Interview Joseph Malik

A distanza di pochi anni dal suo debutto "Diverse" con il patrocinio e il supporto di David Donnelly, esce il nuovo album firmato da Joseph Malik, Aquarius Song. Abbiamo fatto recapitare qualche domandina a Joseph sui suoi rapporti con la Compost, l'invito di Blair al numero 10 di Downing Street e sui temi affrontati in Aquarius Song (quello preminente -c'era da aspettarselo- la guerra...). Al di là che si provi o meno simpatia per gli argomenti, l'album a livello musicale pare segnare definitvamente l'aggiunta dell'elemento orchestrale alle song uptempo, con cui Joseph si è fatto conoscere. Frutto di oltre dieci mesi di lavoro, vi sono numerosi abili collaboratori: da Steven Christie -song esplicitamente contro la guerra, che riprende sonorità alla Stevie Wonder e alla Brian Wilson- a Grand Unified, che firma Dreamer Dance -presentata come love-song per le dancefloor- fino al dj scozzese Aqua Bassino, che canta assieme a Joseph Believe & See, un omaggio all'house di New York. Il primo singolo dell'album sarà con ogni probabilità Diablo, un'oscura commistione fra tango e breakbeat dedicata da Joseph alla sua squadra di calcio, i Bhoys del Glasgow Celtics. In Italia lo distribuisce Ishtar. Tracklist 01.Aquarius Song 02.Diablo 03.Silent Fools 04.Nebula 05.Dream Dancer 06.Believe & See 07.Mistress Moonlight 08.Casualties of War 09.Race Relations (live)

Hi Joseph. We've already talked when Diverse issued. It looks that your relation with Compost label is goin very well... It has its ups and downs like every relationship and I think we all got there in the end, much like when Marvin Gaye was trying to convince Motown to release the "whats going on" album in the 70's, which was the only record that spoke out against the war. Now we have the same in 2004 but Compost are behind me in making this anti-war album - a new sign of our times co-operation

Having listened to your new songs it looks that after in-sight (Diverse) you're proposing a sundry out-sight in Aquarius Song. What has it changed from this and that? The war in Iraq, the evil corporate record companies signing up kids instead of grown men, our politicians lying to us and the injustice of the poor against the greed of the rich - need I say more ?

Are you programming a tour with Mr.Donnelly? Yes - my manager is currently working on an extensive tour with many agents in many countries

I didn't know you are a supporter of Glasgow Celtics. I was born in glasgow so I was born and raised a celtic fan by my good old irish grandmother

Should you get in anger if a porno-movie producer will ask one of your tracks as a film-score? :-) I wouldnt mind as long as it was the right track for the right moment.....

Where did you get inspiration for Mistress Moonlight? from Marvin Gaye's track "You sure love to ball" you could say it is good music to have sex to much like mistress moonlight and I think this is maybe the best track for the porn movie you were talking about in your last question !

Butterflies everywhere in the artpack. Have you ever felt as a butterfly? My favourite one is the plusia. What's yours? I dont have a favourite butterfly and I havent felt like one - I feel as a human being !

Are you familiar with war-related events? If yes, what do you think about it? I think I really say it all in my music when you hear such tracks as "race relations", "casulaties of war", "silent fools" and "aquarius song" - i think they say it all

Is Blair a nice person? What about his music listenings? Even though I was invited to No 10 Downing Street to meet Tony Blair, i didnt go in the end because I didnt want to be seen drinking and hanging about with war mongerers and liars and complete evil bastards, so I dont think Mr Blair is a very nice chap and I dont care what music he listens to !