Equus - Equus Newsletter Interview
12 Mar 2007 // An interview by Shade
Greatest Achievement?
Audience participation. It's the vibe. Getting to tour the world playing Music on stages small and arenas large. Organizing a Collective that still makes original Music for reasons other than finance. A level of Musical interaction with a large body of individual talents, which can be easier, said than done. Being part of the whole Punk Explosion of the late 1970s.
Making NZ Music better?
Less Capitalism. A distinct clarification of Culture and Commerce. An attempt to address quite why we have access to some high quality training institutes yet seem to actually lack the scene to employ them. This is as much an "Arts" whinge as a "Music" specific one. Reconfiguring the tenants of our beloved NZonAir. We are man enough to nominate Jody Lloyd for this role. Some central government funding for the AA scene, the kick on for High-School Bands, equipment and venues for that age-group to develop their voices at their speed.
5 Years is where?
We might have another 2 Equus Albums out, a second Equuslive Collective Album that tidies up all the odds and ends that have been part-recorded over the years.
Lisa's solo Album "Journey Home" will cut. Christchurch Gospel Festival to run with the Blues and Jazz week, culminating in the most massive shout out to ever emanate from this part of the Globe.
Best thing about making Music?
Communication. The finding of solutions to problems that may not be restricted to Musical ones. Again the vibe. Our Mothers like us doing it.
Advice to aspiring artists?
Listen honestly. Learn not only your chosen instrument but what it actually is that you wish to say on it/with it. Your own dialect, accent, vocabulary. Listen to the right records. You know which ones. If you don't try Miles Davis, Prince, Gramsci, Aretha Franklin, Straightjacket Fits and the Who. There is not point in saying "music was better when…" , the crap on the radio has always been the crap with the Advertising budget. It is your responsibility to dig a little deeper. Read about quantum physics, in particular string theory. Everything starts with a Bass note.
About Equus
Live Performance Group of the Christchurch based original musicians Collective Equuslive.
currently recording their 6th Album, which will be released this year, alongside an EP and a promo video.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Equus