12 questions to designerthumbs :: Artist News

db_BeSonic 09/05/2006

12 questions to designerthumbs

From playing a toy guitar and blowing up an Amiga500 to playing at space stations and meanwhile producing 12 albums, it's quiet a way, but designerthumbs made it...almost.

1. Where are you from? How did you get your project- name?

Hello,
I'm from Manchester in the UK.
The name designerthumbs came from an old track title released on the internet in 2000 by the artist formerly known as dam. The idea is that human thumbs will evolve to be able to use remotes, mice and technological peripherals easier thus creating designer thumbs!

2. How did you get involved into music?

I started with a toy guitar as a kid wanting to be a rockstar. This mutated into electronic music too with the arrival of home computers and I microphoned up a BBC Micro computer to a guitar amp and recorded bleeps onto tape. That got me into synthesizers and later with Amigas sequencing and sampling etc, then onto PCs.
I now work as a music tech teacher, teaching Electronic Music Production and private courses in Cubase, Reason & Production and have also worked as a sound engineer, session musician producer etc.

3. What are your influences (e.g. bands, styles, circumstances)? Your personal way of music?

Although designerthumbs is an electronic project I have been influenced by loads of different things. The laidback sounds started for me withTangerine Dream's 'Force Majeur' album andAphex Twins' 'Ambient Works'. I also love guitar bands such asSix By Seven, Mogwai, The Cure, Morrissey, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Stone Roses and punk bands likeNOFX and dark hip hop such asDemigodz andCage.The rave/old skool scene was a big part of my life, so certainlyLTJ Bukem, The Orb, Orbital, Acen, the Chemical Brothers & The Prodigywere all influences and the harderScott Brown and tech step stuff always gets me wanting to write too.

4. How would you describe your music?

People have said I dont always write electronic music in the usual Dance music way, so I hope this gives it a unique sound. Rhythm, melody and atmosphere are all important to me. I hope it always stays fairly accessible but not too predictable . I love melodic hooks and drum programming ,so this plays a big part.

5. Which is your best way to write songs/music? How can you work most efficiently?

I write fairly efficiently on a daily basis rotating currently about 40+ tracks. Efficiency for me is variety and so rotation is essential. I write the designerthumbs material as a solo project whether it be original material or remixes, leaving collaboration work for other projects. In this way I am the composer, engineer and producer. I use nearly all software for my sounds preferring that method nowadays. I do however also record guitar, bass guitar and vocals onto tracks from my home based studio. Software I use the most is Cubase and virtual instruments which I find the most effective.

6. What was the last CD you bought and why?

Primal Scream's 'Riot City Blues' as I have always been a Primal fan and am enjoying most of it.
(My last electronic music purchase wasthe Solaris soundtrack which was ok)

7. Are you also working together with other musicians as guest players or in collaboration?

Yes, I have appeared as guest keyboardist on solo artistHelen Farley-Jones album and live gigs.
I have also been songwriting/guitarist/keyboardist for Manchester based bandBelushi.

8. Which would be your favorite location to play and where will you play next?

I had the opportunity of playing theManchester Opera House which was quite an amazing experience due to its size and elegance. The ultimate gig for me would be from a space station or a nighttime beach party. I am most likley to be spotted in Manchester, but am interested in playing anywhere in the world that can supply electricity.

9. Do you have a video to your music?

Not at the moment, but that is something I plan on doing.

10. What was the weirdest experience you had concerning music?

I blew up anAmiga 500 computer sampling it hard. I was actually recording a song onto a 4 track and you can hear the power unit 'pop' on the recording. Luckily its right at the end of the track. Black smoke came out the back of the computer and all the plastic was melted and warped.

11. Plans for the future?

I am currently working on my 12th album which is very close to going to production and will definatley be released here on Besonic.

12. Anything you want to add at this point?

I have been on various music sites since the orginal MP3.com a few years ago and I must say I really rate Besonic highly due to its brilliant organistaion, clear layout and great community. I have not been paid to say this, but cannot recommend them enough to other musicians putting their material on the web, because of my own positive experience.

Also if any musicians are interested in furthering their education in music technology/ music software in the UK browse to http://www.s-s-r.com
You could also contact me via my Besonic contact details or at my website www.designerthumbs.co.uk for this or anything else to do with designerthumbs music.
And thanks to all those listening to designerthumbs out there.

Kind words, entertaining stories and love for music, that's what designerthumbs has shown in his answers. Thanks so much for that. And now keep on enjoying BeSonic, while listening to the fingerworks of the thumbs.

http://www.besonic.com/designerthumbs

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