INTERVIEW ════════════════════════ (C) KVAZAR. Gomel. ----------------- Hi! Greetings to all our fans - go Spectrum. This is KVAZAR again from Gomel, this time with an interview I did on to the numerous requests of my Minsk friend and colleague - Sergei Sturm. Today I am visiting quite famous personality on Speccy, talented musicmaker - Vladimir Khropov, more known under the pseudonym - IMP. Not watching Because of his busyness, Volodya kindly agreed I was drawn to this interview, which I I leave it to our readers. ------------------------------------------ KVZ:First of all, I want to thank those for agreeing to answer some questions dew and time wasted on me. I won't- let me ask you about something that has long been Spectrofon and ZX-Format published for a long time. Come on, let's talk about more interesting things and and relevant to our readers. Are you ready? IMP: Always ready. There's no beer here It's melting, I'll tell you... :-) KVZ: Well then, let's go. Tell us a little about yourself: what are you doing now? what are you doing? IMP: Currently I work in a Zeta "Press Advertising": I make layouts in the program frameworks "CorelDraw", "PhotoShop", freely When I'm away from work I write music on the same working car (P-133), at work... Well, I don’t show off on stage now... Even I don't know what else can be said. KVZ: Many people know you as membera because famous group "Dream Makers", until recently the former core of the mega-association RUSH I.S.P.A. How was such a collection born? Tiv?IMP: It all started somewhere in 1993. The story is like this. I went to buy cash I went to one guy in the store, where he traded them, and began to load it about what I needed: assemblers, This is nonsense. I didn't have any ideas then fully formed... Well, this couple- nek told me that there is one dude, like me, also deals with such nonsense, and he decided to set me up with him. Within two days I met the Shaman. The Shaman came to visit occasionally; he has I had some ideas - I tried to write everything graphic editor, as I remember, but not what good didn't come of it, because We were both very inexperienced back then. From the very beginning I was attracted by everything this thing: music, Polish idiots, nonsense you are like that. How I saw the musical process rubbish, I, of course, immediately took it to myself put. Well, over time, I myself began to rush to do something. Our first work as I remember it was, "TECHNO-demo" with early music. Then Shaman drew graphics, and then the two of us worked on code. This is how GLUM was born. And then everything went smoothly. After six months yes, Vlad (ex-VMP, now- not EVOLVER). The story was the same asme: he came to sign up toys for me, and at the same time showed what he does himself. EU- Naturally, I saw in him a talented personal- ness. They helped as much as they could, but mostly he worked himself. So, with this composition we went to conquer the stage. KVZ: What can you say about your post- the latest work "Brain Surgery"? Everyone was waiting continuation, why is it never seen? is it? IMP: It was the beginning of the big end. It was a good idea and there were even some then developments: graphics, effects, music. This was supposed to be a demo so much different style than everything that appeared elk before this. It won't be all pathos and showing off, like “That’s how cool we are...”, “This is what we can do...”, “Look how much dots...", but it will just be entertaining such an educational demo, with good mu- language and graphics. But... as far as I'm concerned... it is known that such demos have already appeared, but This has existed on the Amiga for a long time. Well, then a lot of problems appeared, not lack of free time, etc. In short, this project was not completely destined come true. KVZ: Vladimir, I know that you are into different things time I tried my hand at coding ha, and the graphics, however, on the Spectrum Which stage are you better known as a talent? brilliant musician. Please explain how did this happen? Because, as far as I remember, back in GLUM you wrote that you don’t know how to play music quote, I was looking for a musicmaker, am I right? IMP: Well, yes, I wrote and searched. So half- it happened. I have a musical education no, although at one time I was learning to play accordion, in childhood, but with my physical with which data it was not easy to stretch these fur. In general, everything depends on imagination, creative potential of a particular person Yes, if there is a desire. And I had a desire very strong. The main point: understand everything this principle of SoundTracker music, I I will say it was very difficult at first... Many people just can't do the first one. step, drive into it all. When you move in - everyday thing, even sit on a PC, at least where, everything is very easy. KVZ: Well, this is clear. Yes, by the way we- even your music. In almost every one of you compositions are new, notsimilar to each other samples. Where do you get them from, if not sex? ret? IMP: All tools, for some time now I I create it myself. I even had a disk (now of course it no longer exists), where there were more than 100 my samples, entirely made in Sound Tracker, practically from scratch. In my opinion this is the only acceptable way to achieve something of its own in the sound. In general, get out a lot of samples - natural lameness, imho. KVZ: If it's not a secret, what software means you use when writing mu- languages on PC? IMP: First of all, a music editor Fast Tracker 2.08. I also use the player Mod Plug, which allows you to play music from using reverberation, interpolation and other bells and whistles. Sometimes I use Sound Forge-4. KVZ: What styles and directions of music, do you prefer to write and which ones to listen to?IMP: At the moment I am focusing on "DARK-SYNTH-POP" - dark synthesized- ny "pop". I also prefer to listen to: Si- banat, Front Line Assembly, Nine Inch Hal- ls, Mike Oldfield, David Bowie, Oomph!, Underworld, Depeche Mode, The Sige... I really love the INDUSTRIAL style, industrial such commands, aggressive, extreme small compositions, where there are many such stupid texts like: "...I will erase you in powder...", "...I'll drive my wheels over you carriage..." and the like. KVZ: By the way, it's true that you hate do you like pop music? IMP: And who loves her?! I hate her but still this happens to me sometimes mood... I never listen to it, not at all in no case, although I can write it when nothing else comes to mind, but this vice. I'm not the only one who suffers from this, we... how much, you know both SLASH and KSA, all of them originally from there. KVZ: Since we have already started talking about this thief, one of the domestic (CIS) mu- you could single out the zykants as the mostprofessional. IMP: On the Spectrum? KVZ: Yes, exactly on it. IMP: Of course: JAAN. Now, give me... think... SLASH, frankly, suffering lacks the uniformity of execution, and this doesn’t suit me I really like it, and he has some themes primitive, although as a musician he is something worth; he knows how to play. KSA is also self-taught ka, as far as I know, but I can’t remember something very good that I like curled up. He had remixes, nothing. Here Slightly Magic (ex-MAGIC SOFT), normal musak'er. KVZ: As far as I know, he is now sits on PC. IMP: It's been on PC for a long time, who else was?... Here! AGENT-X. KVZ: This is from Polish. IMP: Then VOXON (ex-AMADEUS WAKSON). Although he is also already on PC, but well done, he Wow, such heartfelt topics turned out to be so. Not all, of course, but he has a lot of good good things. In general, when I wrote music myself, I was tentative, in the spirit of something detailed let's say, but in the end it turned out completely different, one might say he even tried to mow down, but I carried something of my own there. In general, Spectrum does not allow me to open up like a mu- Zykantu completely, this is a 100% statement. KVZ: This is one of the reasons that prompted the Should I leave my creativity to Speccy? IMP: It's hard to say. If I had up to If this car were standing there now, I would be writing music, because do it in the evenings anyway nothing. And the main reason is that In my line of work I am currently working with "RS", there is very little time, almost everything I spend my free time at work, so have to somehowsublimate at Rs. KVZ: How did the idea to create a global organization like RUSH? IMP: The idea is spontaneous, chaotic and nothing not supported... KVZ: But someone made a proposal to some contribution. IMP: All ideas regarding groups are any associations - they were all mine ideas, and other people preferred to be aloof from such problems, not because that they didn’t have enough imagination, they probably It wasn’t necessary, I don’t know. I will organize them fallout I can now climb onto the table and say like KANO: “Who is the organizer here, in the end?..." :-) KVZ: By the way, about the fate of RUSH. With leaving DMS scene, this association in the near future The future will most likely suffer disintegration. IMP: RUSH, in fact, has already broken up. Everything that is now released under the "RUSH" brand has nothing to do with him, this official statement. As far as I know there is one person... KVZ: You mean Viator from Cher- Nigov and his team AVALON? IMP: Yes, but it does not justify our expectations dezhd, although he is a good artist, and how man. But still... this is not a group. Then their last demo I saw, I think "OPERA", I really didn't like it... (KVAZAR's note: here I will ask for re- guys from AVALON don't be offended, because... this is su- Just personal opinion of IMP himself.) IMP: At the moment, the Shaman and I are organized their association, came up with their own brand name and make layouts under it, we are already in a slightly different direction: lygraphic activity. But no it no longer has anything to do with the stage. KVZ: Do you like beer?and what varieties? IMP: I love beer very much - all dark beers that and some light ones, mainly: “Peter Great", "Prince Paskevich" (this is one of ours, Gomel). Lida beer - "Martovskoe" - this is generally incomparable, this is something - an image clenching of the eyelid. KVZ: Do you use any drugs? cats, tranquilizers? IMP: Yes, sometimes. Previously a lot, now practically none. KVZ: Did this in any way affect your Did creativity help or hinder? IMP: Positive for my work. Everyone it is a known fact that even the Beatles, John Lennon? They were all junkies. And Dave Gahan from Depeche Mode. In all in any case with girls because of this I have no problem. :-))) KVZ: What are your plans for the future? IMP: In general, I plan to go out into writing new stage as a musician. And now my main concern is saving more money to your own car. KVZ: Which would you prefer: PC or Amiga? IMP: Ideally, I would not refuse that and another. It depends on what you want to do - Xia. It's easier to make money on a PC. Here I am and collect it piece by piece. Well, this is already bo- climb. Anyone who has ever started can no longer stop. My whole life is a continuous upgrade. KVZ: And as other members of RUSH, plan- is there anything grandiose, what any projects? IMP: I can’t say anything specific about others... We definitely won’t get anything from DMS anymore kids, LAVERs - they are on their own: they rivet something on the Amiga. KVZ: Your personal opinion about ENLIGHT'97, or rather about the demukhs presented at compo? IMP: What I saw from the last bot... I can’t note anything about the design. It all basically comes down to this in the end number of dots on the screen, i.e. to coders kim developments, although this is also not bad. B Everything in the demo should be up to par. Some demos from the last ENLIGHT suffer from - rotating unfinished sound tracks, lack of the same design. For some reason You can’t combine everything, I don’t understand. KVZ: Based on ENLIGHT's works, could you highlight any creative What groups are the most promising? IMP: I don’t even know...(...long pause...) Who's alive now, who-what's up- et. You know better... KVZ: Maybe DIGITAL REALITY? IMP: It's unlikely... As for the demo, they don't... They disappointed me, not even so much with their idiots, there are also pictures the tattered ki were from pussy dems. Don't know. Not you can feel this style there, even from the village their last work. There were more interesting new things, more promising. I can't say that from CODE BUSTERS worth waiting for something new... KVZ: I don’t remember where, it seems somewhere in a periodical, someone remarked that "SV" occupy an honorable third place, only thanks to established tradition, and not due to aesthetics and other qualities their works. IMP: The next demo from CODE BUSTERS will be will be called: “Traditional Victory” :-). KVZ: What about the work of the Moscow association ations PROGRESS. Personally, it seems to me that this is a true masterpiece that is sure to will become a demomaking classic. IMP: AboutI don’t know the masterpiece... Maybe be. To be honest, I don’t even remember. Personally, what interests me now in dems is so this is humor. I think the humor in the demo must be mandatory, however, just like everything else. KVZ: Okay. Let's move on to more pressing matters problems. Do you even know that in the summer Moscow will host a computer festival thorny art: FUNTOP'98? Moreover, this Spectrum oriented? IMP: To be honest, this is the first time I've heard it. KVZ: This is intended as an alternative Enlight, which most likely was post- icy. IMP: It’s too bad that it will only on Spectrum. I'd really like to see Spectrum stage on some big compo, even if I wouldn't be represented on it as a contestant, but just meet these people. It would be very cool. Maybe I could bring some music.If I come to some purely pissyush- new compo, it won’t be very comfortable for me there but: who knows me there? And when sincleris- you... In general, Enlight would be optimal option. It’s a pity that the organiza- tori to such a state... KVZ: I know that now you are setting up connections in the FIDO network and generally active work eat in this area. IMP: Well, not quite like that, for me, just like for me every FIDO guy has his own boss, and I have address in FIDO, I communicate with the Gomel people house, with the Gomel pussy scene. I have I have my own mailbox on the INTERNET, e-mail, no question. Shamana, Evol- ver'a, Elf'a also has a box, I give them all I made boxes, but no one writes to them. :-) PEOPLE, WRITE AT LEAST SOMETHING!!! (For those who want to contact IMP, I give its address in FIDO and INTERNET) 2:452/32.11 Fidonet Cong blackie @ gbo. belpak. gomel. Бу KVZ: Well, thank you Vladimir for such a thorough interview, I think that our readers really liked it. Ho- I wish you success in your new career and the speedy implementation of your plans. And I say goodbye to you, dear readers. ZX-ELEMENT magazine, see you again. The conversation with IMP was conducted by KVAZAR. ------------------------------------------
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