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INTERVIEW WITH GEOFF DOWNES (ASIA)
Hi Geoff, the Tempi Duri staff is really honoured to have the chance to interview an astonishing musician like you. First, congratulations for your new release. Thanks. Appreciate the sentiment! If I'm not wrong this is the first time that Asia entitle their CD using two words, instead of one word just like "Aura", "Aqua", and so on. So, what's the meaning of "Silent Nation"? Yea, that's right. We felt after 23 years it was time for a change! We liked the way the 2 words sounded together, but particularly the image it evokes, i.e. the people in the world who maybe can't or don't want to say what they think. Not necessarily in the political sense, but in everyday life.  Are you satisfied with the final outcome? Well, we worked very hard on it. It was a long album, as we spent quite some time writing the songs - then, selecting how the album was to take shape was the hard part. But I think we were pretty pleased in the end that it turned out very much the way we wanted it. The overture of the final track is by Guthrie Govan's guitar imitating the whales' song. Can you tell us, please, what's this song about? It's a travelling song with a nautical theme. It was originally entitled 'Sail Away' and is really about an ancient sea journey. Actually, that's a real whale and a Moog synthesizer you're hearing!  In your opinion, are there any important differences between Silent Nation and your previous cd? Can you talk about them please? Certainly the CD is a departure from the previous couple of albums - Arena & Aura, which were quite diverse in both styles and choice of musicians. We really wanted to focus on the live 4-piece aspect on this album, which in some way is a return to the original concept of Asia (as per the 1st album, Asia) I got a particular question: can you explain us, please, which of you or who had the idea of making a web site containing the original Asia members? What was the use of it and don't you think it is in contrast with the nowadays line-up? The Original Asia Site was put together quite a few years back when there was talk of a reunion with the original band. It's not that relevant any more, and some of the information is incorrect. Today's' line-up is a very solid unit that has actually been playing longer together than any other incarnation of Asia. Lately, I've listened to last John Wetton DVD, "Amorata",. This DVD contains some Asia's old songs, like "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" and "Heat Of he Moment" performed by John and Martin Orford of IQ. I'd like to know, please, if you mean to perform these songs live in your concerts. Certainly we will be looking to perform a good selection of the early stuff together with the new album when we go out on the New Year. It will make a welcome change from the set we have been doing for the last few years, which was more like a chronology of all the albums. I don't however think we'll do "Smile" as is a very personal song to John Wetton.  And now I'd like to ask you something about your first steps in the music environment. You started it out playing for the Buggles, if I'm not wrong. You reached success by the hit song "Video killed the radio star". What do you think of this song? I'm still proud of the achievement in some ways that "Video" was the first song on MTV. But I think that it's quite a deep song, which was hidden by the pop/dance treatment we gave it. It still gives me a buzz when I hear it even today as it launched my career in the music scene. And how did it happen that you and Trevor Horn turned out to play for the wonderful Yes album, "Drama"? We were managed by the same management company, and it turned out that Jon and Rick had just left. We wrote a couple of songs with Chris and he just asked us to join - Simple as that! How did a keyboard player like you live the technological progress and how much is it important for your sound? I've always tried to keep in touch with technology from the early days with Yes, when I took a Fairlight computer on the road. It started me on a very (expensive!) road, and a love of all things tech. I work a great deal now with computers and all the modern day synth software, which is brilliant. Did you plan to release a DVD with John Payne? We had one out last year from a show at Trenton, NJ USA - Asia America. We'll no doubt be filming some more stuff over the coming year, and release another one in due course. Did you listen to something new lately? Did you like them? What didn't you like? Can't stand all that Pop Idol/Popstars plastic stuff - Glorified Karaoke! Good albums for me over the last year or so are from Nickelback, Evanescence, Maroon 5, Craig David, Ian Van Dahl, David Gray - Anything where the singer sounds original! What do you think about the international prog-metal scene? I guess your classifying bands like: Opeth, Spock's Beard in this area - they're good bands, but not my bag really. Ok, Geoff, we're at the end. All the Tempi Duri staff and all the Italian fans thank you for your kindness and availability. Do you wanna something more? Yea, really looking forward to playing Italy soon (hopefully Feb/March time next year)
Ok, thank you and see you soon!
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