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 i:Vibes.nu talks to Mick Wilson (formerly of Parks and Wilson and Tilt among other things). We talk about his new rock band, what happened with Tilt and Parks and Wilson.
Mick Wilson has been around the scene for years and he's best known for being half of Parks and Wilson (with Mick Parks) and for being involved with Tilt (Originaly with Parks and Wilson and John Quivver Graham, till Quivver left and they both kept going till they added Andy Moor recently). He's left Parks and Wilson and now he is touring with his rock band on the same stages that he used to play as a deejay.
i:Vibes: So what's it like touring in a rock band, after years of deejaying and producing electronic music?
A: It is very exciting as well as good fun, being on the road with five or more lunatic lads. The essence is the same as when I am on tour as a DJ, but there are a lot more characters for the journey, etc. We are lucky that we all get on well, at least for now, and although there is an incredible amount of piss talking, it all adds to the atmosphere and vibe. Between us all, there is a good wide background. When it comes to music, we all have been involved in dance music to some degree, yet there is no blinkered views when it comes to any other genre of music. So, all in all, it is a barrel of laughs. Of course, there is the serious side of performing the gigs, but that has to be all fun as well.
i:Vibes: When did you come up with the idea for this? Why now? Why not years ago?
A: To be honest, while concentrating on the dance side of things, I wasn't in the mindset to explore any further projects such as a rock/indie band. I was pushing the electronic boundaries as far as I could and I still feel like this, but then one day I just got the feeling that things weren't fresh enough and that other avenues had to be explored. I had worked with the other members of the band on different projects - one of the lads was our guitarist in Tilt - so we knew each other well.
We always talked about doing something different, but we never really hooked up. Then, one day we said to ourselves, f#ck it, and started writing tracks (the other members had been in bands before). It was quite interesting to merge the dance side
of things with the traditional side of band music and voila, you've got the Broken Dolls.
i:Vibes: Some argue that Parks and Wilson really started to lose focus in 2002, when you guys went almost deep and some say boring progressive, that even some argue that you never got out of it. Are these people wrong? Why did you guys suddenly head so forcefully into progressive and do you think that impacted your career in a good way?
A: That's an interesting question. Throughout my career, I have always tried not to get pigeon holed. I've always loved and played all sorts of dance music - well, at least to a point, as I don't fancy too commercial sounds - and I still do just that. However, you have these magazines who want to lead the field with regards to breaking new scenes, etc. As a result, you get all these categories being invented to try and perceive that there is a new style about to bust to make things look as if they are hip and you, as the 'unknowing public', must get on board to be cool,
etc. We've played it, as we felt some venues / countries liked it deep. Others liked it a bit more uplifting, so we played it uplifting; again, others liked it a bit off centre, so be it. However, due to the tagging of styles, people just got used to saying that a lot of British DJs are 'Progressive' and before that you had the 'Tribal' label, and now the catch phrase seems to be 'Electronica' and not so long ago 'Electroclash'. To me, it is all underground dance music and that is what I have called my style. With regards to losing my focus, I have never lost that. You have to understand, I have seen so many different genres come and go as a DJ, while some of the people who went out to listen to music only did it through one era. Personally, I have been part of many different eras and my wealth of knowledge/experience allow me to do something different / interesting from time to time. Obviously, it's not going to be to everyone's liking, but you can't please all of the people, all of the time. If this was the case, I think your not doing your job right, especially if you love and enjoy exploring what music has to offer. If I would have lost my focus though, I would be cheating not only myself, but everyone
else and that is not what it's about. So hopefully, this has gone some way to answer
you question, that I never jump into something too far without looking at the other
elements that help build up the scene or direction I want to go in. I have been lucky to play at the Berlin Love Parades and to see the fantastic scene they have over there and borrow ideas from them as well as borrowing the best ideas from the Ibizan scene, the percussive frenzy of the Latino scene, and incorporate all these into what I want to do with my music.
i:Vibes: How hard was it for Tilt when Quivver left the fold? Why did he leave in your opinion? Did you and Parks think about disbanding Tilt?
A: It was time for John to pursue his Quivver identity. He had been Quivver long before we hooked up as Tilt. Because we were friends, we got into the studio to mess around really and came up with 1 track, then 2 tracks, then 3, etc. etc. It was only meant to be for one track, but the ride just didn't stop and everything else had been put on the back burner. John had ideas he wanted to explore as Quivver, so he had to go and do it. Tilt was getting to be a full time project, so it was hard to concentrate on anything else. When John left, there was no need to disband. We just carried on doing stuff and making music. What I will say, is when you have three brains all on the same wave length, but with individual likes and dislikes when it comes to music, it can get intense, especially if you all have different ideas in where to take something. Hence, after a while you have to go and satisfy your own urges and
creativity; it's as simple as that.
i:Vibes: How was it different in producing without Quivver? Was it easier or harder?
A: No, I wouldn't say harder or easier at all. We all had different skills and styles with regards to production work, so when one left, we just did it in a slightly different way. We all cover the basics; we all love an interesting sound; we all love great arrangements, good tunes, etc., but the way you get to it, can be different as long as the end result is there. We still do stuff together from time to time.
i:Vibes: What's so different with Andy Moor involved with Tilt rather than Quivver?
A: Actually it's a different style. Andy is more on the trancier side of things, which he brings to the table. John, on the other hand, had a different style all together, which I think you can hear clearly in the tracks.
i:Vibes: Do you consider your courtyard remix of Children to be your finest moment?
A: Not too sure if I would call it my finest moment, but it was a great mix for sure. We have done so much under the Tilt / Parks and Wilson banner, that it's hard to pinpoint one thing that really stands out from the rest. In fact, there is stuff that has never been released, which includes some highly explosive material. With regards to finest moment, things are starting to get a little hazy at this stage of my life. Note to myself: must go see a doctor!
i:Vibes: So do you think that you will get back together as parks and Wilson? or are you only thinking about your rock band at the moment?
A: No, Parks and Wilson belongs to the past; it's over, its' done. We've had some great
success, but it's time to move on and explore new opportunities. Yes, I am thinking
about the Dolls, which has consumed the lions share of my time lately, but that isn't my only motivation. I am back into my music, working 24/7 on new projects, tracks, etc. I'm really committed to the music at the moment, exploring all sorts of styles and there are some fabulous releases coming your way very soon.
i:Vibes: Are you happy with the reviews that Tilt's album called Explorer has received?
A: Yes, as we put in a lot of work. To be honest, however, nowadays I don't read or follow the reviews with regards to what I create. I know of a few of them, and they have been favourable. It doesn't bother me if some of the reviews came back bad though, as when it comes to music, we all have our tastes and own ideas of what is good or not. If you believe what you did was to the best of your ability, then you should live with it. I really do know when something is bad and if that is the case, I wouldn't want to put my name to it anyway.
i:Vibes: So what's it like going from playing all these places as a deejay and now highlighting these same places at times with a rock band, do you feel out of place at times?
A: Nah, don't feel out of place at all. It feels a little different with regards to the different crowds that are turning up, but it's great to play these venues from another perspective and to still be able to have fun when doing so. At the end of the day, we are there to entertain in what ever capacity it is going to be and entertain we will do. To be honest, when you are behind the decks, you have a little rock and roll attitude going on mentally. It's all there: sex, drugs and rock and roll. You know it's all about the music and the attitude spices it up a little.
i:Vibes: So what's the deal with your new project called 'Anti Heroes Audiophonic Orchestra'. You worked with Chris Zippel of the Pet Shop Boys, what was that like and what can we expect to be different about this rather than say P & W or Tilt
A: Well, Anti Heroes gives me a chance to be more experimental in my musical productions. Think 'Aphex twin', 'Four Tet' and add a little twist to it, that sort of thing. With regards to the musical soundscape, it comes from an artistic point of view; closing your eyes, seeing pictures and feeling thoughts. The projects was coming along great. Eight tracks into the album, then my hard drive crashed and sadly, I did not back up the work. So it looks like back to the drawing board, which is a shame because the idea was nearing completion. After the musical side of this project, the art aspect was next in line, as it's an integral part of the project;
art will be integrated into the songs. All the songs were designed to reflect a particular feeling, capturing the right moment. Unless the hard drive gets fixed (it might / it might not), I will have to start over again. I've got some grand ideas on how to perform the Anti Heroes project though. With regards to Chris Zippel, he is a great producer. The guy is super fast and out there, doing great stuff. It was a pleasure working with him and learning some of his techniques. Recently though, I have been blessed to work with a lot of real time great producers from a lot of genres. Working with people from Jim Abiss (Unkle / DJ Shadow / Kasabian fame) to Dave Bascombe (Goldfrapp and many, many more projects) has been a great education for some one like me; after all, we are always learning.
i:Vibes: Over your many years as a producer and deejay, how has electronic music changed? Has it changed for the better or the worse?
A: It has changed for sure and I would have to say for the better. Nonetheless, some ofthe great things that were happening in the 60's / 70's era are still out there and have pushed the boundaries of our industry and have helped us get where we are today. Now with regards to technology, it is out there for the masses, but you need that one thing that not everyone possess: the creative imagination, which sets it apart. What is happening now, is fresh again. There was a period of time, when all
sorts of music was being bashed out (in the last 5 years) that didn't have a soul. Technically it was there, but it didn't have that X-factor and it's the X-factor that makes it special. Long live those special people, who keep giving me the inspiration to be part of it.
i:Vibes: Anything else to add?
A: Most recently, I've hooked up with promoter extraordinaire, Stephan Oorbeek from Amsterdam (www.stephanoorbeek.com), who will be looking after my DJ schedule from now on. My new tour starts in hot and sunny Dubai and I'm looking forward to things to come. You've not heard the last of Mick Wilson! Last, but not least: long live rock and roll as an attitude, be it DJing or playing within a band.
We would like to thank Stephan Oorbeek for making this interview happen and to Mick Wilson to for taking time out of his schedule to do the interview.
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