|
An Interview with Richard
Bone
from a fan's
perspective...
03/30/04
First and foremost I would like to thank Richard for
taking time to answer a few questions for our first site exclusive interview.
Catching up with Richard, we find him wrapping up his next rhythmic recording
THE REALITY TEMPLES (due to release May 04), and in the very early preparation
stages of his next ambient project
-
THE SERENE LIFE OF MICROBES. Before either of these happen however, Richard
also has a CD of nineteen unheard demo tracks recorded during his Survival
years (1979 - 1985) releasing mid April 04 entitled UNTOLD TALES. These projects,
among many other subjects are all discussed
below.
Thank you again Richard for your
informative, enlightening and candid answers. Let's
begin...
MK:
You have a new rhythmic
recording, THE REALITY TEMPLES, due to release later this spring on the
Spiralight label. How would you describe the theme, mood and overall scope
of the forthcoming
CD?
RB:
My intention was to create a work
that blended my love of 60's psychedelia with my previous ambient stylings.
I wanted the tracks (and song titles) to reflect a sense of whimsy and
“mind expansion”. My hope is that the music tends to make one
“put on the headphones and light incense” if you get my
drift!
MK:
"The Reality Temples"
is an intriguing and thought provoking name for a CD. How do you come up
with your song and album
titles?
RB:
Honestly,
I have no idea. I keep note pads around me and jot anything down that arrives.
When the title came to me, it implied a location where my love of the Surrealists
(Miro, Kandinski, etc.) became “Reality”.
MK:
You have mentioned
before that your creative process begins with meditation. How do you then
find your ‘first note’ starting point for each
piece?
RB:
By
improvisation. In recent years I have taken to working exclusively with
headphones (due to slight hearing loss from my rock and roll years!) I simply,
and quite literally, just investigate what ever arrives. Often, once a melodic
pattern appears, I try different sound sources. For example, what originally
was a string line suddenly becomes a percussive
pattern.
MK:
You very effectively
use created sounds and textures to convey mood in your music. How do you
keep the mood consistent throughout each album? Do you begin each track with
a specific ‘feel’ in
mind?
RB:
My
studio, on the third floor of my home, has a picture window which over looks
a small lake. I always attach something onto the window, or surround myself
with images that reflect the mood of the current
project.
MK:
What are some
of the most interesting places you have acquired samples
from?
RB:
Mostly
from obscure LPs in a thrift shop!
MK:
Does it surprise you that people experience a certain state
of consciousness when listening to your
music?
RB:
To know this would be the highest form of a
compliment!
MK:
How do you research
the themes behind your
music?
RB:
This
is hard to describe. An idea or an image occurs to me and then I research
(explore) from there.
MK:
It has been said
before that you have a strong belief in fate and higher powers guiding our
lives. How do you think your philosophy influences your
music?
RB:
It is simply dharma. When we are doing what we
were born to do it “feels right”. Always keep oneself open to infinite
possibilities.
MK:
You have not created
vocal recordings for over ten years. Do you ever feel the urge to add articulated
vocals to any of your current
pieces?
RB:
Not to current pieces but I have
thought about doing a vocal project in the near future. As I mentioned above,
I will simply know when the time is right.
MK:
Your last two
releases have been on labels other than your own where the business
end has been taken care of elsewhere. Does it provide for a more relaxed
creative process when the artwork, packaging and promotional end are handled
by
others?
RB:
Oh yes! The packaging and promotion
are not my strong suit. This allows me to concentrate exclusively on the
music.
MK:
How do you feel
when exploring new sound possibilities? And how do you know when the finished
piece is ‘just
right’?
RB:
Again, this is so hard to describe.
There is just a feeling that occurs when the piece is right. Perhaps you
could call it a lightness or just a sense of
exhilaration.
MK:
You also have
a new ambient work – THE SERENE LIFE OF MICROBES, your follow-up to
Electroshock's 2002 release INDIUM in the very early planning stages. Have
you got ideas already in mind for that
project?
RB:
Not at all but I trust the sounds
will arrive when the time is
right.
--- EARLY YEARS
---
MK:
What was your
very first live gig with Shox Lumania like? Where was it
located?
RB:
Our
first live gig, as I recall, was on a PBS station in NYC. The band's personnel
changed constantly and had an almost carnival feel to it. It was more
“performance art” than a regular rock
band.
MK:
You also have
a CD of unreleased demo tracks recorded during your Survival Records years
coming out soon. How do you feel about all the interest generated by your
work of the early
eighties?
RB:
To
be honest, I am stunned by the interest in those recordings. Most of these
tracks were recorded at my home in Brooklyn, NY on a 2 track, ¼ inch
deck. This was a very prolific time in my life as I was writing hundreds
of songs, working with Shox Lumania, and signing with Survival
UK.
MK:
Do you enjoy
revisiting any of your earlier works? Do you ever wish you had done anything
differently with
them?
RB:
Oh
heavens no! Regrets are a waste of time and
energy.
MK:
You spent some
time in the UK during the Survival years. How did that come
about?
RB:
I
wish I knew! As with so many events in my life, things just evolved. Apparently,
David Rome (from Survival) was in New York and went to Bleeker Bob's store
in Greenwich Village. There, Bob gave him my 45 of Alien Girl to hear. Next
thing I knew there was a letter asking for the rights to release the disc
in the UK.
MK:
Do you still
communicate with members of BONE, Rubber Rodeo and Shox
Lumania?
RB:
I've
been in touch with John Schavone and Bill Pimm because of the Untold Tales
disc. In the course of time, I have lost touch with the remaining members
of Shox Lumania (Lari Shox passed from HIV in the late 80's). My closest
friend in the band, Anton, went on to work with Suzanne Vega on the Solitude
Standing LP and now writes film
scores.
--- EARLIER YEARS
---
MK:
What are your
family's musical
roots?
RB:
There
is no musical history in my family although my mom always wanted to be an
opera singer!
MK:
How did your parents
react when they recognized your musical
talents?
RB:
I
had the most amazing parents. They encouraged me to follow me heart's desire.
As long as I was doing what made me happy, they supported it
100%.
MK:
What was it like
growing up in
Georgia?
RB:
HOT!
MK:
What were
your elementary and high school years
like?
RB:
They
have been erased from my
memory.
MK:
Did you and other
like-minded friends ever get together to create music during your high school
years?
RB:
I
was in several high school bands..most notably The Psychedelic Dilema..where,
as lead guitarist, I actually managed to screw up the lead line to GLORIA...an
early indication that the guitar was probably not the best choice for me!
--- GENERAL
---
MK:
You lived in NYC
for ten years before moving to your current home in gorgeous and woodsy New
England. Did you find the energy and excitement of the city conducive to
your music or a distraction? What made you decide to move to Rhode
Island?
RB:
I love the energy of NYC. But with Shox Lumania,
we became the “darlings” of the art crowd. It got to the point
where we couldn't go out to a club without being properly outfitted. At this
same time I saw Rubber Rodeo at a club called “The 80's” (John
Hanti who played bass with my band briefly was the club's manager). I asked
Rubber Rodeo if I could produce and release a single on my small label, Rumble
(the label only released 3 singles..mine, Shox Lumania and Rubber Rodeo).
Rubber Rodeo was based in Providence, RI and I just fell in love with the
area. Oddly enough, when I moved from NYC to RI, Rubber Rodeo made the opposite
move!
MK:
Were you personally
affected by the 9/11 attacks? Do world concerns have an effect on your creative
process?
RB:
Having
lived in NYC I was devastated by the attacks...although I doubt one had to
live in NYC to be outraged by the event, HOWEVER...it is my opinion that
acts of terrorism would be rendered useless if the media did not
“advertise” them. So, why not at least call them acts of
“cowardism” and, better yet, give these cowards NO coverage in
the global press?
MK:
It has also been
mentioned before that you enjoy traveling and sometimes these travels factor
in to your music. What other hobbies or interests do you have that are not
related to your
music?
RB:
Traveling
and simply experiencing new ideas, cuisine, philosophies..those are my passions.
We are incarnated to experience....pushing through fears and exploring new
ways of thought are the meaning of life!
MK:
What is your favorite
color?
RB:
Paisley
MK:
Are you an early
riser or a late
nighter?
RB:
Very,
very early...my most creative time (or late
night).
MK:
What is currently
in your CD
player?
RB:
The
Dhol Foundation, Alien Soap Opera, Tom Vedvik, and on my turntable, Pandit
Shivkumar Sharma's 1969 self titled LP on the RCA India
label.
MK:
Do you hear or
compose music in your
dreams?
RB:
No,
song titles and concepts appears in
dreams.
MK:
Is there anything
that you would like to add for readers of this
interview?
RB:
Above
all else, explore, try new things and work past your fears and limitations.
Existence is AMAZING!
(This interview was concluded on March 30, 2004)
|
