|
 |
|
|
|
|
Momma's Groove: Mother's Day 2011
To celebrate the holiday this weekend, RA asked the mothers of some of our favorite artists to talk about their kids.
Mothers. We've all got one. Some are close. Some are estranged. Some never seem to go away. Some are sadly departed. On the occasion of the holiday celebrating Mothers around the world (aside from the UK, which did so in early April), we decided to get in contact with some. Eager to find out what they had to say about their children's career, we asked them to talk about the music they make and the parties they rock. Happy Mother's Day.
Seth Troxler
Mother: Heather Burton-Harris
Where do I begin? Seth is an only child and has always been a showman of sorts, always trying to make everyone laugh. As a child he liked music of all types, really zeroing in on the really good stuff no matter the genre. Although I never thought he would end up in the music field, he was really into sports until high school when he started going to raves and got his first turntables. He practiced constantly, and seemed to have a talent for mixing. As a young child, he seemed to really understand music and he has always understood electronics. I have been to many of Seth's gigs I realized way in the beginning that he was a real performer and that people really responded to him in a very positive way—both his music and Seth as a person/artist. I am so proud of Seth and all the Visionquest guys that when I read RA, which I check daily, I am in complete "Mommy Bliss." Thanks for letting me brag about "my baby"!
Fred P
Mother: Ella Warner
As a child Fred was inquisitive, always looking and searching for things to take apart and put back together again. He always had a ear and love for music: it was always playing around the house and he would listen and sometimes even fall asleep listening. I knew Fred would be involved in the music when he grew up, he used to play records for hours and hours everyday. He was so consumed with it, like it was a second life for him. Fred always played all types of music and I never knew what I was going to hear next. When I first heard his music I said to myself, "Is this my child with such a deep insight to feeling?" His music is soul searching. His sound makes me feel as though my spirit is free and can fly—like an out-of-body experience. I have gotten great joy out of his music and I hope others do also.
DJ T.
Mother: Angelika Koch
My son was a joyful and dreamy child. Later on he became more difficult and headstrong and wanted to try a lot out and push boundaries. This is what he then did in the Frankfurt club scene, which then led to the development of the techno scene. That really left an impression on him and in this time he gained his experience. As a mother, it was not always easy to understand everything. I've often been concerned whether this would be the right way for him.
His music has a beat, though, that goes straight to your legs and makes you want to dance. For me, his music is very creative and this shows itself in his new album, especially in the track "Nothing Even Comes Close"—that's the music that I like. My understanding of his music begun with the Groove magazine that he edited in the late '80s. He had already made up his mind for this music early on. First he began to write about it and do editing for that magazine, but his goal was always to produce this music himself and work as a DJ as well. He's reached his long-held goal and I'm proud of him. I remember one particular show especially well which was in the Robert Johnson in Frankfurt. Right there at the booth were my son and DJ Hell and they DJ'd together. It was really fun for me to stand behind the booth and experience the feeling that both of them created.
Kyle Hall
Mother: Penny Wells
Kyle has always approached things from a different perspective. I would call him a recycled soul because he was very mature for his age, like he had been here in a past life before. He always wanted to know how things worked and why they worked. Kyle had interests in things such as guitar, karate, violin, computer repair, capoeira, skateboarding, collecting Magic cards and even yo-yos. He found it difficult to stick to any particular hobby for too long.
He absolutely did not want to do anything that I could show him how to do, like singing. Although he had a great voice, he did not want me hovering around giving him pointers, so he stayed away from singing. Kyle did not like to be told what to do or how to do it. He liked to figure things out for himself. So when he became interested in DJing and producing, I just watched his interest grow. I am not surprised that he gravitated towards music. Kyle has a rich history of musicians and artists in his family background. I honestly thought this would be another passing thing. However, he committed to it and I couldn't be more pleased with his abilities and his success.
To find out more about the singing career of Kyle's mom, check out www.pennywells.net.
Claude VonStroke
Mother: Denise Crenshaw
Barclay had a creative soul when he was born. Both grandfathers were artists, one a painter and the other a musician by vocation. He had a wonderful fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Segal, who brought out this creativity in Barclay's essays. He also claimed, and many believed, that he was really an alien from Zambodia and he created a whole world around his mystical life. I knew he had a unique talent but was not sure what course that would take. Barclay is a perfectionist and he was very precise about the things he cared about. It was mandatory in our house for each child to play two instruments. He wrote cello music as a seventh grader, which he also performed. I was amazed that he appeared not to be nervous before the concerts and performed note perfect.
Barclay's music seems to be a combination of syncopated beats that has many variations when least expected and overtones of humor. I believe he has been influenced by Bach which was always being played on our hi-fi system and by rap music so prevalent in Detroit at the time, along with some South African music. He always had a sense of the whimsical. Early in his career he was known as DJ Tree. Last year I attended the techno festival in downtown Detroit. Although I had been several times before, this time I was on stage in the background during most of the concert. It was exhilarating for a parent to witness her child doing something he loved and being applauded for it. He has always incorporated his family in his music although that may not be readily apparent to the audience. But there was Aundy, his wife named in one song and Jasper, his son, in another. It was glorious!
Sinden
Mother: Lyn Sinden
It is really hard to describe Graeme's music, as it embraces so many facets and has gone beyond the usual terms of dance, garage, hip-hop, etc. I especially like the blues aspects to some of his work—he talked warmly about his recent trip to New Orleans. (I'm envious!) I think he absorbs the influence of music cultures when he travels and I know he enjoys sharing music experience with others while he's away and is always learning. There's always something new happening!
I have been to a couple of his gigs and admire the ease with which he seems to merge into the group he's playing to. He is very unassuming and this reflects how he plays—the emphasis being on everyone enjoying themselves! He's always loved music, whether it be coming with me to see live bands when young, then DJing at the local pub when at college. He would work and study, but they always seemed incidental. The music was everything! To me, [what he does] seems a natural, sometimes subtle, expression of the freedom and fun that has always been important to him.
Will Saul
Mother: Marion Saul
My earliest musical memory of Will is him, aged 2, bobbing from one leg to the other and chanting "Donstanso" whenever The Police's "Don't Stand So Close to Me" came on the radio. His next request was for a "thinthathiser" so I was able to bribe him with piano lessons in exchange for an early Casio keyboard. Fortunately the school ran a BOGOF system—pay for lessons in one instrument and get tuition in a second instrument free. This meant that Will tried timpani, double bass, saxophone and voice, so you could say he's had a broad musical education!
Fast forward to Turnmills and two very nervous parents sidling up to the door, trying pathetically hard to look cool and failing appallingly. It was Will's first big gig and we were touched that he asked us to come. (I wonder if he ever dreamt we'd show up?). We had a blast and felt incredibly proud of him. We also surprised him by turning up to another gig at Audio in Brighton—this was the first time I experienced Will tuning in to a crowd and feeling the elation in the room build. I love the style of the music he makes—eclectic, sophisticated and sexy—but then I'm his Mum, so I would say that, wouldn't I?
Jamie Jones
Mother: Sue Jones
Computer games, Transformers, sci-fi and football. Those were Jamie's interests as a boy. He was good at all subjects in school, but excelled in maths. After he had taken his A Levels I was surprised when he told me he was going to University to study economics as I knew his real passion lay in music and DJing. He confessed he really didn't know how to start and was worried he didn't have any musical background. We talked about how a music media course would probably be a good idea and, in a few days, he was off to London for an interview at Thames Valley University. The rest has been sheer hard work and dedication on his behalf. My pride in him is enormous. I love his music and was listening to his Don't You Remember the Future album yesterday whilst working. There are a few tracks I really like on there but my favourite is "Absolute Zero." I think his music reflects a little of his personality which can be a little dark with a twist of his wicked sense of humour. He lives his dream, so what more could a mum want for her son?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Published / Friday, 06 May 2011
 33 Comments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Features
|
|
|
