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| E-MUTE |
January 20 2012 – Very few things are as exciting as finding something new you love. Much like archaeologists that dig to find hidden treasures, we here at T-Mak World really enjoy trying to find new bands that we love. Once we find such bands, we approach our favourites to request interviews for our Emerging Artist Spotlight series. Today we set our focus on a band from London, England named E-MUTE. All bands we talked to are asked similar questions to each other so we can get to know them better.
‘’E-MUTE is a new band from London. Musicians who between them, have collaborated with artists such as Moby, TheDrifters, Scott James (Stereophonics), ChakaKhan, Vanessa Mae, Pip Williams and more, unite to deliver a new fresh sound under the banner of E-MUTE. Great melodies, dark edgy rock, electronica and philosophical lyrics are the recipe of the band. ‘’
Here is what they had to say to us:
1 Hey E-MUTE, thanks for taking the time out to talk to us. Let’s start off with the obligatory introductions. Who’s in the band and what instrument does everyone rock?
Hi T-MAK, thank you very much for taking the time to interview us!
I’m Theo, or E-MUTE, or Mr. Mute as some people call me! The band is: E-MUTE (vocals, lyrics, music, keys and some times drumming), Tolis (guitars and some times vocals) Svet (bass, vocals), and Darren (drums). Unfortunately Svet is going to be leaving us soon as she is getting married, planning a kid and looks like next year she will be on tour with Moby again! She will be still gigging with us here and there but it looks like Ellen will be replacing Svet.
2 How about the history of the band, when did you get started and how did it happen?
The band’s name stands for Electric Mute. Electric, because it is a rock band, and Mute because the word has a very metaphorical meaning for me. After my first band with Scott James (ex-Stereophonics) split up and after having some family issues, I was lucky enough to get involved into session drumming. The band with Scott, and working with Scott was a great song-writing school for me. Anyway. Back to the subject. I played for many artists and toured a lot. In the beginning it was very exciting. Finally, after so many years of practising, music schools etc, I was earning my living through music. Gradually, and actually rather quickly, I became disillusioned with session playing. Many times I had to play music that I didn’t enjoy and this was slowly but surely killing me…
When I wasn’t rehearsing I would spend my time on the piano, experimenting and humming away. Step by step I managed to complete some songs and the more I was song-writing, the more I wanted to dedicate solely to that. After I recorded the first demos (11 songs) I decided to quit session drumming and dedicate 100% to my music. So “Mute” is basically a period where me, myself and I played music I didn’t enjoy, and music that many times was finding uninspiring, while simultaneously writing music that I really loved. As a session drummer I had to shut up, do my part, get my wages and go. So yes. Mute… in an artistic sense. And what a great logo to go with it…!
Now I’m at a stage in my life where I can actually enjoy 100% what I’m doing and have once more fun with my music. The band became a reality in 2012. I played the demos to Toli who I knew from music University, he played the music to Darren and Svet, and this is how the band started! I knew Svet from music University too.
3 Who are some of your musical influences?
Foo-Fighters, Dave Grohl, Nirvana, Muse, Radiohead, Franz Ferdinand Depeche Mode, and also Police, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, David Bowie and many more. Even Shopin, Vivaldi to Billy Cobham, The Headhunters and Louis Armstrong.
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| E-MUTE |
4 So based on the above how would you describe your music to someone that has never heard it?
I guess Franz Ferdinand meets Muse, the Foo Fighters and Depeche Mode!
5 Why should a music fan come and see your show instead of all the other choices available to them on any given night?
Well. We have been spending an infinite amount of time practising music since we were kids, music is our life and passion. Our music is good, we are good people and put on good shows!
6 What is your favorite single line of lyrics the band has written and why?
This is a very difficult question… One line that I like is ‘’30.000 times I remember I’ve been told…society demands a man of virtue’’ from ‘Flying’. It is about stereotypes. From the minute you’re born, you learn to behave in a certain way, expected to do specific things with your life, get a job, have some kids and loads of gadgets (another line from the same song) which is great, but does not necessarily free your mind, be creative and do what you really want to do in your life. We only live once. Why compromise?
7 What does 2013 hold for you?
It looks like 2013 will be a good year for us. E-MUTE’s profile is growing, a lot of indie/alternative US and UK radio stations adding us on to their playlist, on February starting a national UK radio campaign with the help of MatrixPromoUK, and also we will be hopefully playing a lot of summer festivals!
8 Imagine that you were asked to be the opener for any band’s world tour (both current and historical). Which band and tour would be your dream opening gig.
Foo-Fighters.
Dave Grohl is a guy that I look up to, admire and relate to as he is a drummer/singer/song-writer just like me. Nirvana was one of the main reasons that I ended up being a musician in my life. I just became obsessed with music. It must be amazing to know that you have changed people’s life to the better. Thank you Mr. Grohl!
9 What is the future of the music industry? With the concept of the album and physical CD’s facing extinction, how will we be consuming music in 10 years? Are the economics feasible for emerging artists?
The music industry is broke. The record companies do not make the money they used to make. This is because of the ”digitalization” of music. Basically when people started to be able to download music and share music for free, they stopped buying it. Which is sad because musicians are in trouble. But that’s how it is.
In the 80’s 90’s people were still buying vinyl cassettes and CD’s. The record companies were getting a huge percentage of the sales and the artist not much, but then, when everybody didn’t have any other option but to buy music, musicians could make a living from album sales. And the best part? You could get a deal with just recording a demo. All you had to do was go to the record company or send the demo in, if they liked it then you would get a development deal. Which meant that they would invest. You were getting some money from the record company to live comfortable, while concentrating 100% in your music. So perfect situation to be able to develop your craft!!! Also, when your record was out the company would do a massive promotion so people would know about your music.
2013 Reality: The record companies do not sign artists. They wait. They wait for the artists to become successful first and then jump in and start taking percentage of the artist’s income. What do you get back? Bigger promotion. But they do not get involved until they are sure that they will be making money from you.
So from the artist’s side, you basically have to do everything without support. DIY. Grow your fan-base start selling downloads and t-shirts etc in your own and then, if the record company sees that you can do that, and that you have a small profitable business, will sign you. They do not take the risk because they are afraid that investing to something completely new can go wrong and will lose their money. Which means that the bands/artists have it very hard.
What you see when you visit E-MUTE’s website, the videos, the music, the reviews, has cost me a great deal of monies. So… it is very hard. People do not realise it. It is the survival of the fittest and it is a shame because a lot of great music is being simply not heard.
On the other hand, say that an artist has managed to break through, an artist has the option to stay independent, where in the past you could not have this option. This allows you to be free, not having anybody controlling you or your music. It is still very early to say. You win some, you lose some.
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| E-MUTE |
10 Where can people get your music/CD, is it being sold anywhere?
Our music is available in all major digital stores
Amazon, Pandora, GooglePlay etc.
Physical CD’s only sold at gigs at least for the time being.
11 At the end of 2012 we published our picks for top 10 albums of 2012. Lists like those are always a reflection of personal tastes so if you were making the list what are some albums you would you have had on it?
1. Rush-Clockwork Angels
2. Jack White-Blunderbuss
3. The Smashing Pumkins-Oceania
4. Toy-Toy
5. Dinosaur Jr-I Bet On Sky
6. Enter Shikari-A Flash Floud of Colour
7. Soundgarden-King Animal
8. The Killers – Battleborn
9. Keith Jarrett-Sleeper (Unreleased live recording from the 1970’s but hey…)
10. Bob Mould-Silver Age
12 Wicked list man! Any closing remarks for our readers?
I wish you all the best for 2013 people. Let’s make this world a better place and let’s listen to good music to keep the spirit up!
Thanks so much to E-MUTE. We hope to see them here in Toronto sometime but in the meantime check out their music video ‘Clock Moves Forward’ below from YouTube.
Website – www.emutemusic.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/electricmute
Twitter – https://twitter.com/emutemusic
www.tmakworld.com
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Thank you very much Terry! :-)