Houston Calling

Ten Questions for Forskalii

June 26th, 2003 · No Comments

Electronic music is popular around the world. Acts such as Kruder & Dorfmeister, Tosca, Laptop, St. Germain, and countless others have garnered pretty big followings. Call it dub, fusion, electro-jazz, or whatever-you-will, there are thousands of musicians sitting in their homes right now, programming beats and melodies on their home computers.

One of these musicians is Forskalii, a Houston-based act that has gained a bit of attention from a remix of a Bjork song. I recently emailed Forskalii for an interview.

Here you go:

10 Questions for Forskalii

HC: How did you get started making music?

I was forced to take piano lessons when I was a kid and I honestly didn’t listen to music until I was about 15. I was never exposed to music that was different and caught my attention. I guess now that’s why its a big part of my life, 8 years later there’s still a newness to it.

HC: What are a few of your primary musical influences? I hear some Tosca in there, in my opinion.

If I had to narrow it down to a handful, I would say Brian Eno, Neu, My Bloody Valentine, Autechre, Bjork–in no particular order.

HC: I see that “forskalii” is a type of mollusk. What is your meaning of the band’s name?

Yep, sea slugs are really interesting creatures. I grew up in a family of scuba divers so I’ve gone all over the world seeing different things underwater, I think organically Forskalii’s music makes me feel like I’m underwater.

HC: What is the one description that you hate to hear about your band?

I usually don’t hear anything from anyone that I hate. If you get it, you get it. If you don’t, oh well.

HC: If you could have any band cover one of your songs, which song would it be and what band would cover it?

I wouldn’t like any band to cover our songs, but we like to do covers and remixes. We did a very worthy remix of Bjork’s “Hidden Place” taken from her acappella version. But worthy of what?

HC: How are you using the internet as a tool to market your band?

We aren’t very to into marketing, because we are still sort of underwater, but we have a website buried deep in the ocean and we are on mp3.com.

HC: What’s your opinion of the electronic music scene in Houston?

I haven’t found one. But I’m sure they all stay at home likewise.

HC: What plans do you have for Forskalii in the future?

Forskalii is a band that will never play live. Our goal is to release albums that we are in the mood to hear and hopefully other people will also have them in their rotation. The first album is written and you can hear demo versions of three of the seven songs that are on it online. The proper recording of it will take place this summer.

HC: What tools do you use to make your songs?

I won’t say too much, but we use all the basics and them some.

HC: What is in your CD player right now?

Disc 1-Swirlies (They Spent their…)
Disc 2-Galaxie 500 (This is our music)
Disc 3-Brian Eno (Evening Star)
Disc 4-Dntel (Life is full…)
Disc 5-Boards of Canada (Geogaddi)

So there you have it. Another great Houston act to check into. Download what they have and hopefully I’ll be able to keep you posted on how to acquire the CD once it is complete.

Now Playing in My iPOD: Mum — Yesterday Was Dramatic, Today Is OK

Tags: Music