BASTICH

I had the pleasure of talking to Duncan Little Of Basitch. Bastich is a wonderful solo project that comes from Melbourne Victoria Australia. Bastich express’s such diverse sound that challenges the listener thoughts and Emotions and allowing the listener to escape into the music. I discover Bastich and what makes Duncan Little tick in this Interview.

BAND MEMBERS: DUNCAN LITTLE

BANDS DISCOGRAPHY: “LIVE DEMO” PROMO CD-R 2003
“ WELCOME” PROMO CD-R 2004

MY SPACE: http://www.myspace.com/bastichmusic

BANDS WEB PAGE: http://www.mp3.com.au/Bastich (mp3)
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~drl01 (news, pictures, links)

BANDS EMAIL ADDRESS: dunconus at optusnet.com.au

INTERVIEWER: GORDON TAYLOR OF INFECTIOUS UNEASE RADIO

INTERVIEWEES: DUNCAN LITTLE

DATE: 30/3/04

AT WHAT AGE DID YOU TAKE UP MUSIC, WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE UP MUSIC, AND HOW DID BASTICH BEGIN.

I have loved music for as long as I can remember, some of my earliest and best childhood memories are of going through my Dad’s record collection, bands such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Electric Light Orchestra, The Who and Led Zeppelin among my favourites during these formative years. Hmm… looking at this list now it’s easy to see how all that psychedelic, progressive and hard rock laid the foundation for my tastes in music today. During my school years I dabbled in many instruments (wind instruments, guitar, percussion, drums) while continuing to expand and explore my musical tastes, until I guess I reached a turning point when I got my first sequencer on PC when I was 16 and I haven’t looked back since. I’ve had a couple of other solo projects that were entirely computer based however a desire to perform my solo stuff live lead to a slow accumulation of new equipment over a couple of years. The new equipment worked great and the capabilities and sounds of the equipment lead to another expansion and evolution of my style which culminated in the beginning of Bastich in October 2002.

WHAT PREVIOUS BANDS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN? WHAT STYLES OF MUSIC DID YOU PLAY IN THESE BANDS?

Plague – now defunct solo project I had going in Canberra between 1995 - 1997, industrial.
Eat – a band I played guitar in, back in Canberra between 1996 – 1997, hardcore punk.
El Destructo – a band I played keyboards and samples in, Melbourne 1998 – 2000, modern/thrash metal.
Monkey Lung – solo project started in 1998, currently on hold but planning on bringing it back as a band in the future, industrial/hardcore/metal. www.mp3.com.au/monkeylung

WHAT INSTRUMENTS AND EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE WHEN PRODUCING AND PERFORMING YOUR MUSIC?

I use a Roland D2 Groove box and Yamaha SU200 sampler to produce the majority of the sounds, plus a CD player live to play samples too large for the SU200’s memory, also a Digitech RP-5 for effects. These are all run through a Mackie mixing console which I use both live and in the studio. Also a Roland PC-70 midi keyboard is used to control the groove box sounds while playing. In the studio music is recorded to computer via a ST Audio DSP2000 C-Port sound card.

WHAT CREATIVE PROCESS DO YOU GO THROUGH WHEN COMPOSING YOUR MUSIC?

It usually starts with a sound or rhythm flying around my head. I then try to reproduce this sound using my instruments. From there it gets built up sometimes in a composed manner where the music is continually evolving in my head first or sometimes in am improvised experimental manner, depending on my thoughts and mood.

YOU HAVE SONGS THAT EXPRESS EMOTION, WHAT INSPIRES YOU

A large range of things, from world events to every day life, normally things that make me angry, fearful or sad as I seem better able to express these feelings musically than the positive ones, although I might get better at it one day.

ARE YOU INFLUENCED BY BOOKS OR MOVIES OR PLAYS?

Very much so, I watch movies of many genres regularly and read quite a lot. I am especially keen on reading books on science and history and find these very inspiring in my music, for in the field of science and in our historical records can be found some of humankinds greatest triumphs and worst horrors.

WHEN YOU GET THE TIME WHAT MUSIC DO YOU ENJOY LISTENING TO?

Depending on my mood I listen to, experimental ambient, noise, big beat, break beat, drum’n’base, industrial (practically all types from purely electronic to extreme metal with sequencers), Goth, metal/rock, punk, hip hop, pop and probably some others I can’t think of right now.

YOUR MUSIC HAS MANY STYLES OF SOUND. TO PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT OF HEARD BASTICH HOW WOULD OF YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND TO THEM.

Rhythmic, atmospheric industrial with sounds drawn from many influences. Moods ranging from ambient to intense.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SUBCULTURE IN MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA?

Generally I have found the people to be very friendly and accessible. The subculture also has a strong presence and sense of community in Melbourne which is great for up and coming artists such as myself as it makes it a lot easier to find a receptive audience for my music.

HOW HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN FOR YOUR PROMO CDS?

The response has been very positive so far and they have helped me secure some gigs and have been a great promotional tool in general.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO PRODUCE THEM

“Live demo” was very quick as it was a live to hard drive recording of me practicing my live set which I then burnt to CD at home. “Welcome” has taken a lot longer with writing commencing at the very inception of Bastich and finishing last year. I have started burning promo versions at home and will upload it to the mp3 site soon, I also will have some professionally pressed and printed when I have the funds.

WHERE HAVE YOU TOURED, ARE YOU PLANNING ANY UP AND COMING TOURS?

Just gigs around Melbourne so far. I have no plans to tour yet other than a slim possibility of late this year or sometime next year.

WHICH BANDS HAVE YOU PERFORM GIGS WITH

Rim 60, Sound of Confusion, Nevadream, The Redresser, Silence Means Everything, Motif.

WHAT GIGS DID YOU ENJOY THE MOST AND WHAT WAS THE AUDIENCE RESPONSE?

My most fun gig was my most recent at Republika back in January. I had a lot of fun playing my stuff and tried out some new material which got a few people dancing so I was very happy all round.

HAVE THERE BEEN ANY GIGS IN WHICH YOU HAVE NOT SO MUCH ENJOYED?

Not really, I love performing my music live, I’ve had a few nervous moments as it can be easy to lose track of what I have to do next but generally it’s all been great.

IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL INCORPORATED WITHIN YOUR PERFORMANCES?

Not yet other than the music, I plan on introducing visual elements later.

WHEN YOU HAVE A PERFORMANCE WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU ARE ON THE STAGE. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU FEEL? WHAT SORT OF EMOTIONS DO YOU GO THROUGH WHEN THE EYES OF THE AUDIENCE ARE ON YOU?

I generally feel nervously exhilarated with some influence from what I’m playing as well. I however don’t generally dwell on my emotions when performing, as I’m usually thinking about what I have to do next.

WHAT MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES HAVE YOU HAD BEING IN BASTICH ?

My gigs have all been pretty memorable, but I can’t think of any good anecdotes at the moment. I hope to collect lots of good stories when I eventually tour.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FUNNY OR INTERESTING EXPERIENCES YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT?

Can’t think of anything that won’t incriminate me at the moment.

IN WHICH COUNTRIES DO YOU RECEIVE THE MOST RESPONSE FROM?

With Bastich I get the most response from here in Australia, as that is where I have aimed the bulk of my promotional efforts. I have also received some feed back from people in the US and in Europe.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS?

To continue to write and record and to take my music to other locations around Australia and generally see how far I can take this thing.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE READERS OUT THERE?

Question everything; don’t take anything for granted…. And come to my shows!