Soundtrack:
Merz
Artist: Merz
Merz is set to release new album 'Moi Et Mon Camion' on 24th March. Here's what makes his musical mojo tick.
0 comments
Merz
Artist: Merz
Merz is set to release new album 'Moi Et Mon Camion' on 24th March. Here's what makes his musical mojo tick.
0 comments
We at DIY are a curious bunch. We want to know what makes musicians tick and what brought them to their current role. We’ll be aiming to bring to you the tracks which helped shape the music you listen to, what gems are uncovered, what crimes are admitted to – we’ll be bringing you their Soundtrack.
We at DIY are a curious bunch. We want to know what makes musicians tick and what brought them to their current role. We'll be aiming to bring to you the tracks which helped shape the music you listen to, what gems are uncovered, what crimes are admitted to – we'll be bringing you the 'Soundtrack Of Their Lives'.
Merz (otherwise known as Conrad Lambert, a pretty impressive name on its own), is set to release new album 'Moi Et Mon Camion' on 24th March. Here's what makes his musical mojo tick.
Yorkshire and the history of England
I grew up in Yorkshire which, I think, contains the furthest point in England from the sea and it's easy to forget that you live on an island or at least you take it for granted. But moving to the coast the environment really struck me as English, all the amazing seafaring history of this small island and its relationship with the rest of the world. I started reading a lot of the history of England and the old Empire etc. It's one of the reasons the album title is French 'cause I was slightly amused to find out that in the days of the Magna Carta the languages of choice were French and Latin - You just couldn't imagine everyone going around Slough these days speaking French. I found the sea an inspiration while I lived on the English coast.
Scottish Pipe and Drum band music, and Bob Dylan
My earliest inspiration was Scottish Pipe and Drum band music, 'cause my Grandma lived on the Isle Of Lewis and she used to send me records of Pipe Bands from different Clans, I was about 6 years old. That switched me on. Then Elvis, when I spent my first record token. I was 7 then. (luckily avoided buying a Bay City Rollers album, their music hasn't aged well, has it)? I revere Bob Dylan, like so many other people, but I could probably beat most in a Bob Dylan quiz.
Online radio
I listen to KCRW radio online a lot.
The soundtrack to 'Kes'
I'm really enjoying the soundtrack to the film 'Kes'. I grew up near the same collieries that 'Kes' was filmed by. I get a real pang of nostalgia when I see that film, it totally reminds me of my school days. Brian Glover the PE teacher an' all. We recorded John Doyle, who is a champion Flugal Horn player from the (wonderfully named) Bradford-based Black Dyke Mills Band, in a small cottage on the edge of the (West Yorkshire) Pennines, the same song 'Malcolm' name-checks a few local sites too. And I recorded two local fiddle players there for 'The First and Last Waltz', they play a beautiful Cumbrian melody called 'The Westmoreland Waltz'.
Orbital
I've always felt that Orbital's music conjured up an English magic. It's beyond the imagination of purists who think only acoustic instruments can conjure magic. I knew Paul for a while as one of my oldest friends went to school with him. Paul played drums in my friends' punk band 'Noddy and The Satellites'.
I wrote a lot of the songs on my new album 'Moi Et Mon Camion' on guitar (which is unusual for me) and was seeking a way to incorporate more interesting electronic elements in the record. I knew Paul really liked my last album 'Loveheart' so I asked if he'd want to collaborate on some songs. I knew what we did would fit on a Merz album because there are traces of Orbital's influence in my music right from my debut album. We collaborated over the internet, such as it is these days.
Merz Official Site
We at DIY are a curious bunch. We want to know what makes musicians tick and what brought them to their current role. We'll be aiming to bring to you the tracks which helped shape the music you listen to, what gems are uncovered, what crimes are admitted to – we'll be bringing you the 'Soundtrack Of Their Lives'.
Merz (otherwise known as Conrad Lambert, a pretty impressive name on its own), is set to release new album 'Moi Et Mon Camion' on 24th March. Here's what makes his musical mojo tick.
Yorkshire and the history of England
I grew up in Yorkshire which, I think, contains the furthest point in England from the sea and it's easy to forget that you live on an island or at least you take it for granted. But moving to the coast the environment really struck me as English, all the amazing seafaring history of this small island and its relationship with the rest of the world. I started reading a lot of the history of England and the old Empire etc. It's one of the reasons the album title is French 'cause I was slightly amused to find out that in the days of the Magna Carta the languages of choice were French and Latin - You just couldn't imagine everyone going around Slough these days speaking French. I found the sea an inspiration while I lived on the English coast.
Scottish Pipe and Drum band music, and Bob Dylan
My earliest inspiration was Scottish Pipe and Drum band music, 'cause my Grandma lived on the Isle Of Lewis and she used to send me records of Pipe Bands from different Clans, I was about 6 years old. That switched me on. Then Elvis, when I spent my first record token. I was 7 then. (luckily avoided buying a Bay City Rollers album, their music hasn't aged well, has it)? I revere Bob Dylan, like so many other people, but I could probably beat most in a Bob Dylan quiz.
Online radio
I listen to KCRW radio online a lot.
The soundtrack to 'Kes'
I'm really enjoying the soundtrack to the film 'Kes'. I grew up near the same collieries that 'Kes' was filmed by. I get a real pang of nostalgia when I see that film, it totally reminds me of my school days. Brian Glover the PE teacher an' all. We recorded John Doyle, who is a champion Flugal Horn player from the (wonderfully named) Bradford-based Black Dyke Mills Band, in a small cottage on the edge of the (West Yorkshire) Pennines, the same song 'Malcolm' name-checks a few local sites too. And I recorded two local fiddle players there for 'The First and Last Waltz', they play a beautiful Cumbrian melody called 'The Westmoreland Waltz'.
Orbital
I've always felt that Orbital's music conjured up an English magic. It's beyond the imagination of purists who think only acoustic instruments can conjure magic. I knew Paul for a while as one of my oldest friends went to school with him. Paul played drums in my friends' punk band 'Noddy and The Satellites'.
I wrote a lot of the songs on my new album 'Moi Et Mon Camion' on guitar (which is unusual for me) and was seeking a way to incorporate more interesting electronic elements in the record. I knew Paul really liked my last album 'Loveheart' so I asked if he'd want to collaborate on some songs. I knew what we did would fit on a Merz album because there are traces of Orbital's influence in my music right from my debut album. We collaborated over the internet, such as it is these days.
Merz Official Site
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