"Hey Joni!
Neil here. One of your bigger supporters on BandCamp :) I like the new website. I see there is a section for "Small Talk" and questions to be answered. How about these...unless you've answered them before...
Being an electronic artist, what were your electronic and non-electronic influences? Perhaps ambient or other styles?"
Hi Neil, thanks for sending the first question and all your support!
This has varied a lot during my life. I first got introduced to clectronic music via cassette tapes my parents had, one in particular had Kraftwerk and Jean-Michel Jarres music on it and I remember feeling like it opened worlds to me, musically. With time I listened a lot to Scooter, then german rave compilations from the 90s and eventually I made my way into the dutch trance scene. I always had an open mind to music though, and in phases throughout my life I've been really into Queen, Brian Eno, the french ye-ye era, brazilian samba and Talking Heads for example. But, to give some names, absolutely James Holden and Tiësto, from just after the millenium, Boards of Canada for basically their whole tenure. Also Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan for writing Music that feels honest, I like when lyrics and music flow together like stories. But I still discover music and musicians every day and find it just as exciting as ever! I realize I could probably write a novel on this...
"Do you have a Top 5 or Top 10 Desert Island Discs?"
This probably changes depending on my mood, but right now, I think these in no particular order:
- Real Estate - Days
- Tiësto - In Search of Sunrise 3
- James Holden - Balance 005
- Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
- Steve Reich - Music For 18 Musicians
- Talking Heads - Remain In Light
- Stars of The Lid - And Their Refinement of the Decline
- Smog - A River Ain't Too Much To Love
- Joni Mitchell - Hejira
- Boards of Canada - Music Has The Right To Children
All the best,
Joni