INTERVIEW WITH SOYLENT GREEN FROM TheCelebrityCafe.com ARCHIVES
by Dominick A. Miserandino
DM) What's the meaning behind the name of the band ?
EF) Jack Pisters and myself saw the movie at a very young age and it made an impression we would never forget. A glimpse of a possible future, seen through the eyes of young people who were already thinking about what the face of tomorrow would look like. You can imagine that we wouldn't want something like this to happen for the world and that's why we chose to use that name - to create music with an element of self-criticism and an element of hope. In short, Soylent Green should be food for the mind, not just food !
DM) What music have you heard that has changed your life?
EF) I clearly remember the first time I heard "Riders on the storm". I was so impressed. THAT was the music I wanted to make. Well, I wouldn't dare to compare Higher Ground (one of my favorite tracks on NUTRIENT) to a song like that but I can state that Higher ground is my personal Riders on the storm. It has got that element of self criticism and that element of hope I referred to.
DM) Has any fan or friend ever approached you to tell you that your music has affected them in the same way that riders affected you?
EF) It was not the same comparison I made, but yes, a good friend of mine told me that, while listening to Higher Ground, he started thinking about his own life and the world he was living in. That touched me because he had understood what I was trying to say with that song.
DM) Growing up in a non-English speaking country, which artists did you listen to who've influenced you ?
EF) The Doors, Deep Purple, Talking Heads, David Bowie
DM) Why not any artists from your native land?
EF) Because I didn't listen that much to Dutch radio. They didn't play the things I like, so most of the time I tuned to Radio Luxembourg and the American forces central Europe radio (Afcent radio). They played much more progressive music, like The Doors and that's what I wanted to hear. Although there were some great progressive Dutch bands like Focus and Brainbox, they didn't play their music on those stations.
DM) But I thought there was a very negative perception in Europe about American culture infiltrating and dominating European?
EF) I don't think the American culture will ever dominate the European culture. There will be an exchange of influences, of course, but this will work both ways. Americans who've lived in Europe will take their influences back home. There will always be people who have a negative perception towards the exchange of culture, but I think they're only afraid to grow and learn.
Anyway, the most important thing about music is that it TOUCHES people and I don't care who made it or where it comes from.
DM) How have you been most influenced by the American culture?
EF) By the music and the way the US is presented in the media. Can't say I'm always happy with the media part. I would like to visit the US and form an opinion of my own!
DM) A lot of Americans feel that there is no such thing as an American culture. In your opinion, what makes up the American culture?
EF) I think that wherever there are people, there is culture. Funny, suddenly the Prime Directive comes to my mind. You're not, by the way, Trekkies, are you ?
DM) No... not at all...
EF) Well, thank you for the interview
DM) No problem.