Klaus Schulze

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 Klaus Schulze is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in electronic composition, and has been since the early 1970s. Besides releasing incredible solo albums packed with strong emotions and otherworldly atmospheres, Mr. Schulze has also been an early member in both Ash Ra Tempel and Tangerine Dream. Despite his success, he is still a nice and modest man. I was able to get in touch with Mr. Schulze for a quick interview -++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

First of all, I’d like to thank you for agreeing to this
interview. I’m a great admirer of your work, and it’s an honor to be
interviewing you, Mr. Schulze. We’ve already got a lengthy biography of you on
ProgArchives, but could you briefly explain how you came to start making
electronic music?
Because I was young and was too lazy for a
"normal" job :-)  But seriously: this is nothing special. Many
teenagers try to make music, not just in the sixties, but at all times. It
could be... er... maybe it has something to do with girls? 

It's just that most of them (not the girls, I mean the musicians) do not
continue, but soon start to work in a "regular" job outside music.
The chance to live from doing music, to pay your rent and feed a wife and kids,
this chance is very small. Doing music professionally is a full-time job, a
real profession, for many it's a life's calling. You cannot do it just on
weekends, at your leisure times, for fun. ... Yes, yes, of course you can. Many
do. But don't ask to be taken fully serious. 

Which
artists (musical or non-musical) have had the largest impact on your decision
to start making music and your particular style?
Can you imagine that someone has the idea to
create something of his own? 

But of course we all listened to the pop and rock music of the sixties, when
the sixties happened. And probably we all are more or less influenced by it,
but we are also influenced by everything else that had surrounded us, and what
we have seen, or read, or heard.  

If you had to describe your music to someone who
has never heard it before, what would your description be?

I don't describe my music. I make my music and I
offer it to a public to listen. Some people don't like it, some do like it.

Do you have any musical background before your
work in Ash Ra Tempel and Tangerine Dream?

My older brother played in a jazz group. And I learned a bit of playing guitar
and drums, as many young boys did during the early and mid sixties, all over in
the civilized world. Then I had a trio (guitar, organ, and me on drums) that
was playing wild, loud & daring hippie music in Berlin clubs. 

What are your thoughts on the music you had made
with Ash Ra Tempel and Tangerine Dream?
Ash Ra Tempel - s/t

Tangerine Dream - "Electronic Meditation"

I have good memories of this time.

Your music is very beautiful, serene, highly
atmospheric, and each composition tends to flow through a multitude of
emotions. Are there any particular atmospheres or feelings that you try to
convey to your listeners through the music you write?

No.

What is the process by which you make your
music?

I sit in the studio and play my music. I record it, listen & think about it
and work on it, play it again, listen & think about it and work on it, etc. 
Until I believe it's ready. 

What is your favorite equipment to use when
making your music?

Always the tools that I need and that are the
best available.

Would
you mind giving your personal thoughts on these albums?

I don't review my albums. 

Of course I like them all. If I would not like them, I would not have done and
released them.

Often they ask me: WHICH of your album is the best? And I must answer: I cannot
and I will not give high marks or low marks. Every album was right in its time.
They are like girlsfriends I once had, I also would not assign marks to any of
these nice ladies. 

Could you give a few details about what the huge
“La Vie Electronique” collection is that has been being released over the past
few years?

The details about the already released LVEs are
to find in the discography section of my official website. Even more details
are in Mueller's THE WORKS, which is a huge discography with ALL details of my
recordings, concerts (etc.) and output. Moreover, the booklets in these 3-CD
sets include detailed background stories about many of the tracks.  

Since you’ve previously included elements like
vocals and acoustic percussion into your work, are there any other musical
elements that you’ve thought of experimenting with in your music (traditional
Asian instruments, field recordings, etc.)?

Already 37 years ago in BLACKDANCE I used an
operatic singer. Later I worked with the great singer Arthur Brown, even later
the lovely Lisa Gerrard joined me, and in between there were some others. 

Acoustic percussion I also used very often, in concerts as well as in my studio
recordings. Sometimes I beat the drums myself, sometimes others. The best was
of course Michael Shrieve. But also old pal Harald Grosskopf played his drumset
very often with me, at least during the seventies. 

"Field recordings"?  If I read that, I have to think of a (now)
famous name in music who simply takes such "field recordings" from
1959 (blues & gospel), put HIS name on it and gets rich and famous with it.
No, I don't like that and I don't do that. Of course I also use sometimes (but
short!) samples, but I can say on principle that I create my own work. It's
more joy. 

Is there any important recent news in the world
of Klaus Schulze?

If there was or will be something important happen, we will put it into the
official KS website, and also "The KS Circle" will write about it. 

Thank you so much for agreeing to do this interview with me – I
and the rest of ProgArchives greatly appreciate it. Is there anything else
that you’d like to say to your fans?
Thank you, for asking questions so easily to
answer :-)

Klaus Schulze's PA page is here
Klaus Schulze's official website is here 

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