Songwriting is a mysterious art. When I sit down to write a song, the end result should be mysterious and have this dark quality.
There are Depeche Mode parties around the world where people listen to our music all night long. The more remixes we can give them, the more interesting those nights have got to be.
Kids today don’t know that much about vinyl.
Music is really all about experimentation and lots of trial and error. It’s just mind-numbingly boring until you hit on something that works well.
As part of Depeche Mode, I don’t think it’s right for me to be using my own songs for a solo project. I’m not a very prolific songwriter, so I keep those for Depeche Mode.
I find it odd seeing a DJ playing to huge audiences. I know that people have been doing it for a while, but the fact that it’s been embraced so much in America now and it’s become like this new, big thing, I find it slightly odd.
When I write a song, I always start on acoustic guitar, because that’s a good test of a song, when it’s really open and bare. You can often mislead yourself if you start with computers and samples and programming because you can disguise a bad song.
Once I’d chosen the songs, it seemed like it would just be a question then of recording them. But it’s a case of trying to re-invent the songs; taking them in different directions.
When I write love songs, people think they’re really soppy – but I see love as a consolation for the boredom of life.
I studied German at school. I lived in Berlin for two years and had a German girlfriend for five years, so I don’t find speaking German particularly difficult. Singing was slightly more difficult.
I will be the focal point for however long I decide to play. Half of me likes that idea and half of me doesn’t, but once the adrenaline kicks in, I’ll probably really enjoy it.
I do a cover of a Velvet Underground song, and they were one of the most important bands, for me.
I’m not particularly prolific.
When people meet me I think they’re surprised to find out I’m not always angst-ridden.
The only things we have to worry about are really stupid things...
People are People still gets played to death on ’80s stations. It was our first big break in America. It’s not exactly my favorite song.
Record covers helped me discover a lot of music that I wasn’t aware of.
The majority of the time I’m at home with my family, I play football three times a week.
I like their darkness but I also like the pop-side of the Velvet Underground.
I don’t think I ever worry too much about what our target audience is, what we should be releasing. I just write naturally and organically and try to write from the heart.
And I thank you for bringing me here For showing me home For singing these tears Finally I’ve found that I belong here.