Having enjoyed huge crossover success with seminal synth-pop outfit Ultravox, New Wave tastemaker John Foxx left the group in 1979 to pursue what has since been a distinguished solo career.
He released his debut solo album ‘Metamatic’ on Virgin Records, which was followed by three further significant LPs throughout the 1980s. After a hiatus working as a graphic artist and lecturing at Leeds Metropolitan University, Foxx re-emerged with the simultaneous dual-album release of ‘Shifting City’ and the ambient ‘Cathedral’ in 1997.
Numerous records and collaborations later, he now works under the moniker ‘John Foxx And The Maths’ with electro musician Benge. With their debut ‘Interplay’ due for release on 21 Mar through John’s own Metamatic label, the duo are also set to headline the extravaganza of electronica that is Back To The Phuture at London’s Troxy on 2 Apr.
Ahead of this, we caught up with the man himself to offer up our Same Six line of questioning.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
Chorley, Lancashire, early1960s. Just left the choir – broken voice. Heard Merseybeat and thought ‘I can do that’. Then I discovered I couldn’t sing in tune. Bit of a blow. Formed a band at art college. Went to the 14 Hour Technicolour Dream. Experienced random telepathy in the rush hour, after flight simulation and spontaneous luminosity episodes on Hornsey Rise. Fully recovered now, of course. Had a dimmer installed.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
All the songs are about a man, a woman and a city – what else is there?
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
It usually kicks off with an arpeggio from the Moog Modular system – massive machine converted from an old particle accelerator and part of Germany. A simple click of the switch and every experience you ever had gets connected to everything Berlusconi ever got away with – all entwined with impossible dance moves, mediumistic trance states and gurning. Seemingly takes place in slow motion, but you’re actually in hyper-acceleration. To the rest of the world you’re just that blurred bit from the bus window. When you come in the next day the place is a mess, but there’s a giftwrapped record waiting at reception.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
Primarily Stockhausen, because he’s so good to dance to. For the last few years, mainly Erik Satie, because I’d like be as otherworldly as that – but I keep going out to play and ruining the mystique. Perhaps when I’m older.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Excuse me, that’s Cheryl Cole at the door.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
Hopefully the album will be a trillion seller by pre-order. Then I’ll purchase a tropical island with sunlit lagoon moored just by the House Of Commons – so we could get a bit of sunshine and a swim before strolling into town. People might stare, but we wouldn’t care.
MORE>> www.backtothephuture.net
Sections: Q&A J | Tags: Benge, John Foxx, John Foxx And The Maths
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