Interview with Bonobo!
Simon Green or Bonobo, as he’s known to most, is one of the most prolific music producers out there. Having his compositions range from electronica to live instrumental pieces, He has always been held with extremely high regard within the electronic music fraternity for his compositional genius. Seamlessly switching between genres , from trip hop, acid jazz, downtempo, chillwave and ambient, Bonobo has grown into one of the most respected producers out there, with his unique sound and style. He’ll be performing in India for the very first time early next month, but before that, we caught up with our Artist Of The Month for November for a little insight into his musical prowess.
TBB: What sounds do you seek your inspiration from when you make music?
Bonobo: Everything. Musically, everything I’m listening to. My music is a documentary of where my heads is at the time; it’s always evolving. The influence changes so it can be anything. It’s all re-contextualizing what’s going on at the time. It’s hard to say; I just sit down and see what comes out.
TBB: Which artist have been a major influence on your sound?
Bonobo: My roots are in jazz—not that swinging jazz but the spiritual side of it—the Coltranes, Sun Ra. I’ve been listening to a lot of neo-classical stuff lately, too, guys like Matthew Bourne, and Yann Tiersen. I love piano. I love that kind of filmic quality of music. I love listening to film soundtracks. Right now I’m listening to stuff coming out of London: Joy Orbison, that kind. –
TBB: Could you give us your favorite tracks by them?
Bonobo: I was really impressed by Andy Stott’s last album Luxury Problems and a track he did called “Numb.” I think his use of sonics and textures and how he mixes sounds together that excited me.
TBB: What do you expect from India, a country that’s not all too familiar with your music?
Bonobo: I’m not too sure what to expect, It definitely depends on the city and crowd. The more I trust a city the more progressive and deeper I’ll go, where as if it’s a crowd I think it’s not up for new music I’ll just stick to a safer playlist.
TBB: What are you most looking forward to from your trip to India?
Bonobo: I don’t have an expectation but it is going to be completely different. I am ready to face whatever is out there.
TBB: How would you best describe your sound for someone who hasn’t yet heard your music?
Bonobo: I don’t know. I don’t think anybody likes having their music pinned down to a genre, but people need to know genres. I didn’t want to be associated with “chill out” lounge music. There’s everything from psychedelic jazz to hip-hop; it’s really broad. I wouldn’t want to put it in a box with a name on it; I like to think it’s broader than that. It’s for people to decide.
TBB: Your Instagram account has some beautifully captured shots. Is Simon Green a photographer too?
Bonobo: Thank you. well I was in art school, I was going to do painting actually. So for me Art is definitely a part of me.
TBB: You have a ton of productions that you also cover live. What is your approach when you compose the electronic version versus when you play it out live?
Bonobo: I don’t really think about it when I produce music. I don’t allow the options of whether this will be performed live or not. I just make the record I want to make and then figure out whether it will work live.
TBB: What would you say is the main difference in your personal experience when playing with a live band and playing a DJ set?
Bonobo: I’ve been DJ’ing since the beginning really and that’s where I’m most comfortable I guess, behind the turntables. But I guess the pros and cons, with DJ’ing you just have to show up 5 minutes before with a laptop and turntables and get plugged in and it’s more of a party thing, more of a club vibe. With a live show you can do bigger and grander stuff and it’s more about representing the actual music, the actual songs from the record. They’re kind of different vibes I guess.
TBB: When you’re playing with a band, how do you think the different interpretation by each band member affects the overall sound of your music?
Bonobo: It doesn’t really change this. When I have an idea when I make a tune, and I know how it’s going to be done live. I play the bass, I teach the keys part to keys player. I deconstruct the track to see what works, see what doesn’t work. It’s never difficult. I know how we can make things work. They’re great musicians, I teach them the part once and see how it all works, and it comes together.
TBB: What usually comes first, compositions on acoustic instruments or electronic compositions on production software?
Bonobo: Instruments. I have a studio in my home in London, so I play all the instruments on the record. I was a musician before. I can write stuff on the piano and I record it, get on the computer, and start chopping things up.
TBB: Your new EP features a more dancier, peppier sound than what we’re used to from Bonobo, any reason in particular for this change in sound?
Bonobo: I think it is just a question of my taste. I was listening to some electronic sounds. I have a lot of collection of tracks. I think it’s the way music has changed and I think my kind of taste has changed a lot more which reflects to what I listen to at times. I want to try something different and something which I have not tried before. I want to go deep into production and electronic production and there are many things like that. I think I want to try different things and develop the experiment process.
TBB: What’s next to come for Bonobo?
Bonobo: I am going to be spending a year making a record by the beach, perhaps the west coast of California starting 2015.
TBB: Could you give us a message for your Indian fans?
Bonobo: Looking forward to being out there. I have always wanted to come to India. When I was young I wanted to a year off from college and come to India but never got a chance.
Bonobo will be playing India for the very first time, at Johnny Walker – The Journey in Mumbai with his live band on the 13th of December, along with Paul Potts, Snarky Puppy and Disclocate. 
Event Details:
Saturday, 13th December – Mehboob Studio
Buy your tickets here