15 Questions to Mick Harris/Scorn

Hi! How are you? Where are you?
Im ok,working on trying to be a better  and understanding person. As for where am i’m still stuck in birmingham, which must be one of the shitest sities in the world, hate he place, it only fuels negaivity for me, sadly i just dont see where the funds can come from to escape this shitehole dead city..maybe one day, all depends on geting a milkmaids licence [birmingham humour]


What’s on your schedule right now?
This year i would like to create a new lull recording, its been a few years since i experimented with soundscapes, several more scorn 12 inch vinlys, some remixes would be nice i like to remix, more live gigs.plus as much fishing possible providing the conditions are favourable.


What’s your view on the music scene at present? Is there a crisis?
I take zero notice,its been that way since 2000. I do it my way and dont play by the rules.it doesnt make me a better producer but i dont get all worried about keeping up. I’ m a lover of old music.


Do you see yourself as part of a certain tradition or as part of a movement?
Ive just always done my thing and from the heart,i dont care for Movements, i'm not a sheep. Yes ive been influenced i dont mind admitting that. Ive nothing to hide, we are all influenced to some degree, i just try to keep my feet firmly on the ground.


What, would you say, are the factors of your creativity? What “inspires” you?
Living in a shit city, a city i hate with a passion.going to  the river and being by myself there is a major influence.escaping from it all.


How would you describe your method of composing?
Very basic and minimal but honest. I’ve nothing to hide you can hear that in the end result


How do you see the relationship between sound and composition?
I love playing with sound but never like composition, at some point i come to a land mark and tell myself thats it, done.


How strictly do you separate improvising and composing?
Both equal. I love improvisation.


What does the term „new“ mean to you in connection with music?
Nothing, nothing is new, its all come from the old. Computers and software have made the gap easier for most.


Do you personally enjoy multimedia as an enrichment or do you feel that it is leading away from the essence of what you want to achieve?
To be honest no i dont enjoy it .


What constitutes a good live performance in your opinion? What’s your approach to performing on stage?
A good loud bass heavy pa system that can be really pushed and still stand up proud..i’m sick of playing shitty rock systems that just break up abd have a lack of bass, scorn is very physical live and take away a good pa from me then its pretty pointless performing, i try state to all promoters i need a good pa system but 2 3rds of the time the pa is just pathetic. I try n play as live as i can, i like to play live and make my noise[loud] i havent goten into the  way most laptop musicians play out live with just a laptop a stereo out sound card and not forgetting the midi controller [to Hell with you] i take a laptop out and yes i use a very typical software[no names]that most laptop electronic musicians use today, i use it becuase it acts just like a tape machine to me playing back snippets of sound. I like to use a real mixing board i like to use real hardware fx and to use an 8 channel multi out sound card so i can mix all sounds up in real time and have seperation of sounds rather than cram it all out of 2 channels and effect in real time without relying on plug ins and mid controllers and stuck staring at a bloody computer screen.the computer is just playing back my files thats all,the rest is done with the mixer and what i put through it, i like the old dub way of mixing and couldnt possibly do it any other way, my sound and approach may be basic and minimal but i feel its real.


Do you feel an artist has a certain duty towards anyone but himself?
No gods no masters.


Or to put it differently: Should art have a political/social or any other aspect apart from a personal sensation?
Bollocks to all that. I do what i feel is right, no questions.


How, would you say, could non-mainstream forms of music reach wider audiences without sacrificing their soul?
I’m lost i cant answer that.


You are given the position of artistic director of a festival. What would be on your program?
All old artists, or old music from artists that i once found interesting.


Many artists dream of a “magnum opus”. Do you have a vision of what yours would sound like?
All i can say to that is i havent reached it as yet, i doubt i ever will. As i am never happy with what i produce, im still working on it.

Thanx again.

Discography:
As Scorn:
# Vae Solis
Lick Forever Dog
Peel Session 1
Deliverance
Colossus
White Irises Blind
Lament (7")
Peel Session 2
Evanescence
Silver Rain Fell (12")
Weatherall Remixes (12")
Ellipsis
Stairway (12")
Gyral
Logghi Barogghi
Leave It Out (12")
Zander
Whine
Anamnesis - Rarities 1994-1997
Imaginaria Award EP
Greetings From Birmingham (CD)
Greetings From Birmingham (2x12")
Governor EP
Plan B
List of Takers
Stealth

Homepage:
Mick Harris