|
Tony Barre's
PULP Magazine
INTERVIEW
February 24, 2006
Can you
give us some history of your life as a musician?
My pleasure…
At my
first piano recital at 6 years old, the piano teacher took my mom aside to
inform her that “yes, he played the Chopin piece quite well indeed, however, in
the wrong key… I learned by asking the teacher or my mom to play the piece a few
times to get the feel, then I would pick piano keys and chord patterns that were
easy to remember and imitate the melody I remembered. I liked how I felt when
all the notes went together. I didn’t want anyone to know I wasn’t reading the
music, so I watched and listened. I still do most everything
by ear. I do read music a bit.
I trust my ears and the
feel
of the music.
I really wanted to be
a drummer and by the time i was graduating sixth grade my band, the patriots,
had played at fashion events for vogue magazine. drumming and singing for
various bands followed, and right after graduation from high school and a couple
of weeks at junior college in Long Beach, California, I left for Texas with a
band called zebra to open for Alice Cooper in El Paso. I have
owned two different recording studios, the Barre spot being my third,
done promo music for three major Los Angeles TV networks, written music
for two multi-episode television shows sold into syndication worldwide and
produced a myriad of projects from country to speed metal and pop to trance. I
have a passion for audio…
What about
your involvement in the S/M scene?
Even as a kid,
I knew I
liked things like initiations. I was fascinated at guys getting together and
“doing things” together. My first recollection is that of me and a buddy
“tickling” a suggestively willing friend after suspending him from the rafters
in my garage-bedroom-band studio. My parents let me live out there
with my drums. (my hats off to all those parents accepting of aspiring musicians.) I
entered the leather scene in my teens and early twenties being mentored by
others with more experience. I think the most important concept I have learned
aside from safe and sane play is the eroticism of communication, willingness and
trust associated with S/M. I think many people outside of the scene and a few
within as well, misunderstand or are un-aware of this concept.
I think S/M and other types of fetish can include the passion of what some
refer to as “vanilla” play.
Why or how do
you see your music affecting a
scenario or event?
Is mood
everything in S/M play?
Well, even within the
S/M community it is “different strokes for different folks.” I had the
opportunity of meeting Larry Townsend on a few occasions, author of Leatherman’s
Handbook and Leatherman’s Handbook II. it is my understanding that this “Sir’s
Sir” inevitably makes the choice of opera for his zone. natural room sound works
for some, while others prefer what is heard at dance clubs, rock, classical, or new age. setting the scene or ambience with
lighting, temperature, visuals and even scent of the room are major
motivators in S/M. couple that with attitude and the concept earlier
mention-ed and all that is left is “music that fits…”.
Has your music been
featured in any movies, websites or
other presentations?
Yes. I think this an
appropriate time to thank HDK for their support in giving me a leg-up. I
initially met Bill after a referral from a mutual friend. HDK (Hot Desert
Knights) was looking to do a message on
hold and I also do voiceovers. did I tell you of my passion for audio? LOL One thing led to another
and several movies later, working with Ray Butler on titles such as Dungeon
Ass Poppers, Boys Night Out and Making Gay Porn, I approached
Bill
with the idea of offering
Erotic
Soundscape CD’s
by Tony Barre. Richard Hunter at Mr S Leather in San Francisco, initially took a personal fancy to
BARRE PARTS
and requested usage for several segments in their online movie gallery. a couple
of other usage agreements are in the works
Can you give us some
idea of the history of the dungeon music scene?
I don’t know about the
stories of Butt Boy or Robert Lloyd Anderson. I think J.D. Slater has formal musical training
along with acting and directing. I think all of us believe there is a need for
thematic music in adult video rather than, what is often times, random music
married with looped and re-cycled moans and groans that are seemingly unrelated
to and out of sync with picture. some people put on their favorite music with a
video and simply turn off the sound. the idea of dungeon music has been
around for several years. I let go to my inner-self and enjoy the ride.
Tony, describe your
musical influences. What
might listeners expect
from your music?
I think music is very subjective. it’s in the ear of the listener, ie: the eye of the beholder. I hope
people will find a zone with Tony Barre music. I have been influ-enced
by the Pretenders, Depeche Mode, Erasure, Queen, David Bowie,
Elton John, Led Zeppelin,
The Beatles (John-Paul-George and Ringo), the cleverness, and the purity of
Mozart and the
sarcasm,
predictability-by-design and wit of Rossini. Playing drums is a wonderful
opportunity to sit
in the middle of the music and soak it all in. I am enamored by melodies, they are the frosting on the
cake, the bow on the package. I think we all march to
a drummer and a rhythm. my partner tells me to make music “from the hip” I like it when he feels it there.
Do
different tracks and/or CD’s correspond to dif-ferent scenarios?
I
think the titles of the current
BARRE PARTS and
BARRE HANDED
CD’s coupled with the graphics
are a bit more than mildly suggestive -anything come to mind? - and the individual track
titles: you know what to expect, enjoy the ride, stiff proposition and every-thing is reasonable on
BARRE PARTS,
the title
track and ten digits on
BARRE HANDED
are intended
to ignite the senses and set the scene, one note at a time.
Can people order their
own custom music?
I love the experience of
being asked to create music for a certain scenario. the journey of working on a
project with a director or producing music for an artist, that kind of custom
work is always welcomed. it is the fuel for personal and professional growth. I
am so grateful for the technology that assists all artists in more fully
realizing their dreams and the common human experience that balances me
and reminds me to eliminate the non-essentials. sometimes less is more.
Have your works been tested
for effectiveness?
When was the last time you served a meal without
tasting it? made chocolate chip cookies and
all
the cookies made it to the cookie jar? I have a
very
personal involvement with every
sound I produce. as a friend once said “test driven by Tony Barre”.
I experiment with the music directly off
my computer in my play space, burn copies to listen to in my car, during work-outs and on friends systems and at
their play spaces. after long term scrutanous focus, I sometimes seek refuge from the
music before I find the ability to become subjective. I
trust the feel above all else.
Anything else, Tony? what’s in the pipeline?
First off, the upcoming
BARRE MANEUVERS CD
is on the way
with a tentative release date of May 2006, in time for I.M.L. (International Mr.
Leather)
in Chicago. BARRE MANEUVERS
is about change, artful discipline, training and controlled calculated movements. it is about my belief that “change is the only constant…”
I am
collaborating with several new retailers and distributors and welcome all
comers… working on a video with Narcissus International, several product
affiliations simmering and already thinking about the CD after BARRE MANEUVERS
where I may include some vocal tracks along with the erotic soundscapes
in a two CD set.
Thank
you everyone at PULP
Magazine for this opportunity.
Enjoy The Ride...
Tony
Information on
Retailers, Fashion that Fits, Toys that Fit and Music that
FIts is available at my ONLINE STORE.
Be sure and join Tony Barre's CONTACT GROUP.
|