Interview with Accord

If you remember Color Crime by X-Trade, the splendid slideshow, you might also remember that it actually was a musicdisk too. The people behind the production have all quit the scene today, and here is one of them. His name was Accord in those days - today he has renamed to Pace. The reason why he still has an alias, is that he is a successful undergound musician, doing concerts all over the Swedish west coast.

A fact that probably is important to know, is that Pace worked together with Deelite of Razor 1911 during the last year of his scene career.


	

		
Propaganda:
		
Hello there, Pace! Let's find out your real name, how old you are and what you're doing all day long!
	
	

		
Accord:
		
Hmm.. That was a lot of questions at the same time. Hope that I'll remember all of them...To start with, my real name is Patrick Johansson, but I'm thinking about changing the last name to Severin, since it sounds cooler... I actually turn 18 years old today... So if you had asked me yesterday, I'd been 17. If you ask my mom, she would probably tell you that I'm studying, but I ain't. Unfortunately. The music demands too much of my time! But I really should be reading, I guess! I'm also trying to get a drivers license.
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
And how is your musical career going?
	
	

		
Accord:
		
I've been very busy playing at concerts and parties lately, and if I'd be honest, I'm really tired of it. You can't really party if you're carrying a synth, can you..? Otherwise, I think I'm improving my skills every day, but it's a little bit tough right now, since I don't know what I really want.
I make a song one day and really like it, but I hate it the next day. Sometimes I'm into commercial technopop, sometimes underground ambient. I'm longing to make real music, with real voices and singing.
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
What was the reason for you to quit the scene?
	
	

		
Accord:
		
The most important reason for me to be in the scene, was the music. And since you can make much better music with great synthesizers and DAT than a lousy Amiga, I decided to concentrate on 'real' music instead.
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
Are you never feeling tempted to come back to the scene? Is there something special that makes you miss it?
	
	

		
Accord:
		
It's hard to say. Of course I miss it sometimes... It's sad that I don't get the latest anymore, because  even if I'm not an active Amiga-musician, I'm still interested in playing games and watching nice demos... But I don't miss my scene-pals, because of the simple reason that I'm still in contact with the ones I had.
If I really miss it? Well, it's hard to put a finger on what it is that you miss, but.. Yes, I miss it! There was something spiritual, I guess.
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
What were the best and worst things with the scene?
	
	

		
Accord:
		
The worst thing was of course the amount of ladies. That's just the way it is - if there would have been more girls, I guess I'd still be interested.
The best thing... Well, it was underground, hip, bohemian and not so common. And you made friends. Another good thing was that everybody had the same opportunity to succeed, no matter country or color of skin. And everybody had the same equipment..
The reason for me being a part of the scene, was to develop my skills. I didn't want to repeat what somebody else had really done.
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
Did you ever make any money in the scene? Or were you involved in any games?
	
	

		
Accord:
		
I won some musiccompetitions (like the Phenomena Light Party 1992), but otherwise.. No. Since I'm still working with Deelite, I'm involved in a shoot 'em up game called Shenandoah, which hopefully will be released on Amiga, Nintendo and Super Nintendo during the summer.
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
And if you'll earn money from that project, what will you do with it?
	
	

		
Accord:
		
All the money will be invested in my studio.
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
Is that a real studio? What have you bought so far?
	
	

		
Accord:
		
I have the studio together with a DJ.. We have an awesome 24 channel mixing table, an Ensoniq ASR 10 synthesizer, a 486 with Cubase, DAT and also some smaller synthesizers. After the summer, I'll buy a Juni 106, which is perfect for Acid and Trance.
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
Okay.. Comment your collaboration with Deelite. What has it given you?
	
	

		
Accord:
		
Oh! An awfully lot! I think we have given each other damn much through the years. As I already have told you, the main reason for me being in the scene was to find new styles, and invent things people never had heard before. Deelite and I are really complementary to each other, since we have such different styles.
Nowadays, when we don't have the same equipment anymore, we only work mentally together. We listen to each others music, give ideas and so on. We'll of course start working together again when Deelite buys a synth. Hopefully, we'll release a CD in the near future.
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
When you look at your scenelife afterwards... Is there anything special that you would like to change, or anything that you wish that you'd released?
	
	

		
Accord:
		
Well, actually I'm quite satisfied. But I'd love to make a videodemo, because then I'd be a superstar on MTV.
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
Do you have a favourite demo?
	
	

		
Accord:
		
9 Fingers is really cool, but unfortunately I've only seen half of it. My absolute favourite is Hardwired, though. It beats everything - the ambience is just unbelievable. Nobody can beat the combination of Kyd and Balle. I don't know how good they are when you look at their things seperatly, but they are by far the best production team ever.
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
And who's you favourite musician?
	
	

		
Accord:
		
Heatbeat. He's unbelievable - I can't figure out how musicians can have somebody else as favourite. Somebody told me that Dizzy was better, but when I heard his music, I just had to laugh. Heatbeat is hundred times better. Tip and Mantronix were also very good, during their active days. I really look forward to their musicdisk!
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
What kind of musictaste do you have, speaking about real music?
	
	

		
Accord:
		
Good question. Well... I find synth music very good. Techno, trance, ambient. I'm also very fond of commercial dance-music, it's very funny. It possesses positive vibrations, if you know what I mean? But I'm not a fan of any band in particular; I'm not a worshipper in any way - I just like the music, not the artist.
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
And which political party do you support?
	
	

		
Accord:
		
I'm a true socialist... But I'm independent - no Swedish party suits me.
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
Now it's greeting-time. Say hello!
	
	

		
Accord:
		
Well.. Hello to Deelite, Bult (who has renamed to Wishion), and of course to you, Diesel!
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
Is there anything you'd like to say?
	
	

		
Accord:
		
Well, yes! Go out and buy Shenandoah - it will be awesome. If you want more information about my concerts, coming releases and so on, don't hesitate to send a letter to my fanclub: Patrick Johansson, Buras 2115, 440 92 Svanesund, Sweden.
	
	

		
Propaganda:
		
Okay! Thank you for the interview. Good luck with your future projects!
	
	

		
Accord:
		
Thank you! I need that!