First of all, can you tell us something about your person? Where do you come from? How old are you? What are you doing when you're not making music?

I was born in Drancy, a little town near Paris. I am 43. In fact, Music is the passion of my life, and when I'm working outside my home, I have always music in my mind; it's really a passion. I have 3 lives in a day: In the morning, I (try to) manage Somewhere In Time Records; In the afternoon, I work in a High School near Paris where I manage the planning of Students and Professors (I have a little family to maintain and a studio to pay); In the night (my prefered time in a day), I play music under the name of TALES. And sometime, I sleep.

"Pictures of Asia" is the first CD of "Tales". Did you publish music before?

"Pictures of Asia" is my first international release. Before, I have published some titles only in France. Around 1972-1973, I wrote with a friend two scores for a modern Ballet company. The music was very uncommercial, too advanced, unlistening in fact. Records Companies are really afraid. Around 1975, I was touring 4 years (as bassist ! -yes sir- and arranger) with the band of Rocky Fury (my old brother) who was a semi-professional rock'n'roll singer. I wrote some titles and produce all his studio works.
In 1978, I give some concerts alone with keyboards and synths under the name of "Jihel". I produce and record a master tape for releasing a LP ("Ohazice" was the title), but records company don't like. I was too influenced at this time by Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream.

Since when do you play music? How did it start?

I was very influenced at age of 6 by my old brother who buy records from England. I remember very well the first records of Yardbirds, Kinks, Pretty Things and some guys like The Who, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. British rock was over my childhood.
At age of 7, my brother buy me a little guitar and I begin to play strange music (dogs and cats dislike my parents too).
At age of 15, I start to play guitar in a college-band (with a strange name: Cortico Stimuline). CS was a cover-band; we play titles from Led Zeppelin, The Who, and some adventures in Pink Floyd's land.
I have some classical training in flute and piano, but guitar is my first loved instrument.
One year later, I meet the Mini Moog in a Music Expo in Paris : this is the big impact on my mind; I became a synth lover. I was playing with CS during 3 years but, in parallel, I buy my first synth (an EMS VCS3) and begin to make noises.
During the 80's, I wrote some titles and stories for documentary-films and for a project who grows slowly in my mind : TALES. Since 1991, I built an independant studio around this project. But some Records companies reject the project and I decide to be totally independant: Somewhere In Time Records & Music Publishing was born (and my banker became my enemy but it's another story).

Have you ever been in Asia? How did it happen that you're making music that sounds asiatic?

I know Asia only by music, documentary-films, and books. I have listened many ethnic music from Asia, and I like the idea of a musical fusion between my european culture and asian culture.

You say you did not use computer-sequencer on "Pictures of Asia". Why? What equipment do you use?

I dislike computer-sequencer for making music. I prefer the "old school" method: the tape is running and I record parts in real time. When the part is wrong, I play again and again. When you are editing wrong things on a computer, you don't play again your instrument; it's always a pleasure for me to play again my instrument. I am totally involved in the music when I play; my eyes are often closed. I think that a computer's screen is too distractive for me.
All the loops in "Pictures of Asia" are played in real time using a digital delay line.
I am not against computers. I like and use these good tools every days; I write scores on a computer; I store my synths's sounds on a computer; I send you this interview with a computer; a computer is used at the mastering stage of my music.

I dislike to speak about my equipment because I think it's not really important. Ideas, emotions in music, and the end result are what counts. I use high quality standard-synths (no strange devices or pricey collectors) that everybody can buy. My studio is a mix between analog and digital (analog mixing desk-I dislike the idea of a desk without knobs- and digital multitracks).

What about the success of this CD? You've done lots of promotion. How many CDs have you sold?

With this record, my main objective is promoting world-wide the Music of TALES, with no selling in mind (that's one reason why my banker became my enemy). I have given throughout the World more than 1000 promo CD to radios, magazines, distributors, web sites, etc
After 7 months, the return is very positive -mainly in USA- (it's a great encouragement for me and my Music) and the pressing-plant works again for TALES (the next 1000).
But I am a realist; I know that the market for this music is very thin and very specialised. I have sold 500 CD to distributors in USA; I hope to sold the same amount in all Europe. I always give promo-CD in Europe.

Who's Helena? ;-)

Helena is a very nice girl ;-)
Helena is my daughter. She's 9.
She 's a fan of TALES (and of humm Space Girls) and she have drawn the cover of the next TALES's CD.

You announced the second "Tales"-CD for September 97. Will it be comparable to "Pictures of Asia" or will it sound different?

No, it's another story, another tale. The general atmosphere is really different, and the main theme take place in very old pre-Celtic European culture. I give you the title during July.
Each CD of TALES is a concept-album, a story-album. I have the theme for the third and it would be totally different from the two before it.

What kind of music do you listen to if you're not playing your own music?

I am very eclectic in listening music. During this month, I listen to Depeche Mode, Vangelis, Roxy Music (with Eno), Tangerine Dream, Vivaldi, music from Viet Nam and Thailand, The Orb, Kraftwerk, and some titles from Keith Emerson.

What are your plans for the future?

Actually, I record 3 original titles to choose for a Space Music compilation in USA (release in October).
The second TALES's CD would be launched in september and I record sessions for the 3rd CD (1998).

And for the future, I am mainly a musician who loves Music and who needs to give more pleasure to the listeners.

  © by MEMI