Martin Rev of influential punk/electronic duo Suicide will be gracing Vancouver with his presence next Tuesday, Nov. 18 at the Fox Cabaret.
Known for their particular brand of drum machine punk-wave, Martin Rev's signature broken Farfisa keyboard riffs became a prototype for electronic and techno music for generations to come, directly influencing the likes of Jesus and Mary Chain, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Raveonettes, Dirty Beaches, and beyond.
We asked Martin a few questions about his solo work and what its like to be a legend.
You’ve inspired so many bands to start their own projects. What, or who, first got you into music?
When I started to improvise to blues and boogie riffs, at about 12 years old, that was a pivotal point.
What is your writing process like for your solo work? Which instrument do you write on? I read that Suicide wrote a lot of material by jamming...
Yes, Suicide would write at rehearsals and sound checks. Usually I would start playing a line and Alan would invent or make use of previously sketched lyrics. I tend to write on whatever instrument I'm going for, accessed by a midi trigger, outboard, or digitally created.
Do you think modern technology has affected creativity in a positive or negative way?
Like any other innovation, it can be either depending on how it is used. In this case as most others though I think it is or can be essentially positive.
Mari is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. I think I’ve used it on almost every mix tape. Can you tell me about that song?
It was titled after my wife Mari who I met before Suicide was created. It may have been the first track I developed upon starting to record that album. I liked the line and just continued it. The spirit and beauty of it as you have described seemed fitting for Mari who elicited in me a similar response.
Do you ever just sit back with a glass of champagne and say, “Wow, look what I’ve accomplished!”?
Actually I don't. Too busy going for what is in front of me; the present canvas I guess. Only when I am exposed to what I've done in the past, like having to listen to a test pressing of a reissue, do I "sit back" and listen. And then it's usually a mixture of hopefully possible satisfaction combined with details which to me, are obviously needing to be changed for the better.
Martin Rev plays the Fox Cabaret on Nov. 18 at 9 pm. $20.
