ISAAC HOWLETT

Just as I promised earlier this week, here comes the interview I had with Isaac Howlett. 

On Friday, February 5:th, the new EP "House Of Cards/Endless Night" comes out with awesome remixes. So, here is a bit of Isaac Howlett for you, exclusive for Muzik Mag Swedens followers and all of the rest that wanna know more about Isaac. 

#1 

A Big congratulation to you with the third place on Electric Cafe´s Top 15, tell me more about your music, before you went solo? 

- Thank you very much, I'm thrilled that "Endless Night" made your top five tracks of January! After releasing my first solo single, "House of Cards", which was an upbeat and energetic track and did very well, it was perhaps a risk releasing something so different (a piano-led, orchestral waltz in 3/4 time) as a follow-up, but it seems I needn't have worried, the feedback has been excellent. After ten successful years as the front man of British Synthpop band Empathy Test, it's kind of daunting starting again like this, but I have a lot of freedom to express myself in new ways. 

#2 

Tell us how "Endless Night" came alive, inspiration and more? 

- "Endless Night" was really the first track that I recorded and arranged myself and it was inspired by Empathy Test, if I'm honest! I wanted to capture the same emotional intensity and magical feeling; the feeling of watching snow falling. I knew I had created something special with th demo, but it was overly simple and repetitive. Producer Walter Kazmier, who was a fan of Empathy Test, helped me to get it ready for release. He added percussive elements and melodic textures to give it more energy and momentum. I like how it sounds much more organic and real than Empathy Test, like it's really being performed by live musicians. 

#3 

What is happening next for you, with new music, liveshows and events?

- It's going to be a very busy year, working on my solo album, "A Year Without Light", which I hope will be ready in September-November time, and releasing more singles from it in the meantime. The next single, "Dreaming of Trees", which will have a more alternative rock kind of sound, inspired by The Cure, will come out some time next month. I was hoping to have it out by "Empathy Fest", a one-day music festival we are doing in Leipzig on 15th February with The Foreign Resort, Emmon, DSTR and Lucy Dreams, but I'm not sure that's going to happen now. 

However, on 7th February I'm releasing an EP with remixes of "House of Cards" and "Endless Night". That's available in digital, CD and 7" picture disc formats from my Bandcamp (isaachowlett.bandcamp.com). I'll also be doing live shows as both Isaac Howlett and Empathy Test, so yeah, super busy. Check out empathytest.com for all the dates. I like being busy! 

#4 

What was your first instrument you bought, and who is your inspirations? 

- First instrument I bought was actually a second-hand electro-acoustic guitar. It was really beautiful, and I called it Emily. I wrote a lot of songs on that guitar. I was inspired by Robert Smith of The Cure, Brian Molko of Placebo, Jarvis Cocker of Pulp and Tim Booth of James, Thom Yorke of Radiohead...All British guitar bands, all amazing singers, lyricists and frontmen. 

#5 

When you perform by yourself or with Empathy Test and playing live, what songs do you love to perform? 

- Whatever the crowd reacts to best, really. It's always fun playing "Losing Touch" by Empathy Test because it's such a hugely popular track and everyone sings along. I also love playing the medley we do of "Fear of Disappearing" and "Doubts" too, they're so energetic. I do love performing my solo song, "House of Cards" too, now I'm finally starting to get comfortable with it. It makes me very proud, knowing the struggle it took to make and release it. Seeing people dancing and singing along is a great reward. 

#6 

Do you have any personal preferences, favourites in music, most recently or from before? 

- My favourite tracks of January were "Distant Victory" by Zero Call, "Drugstore Romeo" by Stella Rose, "My Way" by Keep Shelly in Athens, "Anhedonia" by Korine, and "It's a Mirror" by Perfume Genius. It's good to hear guitars making a comeback in the alternative electronic scene. 

Thank you for the interview Isaac and good luck with upcoming releases. 

DJ Thessla of Muzik Mag Sweden & Electric Cafe