song: hard 'n soft
song: yum
unknown operator
by mikrosopht
when did u start writing music?
....hmmm It was when I was pretty young. My father was a music teacher, so we always had a piano or guitar or some sort of musical instrument lying around. My mom like to sing so we did a lot of that too (although I don't really like singing personally).
how do u write your music?
....it's all a series of experiments for me. Personally, the songs I'm most proud of have been recycled from failed experiments...songs I'd given up on either because I thought they sucked, or It was 4:00am and I was just exhausted. Sometimes I start with a drum loop...sometimes just a series of simple tones. There's no "method" for me...I just sit down and tweak sounds until they form something I like.
how long have u been writing music for
....See question 1. I've been writing electronic music for about 4 years or so. Originally I had a cheap Yamaha keyboard and an old version of Cakewalk Home Studio...eventually (about a year ago) I gave up on MIDI and started using softsynths and tracker programs.
thank you for giving me a new answer to the same question (basically) *smacks forehed* so, moving right along, how long has it been since u started writing music?
In my current mode? I've been working on the Unknown Operator style for about a year...
what other alias have u used in the past?
Let's see...first it was D.B.Fellows, then it was David, Inspite of himself, then Quijibo, now Unknown Operator
what sort've town do you live in?
... Saint Paul, Minnesota is the state capital of Minnesota. It's a fairly old town by United States standards. Our governor is Jesse Ventura (yeah, the former professional wrestler). Right through the edge of downtown is the Mississippi River, so it's a rather scenic place.
do u like to be outdoorsy at all?
Not really...But I love a good view.
what r yer favorite actividades?
Outside of my job (which is very physical), my activities are mostly of an intellectual nature...I'm a huge trivia nut, I like things like chess, crossword puzzles...that sort of thing.
what is the best restuarant in town?
Mickey's Diner...
hotel?
hmmm...I haven't stayed at any local hotels, but "The Saint Paul Hotel" is extremely luxurious I'm told...
have u performed live?
.. ***laughing*** not since high school
heheh what did u do then?
I was in concert choir, jazz choir, played small parts in a couple of musicals, and played bass guitar and keyboards for a couple of talent shows (back up band type stuff).
did u rok the place so viciously?
not so much in choir, but we managed to pull off a great cover of Madonna's "Holiday" (Don't laugh...it was really popular back then)
r u a big madonna fan?
No, not really
do u think she is hot?
Not really
why do u write music?
I have to...I can't explain why.
why did u choose the name Unknown Operator?
The name comes from a photograph I saw on a web site for amature radio operators. It was a fairly old picture of a man sitting in front of a telegraph machine. The website publisher had no idea who the guy was, so the caption read "unknown operator". It just stuck with me. (you can see an altered version of the photo in the "photos" section on my mp3.com page).
your song drive is really great, positive n uplifting, just wut I need sometimes! could u give a little background on the trak?
Wow! thanks. I wrote it after I had just gotten word I'd been accepted for a position I was really hoping to get at a major airline. I was just in a really good mood and the song just flowed out...(sometimes they do that). The title was from all the effort I put into getting the job.
that's really great, congratz on the position! wut xactly do u do n for which airline?
I work for Northwest/KLM as an equipment services employee...basically parking planes, unloading them, re-loading them and walking them out...
wut makes u happy?
Making people smile, my kids, fresh coffee in the morning, My house at night after everyone has gone to bed...simple things
what is your favorite album format?
I'm not sure I understand the question...
doh! sorry, ok let me go old school on u then: cds, mp3s, wavs, xls, vinyl, wax, butter, tapes, 8 tracks, MDs, or crickets?
Ok...if you had asked me two years ago I'd have said Wav format... Mp3's are great, but you lose some of the sound quality during compression... I guess now that it's so easy to directly record to a CD right at home, I'd have to say Compact Disc is the way to go. Mini-Disc isn't so bad either, but who can afford that?
whats the last good movie you saw?
Bladerunner
r u a big Vangelis fan? or Ridley Scott?
BOTH
what did u think of Gladiator?
Haven't had the opportunity to see it yet, but I hear it's great.
what do you find most interesting in music today?
The amazing technology available to make it.
what Really annoys u?
...apathy
are u a pretty emotional guy?
Inside I am...Outwardly I think people see me as too relaxed. I think I've just figured out how to deal with my frustrations without blowing up on anyone.
do u like to fingerpaint?
Now that I think about it....yes
what musicians do u respect?
There are so many...Thomas Dolby, Prince (or whatever his name is), Sting, Laurie Anderson (ok she's more of a performance artist than musician...), Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Mark Isham, William Orbit, Patrick O'Hearn, Yello, Fatboy Slim, Daft Punk, jeeze, I could go on forever...
Thanks mang! any last werds to leave with the enooze readers?
Sure,
Be yourself always.
Shout outs to Lonny Lord, Simon V., Kx^Mode, and a host of other mp3 artists who showed me it can be done.