Steve!
I think a congratulations is in order – its been twenty years since you first
collaborated with Kylie! An immense achievement. How does it feel?!
To
be honest until you mentioned it I hadn’t really thought about it like that and
it certainly hasn’t felt that long but overall I would say it feels amazing.
Did
you recall doing those early remixes+initial steps in the industry…..?
I
was lucky enough to get an apprenticeship/teaboy job at DMC Studios after
creating some mixes for their subscription service. One of the perks was
getting to play with multi-tracks that came into the building which an unknown
remixer would never have had access to otherwise. This turned into me creating
two remixes a month for them and that’s really how I learned the craft I guess.
Luckily a few people saw something in that and gave me a break remixing for
labels including the ones you mentioned. Ultimately without DMC I wouldn’t have
had that springboard to show what I could do and also work around such
brilliant and talented people who I learned from all the time.
Can
you recall what was running through your head when you wrapped-up on the finer
feelings remix?
I
had actually remixed “Step Back In Time” for DMC before that as I was (and
still am) a huge Kylie fan so I remember getting that multitrack and being
blown away by her vocal on it. “Finer Feelings” came from someone at PWL loving
what we were doing with Brothers In Rhythm which up until then had been
predominantly house music so taking on a gorgeous mid tempo was quite a risk
but of course we loved the song and just embellished what was there with a
whole load of piano, strings and choir - been doing that ever since!
Would
you have told me to get my head checked if I had told you that you’d end up
doing that version of Finer Feelings once again twenty years later with an
orchestra and at Abbey Road Studios? It is been a remarkable journey.
It
has and I didn’t really think about the significance when arranging the Abbey
Road version as I had such a clear vision of how I thought it should be. The
song is so fantastic that it was perfect for that cinematic feel and her vocal
on it is extraordinary. Also it was a great excuse to put a “Lawrence Of
Arabia” kind of orchestral arrangement to it which i did as always with the
brilliant Cliff Masterson.
That
Finer Feelings remix – what did you want to do with that remix?
On
the original 1992 remix it was purely about making the rhythm section tougher
and the orchestration more lush - everyone was influenced by Massive Attack
then so that’s where we were headed but probably came off a little more
cinematic - as always.
Why
do you think the collaboration between yourself and her works so well?
I
think we just get each other - she inspires me more than anyone I’ve ever
worked with and there’s always a real thrill when I know I’ve done something
thats going to make her smile.
Do
you think “it just works” because you know the DNA of nearly every Kylie song
she’s released.... On nearly every release you just have your
head around every track every time she puts out a new album?
I
wouldn’t say every song she’s released but I’ve worked on a fair bit of it
especially this year with Anti Tour where we kept adding songs! Also the
reinvention thing is great but sometimes I love just going back to the original
versions and maybe just beefing them up a bit which is what we got to do with
“Spinning Around” in Aphrodite and now that version sits just as comfortably at
The Queens Diamond Jubilee and Proms In The Park.
Gotta ask as its Christmas time...A Kylie Christmas album! In
ten or twenty years?
Wouldn’t
that be perfect? Its amazing there hasn’t been one already. Its all about
timing as always but I’m sure when its the right time then it will happen - how
could it not...
Get tickets for the Christmas last show tomorrow here
You've got actually Christmas show coming up called Santa’s Little Belter. Whats that all
about?
Santa’s
Little Belter is an special Christmas edition of our Little Belter show at
Madame Jo Jo’s - its so much fun and of course a great excuse to do as many
great Xmas songs as possible. This year we’ve added a new arrangement I did for
“O Holy Night” as its one of my favourite Xmas songs and perfect for Elouise to
truly shine on.
You’ve
also taken on the masterpiece by David Foster Grown Up Christmas List! What
inspired you to do that beautiful Christmas classic?
I
love Amy’s voice and her Xmas album is one of my favourites, especially this
song, so I jumped at the chance of including it in the show. I am a huge fan of
David Foster and was lucky enough to work with him on Kylie’s performance with
Rod Stewart on his ITV Christmas show recently.
Santa’s
Little Belter also includes a fantastic performance of The Weather Girls
glorious disco tune Dear Santa (Bring Me A Man). How did you not crack up
recording Terry Ronalds bit as the naughty elf on the track?
Terry
often records guide vocals for everything we do and they are always a scream to
listen to. However there is a serious side as its a great reference for the
actors or singers when they come to delivering it themselves.
Dynamic
is a big thing in a lot of the work you produce (in remixes, shows aswell as
productions and songwriting)…..this year saw a multitude of Steve Anderson
related “stuff”: tours, releases and musicals. Been a busy bee! What keeps you
going?!
I
just love my job and having the opportunity to work with incredibly talented
people. I’m not very good at saying no if I think something is going to be fun
and challenging as I’m always learning which is the best part.
2012
started with the Little Belter show tour in the UK that includes a soundtrack
that again re-imagines classics and “remixes” them for a 2012 audience. And
with Hurly Burly too – you revise contemporary classics & give them the
burlesque treatment. From your
perspective was this part of the point and logic behind the music of both
shows?
Little
Belter was about creating a show around Elouise’s amazing voice. She is a
unique mixture of Bassey/Garland and Streisand so it gives us the chance to
revisit some amazing old songs and rework some new ones to suit the way she
sings. Also just singing the songs isn’t enough so Terry Ronald’s writing and
her performance really brings the show to life and invites people into her
world for a bit plus its a lot of fun alongside some beautiful heartbreaking
moments.....Hurly
Burly is all about the fun! William Baker, Terry Ronald, Ashley Wallen and I
have loved burlesque as an art form for so long so the chance to work with
Polly Rae and her fabulous girlies has been a real labour of love and one that
has taken us on an incredible journey including three West End runs and shows
in Australia and South Africa. I firmly believe the current version of the show
is the strongest ever so I hope it continues to go from strength to strength.
I
actually think it good that I have ways of getting those ideas out there
especially with Hurly Burly, otherwise they might end of up on something they
shouldn’t! Everything is arranging at the end of the day which is just an
extension of remixing. I have an ability to be able to hear a song in my head
completely stripped away from its original music and re worked so its very
lucky I’ve been able to do that as a job.
Hurly
Burly saw you, William, Ashley W and Terry Ronald work with Polly Rae create a
series of burlesque postcards, backed with a modern soundtrack, that celebrated
pop and merged that together with the world of burlesque – a genre usually
housed in the home of cabaret. Was this your intention?
Yes
- it was about old fashioned Benny Hill/Carry On fun - very British and very
classic but with a contemporary twist especially in the music and song choices.
Basically if it made us all laugh out loud it went in. You would be surprised
how easily the ideas came together as its just our sense of humour.
Steve with Elouise
With
Little Belter what did you and the creative team set out to do with regards to
the music in it.
Little
Belter is like a watching an amazing boxer go 20 rounds to win a prize fight.
Elouise taking on the biggest songs in the world and knocking them down one by
one whilst taking the audience on a journey with her. Musically I was adamant
with both shows it had to sound classic so we used a lot of real instruments
especially brass as well as employing the genius talent of Francis Goodhand
when it came to something like transcribing a new arrangement based around a
scratchy mono recording of “As Long As He Needs Me” from the Judy Garland TV
Special to enable us to re orchestrate it as closely as possible.
Although
there is the central story of the singer in Little Belter, could you also make
the argument that Little Belter is in many ways also about the importance of
songs and the underpinning role of the arrangers that have provided the
canvases that allowed the likes of Judy, Dusty, Barbra and Shirley to paint
their gorgeous pictures on?
Absolutely.
There are so many different versions of classic songs and these are all down to
the arrangers who were very often uncredited.
And,
if so, I would say the same of Abbey Road. As for me it really does celebrate
the glorious melodies by Matt and Mike of PWL. Abbey Road brings to the fore
some of that excellent chord progression and as such the album celebrates that....
Yes.
The structure of the PWL songs was so classic and very much in the style of
Motown where it was all about chords and melody and so much less about being
cool and credible. That’s why the songs stand the test of time.
The Hurly Burly Girls
If
there is one moment you could take from Hurly Burly and Little Belter what
would it be? For me, it has to be the Geisha Medley. And in Little Belter it's
a toss up between Smile and No More Tears.
My
favourite thing in Hurly Burly is probably “Bad” as it just works so
brilliantly and the build up alongside Polly’s bed routine is so superb. I also
have a real soft spot for our Marie Antoinette medley as its a bunch of songs
that you would never put together but works so well. From
Little Belter my favourite is “As Long As He Needs Me” as its a real
showstopper and she absolutely nails it every time.
With
Hurly Burly wrapping up its South African stint and Little Belter setting off
to Australia what other shows do you have up your sleeve…
We
have a new show which has just opened in Miami called |Orchid which is a cross
between Moulin Rouge and Cirque Du Soleil with a strong burlesque influence.
Its William Baker, myself, Terry Ronald and Ashley Wallen again but much more
of a Broadway cast mixed with incredible circus performers. The music is very
much still modern pop but its less bawdy than Hurly Burly - it still has its
moments but there is more a narrative throughout. It also has an incredible
star in Lexy Romano who inspired the new version I arranged of “First Time Ever
I Saw Your Face” for it (Hear it here). I'm also thrilled that I am going to be working with Leona Lewis again on her UK
tour. I absolutely adore Leona and its so inspiring having a voice like hers to
arrange for.
With
the Australian stretch of Little Belter how will it differ from the UK version
of the show?
We
are literally just getting started on it now but the idea is to be bigger more
spectacular than ever before - it has to be done especially in Melbourne which
I regard as my second home anyway plus I have so many great memories of Crown
Casino. Its such a fabulous venue so I can’t wait to put the show in there.
Talking
of taking things to new territories – lets talk about Christophe Willem. You
must be delighted to see his English album finally coming out!?(see below for the DSTP review)
Finally
is the word. Christophe and I had the original idea to record the album in both
languages at the same time which was hard work for him but he loves a
challenge. Also most of the songs were originally written in English and then
adapted to French for the Prismophonic album. So yes I am thrilled its coming
out as I am so proud of what we did alongside such an incredible team of
contributors including Freemasons , Biff Stannard, Richard X , Karen Poole,
Sarah deCourcy , Jamie Hartman and Hannah Robinson. Hopefully it will be on
iTunes early next year.
I loved his London show this month and would love to see him do a few more dates
here.....
Me
too - its one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to so I hope he gets to do more.
You
were of course the executive producer for his album….that included so many
brilliant pop talents….would you ever be up for producing Kylies next album?
Thanks
- who knows whats to come but I’m so happy I got to produce The Abbey Road
Sessions and Prismophonic as I think they show both sides of what I do equally
well.
I’d love Christophe to release an acoustic version of the album. In London, he did some wonderful
stripped back version....
Me
too - he did the most beautiful stripped down version of “When You Dance With
Me” with Sarah at that show which you could tell really affected people. I
think it would be great if he did a more acoustic album , maybe some of his
songs and some covers. His voice is incredible and the tone so superb - with
the right arrangements and production I think an album like that could be so
very special.
And..for
Kylie? Musically…If we get a 12th studio album next year…what would you
like it to sound like?
I
would like it to sound like Kylie being in the best place in the world doing
what she loves.
Is it true there’s going to be a
Denise Van Outen project hitting the west end soon?
Yes.
Terry Ronald and Denise have written a fabulous one woman show which is
hopefully opening early next year. As Denise has an incredible voice there are
plenty of opportunities for a few songs and I’ve reworked some classics in a
very different style - can’t say too much at the moment but we couldn’t be more
excited! I love Denise - she’s got the most wicked sense of humour and is a
much bigger talent than people probably know - hopefully this show will be able
to show this. I’d love to say more but I don’t want the Basildon mafia turning
up!
If
I could only pick one I would say Kylie’s Proms In The Park was my highlight.
It was the realisation of so many years of planning and I honestly could not
have been more proud of her.
***
Part two of Interview Coming Soon!
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