Andrea Parker Interview

There are times that one discovers a record, which creates a new style that gets into you ear and won't leave you ever after. Then one is waiting whether it was only a fluke, or whether there will be more refreshment on the way. This applies especially to Andrea Parker, because talent & creativity made a good combination in this 24-years old producer. Adjust time slice on infinity. No ticket for tasteless sounds or mistaken stardom. United Kingdom, dis point. In the swing chair we spoke livly with the woman, that dosn't need false hypes no longer ...

How does a typical day in the life of Andrea Parker look like?
Andrea Parker: Considerable Hectic. At the moment I'm having a different appointment every two minutes and have to run around like a crazy person. Additionally I shoot a video and there is additional stress & work... Then some more DJing, a remix for Lamb and naturally the work on my own album. There's a lot on at the moment...

Always if I wanted to talk to you, you were in another country.
I DJ-ed much in France, Belgium and Germany; I was in Denmark a few times and once in Budapest.

Where did you DJ in Germany?
Once at the Electric Lounge/Munich and then at the WMF club in Berlin. In Germany I work most dearest, because the people seem to be been versed well. I play more Old School stuff: Electro, Hip Hop, Detroit and experimental Techno. Since that is not played too often, the people in Germany appreciate it.

Who did not know Andrea Parker thus far may like to get to know more about you. Put loosely:
Eight years ago I started to DJ together with a friend at the country, where I was living at that time, and to produce music. Everyone discovers his big hobby somewhen!

Two years ago I saw you the first time during the R&S anniversary party in Gent. There you had a live gig with David Morley as "Two Sandwiches Short Of A Lunchbox".
You mean this Live PA. Oh God, at that evening I had a mad cold and then in the end it was a lot of fun.

Which instruments do you use to create those deep tracks, that you released on Mo'Wax?
Basically I use only old analog synthesiser and therefore I did work David Morley. I have Moogs, Arps and Fairlights and others old fashioned keyboards, which were also used by bands like The Art Of Noise. Additionally I sample a lot of organic sounds from the environment; instead of a normal hi-hat I use sounds of nails, which fall into a tin can. For my album I have changed my style of work again. There will be a lot of strings, it will be half live and half electronic and ther will also be vocals. All in all very different from my work up to now. On the album I will also play cello and my next 12" "Rocking Chair" does also contains also a 40-piece orchestra.

Lately there were different reproductions of classical Synthesiser from large companies. Have you tried them?
I know companies like Doepfer from Germany and tried some of those synths, but in the end I prefer the old devices.

Your first "Melodius Thunk" EP on Mo'Wax sounded timeless. When were these tracks produced?
They are about a year old. "Rocking Chair" is very different compared to "Melodius Thunk", but in the meantime I was influenced by a lot new records. There is also a difference between what I listen to at home and what I play in clubs. I will aslo do more tracks with David Morley and other earlier partners, bt my album will be a personal thing.

Why did you decide to release your TRACKS on Mo'Wax?
With my promos I went to a lot of labels and no-one seemed to be interested in this sound. Mo'Wax was the last label I went to and they liked my music. James (Lavelle) was really cool and fair as a A&R man.

They do not concentrate on a few artists only as other labels do which is hard for new artists.

How important to you as a new artist is the press, the general hype and what experiences do you had so far?
The records of David and me were considered very little in England; that's how it is sometimes. There was of couse a different reaction about the EP with the 40-pieces orchestra. They can write more about it than about "pure" music.

Does your life in London influence your music or the way how you develop in some way?
No, one can't say so. It does not modify or inspire my music. I can generate my sounds everywhere.

Which Acts or groups are your long time favourites?
In techno I most like the hard style of Drexiya from Detroit. In general Underground Resistance and the like are best.

And what do you think about the Chemical Brothers?
I hate the Chemical Brothers. I generally don't like progressive or Handbagsounds.

And which club do you go to when you're in London?
To me, the LOST is the best club!!

How do you do in an interview, when they only ask about your life as a woman in a male dominated business?
Honestly said, I don't do this anymore. If I notice that the journalist is not interested in my music or my work then it really pisses me off. If journalists want to make themselves a problem out of it, then I'm not interested in them anymore.

That was what I meant with Hype. Instead of your music the press concentrates only on you as a woman!
Three of my best DJ friends are women. Chantal of Warp and some others. Why should it be something exotic? Here in London there are those ALL Female DJ evenings. I don't like them at all. That is totally daft. If you are good in something, then you're good. Female or male. That's it, out.

When will you album be released?
I think, it will be at the end of November. "Rocking Chair" will be released on August 4th and contains 8 different mixes including some done by Major Force West and Attica Blues.

And now a question for the tourist within us: Which restaurant in London do you like most?
This would be definitely "Nid Ting", a Tai restaurant in the north of London. Very good!

Originally Appeared at Frontpage webzine in 1997. Article originally appeared in German and was translated to English by Sebastian Herrfurth.