Interview with complicated sounds ( http://complicatedsounds.blogspot.com/2012/05/interview-with-aranos.html) published there on 7th of May 2012:
Could you tell us a little about yourself, the members of the band and the history ?
I am solo, no band . I play everything myself. If I work with somebody I credit them, or name release the work as a collaboration, if it is more than one track. The way I work is a little sporadic, so it would not be easy to work with other people. Main obstacle to working with other people is geography. I live in a fairly remote spot, and finding people to work with is not easy. The only person I work with often is Steven Stapleton, he lives about an hour’s drive away. Even in his case it is not easy to find time when we are both free to work on our projects.
About myself – I am just a guy who likes and is interested in music. Always have been, so I learned various instruments, some as a child or youth, some later. Generally if I have something lying around I’ll try to learn it at least a bit.
What music genres do you yourself listen to, and is there some kind of music that inspires you ?
I go through phases, done listening to lot of blues when I was 15 or so, classical and folk before that, rock and jazz, I am interested in all kind of “ethnic” music, whatever that means nowadays. So I see I have a varied collection of stuff, hundreds of tapes in the loft, which probably do not work anymore. Which is a pity as I get obsessive I have some rarities not available any more, like gospel stuff from various churches in US, which were only available locally, African witchcraft music, (I think I have that on a vinyl) and so on. At the moment I seem to listen lot of Roma music, mostly from Rumania, Hungary, Slovakia and Czech republic, both old and new.
If you should mention 10-15 records that have meant something to you and your music, what would they be ?
Lakatos Sandor es Zenekara: Magyar Notak es Csardasok
Charles Mingus: Ah Hum
Rahsaan Roland Kirk: The Case of the 3 Sided Dream in Audio Color
Dona Dumitru Siminica: Cine are fata mare
Maria Tanase: Jurnalul National, Muzica de colectie or many of her tracks, especially “Blestem”)
Theodosii Spasov: Welkya
Upre Roma
Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs
Donizetti: Lucia de Lamamor (with maria Callas, live recording, Herbert von Karajan conducting)
Nurse With Wound: Spiral Insana (or any of NWW records)
Wagner: Siegfrieds funeral music (played by London Symphony Orchestra, the only recording I am aware of that does that piece justice)
Horowitz in Moscow
Kraftwerk: any, especially their early stuff
Can
Sand: Golem (I think that is the only release, but there is promos of more of their material being released soon)
Lautari De Clejani
If a new listener were about to buy his first recording with your music, which one would you recommend as the best introduction ?
Hard to tell, I like to think they are all different, perhaps Tangomango. It has some songs, some noisy bits.
What’s your best advice for young aspiring musicians, who want to make it in the music world ?
Forget about “making it”. Do what you like, in life, and especially in music. Life is too short for trying to bend to some trend or something. If you are fascinated by playing one note all your life that is ok too. If you really just want to make money, music is not the easiest of things to do it with, especially at the moment. Play music because you have to. On a practical level, do not get too obsessed with equipment. Electronics for audio are so good, that you can get great results with very cheap equipment, no matter what internet boffins tell you.
Do you often perform live or are the music from Aranos mainly studio music ?
I love performing live. Do not often, because people do not ask me to. Cost of transport is a problem perhaps.
Do you sometimes think of what it is that people like about the music by Aranos ?
No idea. I like to make interesting music/noise. It is hard for me to tell why I like certain music some of the time. I did not used like opera, than suddenly got into Maria Callas and spend over a year listening to only operas featuring her. (Have a good collection of her records now). So I have no idea WHY would somebody like my music. It is better that way, I think if I tried to please some imaginary taste out there it would all come out false.
Could you tell us a little about the forthcoming projects from Aranos ?
I am trying to get 5.1 surround system organised and release records in surround sound. I have one finished, just need to mix it. Another one is kind of half way, but I am not sure if that will come to anything, bits of it are ok, I might use them for a CD Steve and I are working on NWW/aranos collaboration.
I am also working tentatively on a solo violin CD, Short pieces.
Another project is in my head half finished, just have to get down to recording it, it has many tracks, so it will take a while. I could use help, it would be great doing with a group of people, unfortunately there is nobody around who can actually play instruments I am going to use. :=( (I spent a few years learning them)
At the moment I am involved in a project with Roma people locally, getting them to do a concert, teaching their kids to play guitars etc. It’s fun as they are unbelievably talented and enthusiastic.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years, still making music for the masses ???
My music is not exactly for the masses, but yes I cannot imagine myself not doing some music, I get ill when I do not do some music every day.
Finally I would like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Is there any final words you would like to say in closing ???
love