Tonight (Thursday 18th June) Robert Hood will be in Barcelona (Nitsa) during Sonar to re-launch his M-Plant label and to promote the re-release of the album ‘Minimal Nation’. Fans in the UK and Robert Hood himself were pretty disappointed as he was forced to miss his London show last weekend due to flight problems (the worst he’s experienced in 20 years!) The day before his next flight finds a very spiritual and composed Robert Hood with an inspirational outlook on life. Read the interview

You’ll be in Barcelona to promote your album Minimal Nation, tell us more about the album.
Minimal Nation was released in ’93, we’re re-releasing it with some new material. It’s never been released on CD, so we’re just packing it up as a special treat for the fans. There’s one or two unreleased tracks that were recorded during the studio sessions from Minimal Nation.. to reiterate what minimalism is about.

How would you define the word ‘minimal’?
It means subtraction in order to get to a point, in order to make a point clear. Sometimes we just need to subtract and just focus on what’s essential, in our lives, what we’re trying to say, the statements we’re trying to make, and for me, less sometimes is more. To me minimalism is the strongest expression. Sometimes you can just say one word and it’s so powerful. We as people, we as mankind, we get lost in the clutter of what life is about, and for me it’s just an essential element that makes the world go round. To me, that’s what minimalism is about…. This is the only way to live. It’s not a trendy thing, this is just reality, we get so focused on superficial things that don’t even matter.

Were the beginnings of techno really just about the music, or more about being part of an underground scene?
I believe that it’s just been about art. Just expressing our selves. As a fan in the mid to late 80’s, listening to early techno, before techno was even called techno … you have to remember that the people who started creating techno were 70’s kids, growing up on 70’s music where nobody sounded like each other, everybody had their own identity, everybody was original. You didn’t have Peter Frampton sounding like Marvin Gaye. You didn’t have so many copycat artists as you do now.
We come from a time where art and creativity came before commerce, it came before the commodity. Now days music is just a product. The art takes a back seat to it being just a product on the shelf as a means to make money. Now days I think that art form and creativity is grossly lost. It’s sadly lost.
When they talk about what is underground and what is commercial, if your making money off of an album, off of a record, off of a download, it’s commercial, ok? The only time it’s underground is when you’re giving the music away.
It’s just that Beyoncé is more commercially successful than Robert Hood, that’s just it, you know. She’s making crazy money hand over first, and Robert Hood is just making a living. You know, that’s all there is to it.

Have you ever been temped by commercial success?
It’s something I’ve thought about and considered, but every time I consider it, I’m reminded that God laid the path out for me. This is the path that God chose for me… This is God’s vision that he gave to me to spread throughout the world. It’s a certain unique vision. It’s not like anybody else’s. Richie Hawtin’s vision is not like mine, he has his own unique vision. 50 Cent has his own unique vision and his life style. I just gratefully accept the path that God has laid out for me….No I don’t have four hundred million in the bank but I’m still rich.

Does Detroit still inspire you?
Let me tell you something. Detroit is techno, and always will be techno. It’s the Mecca and it will always be my inspiration. I live in Alabama now, but I’m still Detroit to the heart, and always will be. Until the end of time, Detroit will always be relevant in techno, there’s still creativity coming out of techno, the music that has come out of techno is timeless. And never will fade away, never will fade away… Detroit is a wonderful city, it’s got its good points, it’s got its bad points, but Detroit, there’s no place like it.

Have you taken an interest in artists from other genres that have come out of Detroit.
I’ve always had an admiration for The White Stripes… It’s a good example of minimalism, you just got a drummer and I don’t know if it’s a bassist or guitarist, but it’s so stripped down, it sounds so full, yet it sounds so complete. I’ve always admired J Dilla, rest in peace. He’s probably the greatest hip-hop producer that ever lived.

Do you still use the same machines to make your music?
No I’ve evolved, I’m not still using the same equipment, its gradually evolved over time. The thing with me is, I’ve never been the type to rush out and get the latest gear just because everybody else has got it. I’ve always produced and played music the way I felt, and the way I’ve envisioned it to be. So if a particular piece of technology didn’t fit into it, then that’s it. I’ve never really been a very tech-savvy producer. I’ve always just done things my way.

Do you still use records?
I use records and sometimes I use a sequencer and a drum machine. Something to enhance my DJ set. I like to feel the vinyl, I don’t like to use a mouse to play music.

If you could work with any musicians (living or dead) who would they be?
James Brown, just for the rhythm, it’s just electrifying. Just to have him in the room and vibe with him and feel his essence in the studio is all I need. And Barry White, he’s the maestro, the keyboard stylings is what I love in his arrangements and then there’s Jean-Luc Ponty, he’s a wonderful violinist. I would love to work with him, especially on my more melodic project like Nighttime World.

Do you have any regrets?
Musically? not very many musically. The only real regret I have is that I wish my father were alive, he was a jazz musician and he passed away when I was 6 and I regret that he’s not here, to maybe do a song with me.

What makes you the happiest?
Knowing that beyond this world I have an existence. That when I die my spirit will live on.

www.myspace.com/hoodrob

Interview: LS

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Tags: M-Plant, Minimal Nation, Robert Hood, sonar

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 18th, 2009 at 2:22 pm and is filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.