The PV Q&A: Orbital On a New Wave of Ravers, The Future, + "Collaborating" with Stephen Hawking
Interview by Rich Thomas
Orbital could have titled their latest album Wonky for a number of different reasons: The wavy, prismatic “O” on the cover. Their funhouse mirror styled press portraits. It could have been a commentary on the meandering, epic nature of their tunes, especially when compared to the more predictable, song-based dance music that’s overtaken the mainstream. But to hear Paul Hartnoll tell it, he and brother Phil titled the album as a testament to how Orbital have never really fit in with the EDM trend. A modest appraisal of their stature, considering they’ve been successfully producing and performing in a notoriously fickle and trendy genre for nearly a quarter of a century.
Despite taking an eight-year hiatus at the end of 2004, the brothers Hartnoll have maintained a steady presence by contributing to a number of film soundtracks (The Beach, XXX, Event Horizon, The Saint), along with a surprising contribution to this year’s Olympic games. Shortly after UK dance compatriots Underworld were tapped to provide the score to the opening ceremony, Orbital were asked to participate in the Paralympic Games, “collaborating” with none other than renown physicist Stephen Hawking on a special version of their tune “Where Is It Going?” The brothers were honored, if not somewhat taken aback, but to those who’ve been following their storied career for the last 23 years, it was a confirmation of their place in the pantheon of electronic music. We caught up with Phil and Paul over a massive Chinese meal to discuss what the future holds for Orbital, and what it was like having Stephen Hawking as a temporary band mate.
Orbital could have titled their latest album Wonky for a number of different reasons: The wavy, prismatic “O” on the cover. Their funhouse mirror styled press portraits. It could have been a commentary on the meandering, epic nature of their tunes, especially when compared to the more predictable, song-based dance music that’s overtaken the mainstream. But to hear Paul Hartnoll tell it, he and brother Phil titled the album as a testament to how Orbital have never really fit in with the EDM trend. A modest appraisal of their stature, considering they’ve been successfully producing and performing in a notoriously fickle and trendy genre for nearly a quarter of a century.
Despite taking an eight-year hiatus at the end of 2004, the brothers Hartnoll have maintained a steady presence by contributing to a number of film soundtracks (The Beach, XXX, Event Horizon, The Saint), along with a surprising contribution to this year’s Olympic games. Shortly after UK dance compatriots Underworld were tapped to provide the score to the opening ceremony, Orbital were asked to participate in the Paralympic Games, “collaborating” with none other than renown physicist Stephen Hawking on a special version of their tune “Where Is It Going?” The brothers were honored, if not somewhat taken aback, but to those who’ve been following their storied career for the last 23 years, it was a confirmation of their place in the pantheon of electronic music. We caught up with Phil and Paul over a massive Chinese meal to discuss what the future holds for Orbital, and what it was like having Stephen Hawking as a temporary band mate.
PureVolume: I think my first Orbital live experience was seeing you in LA in ’96 at Organic, which also featured the Chemical Brothers, Underworld, the Orb and the Prodigy. You’ve done other festival gigs like Coachella and Big Chill, but what was it like, 16 years on, playing in a setting like Beyond Wonderland?
Phil Hartnoll: It felt like nothing had changed, really. Like we’d gone back to the future. [Laughs] Very different to Organic, though. Beyond Wonderland was definitely more rave-tastic.
Paul Hartnoll: This is a whole new wave of ravers. If I could compare it to television, it’s like us and the Chemicals and Prodigy are like Kirk and Spock and the new people are Picard and Geordi. On a base level, though, dance music doesn’t really change because it’s all about dancing. It can go half-speed or a bit faster, but dance music is primal and has been the same ever since day one. But it is a different sound today. When I went around to explore during Wonderland, it was very different. The younger DJs are doing a current style of music that you sort of hear everywhere.
Paul Hartnoll: This is a whole new wave of ravers. If I could compare it to television, it’s like us and the Chemicals and Prodigy are like Kirk and Spock and the new people are Picard and Geordi. On a base level, though, dance music doesn’t really change because it’s all about dancing. It can go half-speed or a bit faster, but dance music is primal and has been the same ever since day one. But it is a different sound today. When I went around to explore during Wonderland, it was very different. The younger DJs are doing a current style of music that you sort of hear everywhere.
PV: Who did you hear that you liked?
Paul: I didn’t see anyone I particularly liked. I really enjoyed the energy, though. There was one guy that I really enjoyed, but it wore thin with me after five- to 10-minutes. You risk sounding like your dad a bit. “What’s this noise? It all sounds the same!” But with the current formula, even if you haven’t heard the song before, you can predict where it’s going. It’s all just very aggressive at the moment.
PV: How did you guys come to be a part of the Paralympic Games ceremony? Did you and the Underworld guys ever swap war stories?
Paul: I did have a chat with Karl [Hyde] when they were in the middle of doing their thing, before we were asked to do our thing, and he was conveying how mental the whole process was.
PV: And then you were asked.
Phil: Yes. [Laughs] I wondered whether the committee felt they needed a token electronic band in there because Underworld were doing the Olympics. I still to this day don’t know why we were asked, but when they mentioned Stephen Hawking, I was like, “Count us in!”
PV: What was that connection?
Phil: The whole Paralympics was loosely based around human rights and enlightenment through science; about changing the perception of people with disabilities. They got Stephen Hawking in there to do several speeches, and they turned the entire arena into this massive Hadron Collider. So we got his speech and we thought, “Well, we’ve gotta make him sing!” We didn’t know whether he’d actually heard what we’d done or liked it, right up until his rehearsal.
Paul: But he was up for it. He wore the torch glasses and everything.
Paul: But he was up for it. He wore the torch glasses and everything.
PV: Your signature Orbital glasses?
Paul: Yeah, he joined the band for a few minutes.
PV: What did you and Karl talk about?
Paul: He said Rick [Smith] would ring him up and say, “You remember that lovely bit of music we did last week? That’s out now. But you know the bit that was out two weeks ago? That’s back in.” But as I said to Karl, it all seemed naughty; like playing at the Albert Hall seemed naughty. “Underworld doing the Olympics?! That’s silly. Like children playing with grown-up’s toys.” Sometimes you don’t perceive yourself as having grown up, but why not? It is our turn to do these elder statesman type of things. We are Jedi masters now. We’re no longer Anakin or Luke.
PV: Paul, when we last spoke in 2010, you had just started doing one-off gigs but hadn’t really started on what would become Wonky. When I asked whether or not an album was forthcoming, you said the idea of doing another album felt like a fool’s errand. So what does that make your next album?
Phil: (Laughs) Even more foolish. But it does give you room for improvement, doesn’t it?
Paul: You’ve gotta remember, being creative and doing music is a compulsion. You’d do it anyway, even if no one was listening.
Paul: You’ve gotta remember, being creative and doing music is a compulsion. You’d do it anyway, even if no one was listening.
PV: Will you both continue doing solo work?
Phil: I’m not doing Long Range anymore. That was one album and one album only.
Paul: I might. I think that was the mistake before. Our lives had been so consumed by Orbital there was no let-up. Album, tour, album, tour. It might be nice to do something different now and again.
Phil: We did a film soundtrack to a movie called Pusher. I think it’s just come out over here. That was good fun.
Paul: America had somewhat forgotten us because we haven’t been here for so long. It used to be our second best market outside of the UK. So it’s interesting coming back, and doing these gigs, and letting people know who we are again.
Paul: I might. I think that was the mistake before. Our lives had been so consumed by Orbital there was no let-up. Album, tour, album, tour. It might be nice to do something different now and again.
Phil: We did a film soundtrack to a movie called Pusher. I think it’s just come out over here. That was good fun.
Paul: America had somewhat forgotten us because we haven’t been here for so long. It used to be our second best market outside of the UK. So it’s interesting coming back, and doing these gigs, and letting people know who we are again.
Advertisement
More from PureVolume
Currently Listening
-
nicole is listening to: Kiss and Run by Kerrington Cooper
-
Savannah is listening to: Never Really Alone by Don't Call it a Comeback
-
Tiwank Sweeppick is listening to: PERASAAN KONTRA LOGIKA (FULL VERSION) by GLORY OF LOVE (FREE DOWNLOAD NEW SINGLE)
-
Ana Lucia C. is listening to: How Found You Could Be by DON'T DIE CINDY
-
Sammi is listening to: Sleep Forever by Portugal. The Man
Top Artists
Currently Listening
-
nicole is listening to: Kiss and Run by Kerrington Cooper
-
Savannah is listening to: Never Really Alone by Don't Call it a Comeback
-
Tiwank Sweeppick is listening to: PERASAAN KONTRA LOGIKA (FULL VERSION) by GLORY OF LOVE (FREE DOWNLOAD NEW SINGLE)
-
Ana Lucia C. is listening to: How Found You Could Be by DON'T DIE CINDY
-
Sammi is listening to: Sleep Forever by Portugal. The Man
