We have been rehearsing for the past two days and I haven’t had the time to do anything else. And yet, much of the rehearsal time has actually consisted of waiting. Many people work for Björk, and not just musicians. There are things to be arranged, gear to be set up, etc. One musical performance conists of so many elements and the technology behind it is extremely complex. It takes a lot of work to make everything run smoothly.
When I first started rehearsing with Björk and the band in Iceland I felt that the distinction between myself and THE MACHINES had become blurred, like something seen in a Giger painting. I began to ask myself where the boundary between my body and the computers lies. I’m not so sure I know the answer!
We have “ear monitors” with a metronomic click sounding in our ears to keep the band’s playing together, plus everything else we need to hear. In some songs I want to hear as little from the drums as possible (even though Chris’ playing is damn good!). In other songs I want to hear the drums clearly but less of the brass. This is so unreal… yet amazing that it is possible.
We leave for Palm Springs today. Into the desert! That will be a first for me.
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April 26th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
“That’s progress” as they say. Years from now, what you can do now (which is awesome) with those monitors will seem like nothing. Ah electronics, such a fast pace world
Hope you enjoy it in the desert.
April 27th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Jónas, speaking of instruments, what sort of keyboard are you playing? I think I noticed on SNL that you have something with double manuals. And you seemed to be using it to substitute in for the Konono No 1 bits in “Earth Intruders.” Is it actually a synth/sampled keyboard to allow you to switch between that and clavichord?