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Radio Personality David Jay Interviews Andrei Kiisler Of Charybdis

Published on 1/30/2008

By Geoff Coldiron

Today at midnight, radio producer and personality David Jay of Magic 106.3 FM in Santa Barbara interviewed Andrei Kiisler, one of the contributing writers and performers on the double concept album Charybdis - Back To Square One. This 10 minute interview, covering the history of the project, thoughts on music, philosophy and life in general, will be one of two interviews added to the album as bonus tracks. This interview, done as a period piece set in late 1967, discusses the London music scene at that time and how one of Charybdis's concept songs, Blue Dreams Of Summer, fits into the psychedelic music scene that was all the rage at that time. A MP3 of the interview can be heard here on their album page here at Artistopia: http://www.artistopia.com/coldironfusion/music/album/5027 Here is a transcript of that interview: DAVID JAY: I'm joined today, via telephone, by Andrei Kiisler of Charybdis, a HOT new band from...well...from everywhere really. This five member group is comprised of people from all over the world. They live, literally, at totally separate ends of the earth, coming together to write songs, record albums and play gigs. DJ: Their debut album, Endless Avenue, has enjoyed a moderate amount of success in Europe and the US. Their first single, a psychedelic freakout called "I'm Not Here," is burning up the radio waves and has become one of the favorites at the famous UFO Club in London, a venue of performances by many of the top underground bands of today, such as Pink Floyd, Procol Harum, The Move, Soft Machine and many others. Their second single, "Blue Dreams Of Summer," written by Andrei, stands to do just as well on the pop charts, if not better. DJ: They met through a Pink Floyd fan club, one of the first of its kind, and spent months discussing the possibility of embarking on a worldwide collaborative project featuring the talents of many aspiring songwriters and musicians. After amassing a collection of demo songs, they decided to form a group of the 5 most outstanding people to collaborate on this demo project, and cut their first album with the support of the entire community they were corresponding through, a club that has close to 4000 members worldwide and growing every day. DJ: Andrei Kiisler, the most interesting member of this group, whom many call "The Master Of Confusion," joins us today from his home in Tallinn, Estonia. He is described by some as brilliant, by others as just plain nuts. As far as I am concerned, I'm not sure which account to believe, as I have not had the pleasure of meeting this young man yet, but we will soon get to the bottom of this mystery wrapped in an enigma. DJ: Andrei? Are you there? Hello! Please share some info with our listeners tuning in today! ANDREI KIISLER: So....right....my name's Andy and um....well...I've been asked to...huh...talk about...talk about myself a little. DJ: It's really good to have you here today, Andy, if I may call you that. How old are you? AK: Well I'm ummm....22 years old....[laughs] 22 and already old...huh! Right.... DJ: What got you interested in making music? How did you find this path in your life and how do you fit into this band exactly? AK: What I'm doing is....just wanted to let you know....that I'm addicted to music...all my life....have been, am, will be.... DJ: Addicted to music. Aren't we all? What I mean is, what is your role within the group Charybdis? What do you contribute? AK: What I'm doing in this band is basically songwriting, singing and stuff...yeah.... DJ: How are things go.... AK: ....and I....I like it....it's a genius band.... DJ: You like it. That's good. It's certainly important. It would be a rather difficult undertaking if you didn't like it, huh? [laughs] AK: Every one of us is a genius, seriously.....[laughs a bit]....funny....it's funny.... DJ: Yeah, it is funny. It's too bad that you don't think too much of yourself intelligence wise though. Once you get over that lack of confidence, the sky's the limit, huh? [laughs] But really. A genius? All of you? Even you? [laughs] AK: It turns out that even I am a genius.....oh well....because I am..... DJ: Very nicely explained. That should put all doubts to rest. [laughs] So share some more with us, please. AK: Oh....um....well....I don't know....what to say..... DJ: OK. How did you come to the decision to make music inspired and influenced by Pink Floyd? AK: [laughs] Why Pink Floyd and all that...all this....um....music? DJ: Yeah.... AK: First...it's like....it's easy....yeah, to me it's easy..... DJ: Easy.....really? AK: Easy....and it's still very....very soulful...... DJ: Soulful, huh? OK. It's deep you mean? It inspires you to make music that is deep? AK: All those things that are in my music, they kind of help me, they kind of relieve...OK? DJ: I see. It's therapeutic. AK: And uh, it's like....umm.....music helps me get over my problems, OK? Just like it always used to do. DJ: It helps give you direction in life? AK: It's....umm.....one of the main purposes, alright? DJ: Sure. So how does this music work inside of you? How does it live and breathe? How does it make you feel? AK: I feel like a Mr. Record Player.....I mean....I play records when I want to....and what I want to....thanks to guitar....and my voice....OK? DJ: You play records on your guitar with your voice? I'm not sure I follow. You mean you sing and play the songs on your guitar that you listen to on the records? AK: And my head too, because....if I can't sing...a tune....or play it....I can at least play it in my head..... DJ: Sure. It all begins in your brain anyway, doesn't it? You hear it in your head first regardless. AK: So even if I was asked to live on an abandoned island....without any of my records....with myself....it wouldn't be much of a problem....I mean....I would still have the tunes in my head, wouldn't I? DJ: Yes, you would. That's what's amazing about music. It's a language that everyone understands. It bridges just about any cultural barrier and brings the world together. It certainly has in your case, hasn't it, with the band you are in now? It's really great. So why do you prefer to be called Moonchild? AK: [expells long breath] Why do they call me Moonchild? I mean I call myself Moonchild because....I'm basically...a bit not of this world....[laughs] DJ: [laughs] Yeah, I'm beginning to see that [laughs] AK: I mean....Moon is my mother....she's my mom....and.....my mom....yeah.....and.....hey mom! Say hi!.... DJ: Umm.....right..... AK: She has just sent you her blessing...... DJ: Um....yeah....ummm....well....that's certainly nice of her..... AK: And ....umm....Sun, Syd Barrett.....is my father....totally.... DJ: Really..... AK: I'm saying all that because I still have him....I still see him almost every day....you can talk to them and stuff....so.... DJ: Umm....yeah.....sure.... AK: I think that's what I am is a Moonchild or something.... DJ: Yeah.....or something.....You certainly have a different sense of humor. This is some funny stuff. Unless you are being serious....ummm...yeah..... AK: I can do jokes that probably hardly anyone would think of....say things and stuff....but when it comes to being serious, I really am serious and concerned.... DJ: So are you being serious now? Is that what you are doing, or are you joking? It's kinda hard to tell sometimes, which can cause people to think of you as a little unstable at times. AK: I think I'm a pretty much reliable....person......when it comes to opinions and advices and stuff....and when it comes to fun too.... DJ: Yeah, you pretty much have to be. Too many games and too much confusion can be pretty annoying pretty quickly. It seems that you know how to strike that balance though. However, it has been said that it is easy for you to cross that line sometimes and that you have often been known for being grossly off topic in conversations. What would your band mates say about that? Would they agree? Does it put any strain on your working relationship within the group? AK: ummm....I don't know.....ask my other band mates about some other stuff [laughs]...right.... DJ: Yeah....a pretty uncomfortable topic for you, huh? I understand. We are just about out of time though. It's been good talking with you, getting to know you. Many are looking forward to seeing Charybdis live and hearing the new single. Thank you for taking time to give us insight into your mind and your music. Take care now. AK: See you..... DJ: Goodby..... AK: Oh....and.....there's just one thing I'm still believing....and it's love....it's love....goodby.... DJ: Goodbye. Boy, he must be in some kind of a rush! He hung the phone up before he even finished saying goodbye [laughs] DJ: So....I hope you have enjoyed this look into the mind of Andrei Kiisler, member of the worldwide group that is called Charybdis. They are off to a great start, their debut album Endless Avenue charting on Europe's top 100 and their first single being played on radio stations all over the London area. Be sure to grab a copy of this album. It's really great, and I'm not just saying that because they paid me to, but they did! Be sure to also catch their act at the UFO club if you are in the London area during the month of September, where you can catch Pink Floyd, Eric Burdon and The New Animals, The Social Deviants and many more. Goodnight.



Article Credits and References

Special thanks to David Jay for lending his voice to this interview and to Andrei Kiisler for being such a terrific sport and letting us poke a little fun at him. To check out more information about David Jay, his resume, bio and services: http://djgreenroom.tripod.com/index.html http://www.kmgq1063.com/showdj.asp?DJID=29562

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Radio Personality David Jay Interviews Andrei Kiisler Of Charybdis