Bass Man
Entrevista de Stephen Bass
publicado el 08-10-2008 por Clapping Hand, 9 comentarios
Escribí hace poco una entrevista para Stephen Bass (a.k.a. Sthephen Moshi Moshi). Es uno de los fundadores de una disquera que se llama Moshi Moshi. Como siempre, haciendo unas preguntas medio-poco interesantes. Pero, de cualquier forma, muy amable Stephen. Aqui les pongo todo, paso a paso. En inglés: y se acabó.
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Interview:
C$H: Hello there Stephen (can I call you Steve?). C$H from 8106.tv here. Just wanna ask some questions to post in our blog. Hope you can answer them (and, of course, hope they aren’t the most boring thing you ever saw).
Stephen (S): That’s ok but you got to call me Stephen, I hate being called Steve!
(Ok.)
C$H: So, first of all: For all the people who aren’t related with your record label: How would you describe Moshi Moshi Records?
S: Oh I would say that it is a kind of pop music label though not in the obvious sense. We like to release a lot of music that might sound not so much like other things around but if you spend a little time to get to know the music and artists should be fun and rewarding in many ways. The music we release is of a broad list of genres but I hope always heartfelt. Its about truth and beauty.
C$H: Could you, as the co-founder of Moshi Moshi records, tell us how your label first begun working? Was it something planned or something that came up spontaneously?
S: It was just 3 friends working in the music industry with common interests and a passion for music who wanted to work with the music that we loved rather than that which we didn’t have a choice to work on in our day jobs.
C$H: One special question I have to make (me, being a big fan and all): How does Moshi Moshi Records develop its screening/scouting/searching process when looking for new artists? Do you search somewhere special?
S: I think to an extent the same way anyone does. I first found out about Lo-Fi-Fnk and Au Revoir Simone for example on an mp3 blog (Fluxblog) and hear things on the radio and read about things. We have a lot of contacts who tell us about things as we have been in music for so long. And also actually our existing bands are our best scouts. Best Fwends told me about the Mae Shi for example. And just friends and musicians who we might bump into. Then of course you have to be open minded and receptive to listening to music and have a bit of luck to be in a good frame of mind so that you might notice something special when you listen to a new unsigned band.
Au Revoir Simone – Lark (Ruff and Jam Remix)
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C$H: In terms of the question right above: Do you remember any special situation in which you saw a band/artist, randomly, and thought to yourself: “we need to sign this guys”? If you do, which artist and how did it happen?
S: To be honest I cant say we have come across any of our bands randomly. I would love it to happen though! I have seen a band once and instantly known that I want to sign them for sure. This happened with the Wave Pictures a genuine moment where there was about 5 other people at the venue watching them and I instantly thought they were completely special and couldn’t believe that no-one seemed to know about them. I remember shaking and panicking at the thought that some other record label might have already been pursuing them while the gig was going on.
C$H: Checking up your signed artists, specially in terms of the large range of different “genres” or styles of music they could be supposedly characterized into, one wonders: Where do you stand when asked for the definition of any genre of music? Specially: when asked for a definition of a style label-wise? Do you think that there is something out there that could be defined as a pure style? Is there anything out there that you could call rock and roll or something?
S: Erm, im not so bothered or good with genres. My taste is just genuinely pretty broad and I think that great music can effect you in a really similar way spiritually and even physically no matter whether it is rock and roll or acid house or punk. Its all about the good feeling.
(That was the worst one. Foe Sho’)
C$H: On another subject: In terms of the record-label-giants, Moshi Moshi could still be defined as an independent label. Focusing specially on groups like Hot Chip (and the likes): What’s your opinion on the sometimes forced relationship between independent and mainstream record industries? Could you call it a necessary relationship or a relationship based on the big industry policies and the sudden success of certain artists?
S: Its just kind of the way of the world and not really restricted to the music business, I am sure the same is true of many other industries, fashion for example or even probably manufacturing. I like to think that both can survive and I hope that it gets easier for independents, though it is tough as you don’t have the fat bank balance to rely on or the huge resources and back catalogue to keep you going through the tough times.
C$H: And, while talking about Hot Chip, I have to ask: Did you found this guys like by chance or were they people you knew and worked with from way back? How does such a band come together? Does it have to do with label support or was it something you found lying around, unnoticed?
S: It was actually Adem Ilhan from Fridge and Erm, Adem who told me about them. He went to school with them. They sent me demos which I loved. They have developed obviously but that was their own doing. They are smart people with a strong sense of identity and style and how they want to do things and good communicators in every sense which is very important.
C$H: Now: the newcomers. Which band within Moshi Moshi do you think will become a definitive reference for the generation that its targeted for? Have anyone you signed surprised you lately (and I mean, in a good way)?
S: The Wave Pictures and Slow Club are both great bands and growing nicely and keeping true to their ideals and what they want to do. Also look out for Casiokids and Still Flyin’.
The Wave Pictures – Instant Coffee Baby
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Still Flyin’ – Sticking My Head In Ice Water (Almost For Too Long)
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Still Flyin’ – Rope Burn
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C$H: Can you recommend our readers one of your artists that you think is unfairly underrated? And, if its the case with any of them, could you tell us why you think that’s the case?
S: Lo-fi-fnk I think should have sold more records, I think they might have been a little ahead of their time.
C$H: What are your expectations around Moshi Moshi Records? We know you’re celebrating your 10th anniversary soon (October, I think): What are your plans for the next ten years?
S: To keep growing and keep unearthing more great artists and help them to develop and have successful careers and make a good job of doing it. And to do this on our own terms without having to compromise or sell out. And to continue hopefully being artist friendly and enabling people to express themselves as well as is possible. Its slightly idealistic ideals I suppose but we grew up perhaps in slightly idealistic times and I would like to think that we can retain a healthy balance of optimism over cynicism.
C$H: Finally: What’s your opinion about the relationship between the music industry and the music-blog scene around the world? Do you perceive it as a good thing for the artists, a bad thing for record labels or none of the above?
S: It’s a good way to spread music around, like the mixtapes of old days. But only one mp3 or two at a time. People putting up whole albums to download for free without permission from artists or labels is not helping it is just plain theft. The artists are suffering in the modern age and independent labels are suffering too. Musicians need to make a living and the good labels who are there to support musicians need to be able to be there and support them. The music industry gets bad press but I think that the world might be a quieter place without them.
S: Post Script - Hopefully we will be able to bring some of our artists and djs over to mexico to play for you all sometime. We would love to do so!
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Definitivamente, un “muchas gracias” a Stephen. Saludos hasta allá (en Inglaterra).
C$H
