Pete Wareham Interview
Tell us about Melt Yourself Down. What inspired you to put it together?
“I was inspired to do it by listening to the music of Ali Hassan Kuban which made me want to create something with the huge energy and joy of his and other Nubian musicians’ performances.”
How do you go about composing a piece of music?
“The starting point varies from piece to piece but the main thing I’ve been doing is trying to separate my subconscious and conscious processes by capturing long improvisations and then filleting them at a later stage. That way my conscious mind isn’t getting in the way when I’m improvising and opening myself up emotionally and my emotional mind isn’t getting in the way later when I’m trying to analyse and construct something from the results of the improvisation.”
What music are you listening to at the moment?
“I guess like many people I’m still digesting the new Kendrick Lamar album, but apart from that I’m listening to Anderson .Paak, Oumou Sangare, Betty Davis, Spoek Mathambo, Terakaft, Wiley, Toru Takemitsu, Christine and the Queens, Gorillaz and Talking Heads.”
Do you have any future plans, musically?
“Always! We are busily writing, rehearsing and recording some new music with Melt Yourself Down, I am playing with the amazing Nadine Shah as well and both of these projects are being produced by Ben Hillier who is massively inspiring. I also have a very new trio which I’m excited about.”
Melt Yourself Down are supporting the Hot 8 Brass Band on the opening night of the 2017 Brighton Festival on Saturday 6th May at the Brighton Dome Concert Hall.
