Producer/ composer/ multi-instrumentalist Guido Möbius is an amazing musician and highly entertaining performer, who also runs the label Emphase Records and the publishing company Autopilot Music Publishing. Next to his critically acclaimed albums Möbius lives up to his fullest potential in his unpredictable live concerts – armed with nothing more than his guitar, his voice, a trumpet and a few effect pedals, he creates highly energetic music in between humour and hypnosis, peppered by spontaneous interactions with the audience. His latest album, Spirituals, released by the good folks at Karaoke Kalk in summer 2012, is a rather special project, sort of “religious music for non-believers”. Most of tracks are indeed (very) free adaptions of traditional spirituals of which the artist keeps little more than the original lyrics to create a bunch of strange and utterly beautiful songs. In late 2013 Guido Möbius returned with Spirituals Remixed, an undertaking featuring some of the top names of the international electronic and experimental music circus (such as Daniel Padden, Gangpol & Mit, Jason Forrest, Cand ie Hank, etc) reworking the original music. The Wire once called Möbius ”relentlessly experimental, genuinely funky and a garish novelty all at the same time”. We totally agree.
Facts
John Wayne is big leggy
the sun is eclipsed by the moon
I smell smoke
Questions
What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Things that happen by accident: instruments out of tune, the scratching of rusty tools, so-called “mistakes” during a live set (mine or other people’s), a children’s choir lacking in exercise, musical amateurs, animals, the noises of roadworks, skipping CDs…
How and when did you get into making music?
I started playing the guitar at the age of 11, from that point on I was lost in music.
What are your 5 favourite albums of all time?
The Fall – shift work
Yma Sumac – Mambo!
Die Goldenen Zitronen – Economy Class
Daniel Padden – Pause for the jet
Talk Talk – Laughing Stock
What do you associate with Berlin?
Hipsters, tourists and gentrification. And a lot of good people doing good things.
What’s your favourite place in your town?
The balcony of my friend Gogol
If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
I guess I’d be a cook.
What was the last record you bought?
Miles Davis, bitches brew (on the flew market)
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
I’m collaborating with DJ Marcelle right now and I can’t think of anyone better.
What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
Fredovic and his one man band (Pictoplasma Festival at Urban Spree) in April 2013 – he just blew me away. Or Jamie Lidell solo at Sonar Festival ages ago, I guess that performance was even more impressive.
How important is technology to your creative process?
Quite important because I need technology to collect, arrange and organise musical ideas and sketches.
Do you have siblings and are they proud or jealous of you?
I have a brother four years older than me and he is neither one of those.
Our Favourites:
Guido Möbius – All Around Me feat. Kiki Bohemia
Guido Möbius – live on The Network Awesome Show
Guido Möbius – live at CTM
Links: Soundcloud | facebook | @karaokekalk.de | @planetrock-booking.de | autopilotmusic.com | emphaserecords.com
Photo credit:
Martin Kurtenbach | martin-kurtenbach.de | Interview with Guido Möbius by Digital in Berlin
