Interview with surasshu

block = Chancha (interviewer)
regular text = surasshu

For a starter, how about a bit of a self-intro? :)

My name is Steven Velema, AKA Surasshu (AKA \slash, slashman, Surahadol...). Here is my mug shot :) I'm 20 years old, living in the Netherlands. My father is a journalist and my mother is a teacher.

You have just been putting out few mixes but they are already at quite some quality. So, have you been working on audio as a profession?

Not really, but thanks for the compliment! I've been going to music school for nearly 2 years now. Before that I was active in the demoscene as a tracker (a composer, basically), and altogether I've been making music on the computer for almost 6 years. I also had about 6 years of piano lessons, though I can't claim to be much good at that, barely enough to get by.

Here is your chance to brag ;) What are your audio equipments? How much did they cost you?

I am the proud owner of a Roland XP-30 worth uhm, around 1000 euros? I'm not sure anymore. Aside from that, which is what I use to play in everything in my songs, I have Skytec speakers (not sure what they cost either), and a sound lab mixer. I also have a SM58 microphone in case I feel like singing. ;)

If I had to guess, my total "studio" costs are like 2000 euros. How's that for zero-budget!

How about programs? What do you prefer to use, and why?

I use Logic because it's the best sequencer ever! Well actually I'm just really used to it, so I don't feel like switching and stuff. I use loads of software plugins and sample libraries, too many to name really.

Obviously you are into Hello! Project, care to share why you like them? What got you into H!P? Who is your favourite member?

When I was a little kid I was always interested in Asian culture. When I got online, I learned about anime and started watching it. Pretty soon I got into Jpop, however I'd not heard of H!P yet. At the same time, I started, well, becoming "interested" in Japanese idols xD. Anyway, I visited a site with photos of Japanese idols on regularly, and came across one that especially caught my eye, because she dressed in full winter coats and none of that near-nudity that most other photos had. I've always had a thing for good looking girls in warm winter coats, so I was drawn to her. It turned out to be Aya Matsuura. :D

After that, a friend pointed me to Minimoni, which I fell in love with. Of course, I quickly ended up on #morning~musume, where I learned about all the different groups and stuff.

My favourites are Nono, Sayu, Yuuko, and obviously Ayaya. Recently my favourite group has been Berryz, though I'm pretty excited about W as well. I'm really into the new stuff. :)

Is there a particular H!P song that you like the most, and why? Also, do you have a favourite H!P arranger?

I'm a huge fan of AKIRA, who arranged amongst others "Shall We Love" (original version) and Berryz' debut single, "Anata Nashide wa Sekite Yukenai" (which is currently my favourite H!P song, so there's that question answered as well).

Other than that, I quite like Yuichi Takahashi, who did "Yes! Pocky Girls" and Aya's c/w of The Last Night, "DO YOU LOVE ME?". His sound is what people associate primarily with "H!P" (along with Daichi).

Do you find it hard to work with H!P songs?

Well, kagobrinco once said (hoho, aren't I well-connected) that to remix a favourite song is harder than to remix a song you don't really care about. I find that to be pretty much true in my case, but at the same time, the will to remix a song I don't like in the first place is not really there. Therefore, I always try to pick songs that I like, even if that means I might like the original better than my remix. I also try to look at it as a different version, rather than a better version. But of course, with music it's impossible NOT to think in those terms.

It seems weird enough already for a "Gaijin" to be interested in J-pop at all, and on top of that you went even further to contribute back on it as well. What's the motivation?

Well, first of all it's simply good practice to remix songs. I don't get the chance to work with vocals a lot, so this remixing is a chance for me to get experience I would otherwise not gain until I'm working professionally, when you're already expected to know everything.

Other than that though, I've been pestered into it (no joke!). But I enjoy doing it, and some of the results are so good that I personally really enjoy listening to them!

Another thing that I take into consideration is the fact that I may want to work in Japan as a producer (it's unlikely that I will be able to, but who knows?), and then this is really good experience and something you can show prospective employers that might impress them more than say, a instrumental track.

Your works have been covering a wide variety of genres so far, but is there one particular style that you would like to do the most?

Not really, hehe. I like to change the genre all the time, and I haven't really found my own genre, although everything has a bit of me in it ("me" being games music, pop, and electro :P)

Aside from H!P, are you looking forward to making mixes for other J-pop songs?

Well actually, I've been thinking for months about remixing Ai Otsuka's "Sakuranbo", which I think would lend itself VERY well to a Minimoni-style production, and I think it would really make the song a lot better. I'm a bit intimidated by that prospect though, since the minimoni production style is very unique and would be hard for me to imitate, I think. So it might never happen.

Thanks much for your time :) Now the last question, how do you feel about the site (ASTROBOX)?

It rocks! I always link to your site, so I'm glad it exists. I only have so much server space... And I like the design as well.

end, 2004-04-14

Editor's remark

This is the first time I attempt to deal with site content in a rather serious manner, I believe this style of interviewer Q&A is more desirable than anything else, so I hope you all enjoy this read (I think I have done a good job anyway heh). Much much thanks for surasshu, not just for this interview, but also all other mixes and supports he's contributed to our site ^^