trains of thoughts: May 2008

Oliver Ho is the man.....

Close your Eyes

Earth

Here's a little interview I did with him for a music e-magazine back in the day.

The name Oliver Ho may not ring a bell to the average music listener, but mention the name to anyone who is somewhat familiar with techno and you will hear nothing but positive feedback. Why? Perhaps its because for the past 10 years, Mr.Ho has sent shockwaves in the techno community with his unique and abstract sound, ripping up dancefloors worldwide. You've danced to his tracks, you've got his records in your crates, now you will get a chance to meet the man behind Meta Records himself - ladies and gentleman.....Oliver Ho.

PL: So, tell us a little something about yourself.....How did this all begin for you? Did you always know you were going to be involved in the music industry in one form or the other?

OH: i have been involved in bands playing guitar since i was 16, iam actaully currently working on a band project at the moment, its a heavy abstract rock style. i slowly progressed from jazz, funk and rock to more underground music like techno and experimental music. however at the time i was also in art college intending to specialize in film, this was a big passion of mine at the time, unfortunately i didnt make it into the film institute. this meant that i had to give music my full time attention. i eventually met other people in london who wanted to make techno and release records and it progressed from there.

PL: You have a very different attitude towards your music, in a sense that your not a typical producer who just churns out loopy releases for the sake of keeping your name out there. There seems to be an entire guiding philosophy behind your music, with the incorporation of different mediums and soundscapes. Can you elaborate on this, and what is the direction you are trying to push?

OH: For a long time i have felt that music and especially techno, is a way of changing our reality and destroying some aspects of the world that come in the way of our experieencing the raw nature of life. music allows us to turn off the logical parts of our minds and become more intuitive, in this way we are living more in a primitve way, leaving the our limited concepts at behind.

PL: Its pretty safe to say you have produced some amazing records in your career and took the techno community by storm when you first emerged with your hypnotic and aggressive sounding tracks. Recently, it seems you have pushed for a more abstract and minimal sound in both your releases and DJ sets. Is this something we can continue to expect?

OH: I began releasing music 10 years ago, i was in a different place, i dont change my music in a conscious way, it is a reflection of where my head is, i am only conscious about one thing and that is progression, i must always move and attempt new ideas, this is what fuels me to carry on. thats the only way i will ever create something honest, the music is a direct reflection of how i change as a person, its not some disconnected thing that i do as a hobby, its a way of me understanding my life and my place within it.

PL: There seems to be a wedge between many electronic music lovers around the world regarding the current state of the global techno scene and an debate as to whether this huge wave of minimalism that is capturing Europe is a 'phase' or 'progression'. What is your take on this subject?

OH: For me, different forms of techno are all related and they work together, not against each other. therefore i see minimal music as an aspect of the greater whole, its good that the minimal aspect of music is succesful because it changes things and allows ideas to progress. not one form of techno is better than the other, i love tribal,detroit,minimal,hard,deep etc. its about the high and low dynamics, going on a journey. i am glad bpms are becoming slower, the music becomes more attractive and inclusive but doesnt loose its intensity. there are too many clubs that only play hard techno, thats so boring, we need to get more open minded.

PL: Speaking of progression, its undeniable that technology has played an influential factor in the way music is being produced. There will always be the hardware fanatics that only swear by outboard equipment, yet its almost undeniable that software technology is becoming more and more of an important role in the studio. How do you feel about this software vs.
hardware debate? Do you have a preference? Or is it even relevent?

OH: For me its not an issue, i use whatever i can, most of it is digital, mainly because its more practical and cheaper. i understand people who are into analogue, because it has a very unigue sound there is somethng special about the way the sound is generated. but i also am amazed by what computers can do. in the end it all comes down to your ideas, thats what makes good music, its the intentions of the artist who creates it. you must use the tools so they express your character, be in control of the process.

PL: You recently mentioned something about an exclusive competition for one of your labels. Can you elaborate on this project?

OH: It was for the main radio station in britain, bbc radio 1. it was a competition that explored sampling. listeners were invited to send in sounds, the 10 best sounds were given to 3 musicians, me, vvm and noisia. we took the sounds and each made a track out of it. it was a way of illustrating how differeent people use the same sounds in different ways. i

PL:You're quite known for your original DJ sets with drum machine interaction, and more recently with your six turntable performances with James Ruskin. I can only imagine touring and playing out week after week can be tiring both physically and mentally. Is this something that you will always continue to do? Or do you plan on one day taking a break and exploring other forms of sound production like movie soundtracks?

OH: I love playing in clubs, its very direct and you really feel the energy that the music has, its a very rewarding way of presenting my music,i feel very connected with the people. i am interested in doing more studio stuff too, some soundtrack stuff for short independant films. i am also keen to get invloved in performing live with my band, the character of a band is diffreent from djing, you can explore a whole new set of dynamics.

PL: Lastly, this is a bit off-topic, but is there anything (both music or
non-music) that you would like to share to all of us out there? The state of the current world?

OH: I have no political statements to make, just keep an open mind and dont get distracted by the need to be right all the time, admitting our mistakes is the only way to learn.

Oliver Ho can be reached at:
www.meta-records.com
www.myspace.com/oliverho

Interview by Philip Leung

View 0 Comments
Post a comment