Marco Minnemann [Interview]
For regular TMMP readers, drum legend Marco Minnemann will need little introduction by now! Creator of EEPS (TMMP’s second-favourite album of 2014) and brand new album Celebration (reviewed on TMMP here); the skin-beater currently backing up Joe Satriani and Steven Wilson; and one third of globally notorious fusion heavyweights the Aristocrats (alongside Guthrie Govan and Bryan Beller), Marco Minnemann is, to say the least, a truly rare talent and artist.
Here, Marco talks about his brand new album, creativity, darkness, and rubber animals. Enjoy!
Your new solo album Celebration is out now, less than a year after your last one, EEPS. How do you manage to maintain such restless creativity?
Well, I’m enjoying the writing and playing music world and ideas sort of sometimes fall from the sky or get triggered by experiences. So inspiration is present if you walk through the world with an open mind and a lot of imagination.
Plus, portable studio equipment makes things really easy on the road. So, there are virtually no borders to realize an idea. Plus, on the road, there’s a lot of time you spend on tour busses and hotel rooms. So, there you go!
Have you ever experienced creative blocks? If so, how did you get around them?
Not really, music somehow feels natural. Can’t do anything else [laughs]! But music to me is like “dreaming” I guess, and realizing ideas and carrying them out, or transforming them into a realistic environment.
Where do you do the bulk of your writing? At home, on the road, or elsewhere?
That could happen anywhere. You just need to get a bit reclusive, find some alone time somewhere in a nice, inspiring place or environment, and there you go.
How would you describe your evolution as a musician over the last year?
Well, I’m very happy about the choice of music and bands I’m working with at the moment. That’s a rather important factor, making the right choices, in music and people you work with.
That is something that comes with experience [in my opinion]. Musically speaking, I’m always interested in trying out new ways, exploring new territories. Keeps things fresh and exciting.
Celebration has a much darker vibe than EEPS did. Where did that darkness come from?
If you go into my back catalogue you’ll find albums that are way dark – Orchids or A Mouth Of God, for example. But then there are goofy and entertaining ones, such as HouseWifeDogAndTwoKids or Comfortably Homeless.
When I write I take a vibe and dive into that atmosphere, magnifying or projecting exactly what that feeling could sound like. A bit like writing a score to your own thoughts.
Is there a spiritual element to what you do?
Not at all, at least nothing religiously based. Just give me a lot of space, let me be a hermit, and I come up with the weirdest shit [laughs]!
You’ve played a lot of shows, to say the least! What’re the funniest/most crazy things that have ever happened at a Joe Satriani and/or Aristocrats show?
Well, it’s sort of crazy that we picked up a rubber chicken on a market square in Istanbul, which then later got joined by an Italian rubber pig. And these guys became friends and long time friends and even mascots to an extent.
They’ve even made guest appearances in Steven’s and Joe’s bands, and [are] getting a lot of Facebook attention!
What does the rest of 2015 hold for you?
Lots of cool things are going on. Now we have my new release Celebration. Then there’s a summer tour with the Aristocrats for the forthcoming Tres Caballeros album, followed by a Joe Satriani tour.
These two events pretty much take the remainder of 2015. I’ll be home then for Xmas.
What items still remain on your bucket list?
Ooohhh, I have to say that my schedule is sorted until early 2018. Which is a good problem to have I guess!
So next year there will be a lot more Aristocrats, Joe and Steven activities. I have to balance them around a bit.
Thanks for taking the time to do this; it’s always a pleasure to support what you’re doing!
Pleasure is all mine! Thank you so much, especially for the nice review, really much appreciated.
Links
Check out TMMP’s review of Celebration here.
Get your hands on Celebration and some snazzy exclusive merch here.
Marco Minnemann official website.
The Aristocrats official website.
Joe Satriani official website.
Steven Wilson official website.
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