Greenhaus verteilen Trostpflaster. So jedenfalls könnte man die in Eigenregie vertriebene CD titulieren, welche man nach der erfolgreich absolvierten Tour mit De/Vision sein eigen nennen durfte. Seitdem haben sie fleißig die Zeit im Studio genutzt um weitere neue Songs zu schreiben und "Your're Not Alone", das neue Album, zu vervollständigen. Die Melange aus Electro-Brit-Pop und Trip Hop setzt das Verlangen nach mehr, zwar stetig fort, es bleibt aber zumindest der Lichtblick, dass Greenhaus mit Kalinkaland nun endlich ein Label in Deutschland gefunden haben und man auf weitere Veröffentlichungen hoffen kann.
Aktuell widmen wir uns jedoch erstmal "Your 're Not Alone", welches am 21. November veröffentlicht wird und zudem uns Greenhaus Kopf Steve einige Fragen beantwortet.
“You're Not Alone” will appear in Germany in November and almost two months later in England. Means longing feverishly for the release twice...!?
I suppose!!!
Our UK label, Revolver Records wanted a longer lead in time, and decided that January 2006 would give them more of a chance to get everything ready.
In the meantime which ranking have you had in both countries. Certainly there appear differences, because your albums are difficult to get in Germany?
This Album is our first official release. ‘Another Life' was released and distributed, although only 1500 copies were pressed and they have now gone. To be honest with you it was as hard to get hold of that album in the UK
Your music had some variations over the last years and you collaborated with various guest-singers. Did this variety never have negative effects for you? Vocals are in a way a main idea…
I agree, traditionally vocalist are the ‘main idea' . Our main idea was the music when we started the band. Its only recently that a Phoenix, our vocalist has actually completed the sound. This is something that we did not expect when we formed. I preferred instrumental music to some degree, but now things are different!
There were definite positives and negatives for the multiple guest vocalist argument. A different sounding voice can better suit a certain sound of track, and, perhaps more so than the lead vocalist, if there was one. The problem, however, is to then try to keep a consistent sounding album, which in the past has proved difficult. The current album is different in many ways to the previous one - consistency is one of the major improvements. Phoenix J is now an integral part of Greenhaus and with that she brings a vocal sound and style.
Except a few songs Phoenix J was responsible for the whole singing. Has this been your wish to work with a permanent female singer or did this happen more or less by accident?
It was never really discussed, I suppose it did just happen that way. On reflection the female voice brings the calm ethereal type of sound we wanted. Phoenix J certainly does this as did Lahannya on ‘Another Life'.
In the past you haven't decided surely at first which song should be sang by whom or if a certain song gets any vocals. Does it mean a much easier work if you got a permanent singer?
Yes, now it is much easier. In the past, we would send the tracks out to different vocalists, and sometimes get 3 or 4 vocal versions back for the same song. We would then have to choose, which we didn't like to do - we didn't want to waste anyone's time. The instrumentals however, always sounded like instrumentals from the start. We wouldn't even attempt to add a vocal, unless it was as a background ‘ooh' or ‘arghh' instrument sounding vocal.
You've joined the tour of De/Vision as supporting act in the last year and presented a few new songs. How much of the album had been finished by that time and in what way got your work shaped since that time?
That was at about the half way stage I would say. Since then we have written new songs, recorded live drums to compliment the electronic stuff, added percussion and generally re-mixed and fiddled around with the whole thing until we thought it was finally finished. It's taken a long time but I think we all feel that it has been worth it.
Where did you record “You're Not Alone” and what did influence you the most in creating the songs?
We recorded and mixed it in our own studio this time. We wanted to spend a lot more time on it, so this was really the only way. We got hold of a pretty decent mixing desk which allowed us to do this.
The songs were influenced by the mood I was in at the time. For me, there aren't any lyrics to express this with, so the music does so - the atmospherics, tempo etc. Phoenix's lyrics are inspired by her own personal situations and circumstances. I think the combination of the two works pretty well.
What is the work in the studio like?
Quiet!!
I do most of the programming and recording on my own. Jon will join in and add extra guitars, as and when they are required. Phoenix has recorded a lot of the vocals in her own studio, and the rest are done at ours. They trust me to look after the mixing, so the whole thing goes through very smoothly. We have no ego related band rows in the studio to report…sorry!!!
What was the reason to place the title song “You're Not Alone” directly to the beginning of the album? It is in fact one of the strongest songs on this record and in some way you solve a “secret” at the beginning!? Why did you choose especially this song that is also the title of your album?
I think the song is a good opener, it starts with a beat rather than slowly building. I would say it starts up the mood for the rest of the album rather than give any secrets away. The title is fairly in sync with the sound of the album. It was the track name initially, but we then thought that it does actually work as well for the title of the album as well as the theme for the artwork.
What things did you want to make different concerning your last records?
Lots! The idea was to go for a more Live sound, to move away from any four four dance music type beats(not that there is anything wrong with them!!!), and to bring in the consistency of a full time vocalist.
We have introduced the violin and flute, live drums and percussion, as well as a lot more live bass and guitar. Having said that, the electronic sound is still very much a part of Greenhaus. The end result is pretty near to what we set out to do. It is certainly a very different sound to ‘Another Life'.
Coming back to the release in Germany and England we see a few differences in the artwork and in the tracklist. Have you had to make compromises with the label or how can this be explained?
This can be put down to the time delay between the two releases. We had finished another song by the time the UK master was required, so we thought we would add it on! It really is as simple as that. Kalinkaland Records and Revolver Records have there own artwork styles, this explains the differences in artwork. I hope it doesn't cause to much confusion!!
Where do you see your main musical influences? What bands and musicians have influenced you to make music?
Yes, influences will always be apart of all music these days. David Sylvian, Sigur Ròs and Talk Talk have always inspired me to start something.
Will you continue the work on Greenhaus after the release of “You're Not Alone” or might you even start working on other projects? Phoenix J makes her way solo as well…
We are all involved with writing the new album at the moment. Clark (Bass), Warren (Drums) and Susana (Keyboards) have joined up, and we are all to chip in to a new album. I don't really think any solo activity is on the horizon for me. Greenhaus is the best outlet for me although I'm always looking for remix work!!
Phoenix is also concentrating her mind on greenhaus and is full time member, but this shouldn't stop her writing her own material. Jon also writes a lot of his own material for a separate project that he is working on.
Now I want to give you the opportunity to say something at least and I want to thank for the interview as well.
Arghh, I feel on the spot!!! Just really to say that we are all really looking forward to getting out to Germany again!!
Cheers, Steve (on behalf of Greenhaus)
Interview: Thomas Tröger & Greenhaus [Steve Bellamy]
Novemver 2005
Greenhaus:
Steve Bellamy
Phoenix J
Jon Williams
Internet: www.greenhaus.co.uk
