PSY'AVIAH Just like on'Soul Searching', you have incorporated a text by Dirk De Wachter, the famous psychiatry professor, on the first track. Howdid that collaboration come about and what was its importance to you? The importance was his philosophy of dealing with grief, setbacks, doubts, about what life is and its usefulness. The conversations we had about it were inspiring. He could support the poetry I wrote in terms of message. I always find that important with every vocalist I work with. In addition,his deep voice is simply beautiful to listen to.That counts too. The reason to ask him again for 'Bittersweet'? That's everything I mentioned but it's also supposed to have some sort of continuity in that narrative about those albums... The voice is missing on the first album of the trilogy. That's also poetic really – the voice was there then not yet. So 'Lost at Sea', no feedback. Only on the second album 'Soul Searching', there are more influences from the outside world, including Dirk with the intro. album. The EPs are mainly there for the DJs and hardcore fans. Here too, the DJs excel in their field, from trance experts, to breakbeat and drum'n bass experts, to people who have fully mastered ambient. I have touched those genres sometimes but not in their pure form. By having a song remixed in those pure styles,you also get a newangle. Often useful for DJs, so we offer 7” and 12” versions, giving flexibility to DJs and radios. Our last EP 'Ok' is a good example of that, we have breakbeats by Nethermere and ALUCVRD, trance by HelG and LLM but also more synthpop / electropop variations by Digital Factor, MissSuicide and Am Tierpark. Finally, also quiet interpretations, such as the 'stripped version' that mainly brings out the violins and voice; or the 'Pulse Mandala' version which brings ambient to the song. You can nowlook back on 25 yearsof making music as Psy'Aviah. Going through everything, what were the highlights and which were the hardest moments? Wanting to have everything under control is problematic, as is wanting to have nothing under control. 'Bittersweet'also contains a second CDwith newversions of songs from Psy'Aviah, songs from all over your career, which has been going on for 20years.Whydidyou choose the concept of new versions instead of the classic remixes? It's an easy answer. Instead of having remixes made, I wanted to invite bands that I really like myself to make their own version from scratch. A remix is limiting, they can't completely adjust the rhythm. Adjusting chords and voice is also not always possible and because of that, the 'sound' of the band is sometimes lost.Now I could share the passion with fans, show the bands I really like in their own way.At the same time it is part 'letting go', which is part of the theme 'Bittersweet'. I let go of the numbers and see what happens.You don't have to be in control of everything, sometimes it's good to hear a completely different perspective. You have the habit of turning your 'singles' into real EPs with sometimes up to 18 songs. How do you manage to include so many songs and remixes on each EP? This time mainly because I didn't put the remixes on the www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be The most difficult moments are often my own fault. I had the intention from the beginning to be diverse in my musical output... but with my first two albums on Alfa Matrix being quite EBM/Electro-Industrial and dance oriented, people expected a band that would continue to do that. That was of course not the case. Before I signed with Alfa Matrix, I made music that was much less in that direction. On the other hand, colouring outside the lines and opting for variation has also been nice and something thatmakes me happy myself. Especially with songs like 'Ok', 'Song of Independence', 'Voodoo Love', 'Sunbird', 'No More Heroes', 'Our Common End','Can We Make It Rhyme','Pretender' and so on. It's not songs like 'In Silence', 'New Times' or 'Virtual Gods' – but for me they have been works that have given me a creative challenge. If they were well received, then that was all the more nice of course... So your greatest weakness and frustration can sometimes also be your trump card.Not everyone will like it but I have learned a lot of new things myself and got to know new people –from fans to musicians. (Read more on wwww.peek-a-boo-magazine.be) Xavier KRUTH www-psyaviah-com - 28 -
29 Publizr Home