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Artist Interviews
Q&A: Burns
By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 24 June 2009
Possibly using a track trodden down by Mylo and Calvin Harris before him, Burns is the latest producer to come straight outta Scotland, quickly gaining a fervent following, which has led to him touring with some big names and remixing the likes of Empire Of The Sun, Late Of The Pier, Passion Pit, Filthy Dukes, Yuksek, Gossip and the aforementioned Harris. He releases his second single (one of a series of four), the double A-side ‘Turbo/Heartbeats’next week via 21-12 Records. An album is slated to follow later this year. We caught up with Burns to ask our Same Six Questions.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
I’ve always been a complete music head from a very early age, collecting tapes, CDs etc… I also inherited a large collection of old vinyl from my mother. At about the age of 13 I began using amateur music production software and found that I was using it in a different way to other people I knew that had it – I began sampling things and making weird stuff, rather than just using the pre-made samples that came with the programs. I was fascinated with the concept of turning something that was old into a completely fresh and new sounding thing. I had also learnt guitar and was able to play chords on the piano, some people are just musically minded without having to be real “musicians”. I think, I have always had an ear for what melodies work etc and what sounds good (to me anyway…)
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
My album isn’t finished yet so I’m still being inspired. I guess I’m inspired by wanting to make something that excites me, which is fresh sounding, and also by just trying to alleviate any boredom in my life: if I wasn’t able to make music anymore I’d just be bored!
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
I usually begin with either a sample I’ve found or some chords I’ve written and then just build around that. I have to have something that jumps out at me from the start and then I work off it.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
There are too many to list. People that spring to mind are Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Minnie Ripperton, The Brothers Johnson, Beach Boys, Joy Division, Cornelius Tatum, Fleetwood Mac, Devo, Patsy Cline, Dexter Wansell, Cerrone, Snoop Dogg, Neptunes, Outkast, Mr Oizo, Moby, Wendy Carlos, Todd Edwards, Roy Ayres, Aphex Twin, Quincy Jones,Chuck Berry, Kraftwerk, Big Daddy Kane, the list goes on…
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Do you want a drink?
Q6 What are your ambitions for your debut album, and for the future?
I just want to make something that people can enjoy listening to, that doesn’t get boring or repetitive, and that you can apply to all sorts of different situations, whether you’re driving in a car, getting ready to go out or having sex even. Just something fun! If it’s not fun then what’s the point? For the future I hope to be able to produce for other people at some point and obviously still carry on putting out my own records. I love the idea of producing a whole album for a mainstream artist or something, that really excites me.
MORE>> www.myspace.com/thisisburns
