Back from Japan and ready for some mouthwatering UK live shows with ‘Phoenix Rising’
Interview : Nicky Trax
Hey guys welcome to DMCWORLD. You have been touring ‘Phoenix Rising’ with Rovo in Japan, what has the response been like and where did you play?
“Both Rovo and ourselves are pretty well-known in Japan and our collaboration has been brilliantly received, going down a storm on the tour in Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo and Taipei (Taiwan). It’s important for people to know that on the shows we start with a 45 minute Rovo solo set then a 40 minute System 7 solo set before finally hitting the 90 minute combined Rovo and System 7 ‘Phoenix Rising’ set. We really felt from the audiences in Japan understood that they were present at something really special.”
System 7 have had a long association with Japan where you have worked with video producers and now Rovo. Can you talk us through your connections and work with Japanese artists and how you came to hook up with Rovo?
“We first toured in Japan with Orbital and The Orb in 1994 and we’ve been visiting Japan regularly to play ever since then, once or twice a year. Over this period we’ve developed ever greater contacts with Japanese artists, in particular we became very closely involved creatively with the Hinotori/Phoenix Manga Series created by Osamu Tezuka. We’ve called the collaboration with Rovo “Phoenix Rising” as it is an extension of this. This connection has also led to our Japanese animation video team Mood Magic, one of whom was also until recently also the VJ for Rovo. We first met Rovo at a festival in 2002 and were impressed with both their unique playing style and with their visuals. We love playing in Japan as the crowds are both super “having it” and also really listen to what we play. All our System 7 albums do well there especially the last two – ‘Phoenix Rising’ the new collaboration release with Rovo and ‘Up’.”
The ‘Phoenix Rising’ tour hits the UK in March starting with Manchester, you played there recently on The Orb 25th Anniversary. Manchester loves you!
“Manchester has always been great for System 7 since the time of the legendary Megadog events at The Academy in the 90s. The show we did with The Orb was fantastic, but what we are planning with Rovo in March will be completely unique and special.”
The ‘Phoenix Rising’ Live dates celebrate your recent album of the same name. ‘Hinotori’ is the first EP release with Rovo and you have also released a dance version of ‘Phoenix Beats’. What’s next release wise…?
“The main recording project we are working on at the moment is a new System 7/Mirror System dual project in honour of the 20th Anniversary of our 1994 dual release of the Point 3 ‘Fire’ & ‘Water’ albums. The new System 7 release will include a harder techno version of “Love For The Phoenix” from the Phoenix Rising album and also a techno-trance remix of “Batis” by Rovo. Before that we are planning a double CD release of all our most celebrated 12” club mixes including Plastikman’s AlphaWave remix and this double CD will be titled “System 7 – Out”. ‘Phoenix Beats’ is a dance-orientated version of the ‘Phoenix Rising’ album, specially tailored for Beatport and the other dance music specific download sites…and it has been really well received there.”
You helped launch the Dance Tent at Glastonbury back in the 90s with Carl Cox and Richie Hawtin. Is Glastonbury your favourite festival out there?
“There is nothing like Glastonbury Festival and the way it combines a music festival with complete wildness plus so much variety of music and sounds. We’ve played at the last 15 Glastonbury Festivals so I would expect we will be back there again this year in some form or other. Would love to do a set with Rovo there, but I think it’s a bit too hard to organize that.”
You’ve seen a lot of changes in the electronic dance music, what drives your new productions ?
“What drives us is the constant hunger to get ever closer to the Holy Grail of combining our unique psychedelic sounds with super-infectious pure electronic dance rhythms, that will drive people wild when played out. This has always been our dream and as long as we retain that hunger we will create great tracks.”
Has it come full circle with System 7 joining Rovo to play a full Live show like when you started out in your Planet Gong phase?
“The show we do with Rovo is modern and forward-looking and represents a new and exciting fusion between dance music and live playing. I think this has actually confused some of the old Gong fans who still yearn to put the clock back – but I can’t do this. When I got fully onto the dance music path I took the red pill and went down the rabbit hole and here I am! That being said, this project is great because it bridges my musical worlds of being a rock lead guitarist and being a techno producer – I haven’t played so many long guitar solos for decades!”
Having worked in the electronic dance scene for the last 20+ years, are there any new talents we should be looking out for in 2014?
“I can’t say I’m following too many new talents in dance music as we’re pretty preoccupied with what we do. But there is one guy called Romare who’s pretty amazing. He’s UK based but works a lot in Berlin, and he has a new approach to sampling that’s pretty amazing. Trends for 2014? Let’s have less of that vile American commercial “EDM” stuff pleez – doesn’t work for me!”
System 7 and Rovo perform their groundbreaking album ‘Phoenix Rising’ with live shows at the Manchester Ritz on Friday March 7th, London O2 Islington Academy on Saturday March 8th, Brighton Concorde 2 on Sunday March 9th and the Assembly Room, Leamington Spa on Monday March 10th.
https://www.facebook.com/System7page
And tickets at…
