Interview : Jan St Werner (Mouse on Mars, Microstoria, Lithops)

Jan St Werner is a german musician who since the early nineties has been a member of Mouse on Mars (with  Andi Toma), Microstoria (with Markus Popp from Oval), Von Südenfed (with Andi Toma and Mark E. Smith from The Fall) and Lithops. Under is own name he recently released Blaze Colour Burn, available now on ThrillJockey.

1. Your first musical memories?
Making sound myself? Playing the church organ. My grandfather was the church organist of the village.

2. The best record you received as a present? / The worse one?
Best: Bernard Parmegiani - De Natura Sonorum
Worst: Sting - Dream of the Blue Turtles

3. The first record that you lost?
Blondie - Heart of Glass

4. The name of your imaginary band?
The Expulsions

5. In which environment do you like to record music?
Everywhere where I can sit comfortably

6. What will music sound like in 50 years / 5000 years?
That depends on technology, political systems and the physical and mental condition we'll be in. We'll mostly want the same from music: challenge, adventure, emotion, life style, distraction

7. Who changed your life?
No one fortunately

8. ‘Spizzacorale’ was recorded in 2009 during an eight hour live performance in a public square in Umbria, Italy. After spending an intense and significant time there, how would you describe the genius loci of the place?
The striking thing was no one really bothered. It was as exciting to the people who listened as it was indifferent to them. Italians are mostly very relaxed people and they can deal with chaos perfectly well

9. The perfect record to listen to when having a drink?
Edit the Dragon by Colourbox

10. Your dream collaboration?
Ghedalia Tazartes

11. The record that freaks you out?
On the Way to the Peak of Normal by Holger Czukay

12. You described your six pieces on Blaze Colour Burn as a reflection on location, structure, time, aesthetic, and the resulting stories that overlap and interact with each other. What is the part of chaos and randomness in the construction of their sound?
Every composer deals with chaos and randomness. I'm just trying to make it explicit in a casual way

13. The film that tickles your creativity?
Der Golem by Paul Wegener

14. The little-known track that everyone should have heard of?
Sud Afternoon by Franco Battiato

15. An album you wouldn’t want to be?
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick

16. The cover version you would love to do?
Rhythm Modulator by Raymond Scott

17. “Imagine waking up tomorrow morning and all music has disappeared. All musical instruments and all forms of recorded music, gone. A world without music”. What will you do ?
Finally really listen to the birds I guess

19. Have you ever had auditory hallucinations?
Are you joking?

20. How would you like to die?
Without snoring