BYRON KENO
Breathe in Love
FAULT: You describe you sound as Club / Electro / Pop How do
you keep your sound so unique?
Well it’s difficult to have a totally unique sound. “Cause everything that we love and listen to, filters into the music that we make. But I love so many elements of dance music and electronic pop music and the structure of commercial pop songs, that I guess that kind of makes my music somewhat unique.
FAULT: What does the word pop mean to you?
Apart from the fact that “pop” is derived from “popular music”, which is music that is commercially accessible. Pop to me is catchy, hooky and unmistakably addictive.
FAULT: Who did you grow up listening to?
Dépêche Mode, U2, Erasure, Guns & Roses, Crowded House, Madonna, Eurhythmics, Bon Jovi, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Hendrix and so the list goes one…
FAULT: Do you come from a musical family?
Yes, my father is a musician
FAULT: What can we expect from Byron Keno in 2011?
I’m working on my live performance. Also doing as many remixes as possible and hoping o do a few collaborations, and then starting to work on the next album towards the later part of the year.
FAULT: How do you prepare for a live show?
Well…. to be honest with you. I’ve involved in music for the last 20 years, and for the past 12 years as producer. And although I’ve done lots of dance music, I’ve only recently decided to turn my focus towards my own career, as opposed to shaping other’s careers. So to go and perform my album is still very much a work in progress. But as I mentioned I am very close to having it ready, and will hopefully be doing a tour in The Netherland in July/august this year….. So watch this space.
FAULT: What is it like being based in South Africa?
Hhhmmm….The South African music scene has always been slightly excluded from the rest of the world. But over the last 10 years a lot more is possible, thanx to the internet, it’s just so much easier to collaborate with people anywhere, and get your music out to the rest of the world. South Africa however is a great country, and there are loads of very talented people here
FAULT: Are you inspired by your surroundings?
Definitely, my studio is based in the city of Johannesburg. There’s always a great buzz around. Also my studio is my haven, and is made up of brand new cutting edge gear to very old classic pieces of equipment, that just totally inspires me.
FAULT: What music makes a good night out?
Anything that’s easy listening, fun, up-tempo and interesting.
FAULT: What is the creative process of your sound?
Well it normally starts with a nice chord progression and a catchy melody, that might be played on guitar or a synth. Then followed by some lyric ideas. And then I’ll just start working on a basic track, infusing sounds together to come up with something that hopefully translates into an interesting piece of music.
FAULT: What was the inspiration behind Breathe in Love
Without sounding too spiritual…. The lyric came from the idea that, every day we wake up, the breath that we breathe is a gift of love, therefore “we breathe in love”
FAULT: What do you think of modern day pop?
Absolutely love it and addicted to it. I think there are so many incredible producers, artists on the planet making awesome music.
FAULT: Who is overrated?
Wow that’s a difficult one, I suppose there’s a place and a space for everybody and every type of music. And we can draw inspiration from any type of music whether it be termed underground, progressive, cheesy, commercial etc.
FAULT: Who is underrated?
Apart from being artist specific, a group of people here in South Africa that are completely underrated and whom I have worked with are singers that perform in tribute shows, who are just amazing.
FAULT: What is your FAULT?
I guess it’s my fault that I’m completely and utterly obsessed by this drug – music.