Graham Massey talks about his early days with the formation of 808 State and improvising with electronic instruments, through to current collaborations and favourite creative tools.
Show Notes
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
02:02 - The Beginnings Of 808 State
11:54 - Developing A Polished Production
14:56 - Musicality And Arrangements
17:29 - Incorporating Improvisation
20:09 - Performing Live
24:09 - Influencing Genres
26:29 - Favourite Creative Tools
30:16 - The Changing Access To The Arts
35:46 - Other Projects
41:47 - Future Collaborations
Graham Massey - Biog
Graham Massey is probably best known for the pioneering work of 808 State, who took the energy of the early UK rave scene into the pop charts in the 1990s with several uncompromising top 10 singles and albums. 808 State returned to international touring in 2018 to celebrate their 30th anniversary with the release of a new critically acclaimed album Transmission Suite in 2019. Graham trained as a sound engineer at Manchester’s Spirit Studios in the mid 80s when he was producing records as Biting Tongues for Factory Records and working as a live sound engineer at the Boardwalk Club.
Studio experience allowed him to work as a producer and remixer for people as diverse as Bjork, Quincy Jones, Primal Scream, David Bowie,The Stone Roses, Goldfrapp & Yellow Magic Orchestra. Graham has worked as a composer on many film soundtracks, music for commercials (for agencies such as BBH in London & SYN in Tokyo) plus theatre pieces and public art events including being musical director for Jeremy Deller’s 'What Is A City' for the opening of Manchester International Festival in 2017. Graham is also the leader of a number of other music projects in the city that might find him as a guitarist, keyboardist, wind player or drummer. Graham has DJ’d around the world and is a regular contributor to 'The Freakier Zone' on BBC Radio 6 as well as hosting his own monthly show on Reform Radio as well as guest slots on NTS radio.
Graham is an Honorary Fellow of the University Of Central Lancashire and a regular guest lecturer on the film course at Manchester School Of Digital Art (MMU). He is a regular participator at Music Tech Fest, an international forum for technologists, scientists and artists run from Stockholm University.
Interviewer: Caro C - Biog
Described as a "one-woman electronic avalanche" (BBC) and a "sonic enchantress" (BBC Radio 3), Caro has been making her own brand of sensual electronica since the late 90s, reared on a diet of black music, Warp Records and Björk. Caro currently finds herself in ample musical mischief in the Manchester creative mycelium and beyond — making music, teaching, producing podcasts as well as being the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
https://carocsound.com/
Twitter: @carocsound
Instagram: @carocsound
Facebook: www.facebook.com/carocsound/
Delia Derbyshire Day Charity: https://deliaderbyshireday.com
About the Electronic Music podcast channel
On this channel we feature some of the pioneers of the industry, interview musicians and talk about retro and current gear.
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