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Can you shortly describe the new KONG album 'Freakcontrol'? Which three words apply best for the total sound of the new album?
"Freakcontrol itself became more of an unity than any other KONG recording. Although the sphere of each song is different, there is an over-all feeling to be discovered; a nice and wild kind of relaxed feeling.
The three words I can think of are: funky rock-grooves."
Did the new drummer have a special influence on the album or recording procedure?
"Actually, the lack of a drummer had influence on the working process of Freakcontrol. After finishing the EARMINeD-tour our drummer Rob Snijders quit and I told the band that I wanted less to do with the writing process.
We used to create all songs together, with the four of us. Jamming from nothing till 'something'. I always thought this was a pretty energetic working method, also because I found out that I am not a true composer. I enjoy making my own guitar-parts up, when there already is a basis.
Mark and Dirk have been making new songs with a computer and the sampler. They used grooves which were played by the first KONG drummer Rob Smits. With that I made my guitar-parts, so for our new drummer, Klaas who joined us just before the recordings, most parts were already done."
Freakcontrol is not as 'tense' as the older KONG albums. With what idea did you start making the record and what are to your opinion the biggest differences between this album and the earlier ones?
"Freakcontrol is more 'dance-able' than the other four but not really relaxed: you can't just take a nap on it.
The songs are based on only one or two ideas other than on 'Push..' or 'EARMINeD'. Those albums are full with ideas and we've just got a slight problem with skipping things. That's probably why you think it's less tensed. Because we lowered the amount of ideas per song, the tracks became kind of easier; they contain less weird and (sometimes searched) unexpected things. And the metal-element almost disappeared, which had a big influence on 'Push'. Now the power more and more comes from using samples and beats than from metal-guitar sounds.
But we still do what we like to do. We're not thinking: "We are gonna make a dance-album now and we're gonna be rich and famous". Ideas arise, songs and sounds are presenting themselves and are pressed forward upon you. That happens under the influence of what you're listening to, but also of how you feel."
What do you think of the MP3 distribution of songs on the Internet?
"I think it's quite alright as long as people have to pay for it. We are exploring the possibilities for us to work with MP3. The first three KONG albums came out on the English label Music for Nations. We are now with RoadRunner and MfN is not interested in pressing more of the older albums. If we could only buy the rights of them, we would put them as MP3-files on the Internet. But for now that's just future-music."
On your last tour you've played not only in Holland but also in Belgium, Germany and France. What are the tour-plans this time, now the album is released?
"We've just got back from a mini-tour in France, and in June we've played in Germany. Now we are playing two or three times a week in Holland or Belgium. After the summer we are gonna go back to Germany and France and also to Switzerland."
Are there any plans for the future yet, which you can tell us about?
"A lot of gigs! We're gonna do some festivals in Belgium and France. And later this year we're going to Germany and Switzerland. We're already busy collecting samples for the new album, but I think Mark and Dirk will be starting to write new songs at the end of this year."
Which five albums did you recently buy or listen to?
"I really like Talvin Singh, his own cd 'OK' as well as the earlier 'Talvin Singh presents Anokha soundz of the Asian underground'. I also listen a lot to the cd 'Cargo' of 'The Sofa Surfers'. They are a part of the Vianna-scene, which recently are going through a pretty big revival (Kruder & Dorfmeister).
I recently bought 'A Positive Sweat' of James Hardway, and I'm pretty much like it, but I haven't figured it all out yet. It is drum & bass with acoustic instruments, a bit jazzy and saxophone stuff.
An all-time favourite is Underworld's 'Second Toughest in the Infants'. I've got that one on tape to put on in the tour bus. And when I feel like guitars I listen to Smashing Pumpkins, Free, Paul Weller or Paco de Lucia."
Which days or gigs would you like to do over again with the band?
"I've just written a story for the online magazine 'Writers Block' (www.writersblock.net) about disappointments. Broken busses, missing concerts and lots of smoke."
In spring '97 our bus broke down during a tour and because of that we missed a show in Munich and one in Budapest. I really would like to do those gigs over again, cause the support act in Budapest would be a band that was inspired by KONG and they also play quadrophonical. I guess it would be nice to see them play.
What is to your opinion the best live-act at the moment and did you see them?
"Underworld is a really good live-act. I went to see them in Tilburg a few months ago, but because of a lousy organisation I only saw three songs of them. But they were really impressive. They do a lot with lights and the sound is just really cool."
What are you gonna do at New Years Eve this year?
"I've got no idea. It's always such a hassle every year. It doesn't really matter I think, as long as you've got some good friends with you.
It would be nice to play with KONG somewhere in a foreign country. If all loved ones can join, stay in a nice hotel or something..."
http://www.kindamuzik.net/interview/kong/kong/388/
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