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Artist Interviews
Q&A: Robert Miles
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 24 February 2011
Having started DJing on the Italian live circuit at seventeen, dream-trance producer Robert Miles released his most famous club anthem ‘Children’ in 1995 through Deconstruction Records. With its undeniable piano refrain and pulsating house beats, the song soon topped dance charts across the world. He subsequently signed a deal with Deconstruction owners BMG for debut album ‘Dreamland’, scoring platinum sales and a BRIT Award for Best International Male Newcomer in 1997.
In 2001, Miles set up his own label, S:alt, and began to experiment with new styles, first on his third album, ‘Organik’, which took on an angular, more orchestral sound, then with 2004’s ‘Miles: Gurtu’, a collaboration with Indian jazz-fusion composer Trilok Gurtu. On his latest album, ‘Thirteen’, he has experimented again, this time going a bit prog rock. With that album released earlier this month, again on S:alt, we caught up with Robert to map his lengthy musical career through our Same Six questions.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
I was fourteen when I first started getting involved with music. I was taking piano lessons and playing as a DJ in local venues nearby Venice. At age seventeen, I put together a small band, but after having to deal with the fact that some of the band’s members where not taking it seriously I decided to go solo, produced my first record and launched my own pirate radio station.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
Everyday life experiences, as per all my albums really. Also, in this specific case, I wanted to do a more guitar-orientated album and something that would reflect my early music influences.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
I first write the various instrument parts, arrange a demo and, once I’m pleased with it, ask musicians to join in and play the parts. Since I have been working with live elements I also love recording a lot of improvised parts, which I will then edit and use bit by bit in the track I’m working on. Next I mix the main elements and finally work on the sound design and the electronica part.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
FSOL, Eno, Radiohead, Fripp, Can, and many others….
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Close your eyes, listen to it on a good sound system or headphones (the studio master copy is best (!) – but at the very least try to avoid listening to an MP3, which kills half of the detail) and enjoy the journey.
Q6 What are your ambitions for the future?
My aim for the future is to get more involved with soundtracks. I have been composing quite a few lately and really enjoy it. Also, I wouldn’t mind recording an electronica album and seeing what the outcome is. Having been using so much live elements in the last three albums, maybe it would be a good idea to go back to basics and see what I can achieve after all these years. Singing is also becoming an option. As always, my next album will sound different from my previous ones… so we shall wait and see.
MORE>> www.robert-miles.com
