Conrad from Merz is a boy with an approach to music
as refreshing as the end results - if it makes a noise, use it, and if it
makes a drifting, beautiful noise, so much the better. Hoopla spoke down the
phone at him, and this is what he said:
How far have your travels influenced your
music?
Pretty much, actually, the main reason I travelled was
music, essentially. A lot of the travel was music related, a music adventure.
What was the most inspirational place?
I kept goign back to Africa over five years, I went to
18 countries. I think it ssuch an inspirational place because the origins
of rock and roll is in the African blues. Its the birthplace of rock and roll.
How do you describe yourself in your passport?
I didn't know I did. Is that true? It must say musician.
It must. There was a time when I was signing on i always put Managing Director
- I was on the Enterprise Allowance scheme. It helped you get cheaper insurance.
Insurance companies think musicians are going to get wrecked and write off
their hire cars; putting 'managing director' got you cheaper insurance.
What other acts do you rate?
I rate Mouse on Mars, a duo from Dusseldorf, also Pollym
Harvey and Beth Orton, Ian Brown, Asian Dub Foundation...
Do you see yourself fitting in with the
whole Brits/Radio One/Music Industry scene?
Not the way it is at the moment, not for sure. I was pleased
Beth Orton and Beck won, they're both really good artists - very true artists.
If I can be succesful like that, I'd be chuffed.
You played Liverpool with Suede - how
did that go?
I didn't, actually - I had to go to a family wedding,
so this will be my first Liverpool gig. I'm looking forward to it - my co-producer
comes from Liverpool, and he's always been trying to get me to play there.
So hopefully he'll bring his posse down.
Merz play Lomax at L2 on April 8th. And there's another
exclusive online interview with Conrad on the ink
magazine site.
