You make people cry with your voice…
You have one of the most mesmerizing vocals in the music world. Growing up in the mid-80s in Berlin, what artists where you listening to that were coming over from England that really made an impression to you in the dance music world?
“All the English Electronic acts such as The Human League, The Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, but also the more experimental ones like Cabaret Voltaire and Yazoo were a big influence – and still are. There were some that were less famous but had the most tremendous influence on me such as Vice Versa, Daf, Fad Gadget – they all incorporated passionate vocals into their Electro sound and were not afraid to show their love for Motown songs etc.”
So how did your first step into a studio happen to make records?
“It started pretty much straight away when I left home and came to Berlin. I started singing around and became a local sensation right away; this was because of my band ‘Billie and the Deep’, an 11-piece Soul band I led. We became popular overnight and I experimented in various other combos, so I was soon asked to do demos and recordings in Berlin.”
What is next from your voice and studio wise in 2010 that we don’t know about yet?
“I’m re-recording ‘Your Love’ with Mr. Knuckles and Jamie Principle as soon as my voice has healed. Apparently he wants it out for WMC. Then I’m finishing my next single which is called ‘Machines’ and then a string of releases on my label ‘Disco Activisto’ throughout the year.”
A huge new project – ‘The Crackdown Project’ featuring Stephen Mallinder, Maertini Broes and Lusty Zanzibar (great name by the way) – reveal to us all about this piece of music… selling out Cabaret Voltaire to disco, Balearica in there, David Harrow getting in on the spin, Tech House touching base – a brilliant touch of music – how long did this take and what were the inspirations?
“The longest name ever right? It had been a dream of mine to cover songs from the ‘Crackdown’ album for many years. I feel this album deserves more recognition as a groundbreaker. I saw an old clip on youtube where a journalist accused Cabaret Voltaire of selling out to Disco with this album that I thought was rubbish. I told Mal from the Cabs I had every intention of finishing that job and he thought it was hilarious.
Finally I stalked my favourite Berlin act – the Maertini Broes. I just showed up in their studio one day and said: I’ll sing over that. How could they refuse? The Balearic touch in the Lusty Zanzibars version of ‘Just Fascination’, well, that was fully just him putting that in there. We loved it and felt it sounded Balearic. Maybe he just invented Balearic nu-disco! David Harrow appeared on facebook one day saying – want a mix? When I heard what came back my head flew off. You could call it my introduction to dubstep. He works under the name Oicho and does great stuff.
The other remixes were also an amazing surprise to me. All the remixes worked on the tracks and the whole package came to me as one zip folder. As I unpacked and listened to track after track, I kept thinking, this is amazing. Surely the next mix has to be worse – and it just got better and better. So I started feeling very confident and excited about what I had. I think all the remixers deserve medals.”
‘Your Loving Arms’ – simply one of dance music’s most haunting piece of music – ever. But it took you a while to convince the UK record labels to sign it up, yes?
“I ‘shopped’ it for two years and was turned down everywhere. I was only signed on the strength of a showcase gig that I finally did. I had three deals on the table the next day more or less.”
Tell us about your fascination with Ann Peebles and Dolly Parton…
“Ann Peebles is simply one of the all time great Soul singers. There is something different about the way she delivers. There’s a slight boredom or detachment – and of course Willie Mitchell, the famous producer, who died last week by the way, made it all shine, along with his brother James Mitchell’s arrangements. It’s just history and magic and no one will ever repeat it or do it again. Similarly, Dolly Parton stands out. She gets better the older she gets, writing better and better songs, standing up for what she believes in. Her choice and spirit is as strong as ever, never deterred by ‘nay-sayers’ who said she was over and done with. She came back and shone on. What a legend.”
And also, tell us about the album ‘Hollywood Under The Knife’ coming out May 2010
“This is the album by our duo: The Opiates. You can find it at www.myspace.com/opiatesmusic
Our first EP was quite successful in an Indie sort of way and we played at Rough Trade. Now it’s album time. A lot of people have compared it to Electribe 101, which is flattering, and some call us ‘The Carpenters of Electro’. I look forward to the release.”
And whilst we are on your new tunes, DJ Hell and ‘Silver Machine’, what’s the story there?
“The song with me on it is only on the Japanese version of the album. It’s important to know as I do sing some backing on the regular album but that is not the full version. As you might know Hell and I had done ‘je regrette everything’ on his previous album with had been a club smash so it seemed fitting that I should do something on the new album. I so love the production and I felt I could sing in a way I had never sung before. So for me, it was a welcome challenge. I never rehearse before I go into the studio. I always sing a song for the first time so to go there and be as surprised as hell was a nice vibe. Hell said he had tears in his eyes whilst I sang…
Who were your childhood heroes musically?
My only obsession was Elton John’s early stuff I was forever just listening to him, dreaming I would marry him when I was a child.”
What are your favourite albums of all time?
“That’s a tricky one as there are so many genres I would pick from. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas ‘Sugar and Spice’. The Sex Pistols ‘Never Mind The Bollox’. The first two Human League albums – the list could go on”
What is the best thing about living in Berlin? And worst?
“You have the space to move and space to breathe, that’s by far the best thing. The worst is that people are still flakey, they don’t know the meaning of getting business done or being professional. They just fart about thinking they’re something special. So I just live here, but find it hard to interact here.”
You appeared in and sang in S’Express’s ‘Hey Music Lover’ back in the 80s – what were those times like? Did you think Mark had a cheeky grin?
“He still has a lovely grin.”
What is your finest piece of music you have sung?
“On record for me, the most enjoyable are Dead Again, Bright Lights Fading and a demo that some people know called – Your Ghost Is Right Behind Me.
Live I enjoy the most is the ‘Repulsion’ live score we do. It’s all over youtube, if you want to take a look…”
Where do you get your voice from, are you from a musical family?
“Yes they’re all music lovers. My mum was a room service waitress for The Beatles in Hamburg before they were famous, she wanted to be around music so much that she worked in those bars and venues in the 60’s. My Gran sang all day. They all gave and played me records from the day I was born. I grew up with music.”
What 5 people dead or alive would you invite to a dinner party?
Andy Warhol
Dolly Parton
Holly Woodlawn
Billy Name
Benitio del Torro
What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
“No one ever gives me any”
What has been your favourite country you have played in?
“I love most. I get the maddest reactions DJing in Japan.”
How important has your co-writer David Harrow been to your career?
“Important in a brief chance-encounter sort of way. He just did this little Techno demo and that was it. I went away and made it into ‘Loving Arms’.”
What do you miss most when you are out touring?
“My cats”.
Have you ever been moved to tears listening to someone sing live?
“Oh sure, Emmylou Harris, Elton, Neil Tennant (would you believe…) I always sob when I see and hear my heroes live.”
“The Crackdown Project: Volume 1: Sold Out To Disco” is released digitally on 15 February. “Volume 2: Darkness Restored” is released on 15 March
