movements, which musicians have influenced you the most and how has that shaped your work ?I grew up listening to lots pf great musicians and bands, but Robin Trower and Steve Hillage had that special thing to it that when I heard them it was like, wow this is different, at least at the time and to me…
There are so much incredible guitar players in different genres and most of 'm contribute in some way to my playing. Be it John Mc Laughlin for his awesome technique, Alan Holdsworth for his chordology or Zappa for his compositions for example, most of 'm left like a footprint in my head. It's the way, how they do it or bring their music, that's interesting and I'm still learning from them, not copying, that would be another disaster…LOL
It's all those combinations that shape my work and I try to make the best out of it, not in one song or album but for me to have a wider range of possibilities to work with. It's amazing how I realize that the more I know musically the more I have the need to learn…one theory leads to another and so on. I think many musicians recognize themselves here ;-)
Originally plans were for the CD to be out in December of last year, but with fantastic vocalist Alain (Ex Ritual) coming on board, things have understandably been delayed slightly to allow the reworking of all the vocals, can you tell me more about the wonderful dynamic Alain brings to the music which motivated this decision ?As a matter of fact we used to be in the same band called "Storm" back in 81', so I knew already that he could sing like no other, at least here in Belgium. I gave him a phone call, we met again, he listened to the tunes and he was in ! Alain's a very creative singer, he gives the songs a certain atmosphere and make it sound even more original. I think our long time friendship and mutual interests made it easy to work together again after all those years of independent experiences.
The variety to your music is astounding, complex and heart felt, with such a wealth of experiences and music to draw from what approach do you use when creating your own lyrics and music, and what inspires your message ?That's the whole point, variety, I'm glad you asked this question ! I don't want to write a whole album in the same style, there's so much diversity in life and in the world, that's the message, and that's what I'm trying to put in my music.
Whatever the mood I'm in, you'll find it somewhere in one of the songs. There's no special method I use to write songs, usually I play along with a beat and see what comes out, work around that and that's about it.
Most of the lyrics are written by Alain, it's not just text on music…he captures the feel of the song and adds his own touch to it, and he's doin' an awesome job at it.
You have had the honour of meeting such legends as Ozzy Ozbourne, Black Sabbath, Helloween and Brian May to name but a few ! For many musicians this is a dream come true, what was it like to meet such Idols in the flesh and has this had bearing on your own work?Yeah, I can say that I'm one of those lucky guys who has had the honour to meet some legends…
These were incredible moments and I gotta say, these guys are just like you and me, fun to hang out with, it's a life time experience !
We actually didn't talk much about music, it was more like havin' a drink and havin' fun, I remember jammin' with Pete Way and Paul Chapman in their hotel room on a tiny amp, poor neighbours…or havin' a drink with Brian in a bar and all those Queen fans outside the window asking themselves who the hell I was…or opening a door and tripping over Ronnie James Dio who was just sitting there on the floor, I think I asked him to accepted my apologies over 10 times…great moments !
But none of this had actually an influence on my music, it was just fun hangin' out with them !
You lived in Bali for just over a decade and now reside in Brussels, as well as travelling all over the world you have experienced many different cultures which also comes into play with your work, if you had to chose a favourite place to reside where would it be and why ?The world is such a beautiful place, I've seen amazing places and met amazing people all over and it's difficult to tell my favourite spot, they all have their own charm in their own way…and there's still so much to see, so I don't really know. The globe is my home !
There's a slight preference though for South-East Asia, that's why I got stuck in Indonesia for quite a while…
There have obviously been many highpoints for you through out your career, what has been the highest for you to date and why ?It's not really a happy one but surely the most memorable one. A singer, big star in Indonesia named Nike Ardilla passed away in a car accident in march '95 and I was invited to her funeral overwhelmed with thousands of fans. I stayed at her parents house for about a week, it was amazing how many people came over to show their respects or send flowers and gifts, never seen anything like that !
I knew her and her family through one of the biggest producers at the time in Indonesia and talent scout Deni Sabri, he's the person who made me play one of her songs on national TV, and me just doin' that was my highpoint and an incredible honour ! !
At the moment you are fully focused on the new album, however there have been whispers of a possible tour to follow its release, much to the anticipation of you loyal fan base, are you in a position to confirm this as yet and if so can you tell us more ?Plans for a tour are being made as we speak but there's still a long way to go to have enough gigs in the same country or city, that is outside of Belgium of course. The first in line will probably be Germany, but the U.S. will definitely be on the list too ! Sadly, you'll have to ask this question again in a few months…The release of the CD will be somewhere around June this year and will contribute for more bookings abroad !
As a musician what advice would you consider paramount for a new artist or band, looking to make a start in this minefield otherwise known as the music business ?I would say, don't believe too quickly the promises that are made to you, you could be quite disappointed…
Read any contract you have to sign in a very thoroughly manner or seek legal advice if you don't understand what you're about to sign. I've done it and I'm still doin' it.
Never give up, whatever happens…move your butt, keep on playing and making contacts…
And there's no secret to it, you have to practice, practice and practice your instrument even more…
With so much love for music and passion for life what are your plans for this year, and the long term future ?This year will be a great one, the release of a video, the release of the CD, a music festival in Croatia for the Abandoned Children in Bulgaria for which I donated a song for a compilation CD, I also made a song for the Randy Rhoads Project CD (another good cause, I've a blog on my page about those two projects), a tour in Germany somewhere in the last quarter of the year, lotsa stuff comin' up for Chaos Curbs and there's also those side projects goin' on with Alan and Robbie…enough to keep me busy for a while. I can't say much about the long time future but I can tell you that it will rock !
Finally do you have a special message for all of your fans ?I'd like to thank each and everyone of 'm, for the love, for believing in us and supporting us, without these awesome guys and gals we wouldn't be here ! If we have the chance to meet in person, we'll have a drink and fun ! I'd like also to thank Jade, Doc and the whole crew at Broadcast Asylum, Ang at K94Rocks and all the kickass radio stations that play our music, bringing us closer to the fans and sharing our music with all their listeners worldwide, you guys truly rock ! And of course thank you Nocta, for this interview, I enjoyed every second of it ! Love you all and hope to cya at one of the gigs !
Thank you so much and I wish you every success for the future, Much Metal Love Nocta xInterview by Nocturna Enchantress
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