Chaz the Spaz

In this month of July, I will be posting INTERVIEW: threads, for my new 'Interrogation Station'. Anyone can question the artist. I will ask a question, and follow up or ask another question. Basically, I will copy the artists description in the original post and then ask a question. No holds barred, that will be my format, that way it will be interesting.

Fanaro
Artist description
ELECTRONIC MUSIC MADE FOR FUN AND PLEASURE

Music Style
Creative electronic explorations into sound and motion.

Musical Influences
Anything I hear will influence me.

Similar Artists
Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Tonto's Expanding Head Band, Jean Michael Jarre, Vangelis, Steve Hillage, Loop Guru, Mouse on Mars, The Orb, Orbital, Tomita, Anubian Lights, Eno, Geodesium, mu-ziq, etc..

Artist History
Backgroung in classical music. Played hymns in church while growing up. Always interested in science and technology. Made electronic music my hobbie. Created music just for the fun of it.

Instruments
Mini Moog, Secquential Circuits Six-Trak, Steiner Parker, Casio VL Tone, SK-1, CT-370, CT-670, KT-906, TEAC A-2340 SK, Roland Echoplex

Albums
Mind Music

Location
North Arlington, New Jersey - USA

one blue nine
How long have you had your Mini Moog?

Chaz the Spaz
I bought my Mini Moog second hand in 1982 for $1500. I kept it until 1990 when I got married and needed space (our apartment was only so big). I didn't use it much anymore anyway, because the drifting got so bad, I couldn't afford to get it fixed, so I sold it (the going price at the time was $300). That was a mistake!

one blue nine
Oh, man. I knew I should have bought that Mini around '87 for $300... geesh. Talk about lack of foresight. Ah well...

Von
I'd like to know, how do you maintain your positivity and integrity in an Mp3.com society that seems increasingly hateful and cynical?

Chaz
Well Von, I must admit that at times it's not easy. Then I remember why I'm here, it's for the music! The petty squabbles, flaming, imposters, anons, hatred and cynacism, are meaningless to me. I do enjoy an intelligent conversation, but other then political posturing, there is little creativity in discussion on this board. Some people just play anon games to kill time, so what? that's their business.

Von from ONOFFON
Good answer!
You forgot the "You're such a cool dude!" part...
Cheers!

Kim Riemer
Secquential Circuits Six-Trak I'm curious about what this instrument is, I'm assuming that it is a synth of some sort. I also noticed all of your instruments are analogue synths, have you ever tried software synths?

Chaz the Spaz
Yes, thanks for asking. When I first got a PC, I bought Acid DJ, but could not get the feel for looping, dropping phrases, and manipulating samples. I find it much rewarding with hands on equipment.

The Lord Dog Almighty
How does a postman get into the space of producing the music you do?
Or, to put it another way, how does such a musician as yourself become a postman?

Chaz the Spaz
A very curious question indeed! Which came first the music or the mail. Heh heh! Actually it was a kind of symbiotic relationship, I was hired as a temp, then used my pay to buy equipment. Got hired on steady, and enjoyed the freedom of creating music without the hassle of a starving musician syndrome. Although I have jammed with friends and was invited to join a few bands, my weekend work schedule prohibited me from playing steady gigs. So to answer your question simply, the PO is just a job that pays the bills.
As an afterthought, not all postal workers are as weird as me.

The Lord Dog Almighty
I can dig it, Chaz.
Some are wierder.

Terry Shea
I can vouch for that!

droll7
Chaz, I have one of these laying in my storage room and it's been there for a good many years. The reason I quit using it was the pitch problem. It never seemed to be in tune.
Do you have this problem or do you know anything of this?

Chaz the Spaz
Droll, when I first bought the Six-Trac I didn't have a problem for five years, until the lithium batteries wore out. After I replaced them, it never was the same.
Now I use a Korg.

Chaz the Spaz
Chaz asks Chaz,
Chaz, why does your music sound so crappy?
Well, Chaz,
I record my music for fun and pleasure. I'm not a perfectionist and I don't have expensive equipment. Most of my tunes were recorded 15 to 20 years ago using a TEAC reel to reel. I would bounce tracks into a cassette deck until distortion was noticible. After 12 years of no musical endeavors, my children gave me the ambition to record new music. So, I made "Chicken Farm" to get back into musical creativity. Followed by "A Peek Inside" and my newest "Glass Trinket".

Chaz the Spaz
How did you first become interested in music?

Chaz the Spaz
I grew up exposed to music. Every Friday night my parents and uncles would get together, sing and play guitars. One of my uncles used to sing at clubs and actually followed the same circuit as Frank Sinatra (before he was famous). When I was 11, I decided to be different, I would learn keyboards, so a private tutor was hired and I trained in classical music.

The Luddite
Are there any musical forms that you would like to try that are different from your current sound? Are there styles that you like but do not currently perform?

Chaz the Spaz
Hi Pete, yes there is, being ecucated in classical music I often wished I was a little more adept at rock keybaord like Keith Emerson or Rick Wakeman. Although I had played with friends imitating a rock style, I always felt that following my own musical direction was more original.


Chaz the Spaz
What is your goal and what are you planning for your music?

Chaz the Spaz
I have no set goals (but I should), I'm just not ambitious. At first I thought that my music would be good for commercials, but now I realize the far superior mastering that other people have done with their music, puts my music to shame. My only plan is to try to create new music when I can. Having a creative release is important to me, and music is just one avenue I find the most rewarding.

Terry Shea
Why is the word spaz spelled with a "z", since it's an abbreviated form of the word spastic?
And does that mean that Chaz is an abbreviation for Chapstick?

Chaz the Spaz
I've been called many things, (place demoralizing adjective here), the closest to Chapstick was Chazwick. Chaz the Spaz was a nickname given to me by a dear friend, who used to say Chaz the Spazzzzzz. I thought it would certainly be a memorable name for posting on the boards. Ya' know, spaz could also be for a spa, as in many spas. A new trend in health resorts, Spa'z 'R Our'z.

swebby
Do you tend to lean more to being a 'hobbyist' in music ( like myself) or see yourself a possibly getting a 'deal' or entering the music biz ? If you feel that you are more a 'hobbyist', do think that takes pressure off what you do musically in a place like this (mp3.com). I do.Just wondered what you thought ?

Chaz the Spaz
Practice makes perfect, do you practice?

Chaz the Spaz
I don't practice like I should. When I decide to record, I may go over the lines several times, and when I feel I got it down, I'll press record. Actually, I'm pretty rusty, I used to be able to read music and play instantaneously, now if I get the music for something I want to play, I have to stumble through it until I am comfortable with the fingering.

droll7
You have a good melodic sense in many of your concoctions. Much superior to much I have heard. Some of your stuff sounds quite good.

Chaz the Spaz
Thank you Droll There have been many adjectives people used to describe my music, spacey, trippy, quirky, eccentric, and retro electronic among others. "Having a good melodic sense" and "sounds quite good" is a great compliment for me, thanks!

  -- Rick Munarriz

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