Markus Mehr had started making music back in the 80ies. His musical roots intitially are in rock music as can be heard on numerous album releases published under various band names and the pseudonym Aroma. After being on tour for years with the projects mentioned above, Mehr decided to take a musical new step, to release under his name. With the album „Lava“ published by Hidden Shoal Recordings in June 2010 he shows his love for sound sculptures, drone, experimental music and the artistic creation of sound. In January 2012 “IN” is published followed by the albums “ON” (July 2012) and “OFF” (January 2013). All of them are reviewed worldwide. The focus of this triptyche is on repetitive compositions, canons, broken open by elements of noise. At the moment he is concentrating on nonharmonic structures, low frequency oszillations, on generating noise with diverse electronic devices (like guitar pick ups, shavers, curlers etc.), combined with samples, found sounds and field recordings.
Facts
Things are the way they are, and not how we want them to be.
“No” is a complete sentence.
I only have 31 teeth.
Questions
What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
In my early days – a guitar and a loud amp. In these days – every sound except a guitar and a loud amp.
How and when did you get into making music?
At the age of 9 my parents bought me my first cassette-tape-recorder and I started to tape up radioshows. As a teenager I started to buy records and when my pocket money went out, I persuaded my friends to buy the records I couldn«t buy until the next pocket money has been payed out. Then I borrowed and copied them. The collections of older siblings of these friends turned out as a good source as well…so I copied their records too. I had tons of cassettes, i was crazy about music, and around that time i knew: listening is not enough – I wanted to write my own music and I wanted to make people feel like I felt, when I was listening to my favourit music. That has been my effort since then.
What are your 5 favourite albums of all time?
Black Sabbath – Vol. 4
David Sylvian – Gone To Earth
Luigi Nono (w/ LaSalle Quartet) – Fragments/Stillness
Eliane Radique – Trilogie de la Mort
The Carpenters – Greatest Hits
What do you associate with Berlin?
The loss of time.
What’s your favourite place in your town?
My studio.
If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
Searching for it.
What was the last record you bought?
If it«s about records, I only buy used and obscure stuff. The last one I bought is from a Lady called Mari Trini (Escuchame). So far I haven«t listend to it, yet. But the cover looks quiete nice. My latest download was FKA twigs – EP1
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
With my cat.
What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
As a perfromer: the next one will be possibly the best one. As a spectator: Mazur/Bang/Jšrgensen at the Gšteborg Art Sounds Festival.
How important is technology to your creative process?
It«s almost everything because I«m a lousy instrumentalist.
Do you have siblings and are they proud or jealous of you?
No, but I«m sure if I would have them, they would be proud of me.
Our Favourites:
Markus Mehr – OFF excerpt | Markus Mehr – ON Album Teaser
30 minutes in Berlin
Links: Soundcloud | markusmehr.de | markusmehr.band camp.com Interview with Markus Mehr by Digital in Berlin
