I have been tracking for 5 years. I started on a AMIGA 500, continued on an AMIGA 500+ and then left AMIGA because of a PC.
My actual first computer generated song was not a module. It was on a Commodore 64 using software called Music Shop and using all three amazing channels. This could happen about 9 years ago.
I wrote my first mod in ProTracker on a borrowed AMIGA 500. It was a remake of the song “Peaches” by The Presidents of the USA. Kral Sumavy taught me some basic skills like how to load samples and how to switch between them. It felt very professional using AMIGA.
Yes. I play the piano; I have taken lessons for 10 years. Then my ability to play the accordion or guitar could be worth mentioning. I played the drums and the bass in a local punk group “Valetol” for a short time, but I would not really call that “playing an instrument”, as you can surely imagine a punk group.
For ”official” education, as said before, my 10-years course of playing the piano and a 6 years course of musical theory. But, really, more important for me is the education and experience I made myself by reading record-reviews, watching or listening to various music magazines on TV or radio and buying CD’s (despite they are too expensive for me as a student).
I use a PC, Intel 166MMX with CL Sound Blaster 64 Gold. For live instruments I only use live bass or piano exceptionally. My favourite combination of software is clear: Fast tracker 2.09 and Steinberg WaveLab 2.01. My sampling resources include Audio CD’s mainly, samples from other people’s mods, from TV or Sample Arena CD. Now I plan to repair my old turntable worth CZK 200 (USD 6) to be able to create some more abstract sounds using my old discount vinyl records CZK 5 (USD 0.15) per piece.
Tell us something about your music taste. And a few names from your record collection, perhaps?
Tricky’s album Maxinquaye, without doubt, is of the biggest influence on me. As probably all of us electronica musicians I like Massive Attack very much. Some other names of my favourite artists could be DJ Shadow, Bob Marley, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Mnaga a Zdorp, Angelo Badalamenti, Freundeskreis, Howie B, Orbital, DJ Cam, Portishead, Barry Adamson, Kosma, Everything but the girl, 4hero, DJ Vadim, In The Nursery, Adam F… and many many others.
If I had to name 5 of my favourite songs ever, these would be “Overcome” by Tricky, “Unfinished Sympathy” by Massive, Barber’s Adagio for strings, „Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do“ by A. Badalamenti and “Rape me” by Nirvana.
Well, I do not feel like a “tracker” at all. Tracking for me is just a helpful way of music making. And goals? Let’s wait a few years and we will see.
Ever performed live?
Except for my piano performances as a child there is not much of them. The most famous could be my appearance at my school-leaving ball. This took place in the Grandhotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary, my hometown.
Any plans for making your music commercial?
Right now a TV spot for a pharmaceutical product runs in Czech TV. My song Tommyknockers is used there as a quiet background.
I cooperate with the Virtual label, the first compilation of Virtual label where I am present should be released by the end of January 2000. We have a preliminary agreement that my own album could be released under Virtual label as well. I also have some dealings with Gunjah records.
Your own opinion about your strong/weak points in your music?
Lack of real experimenting may be considered my weak point. Empathy and a bit of taste of ….. (please fill in by yourself) could be the virtues of my music.
Any tips for beginners?
Write such music you can sign by your real name and show your parents without feeling embarrassed too much.
Feedback about our compo?
The most important thing about your compo is that it runs, and quite regularly. Your good idea to comment the songs inspired our Lost Worlds compo and we write a few sentences about each song as well.
Groove Injektor is dedicated to originality and quality. Which one you prefer as more important feature in music?
I prefer quality & quantity, whatever it means. Very generally, of course. Send me a particular song and I will tell you what I like about that song.
Your opinions about the tracking scene nowadays? Where is it heading?
It diverts more than ever from that music you can hear on radio or watch on TV. What luck in some cases, may we say. I think club culture and organizers of various actions like outdoor house parties and the “independent” music business as a whole will accept trackers and build upon former tracker artists more and more. But I do not believe these guys will publish their works on Internet for free anymore.
What would you like to say to us/your fans/anyone who reads this?
Thanks to Groove injektor compo for voting me the artist of the year and running their very good compo.