Who or what inspired you to become a musician? Hard to
say. I've always loved music, and I've always felt creative, so
the two just came together. I love music and I love (and work with)
computers, so the two go very well together for me, and are a perfect
combination for producing elecronic music and dance.
Each year has its scene...1998 seem to be the year
of big beat, but like all previous styles only a couple of bands
are picked up by the press...Don't forget to add Control Z to that
list! Are Control Z pure big beat then? no just imagine what will
happen if Danni Minogue would do the vocals on the best tracks from
Leftfield, Fatboy Slim or the Chemical Brothers...yeah, Control
Z do sound as gorgeous as that!!! Control Z are Leszek Gasirek and
Rebecca Wahren...and so far the reviews are fantastic...winning
a demo competition on KISS FM, being on a CD from Dream Magazine
(October 97), having remixes done by Mantra on the Ministry of Sound's
`Northern Exposure 2` CD. Bits by bits Control Z are becoming a
regular name in the dance-scene...A good introduction to the world
of Control Z can be heard on the latest 25 Records compilation `OBVIUOS`
which you can obtain for five pounds (if you mention the name of
this zine...Don't say reading zines are worthless!!!) Control Z
are featured with two outstanding tracks. For more information about
Control Z you can contact the label too...
Interview from The Original Sin, issue 10.
Heather Steeley Postal Interview
December 1997
Name of outfit: Control-Z
Members: Leszek Gasiorek - Writing, keyboard, programming
Rebecca Wahren - Vocals
History:
Leszek has been making music in one form or another
for many years, and grew up to the electronic sounds of Kraftwerk,
OMD, Tubeway Army, New Order, etc. More recently became interested
in the dance scene, especially trance, which is a kind of 90's extension
of those early electronic sounds.
In 1995, Kiss FM in London were running a demo competition
on Judge Jules's Saturday afternoon show, sponsored by Fosters Ice.
Control-Z's demo of a track called 'No Control' was one of the winning
entries, and the prize was to have the track re-recorded in a profesional
studio, and to have 1000 12 inch singles pressed and distributed.
'No Control' was released in March 96 and was distributed throughout
the UK.
Control-Z then released two further singles on their
own label Control Zone Records. These were 'Justice' in March 1997,
and 'Wolf' in September 1997, both featuring vocals by Swedish singer
Rebecca Wahren, and the latter including a remix by Mantra, who
had another remix featured recently on the Minisry of Sound's 'Northern
Exposure 2' CD. 'Wolf' appeared in September on the Pioneer Pro
Sound CD Pool, volume 5 of Underground Beats, a CD service for DJ's,
and was also on the cover CD of Dream Magazine in October 97, scoring
9/10 in the magazine's review.
The track was also reviewed in DJ Magazine. 'Wolf'
has now been licensed to Automatic Records, a fairly new off-shoot
from established trance label Transient, and some new mixes will
be released on Automatic in the new year. In the meantime, Control-Z
has been busy in the study, recording 4 different mixes of a brand
new track called 'Subway Dreaming', which hopefully will also be
released some time next year.
Discography:
CZ001 No Control Mar 96 Musicbase
CZ002 Justice Mar 97 Control Zone Record
CZ003 Until The End Of Time May 97 unreleased
CZ004 Wolf Sep 97 Control Zone Records
CZ005 Subway Dreaming Dec 97 tba
Members taking part in interview: Leszek
1 How did you all meet? I work for a software company
and was working on a project in Stockholm in Sweden, and met Rebecca
there, and then discovered that she could sing, and asked her to
sing on 'Justice'.
2. How long have you been together? Control-Z was
originally just me, and the name came about in 1994, though I had
been making music long before that. I met Rebecca in 1995, and she
first sang on 'Justice' in early 96.
3. Has it been a long hard road to fame? Yes, and
there's still a long way to go.
4. Who is the main song writer? Leszek.
5. Are there any band squables? No, since it's not
really a band.
6. What is the scene like in your area? I haven't
a clue, because I've been away for more than 2 years. But, they
say that Ealing has produced and continues to produce some great
musicians.
7. Who or what inspired you to become a musician?
Hard to say. I've always loved music, and I've always felt creative,
so the two just came together. I love music and I love (and work
with) computers, so the two go very well together for me, and are
a perfect combination for producing elecronic music and dance.
8. Who are your favourite bands at the moment? BT,
Way Out West, New Order, Electronic, Underworld, Perfecto in general,
Platipus in general, too many others to mention.
9. What are highs and lows of being in a band? Of
being in a band, I don't know, because I'm not in one, but of being
a musician: Highs: It's a lot of fun, and very exciting when you
get a good review or some recognition. Lows: It's damn hard work.
10. Do you prefer recording in the studio or playing
live shows? So far, Control-Z is definitely a studio act, no live
shows planned.
11. Do you have any advice for bands just starting
out? You've got to treat it like a business, be organised, professional,
and work hard.
12. Sum up your music in 3 words? Dead dead good.
13. Who are Control-Z? Leszek Gasiorek - Music and
Rebecca Wahren - Vocals
14. How would you describe your music? I never know
what to say when people ask this. Broadly, dance. Sometimes with
vocals. Trance?
What are your releases so far?
CZ001 ‘No Control’ Mar 1996 Released on
MusicBase
CZ002 ‘Justice’ Mar 1997 Released on Control
Zone
CZ003 ‘Until The End of Time’ Jun 1997
Unreleased
CZ004 ‘Wolf’ Sep 1997 Release on Control
Zone
CZ005 ‘Subway Dreaming’ TBA
‘Wolf’ is to be remixed and re-released
in the new year on Automatic Records, possibly re-titled as ‘Dreaming
Of You’.
Can you give a short history of Control-Z? Been
making music in one form or another for many years, and became interested
in the dance scene, especially trance. Control-Z won the Kiss FM
Fosters Ice demo competition in 1995, which led to the winning track
‘No Control’ being released in early 1996. This was followed
by 2 releases on Control-Z’s own label Control Zone Records,
these were ‘Justice’ and ‘Wolf’. ‘Wolf’
was featured on Volume 5 of the Pioneer Pro-Sound CD Pool, and was
also on the cover CD of Dream Magazine in October 97, with a rave
review inside. It has now been licensed to Automatic Records and
will be released in early 1998 with some new mixes, possibly re-titled
as ‘Dreaming Of You’. Vocals are courtey of Swedish singer
Rebecca Wahren. Both ‘Wolf’ and a brand new (as yet unreleased)
track called ‘Subway Dreaming’ have remixes done by Mantra,
as featured recently on the Ministry Of Sound’s ‘Northern
Exposure 2’ CD.
What’s the success story so far? See previous
question.
Have you played any important gigs? So far, Control-Z
is studio based, no plans for any gigs.
What do you consider the high-point of your career?
I’m still waiting for it.
What do you think about the current UK music scene
and do you think you will change it’s face? There is too much
music around, especially in the dance area. Too many records released
every week. It’s too easy to put together a track at home and
release it, and there’s too much mediocre material about. Change
the face of the music scene? A nice idea, highly unlikely.
Which bands influence your sound? Every piece of
music I’ve ever listened too, including the stuff I hate. Otherwise,
New Order, BT, Perfecto, Platipus, PVD, WOW, loads of others.
What’s your fave record of all time and why
did you chose it? Impossible to answer, but two that come to mind
are: ‘Souvenir of China’ - Jean-Michel Jarre, because
it’s so emotional. ‘Decades’ - Joy Division.
Feel free to contact the band at 25 Records
anytime for interviews/Band features/ gig info etc. at: 25 Records
PO Box 3006, Poole, Dorset, BH12 2HU. or Phone/Fax on (01202) 749244.
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Meanwhile
you can hear a song by Control Z called 'Wolf' or 'Until the
end of time' on the latest 25 Records compilation CD 'Obvious',
priced at only £5 including post . |
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