Simon Fisher Turner performs his new live score for Derek Jarman's last film Blue at the National Concert Hall on 23 November with cellist Lucy Railton and cast Russell Tovey, Travis Alabanza, and Joelle Taylor. We asked Simon the BIG questions . . .
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Jarman completed Blue shortly before his death in 1994. The film is "a single unchanging shot of celestial blue accompanied by a kaleidoscopic soundtrack of voices and music, with Jarman reflecting on his AIDS-related illnesses, on his mortality, and on loved ones lost to the virus.
Simon, who created several other soundtracks with Jarman and was also a member of The The, created the original soundtrack of the film.
He will perform a new live score entitled Blue Now, which he created with cellist and composer Lucy Railton.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
Pacifist. I grew up in Cornwall. I'm always open and will listen.
How would you describe your music?
New. Modern in so far that I make a lot of music often, and then whittle it down. Now it's more minimal. I'm always looking to new sounds made from life recordings. I come from the cassette age, and have been through tape to digital, but I'm no technical animal. Loud/quiet/always moving/exploratory.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Bowie. Wagner. Tamla Motown. Kraftwerk. Minimalist American composers. Flamenco. The human voice. Choirs. Animals. Nature. Life sounds.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Stray and Rare Bird at the Record Mirror Festival at Olympia, London. Also on the bill were Tyrannosaurus Rex, and Mungo Jerry. I sat on stage next to Mickey Finn.
What was the first record you ever bought?
The Sound of Music OST LP. Or Rubber Soul by The Beatles. First single was probably double A-side of Wouldn’t It Be Nice/God Only Knows by The Beach Boys or All I Want for Christmas by Dora Bryan.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Falling Together by Jamie xx.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"All you need is love".
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Mute Records. Guerrilla Audio Touch (new music every two weeks there). Spotify. I'm all over the place.
Alan Corr
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