Interview with legendary ART ZOYD: Silence is very violent!

What artists are the most interesting You?

It depends, there are several answers possible. In Art Zoyd, sharing musical project, Thierry Zaboitzeff of course and also Kasper T Toeplitz, for different reasons, but in the two cases, what was interesting was our different way to write music and to confront our universes.

After, for the opening, Roland Petit and because it was the first, more recently, I would say the experience with the vidéaste Dominik Barbier perhaps, because it was an unique and singular way to co-write music and image together.

What are the main ideas behind Your music?

No idea, just personal image, what I like is the architectural constructions in music, I like also contrast between violence and humour, anyway It’s not me who can explain that ^^…

What are Your favorite compositions / albums / collaborations?

It is very difficult to answer this question... At the time, I am very satisfied if something upsets me or touch me ... But often, doubt sets in very quickly because I never really finally satisfied.

So I could answer: all (!) because I have not burned them!

As for collaborations, I like when there is complicity, transversality and complementarity. This was often the case, but never completely.

Finally, I would say that at one time I loved "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" ... or "Champ des larmes" for its artistic collaborations.

What about the new album?

The new will be “3 invalid Dreams” from the last project we did based on the Philip K Dick universe, very electronic, nothing to do with a project like 44 1/2.

The sound is magic. You‘ve proved it. But, what ends, when there‘s no sound?

The sound is magic when it is written, when it’s music. When there is no sound, (Cage did some experiences), there is always “noises”…

I’m not really interested in this kind of experience but a silence in a show (as in cinema) is something very interesting or impressive, it’s very violent too!

What is and what is not a Sound Art?

You can put a lot of thing behind “Sound Art”; for my part, I’m more interested by music using “sound art” (sculpture of sound ? - but for which architectures?...)

What do You think about relations between the old art and computer art? Are they compatible?

Of course they are, what is interesting is not the tool computer or instrument or something else, what is interesting is what you have to say, with what, what you have to produce, what makes you unique and then universal, what is your own language, and perception of necessity to have a own language….

What do You think about thousands of neofolk/industrial/ambient/tribal/electroacoustic/avangarde etc. bands/projects? Is it a kind of trend, or just a tendency forwards better music?

Why put a word like industrial, neofolk etc… to categorize a music, I don't like the drawers! The more important is what you have to say, once again, there are some great musicians everywhere, in all the cases, … and bad everywhere too (!).  For me, there is music and nothing else.

What do You know about Lithuania? How and when did You come to it? What Lithuanian and foreign musicians do You value most?

I personally played just once in Vilnius with a group of fireworks appointed Group F... There were over 30,000 people! It was in 2003 I think ...

I know very little (less than ten) of Lithuanian composers all the drive ...: Barkauskas, Kačinskas, Bumšteinas, Bacevičius ...

And we intend to receive in our studios Osvaldas Balakauskas to develop the electronic part of a project he has with a choir ...

Could You tell, please, some words about my initiative to print the first book about experimental music / Sound Art (i call it postmusic) of Lithuania (and, at least, Eastern Europe)?

I think any book documented experimental music and sound art, especially if it is as complete as possible, is important ... The sound documentation via the Internet or records is also essential. All countries are cautious and often only interested in their culture (nombrilist) and not that of their neighbors ... I find it harmful because there is much to learn and understand the thoughts and contemporary arts wherever they come from.

What inspires You most?

Certainly not football! ... Neither God (s). ;-)

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http://www.discogs.com/artist/229368-Art-Zoyd