Erasure • Features • Ask Erasure
Vince Clarke (Mar 2004)
01) What is your favourite "Stargate" episode? (Simon Carter)
Vince: The episode when Tilk and the Colonel Jonathan "Jack O'Neil" Song get caught in a time loop and repeatedly relive the same day ala 'groundhog day'.
02) Did you guys have a favourite toy during childhood? I'm nearly 30 and still love these toys called Shogun Warriors! (Chris Sanders)
Vince: Hot Wheels!
03) I loved your cover of Amateur Hour. If you were to do another Sparks song, what would you choose? (Riley Rempel)
Vince: Number 1 Song In Heaven
04) Vince, do you watch any shows on the Food Network? And how would you describe your cooking style? (Linda)
Vince: I don't watch the food network and would describe my cooking as a... 'NEVER STRAY FROM THE RECIPE!' style.
05) In past interviews, Vince has cited his liking for various artists and albums (Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd). I am curious as to what individuals or groups from the Synth Pop movement of the 80s that Vince enjoyed/respected the most, and if there are any other Synth Pop acts that he enjoys. (Matt Santos)
Vince: I loved early Human League (Travelogue and Reproduction) and was inspired by early OMD. Today I'm into fusion jazz and experimental chamber music (joke).
06) Vince, I haven't seen any of your analogue synths in the studio diary pictures, you're still using them on this new album, aren't you??? (Doug Bell)
Vince: So far, we have only been using soft synths.
07) What brought you guys to the states to record the latest album? (Al Dominguez)
Vince: We wanted to work with Steve Walsh (guitarist) again, because we had such a great experience working in his studio before on the acoustic record.
08) I just love the sounds you create for Erasure songs, could you recommend some basics in equipment in starting out as an Electronic / synth musician? (Greg Woods)
Vince: That is a difficult question, but perhaps it might be a good idea to look into using a computer with software synths. It's a studio in a box!
09) For many years you are a great performer of many songs, which you have complemented with great voices, such as Dave Gahan, Allison Moyet and of course Andy Bell. I want to ask you, when you make a song, when do you think is the moment in which a song is finished, with all the sounds and things about? (Dominique Orellana)
Vince: The song is finished when myself and Andy have recorded a demo version with guitar or piano. The studio track is never finished!
10) Most of my favourite Erasure songs were not released as singles. What are your favourite songs that were never singles? (Juliet Pellin)
Vince: Home, Boy and Alien.
11) If you EVER get spare minutes to yourselves, do you ever visit your fan sites? Or Erasure forums, or have you ever gone onto the forums and posted a forum under a pseudonym?? (Shazza B)
Vince: Mums the word!
12) I don't want to be too demanding, but what can Erasure fans expect after the new album is launched - are any other projects in the pipeline? (Darren Blunkett)
Vince: We are planning to record an album of Nursery Rhymes/Fairy Tales. 'Sweet and Sinister'.