FIVE - THE STORY - Five years Berlin School

Five first years on the Berlin School's stage

Thanks to Frank Heller for this photo

FIVE THE STORY

Dear Fellow listeners, Dear Fellow listeners,

The album "FIVE" celebrates my first five years on the Berlin School stage. During this time I have been fortunate to be able to share my own musical vision with passion and sincerity and to live my dream. This anniversary, it is with you, that I wish to share it here.

Take care of yourself and those around you, long live music, long live Love,
Laurent Schieber (Sequentia Legenda)
🎹😘🎹

Thanks to Alan Busby for this photo

BLUE DREAM BEGINNING OF MY MUSICAL ADVENTURE

The album "BLUE DREAM" released in December 2014 was the beginning of my musical adventure, other opus followed. Some albums were nominated for the Schallwelle Awards and I am proud and very happy about that. There was also the release of the double album "EXTENDED".

I had the privilege of meeting and dialoguing with musicians such as Thorsten Quaeschning, Bernd Kistenmacher, Harald Grosskopf, Bertrand Loreau, Olivier Briand to name but a few, and of collaborating with Tommy Betzler, Jean-Luc Briançon (Kurzt Mindfields), Michael Brückner (Live Session).

BLUE DREAM

MY SOUND UNIVERSES ON THE AIRWAVES

Radio moderators have not been outdone in broadcasting my sound worlds on the airwaves. I keep in memory some of the shows, for example "BLUE DREAM Trilogy" on SineFM with Simon Thomas, the moments in Jos verboven's show "Electronic Fusion", the memorable "Murmure du son" with the duo Sylvain Lupari and Robert Hamel, the appearances with Ecki Stieg in the unavoidable "Grenzwellen", without forgetting the programming in one of the most podcast radio shows in the world : "La Planète Bleue" by Yves Blanc. The show "Le Bunker" with for the occasion a two-hour "Special Sequentia Legenda" organized by Guy Devilla will also remain a superb moment of emotion for me.

I had the chance to express myself and share my passion during interviews, for example with Jean-Claude El Jice for an interview in the Belgian magazine "Le Progressiste". I remember my first interview in German and live via Skype in the "New Age" show with Rainer Tyson Schramke.

REVIEWS & INTERVIEWS

DIRECT AND PRIVILEGED CONTACT WITH THE LISTENERS

The stage performances in Germany, Switzerland and France were each time beautiful and rich experiences allowing me to have a direct and privileged contact with the listeners.

Here is the teaser produced by Guillaume Diard for Synthfest 2019:

UNEXPECTED PROJECTS WERE BORN

Unexpected projects were born, such as the participation in the book to read and listen to "La Lune, pourquoi on a décroché ?" by Lydia Mirdjanian in which my title "Solitudes Lunaires" was used as a soundtrack. I also think back to the Edgar Froese memorial project organized by Rebekkah Hilgraves. Surprises too, such as the presence of my track "AU REVOIR" in the La Planète Bleue volume 9 compilation, more information about it here.

There were also unfortunately some disappearances, I would come back here only on the premature departure of my friend Philipppe Vallin with whom I had a rich and warm contact. Phil had his own way of writing, an enlightened musical culture, a sensitivity that resembled me. One of Philippe Vallin's articles about me.


There have also been projects that could not be completed for various reasons, sometimes due to lack of time. The collaboration with Ron Charron (Kuutana Serenity) is still going on.

Some projects are in progress: the collaboration with the talented Hélène Vogelsinger, a concert project in a planetarium, a festival in Switzerland, my next album "BEYOND THE STARS".

And finally, to conclude this retrospective: During these five years, I have had the great pleasure to be able to benefit from the warm and unconditional support of the listeners whom I salute here. Thanks to all those who believed in my musical vision.


Laurent Schieber (Sequentia Legenda)
🎹😘🎹

TESTIMONIALS

Thanks to Beata Pardela for this photo

YOUR MUSIC IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION

I discovered your music at the end of 2018 on Bandcamp, and the first shot I heard was "MIND LAKE". As I am a great lover of electronic music, as well as the editor of the only Polish internet radio EL-Stacja promoting exclusively electronic music, your music immediately caught my attention. I am fascinated by the genre of the Berlin School and this style of music is the most important for me.
The music created has a gentle sequential structure that allows you to immerse yourself in your dreams, to think and above all to relax with it. For me, the moments spent with this music act as a balm for the soul, carry everyday problems somewhere far away and give great relaxation and the strength to struggle with reality. This music has a great calming and relaxing power and I am happy to listen to it.

Beata Pardela
(Radio Moderator - EL-Stacja - Poland)

🎙️ Beata Pardela asked a question to Sequentia Legenda: "I would like to know how your music has influenced you, how it has evolved over the last five years, when you have created so many really great and precious pieces, and how you evaluate your work in five years. What are your ideas and plans for the coming years?"

🎙️ Sequentia Legenda: "My influence goes back to my teenage years when I discovered Mirage Klaus Schulze's album by chance. That was my musical trigger. So it was much later, in 2014 with BLUE DREAM, that I took the plunge and brought my musical work into the open. Those first five years were pure joy as I was able to share my passion with success and recognition. I am proud and honoured. These first five years have been a pure joy in that I have been able to share my passion with success and recognition. My dream has come true and my next projects will be in this line with a constant evolution."

FIVE YEARS WHERE EVERY TIME I'M SURPRISED

For me it's five years where every time I'm surprised that you manage to surprise me. The challenges in your personal life perspire on the sweetness of your music. Even in its most intense moments. And this sensitivity that you lay down in music responds freshly to mine.

Sylvain Lupari
(Reviewer - Synth&Sequences)

🎙️ Sylvain Lupari asked a question to Sequentia Legenda: "Five years Laurent since BLUE DREAM! Are you satisfied with your evolution? How did you see yourself five years ago? Are you where you wanted to be?"

🎙️ Sequentia Legenda: "Time goes by quickly indeed, too quickly! I am a sensitive and demanding person with myself and I must admit without pretension that I am happy and satisfied with the journey I have made in five years. I have always favoured work, quality, rigour and sincerity. In the end, I am satisfied to find myself five years later in total adequacy with my musical vision of the start! I have made no concessions, I have kept the course I set myself and this is the one that will guide me for the next five years: sharing my sensitivity through my sound universes."

Thanks to Anton Uraletz for this photo

VAST SEAS OF HARMONIC SEQUENCES

My way to Berlin-school electronics was easy but long and took almost 20+ years since I heard it for the first time… there is so much interesting music around, and I explored it step by step, style by style. In the end of December 2015, a friend of mine gave me a tip to «BLUE DREAM» and «AMIRA» – «Man, you’ll like it… I swear». And yeah, I did. That was a sort of enlightenment – vast seas of harmonic sequences that set up a whole Universe of sound… the seas to immerse in, delving neither into psychedelic nor abstruse soundscapes. Straight-forward, simple and even sequencing is the remarkable and one of the most precious advantages of Sequentia Legenda… it forms these breezing soundscapes that carry you upwards and away on its wings of soaring dreams and reveries to the azure faraway distance where the Highmost Welkin meets the Sound of the Sequence. And that’s the way it is.

Anton Uraletz (Russia)

🎙️ Anton Uraletz asked a question to Sequentia Legenda: "My question about your last 5 years is simple – how have you fell in love with sequencing? What does it mean to you?"

🎙️ Sequentia Legenda: "I fell in love with the sequences from the very beginning of my discovery of Klaus Schulze's discography with the two sound universes of Mirage. The sequencer is my favourite tool, it is very often by the setting up of the loops that my creative work begins. The sequencer is my machine for weaving the soundtrack. It is important for me to make several loops of notes cohabit and to bring this harmonic and rhythmic ensemble to life.  My vision of sequencing: Loops in perpetual evolution."

Thanks to Oleg Parfentev for this photo

THE ART OF SEQUENTIA LEGENDA

I will start from a distance and tell you how I discovered electronic music and the Berlin school in particular.

...it was somewhere in the 90's, I don't remember exactly. I couldn't sleep at night, so I turned on the radio. There was beautiful, unusual music on the air, not like the music on other radio stations. I stayed on that show and listened to it until morning. Later I found out that it was a program about electronic music called Back to the Universe. Programmed at certain hours of the night, and its permanent host was (and still is) DJ, musician and journalist Martin Landers. Here is his website and information.

This man (his programs) took me into the world of electronic music, which I had never known before, and it was from him that I got to know the Berlin School and other areas of electronic music, Klaus Schulze and many other musicians and bands.

I heard the music of Sequentia Legenda for the first time 3 years ago on https://vk.com/ (it's our Russian analogue Facebook).

Only there you can put music in addition to texts, photos and videos. As a rule, it is pirated, which means that nobody pays for it. I really liked the songs (AU REVOIR, SOLITUDES LUNAIRES, THE APPROACH), and I kept them.

Much later, I decided to search the facebook page of Sequentia Legenda. And I had by chance the release of the new album OVER THERE, which of course I also liked a lot.

And then, Laurent, I recognized your blog, your page on bandcamp.com and all your music. And I also met you and made friends on facebook.

Each of your albums, I discovered it gradually : listen, listen, listen... They are different, but there is definitely a recognizable style, the style of Sequentia Legenda. Each album has a favourite track or even several. I also really like the way your CDs are made: the photo, the design and of course the sound. Thank you very much for your autographs and wishes. It's very expensive! In the age of digital sound, it's very nice to hold a CD (or a vinyl record) in your hands! (At least for me).

What does your music mean to me?
Laurent, for me, what you do on stage is magic. It's magical. I have no idea how it works! Yes, there's an idea, there are means and tools to implement it (synthesizers, computers, instruments). But how it all ends up in this fascinating music - I don't understand! And I don't have to understand it. Magic must contain mystery. But I MUCH like what you get in the end!

At the moment, for various reasons, I am not as actively following news and innovations in the field of music. But when I hear a melody on a radio station, I immediately recognize Sequentia Legenda. How do I feel? If something you like sounds like SOLITUDES LUNAIRES (one of the diamonds in your collection!), I'm delighted. The heart starts beating more often, breathtaking, you fly away... It's not in words!

In conclusion, I would like to thank you, Laurent, for the joy and happiness you bring to us, the listeners, with your magical music. You have always had and will always have a constant and faithful listener who needs you. Keep on creating. I know this is a difficult moment in your life, but let your two suns (Dylan and Valentin), as you once said, light your way and give you strength and confidence. You are a wonderful father, a wonderful musician and, in general, a kind and good person.

I am very happy to have met you and the art of Sequentia Legenda.

I wish you much, much luck and all the best!

Oleg Parfentev (Russia)

🎙️ Oleg Parfentev asked a question to Sequentia Legenda: "I'm interested in how the composition is born? Where does it begin? The very beginning. How do you put in your head this melody, this rhythm that will later be a success in your album? How does it happen? (I suspect that creating a melody is a long and tedious process (I might be wrong). But it always has a beginning, a starting point (a starting impulse). What does this mean to you? Share it, please, if you can share it :)"

🎙️ Sequentia Legenda: "The creative phase, begins in a subtle and unpredictable way, it's a call, a magnet that will attract me to my keyboards. Inspiration can come from an image, a story, a sound, a walk, a chance too. Then, in front of my machines, the experimental phase begins, often by setting up the first loops, then the first layers. Then begins the real work of composition, which can sometimes be time-consuming, because I am a demanding person - demanding on myself as well. For example, for my first track FLY OVER ME (BLUE DREAM), it took me no less than sixteen months to be satisfied with the result! Music is an achievement and I always want to put quality before quantity, I want to offer the best of myself for my listeners and for the beautiful musical movement that the Berlin School represents."

            

Interview with Sequentia Legenda by Philippe Vallin

Interview with Sequentia Legenda by Philippe Vallin

(Clair et Obscur, June 2, 2016)

Sequentia Legenda : an ever-expanding musical world…

Philippe Vallin: "Coming from a far distant blue planet somewhere in the depths of our galaxy, Laurent Schieber (aka Sequentia Legenda) came to visit us Terrians two years ago only, with his excellent first album entitled Blue Dream. After landing on our little biosphere, this lover of synthesizers and 'Berlin School'-like spacey electronic music kept on making us travel in our inner cosmos, thanks to his well crafted work, strongly influenced by the master Klaus Schulze, whose footsteps he proudly treads in. We have met and interviewed this dedicated composer, whose aesthetics is halfway between tradition and modernity, within a musical genre that is far from having bade its farewell…"

C&O : Hi Laurent. You seem to play synthesizers and other sequencers for some time now. Where does this passion for « Berlin School » electronic music come from, and how to explain that Sequentia Legenda and his outstanding first album Blue Dream went to be issued in 2015 only ?

Sequentia Legenda : "It all started while listening to Klaus Schulze's album Mirage, when I was in my fifteens. I instantly fell in love with this music. This is how my love of Berlin School started. Since then, I kept on playing synthesizers. My music theory education and keyboard classes started in the back shop of a music store of my city. Soon my teacher realized how much I was interested in synthetic sounds, and music theory gave way to synthesizers' discovery. I was given the opportunity to handle the potentiometers of a mythical instrument: the famous Minimoog!

Years passed, and with them I purchased many electronic instruments. I started with analogical synthesizers such as Korg PS3200, ARP Odyssey, Crumar Multiman S, Oberheim Two Voice,  Korg MS20 and its sequencer SQ10, Polymoog, Roland SVC-350 vocoder. When MIDI appeared, I got rid of all the analogical stuff to step in the digital era with my first MAO software running on an Atari 1024 STF, together with new machines such as DSS1 Korg, TG77 Yamaha,  D110 Roland, Microwave Waldorf, K1M Kawai, and JD800 Roland.

Sequentia Legenda (Laurent Schieber) and analog synths. The Korg PS3200, Oberheim Two Voices, Crumar MultimanS, ARP Odyssey, Korg MS20 + SQ10 and more.

 
For a short period of time, I used to play keyboards for a local rock band. However, I prefered to play alone, training in the basement of my parents' house. The commercial music of the 80's hadn't any appeal on me. Spacey music was for me the musical path I wanted to follow. Therefore, I took the plunge only very recently. It became obvious that I had to unveil my work. I wanted to share with the world my musical vision and, through these compositions, also part of me. My first album Blue Dream was finalized end of 2014, after working for 16 months on it. I am a rigorous person, and this is one of the reasons why my first album was so long to see the light of day."

C&O : Your music is often compared to Klaus Schulze's, and not in a derogatory way actually. When listening to  Blue Dream, Vibrations, « Au Revoir » and Amira, it's true that the spirit of the german master seems to « float » above, a bit like a major influence that would never leave you. What would you answer? And how would you describe your own music to someone who never heard of you?

Sequentia Legenda : "I am often compared to Klaus Schulze, which doesn't bother me. In fact, Klaus Schulze was a pioneer with a new musical approach. I enjoy his work. He is undoubtedly one of those who embodies the best Berliner Schule. For me, he was a true revelation. I often listened to his works from Irrlicht in 1971 to En=trance in 1988.
If I had to introduce someone to my music, I would say it is atmospheric and spacey electronic music. An invitation to dream, a musical environment allowing for meditation. Through my compositions, I try to share my emotions, my sensitivity, in other words a part of me."

C&O : What other artists inspired you the most as a musician, but also as a music lover?

Sequentia Legenda : "In electronic realm, my influences lean towards Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk, Vangelis or Jean-Michel Jarre. I am sincerely saddened by the passing of Edgar Froese. On a more general note, I am interested in classical music and more specifically symphonies : Wagner, Beethoven, Brahms, Berlioz or Smetana. As a music lover, I like U2, Pink Floyd, Tears For fears, Talk Talk, Depeche Mode or Marillion."

C&O : Can you tell us more about Extended, the new album you are working on. What can we expect with the coming magnum opus (magnum by the size at least!)?

Sequentia Legenda : "Extended will be a double album with five or six tracks. Some of the pieces will be long versions taken from Blue Dream and Amira. The single « Au Revoir » will also be included in its long version in this record. The pieces were rearranged, remixed and remasterised, longer versions will allow listeners to submerge themselves even more in the music. « Solitudes Lunaires » will be one of the two new tracks.


 

There will be also a first for me: a collaboration with german drummer Tommy Betzler on tracks « The Approach » and « Somewhere ». Tommy is not new to this musical genre as he backed Klaus Schulze on stage during his tours, and I am proud and happy to have him on board this project. For me, Extended is a thrillling experience on any level : both musical and human. The official release of this album is planned for September 2016."

EXTENDED Sequentia Legenda and Tommy Betzler

 
C&O : What inspires you when you record, and why do you create cosmic music?

Sequentia Legenda : "My musical inspiration can come from anything, it can be an image, a sound, an environment, an emotion. I also like to draw inspiration from novels, legends, pictures. I enjoy mysticism, mystery, nostalgia, imaginary world. Cosmic music is a passion. It's a real delight for me to compose and nothing else crosses my mind when I am in a composition session. I like to share my emotions through my music, make the listener dream and help him relax and escape a world in turmoil where everything has to go fast and follow standard criteria."

C&O : Do you compose during the day or by night?

Sequentia Legenda : "There is no rule actually, I just need to find a balance between my job, my family and my passion. As a family man, I spend some time with my kids. As a husband, I share some time with my wife, who was very comprehensive. I can compose when my wife works overnight, or in the morning when kids are at school.

The most difficult is to end a composition session. Time passes by so fast when I focusi on my music. My rigour makes my creation activity even longer. I even had to take some days off to finalize a piece. I already woke up in the middle of the night when musical ideas rushed in my head. It should be done in moderation though. Composition is a very particular step, very time-consuming and it's often difficult, both for the artist, and his relatives. It's all a matter of dosage. I am thankful to my family for their patience."


C&O : Which to day is the composition you are the most proud of, and why?

Sequentia Legenda : "It's hard to say. But I'd pick « Solitudes lunaires ». Although I went to compose this piece faster than usual, the result is quite compelling and, from a technical standpoint, I managed to bypass the use of a beatbox by turning oscillators of Minimoog in self-oscillation mode. I made this choice probably because it was my last creation. Otherwise, I really like « Somewhere ». Anyway, each track has its own history, its own flavour. I like what I do and I give the best of me." 

C&O : Do you plan any gig soon? For example, can we expect to see you on stage, alone or with other musicians, to promote the forthcoming double album Extended?

Sequentia Legenda : "I was indeed proposed to perform live on stage. I will think about the opportunities. I would like to combine sounds and images for any possible show. I really want to do it and slowly I am coming to see how it could work. Maybe I could play with Tommy on stage. Who knows ? We'll see." 


C&O : Your music is now released through the french label and organization PWM (Patch Work Music). Have more lovers of this quite secret musical genre learned to know you?

Sequentia Legenda : "My music can be bought through my bandcamp page, and also, as you mentioned, through PWM's webpage. I would like to thank all the team at Patch Work Music, they are welcoming, willing to help and promote the work of artists featured in their back catalogue. My albums are now available in Spain, Germany, Poland and The Netherlands. 

I am really happy about that. The audience is quite diverse and I was even surprised by a father who told me his 10-year old son was very enthusiastic and wished to get an autograph. 

Cosmic music is far from bidding its farewell !"  

C&O : C&O : What memories do you keep from SynthFest 2016, that you attended in Nantes this year?

Sequentia Legenda : "SynthFest is a great festival, organized by a handful of electronic music lovers. It's the gathering of instruments, collectors, fans and musicians. 

I met there some great people, like Jean-Luc Briancon (Kurz Mindfield) which music I really love, Pierre Salkazanov (Zanov), quite a nice guy, Bertrand Loreau, another fan of Klaus Schulze and a specialist of Polymoog, and last but not least, Olivier Briand, who was everywhere at the same time during this festival. 

Sequentia Legenda (Laurent Schieber) and the Fairlight CMI

It was also a time when I played the Minimoog for the first time in ages, and I also derived a lot of pleasure playing the Fairlight, another legendary instrument." 


C&O : A few technical questions now for those who are knowledgeable: what is the musical equipment you use the most? How do you switch from analogic to digital ? And do you have a preferred keyboard that you couldn't live without for all your future pieces?

Sequentia Legenda : "Arturia's Collection V is a tool I often use and Minimoog V is undoubtfully one of my favourite VSTs. After using a wealth of hardware synthesizers, my current compositions are made with VSTs. I might however return to hardware in the future, if only for stage performances." 


C&O : What do you think of today's electronic progressive scene (from France or elsewhere), and from a general standpoint, of other trends in electronic music?

Sequentia Legenda : "I have very few spare time to get to know what's new in electronic music. I follow from a distant mile the other trends in electronic music. I am not very keen on the new trends. Techno music and the related stuff don't inspire me for example. I keep following a more traditional approach and I pay special attention to sonic dosage. I find that tracks nowadays are in general very or too much compressed."


C&O : Are you up-to-date with your preferred musical genres? What are your last favourites? And if you are not up-to-date what do you listen to those days?

Sequentia Legenda : "Besides Jean-Luc Briancon's last and interesting albums, and the duo of Brückner & Betzler, I unfortunately don't have much time to listen and get an opinion on what other musicians create. I still listen to the great classic pieces by Klaus Schulze or Tangerine Dream, and also classical music or jazz on radio while driving. And I nearly forgot Yves Blanc's briliant show of Saturdays « La Planète Bleue »."


C&O : Since you like beautiful support in times of (sad) digitalization of music, can we expect one day the release of Sequentia Legenda album in real CD format, or in vinyl?

Sequentia Legenda : "I was indeed asked about vinyls, but there were very few of these requests. My music is mostly purchased in digital format. Selling CD(r)s allows the buyer to own the physicial support. I performed myself the written and graphical design of the Digipack (Blue Dream) and the Digifile (Amira). I want each project to be valued on both aesthetics and information levels. I am a person who keeps his feet firmly on the ground, I started prudently with CD(r), because the budget is quite different from a real CD pressing. If sales are good, then yes I will be able to turn to pressing formula."


C&O : Many thanks for taking the time to answer all those questions, and good luck to Extended, that we look forward to discovering ! Do you have perhaps a last word for readers of Clair & Obscur ?

Sequentia Legenda : "It was a shared pleasure and I thank Clair & Obscur for paying attention to my work. I believe in Berlin School, I am sure this musical trend has still a lot to say. And if this interview makes listeners curious about my music, I will be very happy. Thank you Philippe for your support all along my musical career." 

Interview by Philippe Vallin (June 2016)  





Philippe Vallin nous a quitté le jeudi 27 octobre 2016 à l’âge de 46 ans.
Mes pensées vont vers lui et vers ses proches.

Philippe Vallin

Repose en paix.






▶  Sequentia Legenda Reviews and Interviews

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▶  Sequentia Legenda Discography
 

Sequentia Legenda : un univers musical toujours en expansion…

Interview de Sequentia Legenda par Philippe Vallin

(Clair et Obscur, 2 juin 2016)

Sequentia Legenda : un univers musical toujours en expansion…

Venu d’une planète bleue lointaine située aux confins de notre galaxie, Laurent Schieber (alias Sequentia Legenda) s’est révélé aux terriens que nous sommes il y a deux ans à peine, avec son excellent premier album intitulé Blue Dream. Depuis son atterrissage sur notre petite biosphère, ce passionné des synthétiseurs et de la musique électronique planante façon « Berlin School » n’a eu de cesse de nous faire voyager dans notre cosmos intérieur, en nous livrant du bien bel ouvrage, fortement influencé par le maître Klaus Schulze dont il est l’un des dignes héritiers. Rencontre et entretien avec ce compositeur passionné, dont le travail d’esthète se situe à mi-chemin entre tradition et modernité, au sein d’un genre musical qui semble bien loin d’avoir dit son dernier mot…

C&O : Bonjour Laurent. Tu sembles manipuler les synthétiseurs et autres séquenceurs depuis fort longtemps. Comment est née cette passion pour la musique électronique dite « Berlin School », et comment expliquer alors pourquoi Sequentia Legenda et son remarquable premier album Blue Dream ne se sont dévoilés au public qu’en 2015 ?



Sequentia Legenda : "Tout a débuté avec l’écoute de l’album Mirage de Klaus Schulze, lorsque j’avais une quinzaine d’années. Ce fut un véritable coup de foudre musical. C’est ainsi qu’est née ma passion pour la Berlin School. Dès lors, je me suis mis à jouer du synthétiseur. C’est dans l’arrière-boutique d’un magasin de musique de la ville que débutait mon apprentissage du solfège et du clavier. Bien vite, mon professeur se rendit compte de l’intérêt que je portais pour la synthèse sonore, et les cours de solfège laissèrent place alors à la découverte du synthétiseur. La chance de pouvoir tourner les potentiomètres d’un instrument mythique m’était offerte : il s’agissait du fameux Minimoog !

Les années s’écoulèrent avec l’acquisition d’un bon nombre d’instruments électroniques. Dans un premier temps, ce fut les synthétiseurs analogiques tels que le Korg PS3200, l’ARP Odyssey, le Crumar Multiman S, l’Oberheim Two Voice, le Korg MS20 et son séquenceur SQ10, le Polymoog, le vocoder Roland SVC-350. Avec l’arrivée du MIDI, je me séparais de tout cet arsenal analogique pour passer à l’ère du numérique avec mon premier logiciel de MAO tournant sur un Atari 1024 STF, accompagné de nouvelles machines telles que le DSS1 Korg, le TG77 Yamaha, le D110 Roland, le Microwave Waldorf, le K1M Kawai, le JD800 Roland.

Brièvement, j’avais été le clavier d’un petit groupe rock de la région, cependant, j’étais un musicien plutôt solitaire, s’exerçant dans la cave de mes parents. Je ne pouvais pas vraiment m’identifier à la musique dite « commerciale » des années 80. La musique planante était pour moi le chemin musical que je voulais suivre. C’est donc tout récemment que je me suis lancé dans le grand bain en présentant mon travail au grand jour, le partage était devenu une évidence. Je souhaitais montrer au public ma vision musicale et offrir une partie de moi-même au travers de mes compositions. Mon premier album Blue Dream fut bouclé fin 2014, après seize mois de labeur. Je suis une personne exigeante et cela explique en partie pourquoi mon premier disque mit autant de temps à voir le jour."

C&O : Ton oeuvre est souvent comparée à celle de Klaus Schulze, et pas forcément de manière péjorative d’ailleurs. Il est vrai qu’en écoutant Blue Dream, Vibrations, Au Revoir et Amira, il est difficile de ne pas sentir « flotter » la patte et le style du maître allemand, un peu comme une influence majeure qui te collerait à la peau. Que répondrais-tu à cela ? Et comment définirais-tu ta propre musique pour quelqu’un qui ne te connaît ni d’Ève ni d’Adam ?

Sequentia Legenda : "La comparaison avec Klaus Schulze revient souvent, ce qui n’est pas pour me déplaire. Klaus Schulze a été un précurseur avec une nouvelle approche musicale. J’apprécie son travail. Il est sans aucun doute une des figures emblématiques de la Berliner Schule, pour moi, il a été une véritable révélation. J’ai beaucoup écouté sa discographie de 1970 avec Irrlicht à 1988 avec En=trance.

Si je devais présenter ma musique, je dirais que c’est de la musique électronique, atmosphérique et planante. Une invitation au rêve, une ambiance propice à la méditation. Ce sont mes émotions, ma sensibilité qui transparaissent au travers de mes compositions, une partie de moi que je livre aux auditeurs."

Pour lire la suite de cet interview sur le site de Clair et Obscur c'est par ici.



Philippe Vallin nous a quitté le jeudi 27 octobre 2016 à l’âge de 46 ans.
Mes pensées vont vers lui et vers ses proches.

Philippe Vallin

Repose en paix.






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