Ask The Producer: Surgeon (Electronic Beats TV)

In this episode of Telekom Electronic Beats TV’s Ask The Producer series, we put your questions to Surgeon. As one of the originators of the Birmingham sound, he is one of the most influential producers in Techno music. Initially releasing on Regis’s legendary Downwards imprint, he went on to release multiple albums on Tresor, multiple 12”s on his own Dynamic Tension and Counterbalance labels and collaborated with Regis as “British Murder Boys”, during a career which has spanned more than 25 years. His interest in many different forms of sonic alchemy, including his widespread use of his Eurorack modular setup, makes him the perfect candidate for Ask The Producer.

#surgeon #electronicbeats #asktheproducer #techno #musicproduction

Note: This video was filmed by Surgeon alone in his studio with a webcam, so please excuse the picture and sound quality.

00:00 Intro
00:10 How many channels in a typical track?
00:45 Deciding when a track is finished
02:20 Creative deadlock
03:00 Approach to arranging
04:35 Before you got into modular, which hardware/software is your sound most attributed to?
05:40 Touring with hardware, in particular airports
06:50 How do you and Lady Starlight perform a harmonious live set without interrupting each other?
08:15 Keeping things structured while live jamming
08:50 Hidden meanings or messages in your work
09:45 What keeps you motivated and interested in your own work?
10:45 Paying attention to reaction of others
11:40 Changing society through your work
12:25 Expanding one's creative mind and abilities
14:05 Do you see your own personality in your work and do you think others see it?
14:50 Does too much information make creativity fail?
15:50 Earliest memories involving your own creative expression?
17:05 Evaluating your own and others' creative work
18:00 What made you choose your specific live setup?
18:55 Retaining a "live feel" in sequenced/composed music
19:30 Early musical inspirations and who do you like now?
20:35 Multitracking vs just recording synth/drum outputs
21:35 Limiting yourself in terms of gear when producing
22:25 How many elements to make a small but effective live setup?
23:05 Longest ever worked on a track
24:40 Mixing in untreated rooms
25:15 Favourite modular VCO and filter
25:50 Did you always trust your sense of music production or did it take a while?
26:15 Current live setup
26:55 Keeping artistic practice and work going through the years
27:45 Do you listen to non-electronic genres?
28:45 Best drone
29:50 Live setup: how much improvised, how much prepared?
31:30 Do you miss simplicity?
32:10 Sound of the colour blue
32:30 If you had to make an album with one piece of gear, what would it be?
32:50 Keeping passion after so many years in techno industry
33:35 Does techno suck right now?
34:05 Looper in live set
35:35 Favourite remix you made
36:40 Relating to newest music trends
37:30 Breaking through stagnant and complacent times in techno scene
38:05 Most important thing when starting a label
38:20 Favourite DJ
40:00 Summary
41:59 Question provided by

[dashbad]

This is a great interview. I've noticed that Surgeon always speaks in a very slow and measured way in interviews, ironic given the belting and chaotic music he often puts out, but I appreciate the fact that he cares about what he says. This is epitomised here with his very thoughtful and prepared summary. I can imagine that he may think doing these kinds of Q&A's is pointless, or approaching making music from all the wrong angles, but I think he has toed a line here exceptionally well - Yes, now I know what his favourite modular VCO is, but Its clearly not going to make me sound like Surgeon, and he did a great job of making the point that the opposite is what we should be striving for - taking inspiration from other things, finding your sound, limiting your gear as a way of spurring spontaneity and developing new sounds/ideas. Relevant whether you make Techno, Classical, Rock, EDM or Gabba imo. Overall I find this a lot more inspirational than chasing gear or techniques, it shows there's no substitute for talent, creativity and most of all practice/experimentation. Time to get off Youtube and crank out a track.

[project-remp]

I didn't take my eyes off the screen for even a moment. His voice and his way of explaining things are unique

[AnalogKitchen]

Spoke to this man briefly a few years ago at an outdoor Rotterdam Rave festival about his use of the Octatrack. The music industry lacks people like this gentleman. Down to earth and spot on the bollocks. Love what you do brother. Keep on trucking Anthony

[OriginalMindTrick]

I see he is going for that mid-70s serial killer look.

[elliot]

Surgeon is a true master of his craft. Over the years he has thought about every aspect of what goes into his music and got to the point that he knows exactly what he is doing and trying to achieve without having to think too hard about it, which allows true expression of his own creativity. He is also very dignified and is on a continuous path of learning, even at the top level. Everyone should respect this man.

[MrPakiOdyssey]

One of the greatest producers/djs/forward thinkers of all times in techno.The way he approaches music makes him differ from everyone else, it's like surgeons all over the world cut people open in one way and Anthony is the only one who cuts them open in another way 😜 37:21 is the best part of the interview 😎 Thank you Mr.Child for the experiences you 've given us through your music, respect from Greece

[mateete]

Insanely useful. This guy is so down to earth, makes it look so simple, no multi-channel, no acoustic treatment, no fancy shit. Just 2 synth and a beat.

[girlinagale]

This is so exceptional, he records a stereo mix (I always thought that was why I'm not as good as the others), so focussed, and even at Surgeon level still reducing down a live set to hand luggage (my frustration for a few months is that my set-up has become bloated and I could not easily take it out live -time to change that).
Excellent interview.

[MikeRenouf]

I watched this interview when it first got posted. Two years on Tony's insight and pointers have shaped the way I make music so much since then.

[FatalFriction]

I'm 14 minutes in and honestly this has got to to be the best Surgeon interview I have ever seen! Thanks so much for this content, its getting me through the lock down!

[attiliohollige]

This guy is a hero. I fricking love him.

[arhnstaylor]

True artist. His humble summary is the very proof. Despite being an atheist I must say: God bless Surgeon!

[RyanGogginsTv]

I think there will be some tracks released with some Surgeon speech coming from this video

[spinne-mann]

Surgeon does an awesome job talking about his philosophical approach to making music. I feel the same way about recording stereo live sets vs multi tracking. it's hard to capture a live set in a multi track and capture the feeling as it was.

[papanovembermusic]

Anthony's House of God nights were my techno education in Birmingham, immense atmosphere in the massive old Methodist hall.

[mju]

00:10 How many channels in a typical track?
00:45 Deciding when a track is finished
02:20 Creative deadlock
03:00 Approach to arranging
04:35 Before you got into modular, which hardware/software is your sound most attributed to?
05:40 Touring with hardware, in particular airports
06:50 How do you and Lady Starlight perform a harmonious live set without interrupting each other?
08:15 Keeping things structured while live jamming
08:50 Hidden meanings or messages in your work
09:45 What keeps you motivated and interested in your own work?
10:45 Paying attention to reaction of others
11:40 Changing society through your work
12:25 Expanding one's creative mind and abilities
14:05 Do you see your own personality in your work and do you think others see it?
14:50 Does too much information make creativity fail?
15:50 Earliest memories involving your own creative expression?
17:05 Evaluating your own and others' creative work
18:00 What made you choose your specific live setup?
18:55 Retaining a "live feel" in sequenced/composed music
19:30 Early musical inspirations and who do you like now?
20:35 Multitracking vs just recording synth/drum outputs
21:35 Limiting yourself in terms of gear when producing
22:25 How many elements to make a small but effective live setup?
23:05 Longest ever worked on a track
24:40 Mixing in untreated rooms
25:15 Favourite modular VCO and filter
25:50 Did you always trust your sense of music production or did it take a while?
26:15 Current live setup
26:55 Keeping artistic practice and work going through the years
27:45 Do you listen to non-electronic genres?
28:45 Best drone
29:50 Live setup: how much improvised, how much prepared?
31:30 Do you miss simplicity?
32:10 Sound of the colour blue
32:30 If you had to make an album with one piece of gear, what would it be?
32:50 Keeping passion after so many years in techno industry
33:35 Does techno suck right now?
34:05 Looper in live set
35:35 Favourite remix you made
36:40 Relating to newest music trends
37:30 Breaking through stagnant and complacent times in techno scene
38:05 Most important thing when starting a label
38:20 Favourite DJ
40:00 Summary

[christoroppolo]

Every time I hear this man speak about setups and minimalism it’s so refreshing he is a diamond! Peace Christo👽

[ZombieATAT]

I've seen him DJ a few times but particularly remember a really heavy set at the Orbit around 93/94 (possibly with Pete from Hardwax Berlin?).
Too many good records to mention. My personal favourite has to be: Nine Hours In The Future.

[dengueberries]

Surgeon to me is one of the masters. I like how contemplative and calm he is.

[anthonyadeyemi]

I seen him at in LA at Droid Behavior. I was really hoping to hear his remix of "Join in the Chant". I wrote on a small piece of paper, Join in the Chant and showed him it. He smiled, shook his head up and down, and played it next. Monster of a track. Thanks Tony