Somebody requested a translation of this interview from July 1995 taken
from
http://www.techno.de/frontpage/95-07/bochumwelt.html. Here's the
best i could do...it's quite rough!
Q: how did you come upon this name?
A: I was always interested in technology, in all its forms, Music,
Graphics and for example, scientific films. Three years ago, a couple
friends and i began to become interested in a new kind of telescope with
which you could observe the whole world from a great distance. The
telescope was called Bochum and so i called my project Bochum Welt. The
meaning of the name should really be: to see the world with different
eyes as it really is, in an introspective manner.
Q: you were never in the city of Bochum?
A: No, i know nothing of a city by that name. But if you mean that the
city is a little hard to get to, then i must say that i like that. I love
desolate and miserable cities, because the people must always create, in
order to escape from reality. The most creative cities in Europe are
mostly in the north. Exactly for this reason.
Q: You have lived in northern Italy. Have you released anything on Muzak?
A: I live in Mailand, and have neither produced for Muzak nor heard of
it.
Q: Can one hear your music in Milan? is there a scene there, are there
parties?
A: In Milan there is a small group of people who listen to ambient music.
There are no clubs in which you could hear this kind of music. [something
about hating the music business] So i would much rather sit at home and
read Lord Byron in the afternoons than go out. Most parties are very
embarassing. I need open space in order to work.
Q: Do you maintain contacts with artists in Rome?
A: Yes, i know some people in Rome and i like a few labels there. I don't
like ACV, especially their activites as a major company (?). Your (?)
pieces have something in common with the futuristic sound out of italy,
but they have a much warmer tone color.
Q: What machines do you use?
A: I use only analog equipment, for example the OSC, Oberheim, Moog,
Roland. Some of my friends have helped me with modifications of the
equipment. There is much to learn about [Schaltkreise].
Q: What sorts of electronic music inspire you?
A: I am strongly interested in the electronic movement in the 70's in
Duesseldorf: Ralf Huetter, Florian Schneider, the early works of Eno and
Ryuichi Sakamoto. I have always been interested in experimental music. I
wasn't interested in the 80's techno scene until i heard the Aphex Twin.
I find that he has made the best music i have yet to hear.
Q: When did you begin to make music?
A: I am now 23. I started playing the piano at 13. At 14, i had played in
a Techno-Pop band. By 18, i had built my own studio and started to
compose experimental soundtracks for documentaries. At 20, my first Bocum
Welt release "JX1" was released on Trance C. Records. Six months later
came Telesat, and then Scharlach Eingang on Rephlex and Les Dances D'ete
on Kromode, my own label. Phial, an 8 track EP containing my early
ambient works, will come out on the swiss label Axodya. In 1996, the
Bochum Welt CD on rephlex will be released. At the moment, i am beginning
my studies at the university.
Q: How did you come into contact with Rephlex?
A: They faxed me after they heard my first EP, JX1. They were very
interested. I am a big fan of rephlex and so there was a good rapport
from the beginning. They are crazy, nice, people! Whenever i have the
time, i take a plane over there to spend the weekend with them. There are
many records in the pipeline over there and i love each one. They are
creating a catalog that will change the history of electronic music!
Q: The record on Rephlex shows a Robot struggle [on the cover?]...
A: That is a metaphor. .....I would like to make music the leaves behind
the emotional impression that it was made not by a human but by a "human
machine," that is, created by an artisitic intelligence. Yes, sometimes i
feel like an anti-social machine.
Q: Who designed the logo on the inside?
A: Gianmauro Cozzi. He is the designer of the most famous italian
Fanta-Science comics "Nathan Never"
Q: Will your material on 12" also be available on CD?
A: Yes. My third Bochum Welt on Rephlex will come out coincidentally with
a CD of my first and second Bochum Welt's in 96.
Q: Will your material on Kromode be in a similar style to that on Rephlex?
A: Yes, my style will not change from label to label, and Kromode will
release my material as well as other material from rephlex artists. But
there will be more surprises! Rephlex and Kromode will work together for
a Chris Jeffs project. The record will be released simultaneously world
wide on both Rephlex and Kromode. The Australian Steve Law will be
releasing Aphex-style tracks on Kromode.
...hope this helps!
Arjun