Perfect Ten: Diode and Rick Holland answer ten questions
In Perfect Ten, we ask an artist (or artists) to answer ten questions. Today, we quiz the British duo of grizzly electronic scientist Diode and poet—regular lyrical collaborator with Brian Eno—Rick Holland. Together, the pair have enlisted the vocal talents of I Am Fya, Beth Rowley, Chris James (Stateless), Onallee (from Roni Size‘s Reprazent) and Andrew Plummer to create an unusual combination of digital production, soulful voice, and hyper-modern sensibilities. We’re also offering you the opportunity to stream their new album The King Krill in full, at the bottom of the page, as well as a download of Om Unit‘s remix of their track “Open Blue”.
Rick Holland:
What’s your spirit animal and why?
A wolf. Exquisite hunger. Sometimes mis-channeled.
What defines your music-making process?
Imagination and vision, then usually intelligent compromise.
Latest find on Soundcloud or Bandcamp?
East India Youth (released on The Quietus‘ new label)
Do you have any predictions for the future?
We will become happier as we begin to fade.
Diode:
Your most memorable show?
Was with this project, playing at Mr Wolfes in Bristol: tiny venue, massive crowd. The place was heaving and the stage is so small you have the audience spilling onto it, dancing around you. Wicked vibe.
An album or artist that changed the way you thought?
Hmmm… tricky, there are so many albums/artists that have had a profound impact on me. Anything that came out in the ’90s on Virus, their approach to synths and drum programming really got me thinking and got me into moving beats off pulses.
What does underground and mainstream mean to you?
I don’t think there’s a clear division between the two, things slide between various shades of gray. In a sense, I would say that the underground is freedom and the mainstream is foolishness (for me at least). It’s not really about trying to be something that you’re not—if you’re not into music with a mass appeal, you’re probably not going to be that good at making it.
Should music be free?
Potentially—I think it depends on the process. I don’t think the current situation is very good, in the way there is a lot of freedom but the pressure is on the artist to give away as much as they can just to get a look in. I suppose the real answer is that it’s never free, it’s always a trade. The difference is now people pay in clicks, likes and views.
Latest find on Soundcloud or Bandcamp?
Itoa, badass dancehall tings.
One thing you can’t live without?
Rick Holland calling me to sort things out.~
You can stream the entirety of Diode’s & Rick Holland’s new album The King Krill, released via WW Records on March 26th, below.
And listen to Om Unit’s remix of Diode’s & Rick Holland’s “Open Blue” featuring Beth Rowley below. Click directly to their Soundcloud page for a free download of the track.
Published March 06, 2013.