Kinski
5 Questions to Chris Martin

1. Hi Chris, where are you right now and how are you doing?
Right now I'm at home in Seattle listening to a Francoise Hardy record. I'm doing well and am getting ready to have breakfast and then play some guitar.

2. How much do theories like those of LaMonte Young influence the way you compose your music? How do you start writing a song?
LaMonte Young is an influence. The first time I went to his "dream house" in New York I was really blown away. The hypnotic state that a lot of his pieces put you in is really appealing to me. When the band first started, we had more of an outspoken direction we wanted to go which involved drone and repetition but now we're sort of going wherever playing takes us. Normally a song starts from a riff or pieces that I bring into rehearsal. Then the band jams on those ideas and we structure something from there.

3. "Semaphore" from you new record, "Airs Above Your Station" is really a great song. It builds and builds. Do you play it differently live? Kind of free form?
Actually we play "Semaphore" pretty much the same as it is on record. "Rhode Island Freakout" (the other more "pop" song on the record) we play quite a bit differently now. "Semaphore" moves so quickly, and has so many distinct pieces, that it's hard to do much free form within it.

4. Your favourite guitar, effect box and band?
My favourite guitar is a Fender '73 Thinline with 2 humbuckers. Effect box would either be the Digitech Multiplay or the Electro Harmonix Multi Synth.
Favourite band is a tough one. I can say that I love Bardo Pond, Teenage Fanclub, Ash Ra Temple, Cluster, The Clean and a million others.

5. Any chance seeing you in Europe and Italy next months?
We're working on it. I have a feeling it won't be until the fall or winter.