WisconSCENE Magazine:
What is the name of your band and if you could describe your band in a brief example?
Bicycle Sighs:
Well, to begin, I suppose that I should clarify a point which I am always very adamant about, that what I do for this musical project is not entirely a 'band', per se. I would refer to it as just that; a project. The majority of the music that I produce for this project has been kept locked away in the deepest, dankest recesses of my mind for years, and is just now beginning to surface, given a passage and a form in which to take said passage. The name of the project is Bicycle Sighs. I chose the name for two reasons. The first, being, that there is a vastly underrated Japanese film maker by the name of Sion Sono who produced, in 1990, a 16mm film by the name of Jitensha Toiki, which translates into English as 'Bicycle Sighs'. I am also deeply engrained into all other medias and forms of art, and film happens to be one of them. He was a large influence for myself in that field. The second reason that I chose the name happened to be because for myself, bicycles represent many distinguished subjects and allusions. For instance, I am a traveller. I have been a traveller my entire life, and bicycles seem to represent a worlwide phenomenon, a distinct aura of remembrance in a field where subjects of difference would lead one astray. They represent familiarity, and at the same time, cold and callous embarkment into the new world.
I apologise, I can never manage to give simple answers to things, because I find that things never have simple answers, and those that do, are not worth answering.
WSM:
It’s okay, that was golden. When you say project, does that mean you go solo are do you have a full-line-up? And if it's a full band, who plays what?
BS:
That is one thing that most people tend to merely assume; that this project is a full band. I am just one person. I may or may not have people collaborate with me on songs, at any given moment in time, but none of the recordings that have been heard by any of the general publique (and by general publique, I, of course, mean Myspace, sadly) have been collaborations. When I was younger, I was always fascinated by the tight and strict forms of orkestars. And I, of course, do not happen to have access to an orkestar. Unfortunately. Therefore, I do what I may, and I take full advantage of editing programmes. People tend to frequently inquire to me as to how I record my material. It is nothing special, nothing fancy at all, really. The only pieces of recording equipment that I have ever used are an eight track, a sixteen track, a two track, a tape deck recorder, and, ironically enough, the Timeline Narration option in the Windows Movie Maker programme that seems to come standard with every computer in this country's existence (I must interject here - this is not part of the interview - but I would like to point out that I now use my laptop, before anyone makes any accusations). That seems to get a few pardoned chuckles out of people, and I can see why, of course. When all is said and done, or played, rather, and I want to 'orchestrate' something that I have done, I merely go back and layer one piece on top of the other. No enhancements or anything of the sort. As they say, what you see is what you get. Although, the 'they' in question is always subjective, and always eventual. I do, however, invite anyone in the listening audience or on the passing street to join me during live performances, as much of the material that I record is improvisational, and I enjoy bringing that 'fresh' aspect to the performance.
WSM:
Wonderful. This last question is off the subject, but still on the subject of music.
BS:
Very good.
WSM:
In the late 80s into the early 90s Seattle's Nirvana and grunge movement took to the mainstream changing music forever. Do you feel another "Movement" coming and if so what state or area do you feel it will come from?
BS:
To be perfectly honest with you, and I do not see the point in fibbing, as the access point of an interview, as this is said to be, is to reveal fact, not conceal it beneath mounds of fancy labels and such, I do not think much, if anything, about so called 'movements'. I mean, yes, of course, there have been many achievements in said field, and many progressions have been made. But the band in particular that you mention, Nirvana, is one that I have many personal trifles with in the field of music and what it is perceived to be. But then again, music is just that; something to perceive. Something open to interpretation. If you can hold it, touch it, and you can mold it in your hands, then you can make it real, no matter what guidelines try to set it back or spit upon it. I have never liked Nirvana, and I never will, but the sole fact that they may have influenced a group that influenced a group that influenced a group that I choose to listen to because I fancy their sound, well, that is enough for me to say that although I do not necessarily pay attention to 'movements', that they are certainly influential. I myself just moved to this country not four months ago, and I have to say, I am utterly disgusted with the majority of the sad and pathetique excuse for what some people try to pass off as a music scene here. This whole ‘hardcore death metal misogynistic bestiality and necrophilia-supporting, pig squealing, open chord strumming, double bass drumming, tough guy bro-mosh’ idiocy just makes me want to feel apathetique towards what the children of this era have been brainwashed into thinking is a true togetherness within music. There is no scene, and the scene that might be able to exist is thrust under the dirtied kitchen countre while the fascist ideals of the 'bigger and better' scene (merely meaning more money and better marketing skills) are thrust straight into the limelight on a golden throne and silver platter, parading around in the dining room for all of its brother corporations to be jovial with, parading around with each other like complete and utter fools. So, cutting down to the concept and point of this, I feel nothing of any movements. I know nothing of any movements here. I would like to see this country pull itself out of the thousand year slump that it has fallen into, and forget the time when pretty-boy bands with eyeliner and skin tight jean pants are crooning, or should I say, screeching, about heartache to the idiot masses of Hot Topic-ed teenagers pulling at their hair, the time when beating the living Hell out of the person next to you and throwing them into the ground, and then proceeding to stomp on the back of their head is considered dancing, even the time when all anyone can write about are things on completely different wavelengths and spectrums, yes, forget about those times, and remember the times when music and its scenes were about something of importance, something of interest. A possible community. Perhaps I am just old fashioned. Our bodies come and go, but this blood is forever.
And in some reaches of the world, the blood still runs strong and with full head through the veins of true musicians and music lovers.
WSM:
Wonderful. Thank you for your time.
BS:
But of course. Thank you for your interest.