Today, Noise Journal is pleased to present a brief Q&A with Marty Willson-Piper of Noctorum and also famed for his decades-long public love affair with music through his involvement in The Church, All About Eve, Anekdoten and MOAT. On the occasion of the releases of Noctorum‘s new album The Afterlife LP via Schoolkids Records, we thought you might like to know more about this intriguing and innovative artist.
What was the first LP/tape/CD you remember owning? – “Alternate Title” by The Monkees was my first single.
My first albums – “Universal Soldier” by Donovan (Marble Arch) and “Happy Together” by The Turtles (White Whale).
Do you prefer vinyl or CD/digital releases? – Yes, both, in that order.
If you had to share a brief list of your favorite bands with us, who might you include? – I have 50,000 albums.(Editor’s note: Apart from being a talented musician, Marty also runs the In Deep Music Archive – for more information on that, visit https://martywillson-piper.com/idma/)
Where are you living at the moment and why did you choose this as your home? – I don’t live anywhere.
Where do you like to go frequently? – UP!
What’s your idea of a perfect Sunday? – Same as every other day.
What do you think is the most important thing to take with you for your travels? – Wings!
Describe your ideal vacation. – Holidays are not the point.
What do you like to do when you visit a new place you’ve never been before? – Walk.
What initially inspired you to start playing music? – Music.
What was your most memorable day job? – Memorable and day job?
What advice should you have taken but didn’t? – Don’t listen.
What should everyone shut up about? – Everything at a concert.
Who would you have over for dinner (you can choose from among the living or the dead)? – Dead dinner guests smell bad, alive dinner guests are too formal, menus should be chef’s improvisations after a short individual conversation.
Do you have a favorite hero? – No heroes in any form.
What was the best live performance you’ve ever seen? – Still waiting.
Noctorum, Dare Mason and Marty Willson-Piper, photo by Olivia Willson-Piper
What magazines or music resources can you recommend people check out? – Don’t choose, muse.
Name something you consider a mind-altering work of art. – Psychic spanner.
What does the next 6 months look like for you? – 26 weeks. Plus these tour dates in March.
Mar 14 LONDON, UK – The Betsey Trotwood (downstairs) SOLD OUT
Mar 15 LONDON, UK – The Betsey Trotwood (upstairs) SOLD OUT
Mar 17 BIRMINGHAM, UK – Kitchen Garden Cafe
Mar 18 BRISTOL, UK – Salt Cafe
Mar 19 MANCHESTER, UK – Gullivers Lounge SOLD OUT
Mar 20 LEEK, UK – Foxlowe Arts Centre
Mar 21 EDINBURGH, Scotland – The Voodoo Rooms
Mar 22 LIVERPOOL, UK – Smithdown Social Club
Marty and Olivia Willson-Piper, photo-by Charly Wulff
Hey people I'm Mike D from Athens GR (43). I'm a sound engineer, radio producer, and certainly a music "freak." I couldn't be anything else, you see: I grew up in a musical home (my father was a composer), and wanted to be a rock-star but wasn't patient enough to study music. Instead, I studied the technical stuff and went really "nuts" when I started writing articles about the bands and artists I love. It all started back in 2002 in a printed magazine (Sound Maker - RIP) and I still do it because I really like sharing my libraries, discotheque, info, connections, knowledge, and all. I'm involved in all "waves" music (new wave/darkwave/post-punk/shoegaze), punk, industrial, EBM, alternative rock, indie, electronic, avant-garde/ experimental/ freestyle...but on the other hand I can easily throw a classical CD in the player, or a jazzy tune, or...ok you get it: Music! I'd like to read your comments on my writing because you know how it goes, and you all know the glorious song by Placebo,"Without You I'm Nothing"...Thanx and enjoy Freedom and Music, Loud!
