Micachu Interview March 2011-03-31
By: Stan Morgan
Our artist of the week, Micachu, is due to perform her new album Chopped & Screwed live with the London Sinfionetta on Tuesday next week at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s South Bank. Ahead of her appearance, Stan Smith sent her an email asking her where the hell she got that idea from.
How did the collaboration with the London Sinfonietta come about?
The London Sinfonietta do lots of collaborations with bands and producers - for instance with Warp Records. About a year ago or so the chief came and saw us playing an acoustic set with things like the Chopper [an instrument that Mica designed and built] in it. We were beside ourselves when we got asked.
How difficult was it to incorporate your homemade instruments into a classical setup?
We couldn’t get the Table Zither out the front door - I sawed bits off it which didn't help. Other than that, the point of making some new instruments was to try and blend in with the other players making something that sounded like us but didn't use electronics or guitars; also the thinking behind the project involves speeding up and slowing down and warping between different pitches like a vinyl deck sort of - the Chopper is supposed to imitate that.
What was the most challenging or daunting aspect of the collaboration?
The time scale. We were stuck in USA because of the volcano Eyjafjallajökull resulting in no sleep for days and panic attacks!
Were there any particular composers/artists who were an influence on ‘Chopped and Screwed’?
Yes lots, but notably Harry Partch, Bela Bartok, Morton Feldman, Dj Screw, Matthew Lee Knowles, Captain Beefheart, MF Doom, lots of others but those are what I can think of now.
What’s the idea behind the mixtape that’s going to accompany the album?
The Chopped & Screwed record is loosely inspired by the chopped & screwed style in hiphop. So it seemed like a good idea to do a screwed mixtape sampling the album but instead of hiphop bpms I used dubstep bpm.
Each song on the Sinfonietta album I sampled some bits from and then made a partnering beat for the mixtape, strictly using that and the preset hip-hop kit from Logic. It took no time at all which is unusual for me but is relevant to mention because once I'd done the beats I went to see my old friend Brother May, told him what the songs were about and sang him the chorus (if there was one), hit 'record' and he bashed it out - although that is what's meant to happen with an MC hosting but he did a lot of free styling as well. It was all live.
Why do you think classical music isn’t more popular with young people?
Because it’s long, it requires patience and quiet, I think people feel like you need to have background knowledge and sometimes you do. It’s old. Maybe something to enjoy when you're old?
You’re performing with the orchestra again in April, have you written anything new? Or made changes to any of the tracks on the album?
A bit-some small changes.
Is your experience with the Sinfonietta going to have an effect on your second album?
Well we will have to wait and see!
Do you plan on working with a more ‘classical’ setup again in the future?
Not sure-yes probably.
Your music is often described as ‘experimental’. Is this how you see it?
Not particularly, but I can see that sometimes it’s a bit whack.
Artists in this article: Micachu