it means that there is still a lot to be discovered by the public in electro music. Unlike British industrial bands – Throbbing Gristle, who followed an experience of krautrock bands or Cabaret Voltaire who mixed industrial music with bluesy chords (“I want you”), Signal Aout 42 created a new musical standard – different from these bands. And I guess if we’d speak about “Girls of Vlaanderen” or “Pleasure And Crime”, I may call it “a certain standard” you established but what defined the direction you, as artists, were moving in at that period of your career ? I never asked myself that question. I’ve always done what I could do most easily. Making music has always been a way for me to express myself. I worked on instinct and with the means at my disposal. In the beginning there were a lot of imperfections, there always are, but I try to improve every time...(laughs). I was especially lucky in the beginning to have been loved by the public and to have had several small successes. I still don’t understand why I’m so lucky!? Music has always brought me a lot of satisfaction, I’ve never had a bad experience...it’s magical ! Maybe it’s because I make music with my heart and don’t think about what’s gonna happen. Quite often I ask musicians about the changes in their method of work. How much did your approach change after the coming and development of computers and such software as Pro-Tools ? Well at the beginning (more than 30 years ago) making music was quite expensive!!! You needed a drum machine, synths, effects, a mixing desk, a multi-track and a lot of space! Then came the computers with the VST plug-ins. It made life easier, I could make music in the - 29 - kitchen (laughs)! I’ve never been able to do without a synth... the pleasure of manipulating buttons and seeing the little leads flashing is an incomparable pleasure. Even if it’s expensive and takes up a lot of space. From my personal perspective, it seems that “Insurrection” was not as aggressive and was more gloomy than “Inspiration”. When you usually work on something, what helps you to define the direction you’ll move in with the next record/single/song ? My instinct. As an example for “Inspiration” I thought it was going to be the last album. I thought it was time for me to pay tribute to the artists who had inspired me all these years, so I made some tracks with small references to these artists. For “Insurrection” it’s my state of mind at the end of the year 2018 caused by the world situation that inspired me, it must be admitted that the world atmosphere was (and still is) not very peaceful. For me, “Insurrection” is a bit “the album of anger” and is for me the vision I have of the future if we don’t take the right decisions now. I try to create atmospheres in combination with the titles. I try to create atmospheres in combination with the themes. Commenting on your solo-record - “Crystal Blackout”, you noted that there were a number of things you wanted to try, different from the classical SA 42 stuff. But didn’t you think about making an experimental album, rather than putting it out as a solo-work ? Or did it all come together very naturally ? “Crystal” was like a recreation for me, I had fun by shaking up the codes. I mixed sounds of different styles, it was a lot of fun. So, it’s quite natural that I composed this album. I like to mix styles, it can give surprising results. Moreover this album was very well received by the critics, it was released on a small Spanish label “Musex Industries”. How do you see your next work ? I guess you’d continue your experiments with SA42… That’s exactly the direction I’m taking! I’m still at the beginning but the main lines are already there! But you’ll have to be patient because I work very “slowly”... I work very fast for 10 days, I’m on standby for 6 months and then I go back on full speed for 5 days and so on... until I’m satisfied with the result. I thought, once again, that Insurrection would be my last album, it seems not... (laughs). www.signalaout42.wixsite.com 20.02.21 Belgian EBM day @ De Casino, St-Niklaas, B With Signal Aout 42, Dive, Parade Ground, Lecsure13 & Wülf7 Dan VOLOHOV Photo © Benny Serneels www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be
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