Menu items:

サーチ: すべての商品 和書 洋書 和書＆洋書 音楽 DVD ビデオ

Paul Hardcastle インタビュー(Jazzmasters 6)

Paul Hardcastle に初めてのインタビューをお願いしました． Jazzmasters 6 がリリースされBillboard Jazz Songs のトップになりましたが、 彼の音楽のバックグラウンドなど、興味ある返事が来ています．

以前からこのサイトに掲載している、 彼のＣＤ紹介ページの内容がかなり正しかったことが このインタビューでわかりました．

(写真の本サイトへの掲載、承諾済み．)

Yoshi:
Hi Paul,
Congratulations Billboard Jazz Songs top for Jazzmasters VI.
Thanks for this E-mail interview opportunity.
As everyone already know you were starting music business career in early 80s Rainforest and "19" hits on Club / Dance music in UK. Yoshi in person, I didn't know your 80s and early 90s your music activity on Club/Dance genre. In middle 90s, When I was listing Smooth Jazz FM radio in the US (KIFM in SanDiego etc.) I found your Hardcastle 1 included songs were played on radio program.
You have been releasing Harcastle 1 to 5 and Jazzmasters 1 to 6 so many CDs and all of them are very successful.
However, It seems, your early Hardcastle and Jazzmasters CDs are Club / Dance music format but recent released CDs (Hardcastle 4,5 and Jazzmasters 5,6) are Smooth Jazz and Chill music format.

PH:
Yes.
I think the last 2 Albums have been Chill and Smooth.
But the next Hardcastle 6 Album will be a lot more funky.

Yoshi:
I feel that, your recent original songs melody and harmony has contemporary Jazz and the impressionists classical music flavored like Ravel and Debussy.
(Rainforest, Return of Rainman, Lucky Star, Cloud Watching, I Can't Get By etc..)

PH:
That is true.
I am not classical trained nor jazz trained, I just try and find good melodies. My tunes don't really come from Jazz.

Yoshi:
Because, I'm big fan of Burt Bacharach, Lalo Shifrin, Claus Ogerman, Herb Alpert A&M 60s to 70s and other 60s to 70s crossover , contemporary jazz genre music and I have studied music composition and arranging from composer who was in Tokyo University of Art.
So that, my musical ear caught your songs played on Smooth Jazz radio programs.
I think, your Hardcastle and Jazzmasters CDs songs are not only a club/dance simple rhythm loop music and monotony NewAge music.

PH:
I try and keep the groove going and dont change chords just for the sake of it.
A lot of people say I sound like Barry White

Yoshi:
"Touch and Go" in Jazzmasters got Billboard Jazz Songs top as Smooth Jazz.
Especially Hardcastle 4 and 5 and later Jazzmasters 6, I think your music style has been changing into more Smooth Jazz format for getting more your music fan.
I hope interview may help your music fan that became fan of your music recently to solve such a question.

Yoshi:
Q1:
Most of your fan already know, you were starting club/dance music career in 80s turned from audio equipment job. I have tried to find your Bio information on your website and AllMusicGuide your page. Unfortunately, there is no such information.
May I ask, your growing up information in the UK and your favorites music information etc. ?

PH:
I was Born In Chelsea London, I live just outside London now in Essex.
I always listened to Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath.

Yoshi:
Q2:
I know you have used Emulator in early 80s for your music composition and recording. That is for "sampling" equipment maybe utilized for club/dance music production.
Paul, Do you have any band experience ?

PH:
No.
The Emulator was good. But My Synclavier used to crash a lot.

Yoshi:
Q3:
You have been releasing so many CDs (11 CDs) from early 90s. All of them are your original composition songs. Usually, musicians fall into making to mannerism in such case, but you have been constantly releasing new CDs with new songs every year. I'm very interested in your musical background like how did you study music composition and arranging. Paul, did you formally study music composition ? Otherwise are you self studied just naturally good at composition and having musically "good ear" yourself ?

PH:
Yes.
I play by ear, I never was taught by anyone, and I never studied anything. Maybe I just have a good ear for melodies.

Yoshi:
Q4:
Your CDs has been releasing from US labels.
How is your CD sales difference in Europe and US ?
I think more sales Smooth Jazz format in US and Club/Dance in UK ?

PH:
Yes.
Europe likes my Dance music and America likes the smooth Style. In the mid 90s Japan liked my Pop music.
I will now look for a new Label in Japan next year.

Yoshi:
Q5:
Smooth Jazz is very popular in the US. So, you should need to visit US for music business.
Are you travelling a lot between US and England ?

PH:
I do go to America a lot.
But next year I will try and release more Vocal songs for the R&B scene.

Yoshi:
Q6:
I'm also working with Gregg Karukas couple of times. He always put his home studio pictures on his website including all of his music equipment's. Can you introduce your studio recording environment like which DAW (Pro Tools etc.) is used or synth modules etc. ?
Can you put these pics on your web or Facebook ?

PH:
I will look for some photos.
I use Synclavier still sometimes, and also Apple Mac using Logic.

Yoshi:
Q7:
On your Facebook, you said your favorites place is Maldives.
Are you spending Maldives if you are in holiday ?
Jazzmasters 6 CD jacket seems like sunset picture in Maldives.
Did you take this picture in Maldives ? Otherwise where did you take this picture ?

PH:
Yes.
I like The Maldives. I took lots of pictures on Holiday.
I will return next year sometime.

Yoshi:
Q8:
As you know, Smooth Jazz is radio music program format in the US and getting popular since middle of 80s. However, recently many US Smooth Jazz radio stations are closing or changed music format into different genre because of economic downturn in the US and dropping advertising revenue. On the other hand, new Internet based Smooth Jazz radio stations are starting new Smooth Jazz programs like SmoothJazzNow etc. are getting popular. Many Smooth Jazz listeners are now listening Internet radio and this helps Smooth Jazz musicians are discovered by non US countries.
Hardcastle and Jazzmasters CDs songs are suitable for radio music programs because you are not playing any live performance and CD only.
Can you let us know your comment on this regarding if music is discovered by new fan, music genre based radio program is very important ?

PH:
Yes.
The Internet is great for all this.
I have now had contact from many people from all over the world and other record companies asking to licence my Product.
I also try to make my records a bit different and I have been on compilations in Ibiza.

Yoshi:
Q9:
Do you have Smooth Jazz Radio stations in England ?
Unfortunately, there is no "music genre specific" radio station at all in Japan.

PH:
There are a few here, but not many.

Yoshi:
Q10:
You have featured Becki Biggins vocal on your songs. So, I like Becki's vocal too.
If you may feature same kind of Japanese vocalist on your songs with Japanese lyrics, I think your songs might be popular in Japanese market.
Are you interested in such kind of new music business development ?
Because your early 80s club/dance music ("19" and later in 80s) was released in Japanese market from JVC music.
Some Japanese fans already know you on club/dance genre.
However, recent your music format has been changing and non club/dance music fan will be interested in your recent CDs.

PH:
Yes.
I am always open to new ideas. I will be doing some club /dance next year.
Last year I released Zero One which Many fans bought online.

Yoshi:
Paul, thanks for answering my questions. I still have more questions, but this is first time, so I will ask you next time.
I hope we might have business relation near future.

Cheers !!
Yoshi

PH:
You are welcome Yoshi.

I wonder if you have any ideas who may be a good label for me in Japan.


Thanks
Paul