Post by Martinstinygirl on Jun 1, 2012 16:16:01 GMT -8
Here's a very interesting read about Dave's collaboration with Soulsavers from The Sun
DAVE GAHAN is enthusing over his new collaboration.
“Working with Soulsavers,he says, “was different to anything I’d experienced writing and working with Depeche Mode.
“Rich and I just clicked — there was a magic, and he gave me a gift that allowed me to open up my soul and write. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved.”
Gahan wasn’t looking to make another album when he was sent music by Rich Machin — one half of the production and songwriting duo Soulsavers.
He’d finished touring with Depeche Mode, was recovering from cancer and ready for a break at home with his family in New York.
Having struck up a friendship with Rich when they supported Depeche Mode on their 2009-10 Tour Of The Universe, they’d talked about working together, and no one was more surprised than them when it turned into an album.
“Rich gave me a gift I couldn’t ignore,” says Dave on the phone from his home in New York. “I hadn’t been in the headspace to think about another record. I was tired, I’d been ill and I was planning to take some time out.
“But when Rich started sending me these pieces of music, I started to write, pouring my heart out.”
The album also came out of the blue for Rich who wasn’t sure if he’d make another record.
Rich says: “I was working on film scores and thought I would concentrate on that. I’d got disillusioned with music and had no desire to make an album but the music I was sending to Dave and then what he was sending back was too special to ignore.”
Rich, who makes up Soulsavers with Ian Glover, has enlisted some impressive vocalists on past records including Mark Lanegan, Jason Pierce and Faith No More’s Mike Patton.
But with Dave it was extra special. Rich says: “I’ve been lucky to work with some heroes. Dave is easygoing and fun to be around — this album felt special from the start.”
And there was mutual appreciation between the pair. Dave had got into Soulsavers through his love of Mark Lanegan while Rich became a huge Depeche Mode fan as a teenager, in particular their albums Violator and Songs Of Faith And Devotion.
“They were favourite records for me,” says Rich. “They are a brilliant band and supporting them was a proud moment.”
A bluesy album, part gospel, part Spaghetti Western soundtrack, The Light The Dead See is dark and brooding with heartfelt honest lyrics that mirror Dave’s worries as a father and husband.
Highlights include the epic Bitterman which includes the lyrics “There’s a face in the mirror that I don’t understand. See the one that I wear is not who I am,” and the stirring Presence Of God.
Dave says: “Those two songs are a good example of where I can go with something. In Presence Of God, I question beliefs then in Bitterman I’m having a dig at this guy who can’t accept the gifts in his life. He has to do it in a difficult way and ends up unfulfilled.”
Halfway through writing Dave became aware his lyrics were telling a story about his own life.
SFTW
“Six or seven songs in I said I know this guy. I had to look in the mirror and take stock.
“All the amazing things that have happened to me yet I am hard on myself, worrying if I’m a good-enough father or husband.”
Dave turned 50 recently and says the milestone has made him reflective. “I don’t feel 50 but it’s made me look back and see how I’ve been in the past.
“I’ve hurt people, lived life dangerously and know I can be a pain in the a***.”
Surviving brushes with death on more than one occasion — in 1996 he overdosed on a speedball and his heart stopped for two minutes — the reformed drug addict also underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his bladder in 2009 after he collapsed on stage.
“It was a blow. But I was lucky. It could’ve been there for years but it was starting to grow.
“This hit me hard and after the tour I planned to slow down — until Rich got in touch!”
Dave says making The Light The Dead See has re-energised him and he’s felt the benefits in the studio where he is making Depeche Mode’s 13th album.
“I think me doing this and Martin (Gore) working outside of Depeche helps the band. The Soulsavers thing is much more than an outside thing to me. It’s part of what I do. And I’m a musician who works within Depeche Mode.”
Busy diaries mean that Rich and Dave won’t tour the album, though there could be one-off live shows.
Rich says: “We are looking at venues and seeing if we can both make it. I’m working on a film score for a Samurai film next and Dave is in the studio with Depeche. But that won’t be it for us. I’ve already started sending Dave some more music. There will be more songs.”
Dave agrees: “This has been too good, too much fun to say it’s over. There will be another album and then with more work to choose from, we will tour.
“This is just the start for us.” ”
DAVE GAHAN is enthusing over his new collaboration.
“Working with Soulsavers,he says, “was different to anything I’d experienced writing and working with Depeche Mode.
“Rich and I just clicked — there was a magic, and he gave me a gift that allowed me to open up my soul and write. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved.”
Gahan wasn’t looking to make another album when he was sent music by Rich Machin — one half of the production and songwriting duo Soulsavers.
He’d finished touring with Depeche Mode, was recovering from cancer and ready for a break at home with his family in New York.
Having struck up a friendship with Rich when they supported Depeche Mode on their 2009-10 Tour Of The Universe, they’d talked about working together, and no one was more surprised than them when it turned into an album.
“Rich gave me a gift I couldn’t ignore,” says Dave on the phone from his home in New York. “I hadn’t been in the headspace to think about another record. I was tired, I’d been ill and I was planning to take some time out.
“But when Rich started sending me these pieces of music, I started to write, pouring my heart out.”
The album also came out of the blue for Rich who wasn’t sure if he’d make another record.
Rich says: “I was working on film scores and thought I would concentrate on that. I’d got disillusioned with music and had no desire to make an album but the music I was sending to Dave and then what he was sending back was too special to ignore.”
Rich, who makes up Soulsavers with Ian Glover, has enlisted some impressive vocalists on past records including Mark Lanegan, Jason Pierce and Faith No More’s Mike Patton.
But with Dave it was extra special. Rich says: “I’ve been lucky to work with some heroes. Dave is easygoing and fun to be around — this album felt special from the start.”
And there was mutual appreciation between the pair. Dave had got into Soulsavers through his love of Mark Lanegan while Rich became a huge Depeche Mode fan as a teenager, in particular their albums Violator and Songs Of Faith And Devotion.
“They were favourite records for me,” says Rich. “They are a brilliant band and supporting them was a proud moment.”
A bluesy album, part gospel, part Spaghetti Western soundtrack, The Light The Dead See is dark and brooding with heartfelt honest lyrics that mirror Dave’s worries as a father and husband.
Highlights include the epic Bitterman which includes the lyrics “There’s a face in the mirror that I don’t understand. See the one that I wear is not who I am,” and the stirring Presence Of God.
Dave says: “Those two songs are a good example of where I can go with something. In Presence Of God, I question beliefs then in Bitterman I’m having a dig at this guy who can’t accept the gifts in his life. He has to do it in a difficult way and ends up unfulfilled.”
Halfway through writing Dave became aware his lyrics were telling a story about his own life.
SFTW
“Six or seven songs in I said I know this guy. I had to look in the mirror and take stock.
“All the amazing things that have happened to me yet I am hard on myself, worrying if I’m a good-enough father or husband.”
Dave turned 50 recently and says the milestone has made him reflective. “I don’t feel 50 but it’s made me look back and see how I’ve been in the past.
“I’ve hurt people, lived life dangerously and know I can be a pain in the a***.”
Surviving brushes with death on more than one occasion — in 1996 he overdosed on a speedball and his heart stopped for two minutes — the reformed drug addict also underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his bladder in 2009 after he collapsed on stage.
“It was a blow. But I was lucky. It could’ve been there for years but it was starting to grow.
“This hit me hard and after the tour I planned to slow down — until Rich got in touch!”
Dave says making The Light The Dead See has re-energised him and he’s felt the benefits in the studio where he is making Depeche Mode’s 13th album.
“I think me doing this and Martin (Gore) working outside of Depeche helps the band. The Soulsavers thing is much more than an outside thing to me. It’s part of what I do. And I’m a musician who works within Depeche Mode.”
Busy diaries mean that Rich and Dave won’t tour the album, though there could be one-off live shows.
Rich says: “We are looking at venues and seeing if we can both make it. I’m working on a film score for a Samurai film next and Dave is in the studio with Depeche. But that won’t be it for us. I’ve already started sending Dave some more music. There will be more songs.”
Dave agrees: “This has been too good, too much fun to say it’s over. There will be another album and then with more work to choose from, we will tour.
“This is just the start for us.” ”