Insejn Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 ASIA 2001 - INTERVIEW February 4, 2013 Hello Gilbert, I would say ... finally an interview with you! It is an honor to meet Asia 2001. It was very difficult to find you. Luckily the internet exists! Thank you so much for accepting my invitation. You seem to be a quite discreet person but you are such an icon of the goa trance movement and yet we have so little information about yourself. Hence my little questionnaire. 01/31-QUESTION: Firstly, to better know you, can you introduce yourself? ANSWER: I'm Thévenet Gilbert, born 17/05/69. I'm a producer of electronic music and have a passion for alpine skiing. 02/31-QUESTION: Why did you choose to call yourself Asia 2001? What is this project? ANSWER: I cannot explain, the number 2001 has always intrigued me. Perhaps I had a feeling that in 2001, something would happen. And Afghanistan is in Asia Minor, isn't it? 03/31-QUESTION: Have you received a musical education before becoming Asia 2001? ANSWER: No, I haven't received any musical training. 04/31-QUESTION: When and how did you discover goa trance? And why did you get oriented in this style? ANSWER: It really began in 1996. Why this style? I don't really know. I was probably attracted by the synth and sounds that were very special. 05/31-QUESTION: Can you give me your own definition of goa trance? ANSWER: For me it's a mental journey. 06/31-QUESTION: What are your musical influences? ANSWER: In the 80s, I listened to new wave. I also grew up with disco and jazz. In my family we love music. 07/31-QUESTION: With what materials you compose your tracks? (Have you got any pictures of your studio?) ANSWER: virus, nord rack 2 x, microkorg xl, korg monotron, kaossilateur 2, s 201, m audio venom, jv 1080 roland, juno di, sh 01 piloter par cubase 5, mixer sur mackie onyx. Here a photo: http://www.hostingpi...14Photo0007.jpg 08/31-QUESTION: Why did you use so many aliases like Martin Cooper, Loren-X, Koma Club, Guido Sanquinetti, Red Aum, Amazone, Anne-F, Goa Experience, Guarana Cupana, Hypnose, Memory Fuel, N.A.T., Narcotik Affluence, Oriental Dream, Perpetual Message, Phushmataha, Platinium, Progressive Transe, S.P.E., Subliminal, Trance System Division, Tribute, Ursula Azym, Z-Plane, Zig Zag? Are all these projects belonging to you? ANSWER: It is true that I used many aliases (too many!). At the time, I created these projects with my wife and we said we would keep the best. Some of these aren’t mine, like: Amazone, Zig Zag, Z- Plane, Memory Fuel, Ursula Azym, Trance System Division, S.P.E., Perpetual Message and Narcotic Influence. 09/31-QUESTION: Most of your albums are signed as Martin Cooper. What is this name? ANSWER: As a matter of fact, in the 90s, I often went to play in Israel and my manager / producer over there, told me that it would be better not to sign under my real name my albums for the control at the airport. It would have been better nobody knew who really was Asia 2001 because the authorities wanted to eradicate this movement, but now I think it's different. 10/31-QUESTION: What was your first real project? If I take into account the year, I'll bet on Loren-X (1992). ANSWER: Yes that's right! 11/31-QUESTION: Can you tell me if the CD "Live" appeared in 1996 is a real live set played in a party or if it is just the name of an album? ANSWER: Yes it is a true liveset that I recorded in the south of France in 96. 12/31-QUESTION: At the time, there was no internet. How did you manage to be known around? ANSWER: I got famous thanks to my released and probably for the unique sound/style of my music. 13/31-QUESTION: What was the goal of your Trans'pact Productions label? ANSWER: It was mainly to make tracks under different aliases. 14/31-QUESTION: Your album "Abduction" mark, I believe, a turning point in the ASIA 2001 Universe. It sounds more trance that goa. Why is it so different from the other albums? ANSWER: I know I made a mistake on that album and Abduction was not a great success. I would say that 2001 was in fact a bad year for me ... 15/31-QUESTION: After 2001 (Loren-X remix), 1666 (Loren-X remix), Zeta Reticulli (Jarod mix) are all three remixes. Do you have the original versions? ANSWER: I'm not sure, they are so old. 16/31-QUESTION: Is Orion by Red Aum is the first version of Orion 2? Can you also tell me if Vertigo by Koma Club is the first version of Vertigo (Paradiso mix)? ANSWER: Yes, I seem to remember that it was Goa Gill who had asked me at the time to do these remixes. I brought them to Goa especially for him. 17/31-QUESTION: I noticed that the world of "Stargate" was often represented in your releases (Stargate studio, artwork, samples, and music titles). You seem to be fascinated by distant civilizations and ancient Egypt isn't it? ANSWER: Yes, the film was released in 1995 and I loved it. I've always been fascinated by distant civilizations and ancient Egypt with its mysteries. Pyramids especially intrigue me, and I'm sure they weren’t built by Man. 18/31-QUESTION: What your own favorite track? (That would summarize well the Asia 2001 universe) ANSWER: I think I can say that is Reticuli Zeta. 19/31-QUESTION: Among your albums, what is your favorite artwork? ANSWER: Without hesitation "Dreamland". The artwork is beautiful with all these colors. It represents very well the spirit of Asia 2001. 20/31-QUESTION: Regarding your musical tastes, who are your 5 favorite Goa artists? ANSWER: Juno Reactor, KoxBox, Astral Projection, Doof and Total Eclipse. 21/31-QUESTION: Do you continue to follow the goa scene? ANSWER: Unfortunately not. I'm a little tired of goa trance. I spend my time listening to classic trance and house. 22/31-QUESTION: Can you tell me about this new wave of "new school" artists? Are there any artists that caught your attention? ANSWER: I don't know because I'm not following this movement. 23/31-QUESTION: It's been eight years of absence, since your last production: "Amnesia" (2005). What are you doing? Do you have a new album coming soon? What are your future projects? ANSWER: I lately finalized fifty tracks of goa trance! I have 4 albums ready! 2 for Avatar Records and the 2 other will be available on my net label www.itracks.biz. This is an independent E-label, I founded it with Jeremy Soler. 24/31-QUESTION: Since 1998 the label "Avatar Records" release all your albums. Why the loyalty? ANSWER: Avi, the Avatar boss is a very good friend who helped me at the time. 25/31-QUESTION: I noticed that you never ventured into remixing other artist’s tracks. I also feel that Asia 2001 is quite a closed project (in the sense reserved). You seem to spend time only in your own musical universe. Is that so? Would you like to work with any another artist? ANSWER: Yes, maybe. But I'm pretty lonely and reserved, so I like working alone. 26/31-QUESTION: Do you have an anecdote to share with us? ANSWER: Once, when I went to Israel, the aircraft passed through a big storm with extreme turbulences. I hate, since that day, to fly. 27/31-QUESTION: Do you have a memory box in which you put objects collected during your live sets? ANSWER: Not really. 28/31-QUESTION: Have you kept in touch with Florian Sériot (Toirès) or Stephan Gallay (Tajmahal)? ANSWER: No. 29/31-QUESTION: I guess you have played live all around the world, what was your best? And how about the worst? ANSWER: In ‘99, I played in a big festival in Canada with 40,000 people. It last for over 3 days and open air, the worst? There have been a lot ... 30/31-QUESTION: Many collectors, which I am one, are asking this question: do you have any old unreleased track? ANSWER: I don't have any unreleased from 90s. I released them all. But there are new tracks arriving! 31/31-QUESTION: Do you have a message for your fans? ANSWER: Protect yourself from the toxic world in which we live. Gilbert, thank you for your kindness and for spending time to answer to all my questions. A big thank you also to your sister, who has allowed me to meet you. I wish you good luck for the future. Take Care Interview by: Infected Goa/Somnesia, revised by Draeke 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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