English Translation
ORDINARY ALIEN
BOY GEORGE’S ELECTRO- BALEARIC PROJECT !
The ex 80’s icon is back in the spotlights and this time he’s not in the news for a scandal but well & truly for his music. Music producer Mark Ronson gave him the opportunity to be back in participating to his album ‘Record Collection’, from which the hit ‘Somebody to Love Me’ was taken. George is now in favour with his audience, the media & the people working in the music business again. Teeming with tons of projects, he’s just released a new album ‘Ordinary Alien (The Kinky Roland Files)’, on sale since 5th December & available for download on Believe Digital. There are a few tracks released on his pseudo The Twin, his electro-trash project, & his last two singles, ‘Yes We Can’ his powerfully emotive tribute to Barack Obama, & ‘Amazing Grace’ featuring Portuguese singer Anna Lains remixed by DJ Kastilla. For George, Ordinary Alien is the ideal & perfect soundtrack to his personality. The 12 songs, long mixes, have been mixed by DJ Kinky Roland who has added his melancholic vision (very ‘Ibiza Balearic’). 2012 will celebrate Culture Club’s 30th anniversary : on 30th April 1982 they released their very first single White Boy. A new album & a world tour are being planned : first step in Dubai on 29th December…
Why have you chosen to name your album ‘Ordinary Alien’ ?
I love it when people are looking for hidden meaning when there isn’t any ! (laughing). Look how it works !!! You’ve just asked me the question ! (laughing out loud) ! I’m having real fun ! In fact, part of me likes the idea of being a normal guy & there’s the other one who loves being outrageous ! I like the idea of these two words which are originally contradictory. Opposites do attract me ! These two words totally sum me up, that’s me, that’s my personality !
It’s your 1st album in 10 years since ‘U Can Never B 2 Straight’, why was that so long ?
In life, you have to be a philosopher and come what may ! It’s no use planning everything. When things are to be done, it must be the right time. In France, you have the impression, I haven’t done anything for so many years, but in fact I’ve never stopped working. I did my own musical ‘Taboo’, my electrotrash project under the pseudo of The Twin, I’ve been DJing around the globe… I’ve had a few troubles with my original record company, Virgin… And not to mention I did a few months in prison (laughs) !
Is this new album to be considered as a summary of your work in these past 10 years ?
Absolutely, there are tracks from Yum Yum (2005), my 2 latest singles Yes We Can, Amazing Grace. All that never got released officially for people, that’s new material. For fans, they already know most of the songs.
Why did you choose Kinky Roland to mix the album ?
For many good reasons ! First, I like his work, we’ve been friends for 15 years, our collaboration is always fruitful. When you like someone, his work & your collaboration with him, you keep him. That would be stupid not to. We know each other so well. He can feel my songs, he understands me so well… there’s an obvious sentimental side, a shared heightened sensibility… Musically, I like his melancholy & his tunes.
His music sounds very Balearic, very Ibiza ?
We feel drawn to each other, music is the reflect of who we are in life. You cannot hide or lie. When you make dance music, you get to know the person, his sensibility, his personality. What you feel is what he is. Musically, I don’t feel nostalgic & I love the idea that I don’t have set rules. That’s why I love DJ sets by Danny Rampling & Alfredo, a DJ in Ibiza. They play what they love & don’t give a shit about what people may think. As for Kinky Roland, I entirely find myself in his music, that’s who I am !
Now, let’s talk about Mark Ronson who’s boosted your career…
I’ve known him for many years because we’ve mixed together thrice when I lived in New York. Like everyone, I liked his work as a music producer with Amy Winehouse & Daniel Merriweather (Love & War). When he called me to participate to his album Record Collection, I was very excited, the final result really came up to my expectations.
Weren’t you surprised by the success of ‘Somebody to Love Me’ ?
I’m still so surprised (laughs out loud), I think today is the right time for me. There’s a lot of positive energy around me & you can feel it in everything I do. I’ve lost too much time. For years, with drugs, I was not productive enough. When I step back, I see that period of my life as a waste of time. I didn’t do anything, so you can say now that I’m trying to catch up for the time lost. That’s why today I’m a real workaholic & I never stop as if I was trying to catch up for all those screwed up years. In these past three years being sober I have done more than in all those years on drugs.
Have you listened to Mark Ronson’s collaboration with Duran Duran ?
Of course & I love it ! I’ve always been friends with Simon LeBon & their collaboration has been fruitful. But Culture Club’s new album will not sound like that. Duran’s album is too poppy & marketing oriented.
2012 is Culture Club’s 30th anniversary, what have you planned ?
A pop album. Mark Ronson will be writing & producing a few tracks. But we also want to work American producer Phil Ramone (Madonna, George Michael, Elton John…). In the past we tried to work with him but it never happened, I do hope this time we can. Then, we’ll be touring England and the rest of the world. Dubai on the 29th December, then Sydney the 31st. Of course, I’d love to go back to the US if they let me have my visa (laughs). We’ll be doing a press conference to announce it all.
You haven’t played live in Paris since 1994, we can’t wait to see you live again !
I know. I often come to Paris to DJ or with Mark Ronson to sing Somebody to Love Me in TV shows or live. I’m very excited with this 30th anniversary tour & to play live with Culture Club. On top of that, today 70-80’s flamboyant glam costumes are back. We’ll be doing our best & Lady Gaga will be gaga of our costumes so I’ll put her back in her place (laughs)!
Rumour has it that Helen Terry is back in the band…
I don’t think she’d accept but I can tell you I’d love to see her back in the band. She was very important & was in fact an official member of Culture Club. That would be normal if she were back. We’ll see… She could do the gig in London or participate to the album. But nothing is certain…
You used to run your own label More Protein so why have you started VG Records with Marc Vedo ?
To me, More Protein days was an exceptional time. We signed many talented singers, we had worldwide hits. I learnt a lot from that experience. That was very rewarding & gratifying to work with other artists, to write for them, to collaborate… That’s another side of my personality : it allows me to express my artistic creativity. I’m currently working with Eve Gallagher again. We’re going to record a duet, I’ll be singing in English & her in French. I’ve been begging her to do so for such a long time, now we’re finally doing it. It took me 10 years to convince her (laughs).
So you’re looking for new talents…
Absolutely ! I’ve got a long list of people I’d love to work with these days. I want to be involved in artistic creation. We’ve released our 1st single on Decode Records Sunshine Into My Life by Charlene Hector, she’s been one of my friends for a long time & she does backing vocals on my records. She’s got an incredible voice. I wanted her to record a track for so long. We’re planning other tracks, one called Kalina Mome from a Bulgarian singer.
Why have you teamed up with Marc Vedo ?
As a DJ, I’ve already toured the world with Marc. We’ve been friends for many years. He’s always liked what I do. He’s very passionate. We have the same vision in music. He’s even my agent now & books my DJ sets.
You’ve been voted among the 100 best DJs in the world !
Yes ! 90th ! I’m back (laughs) ! I’ve been working a lot these past few years. I now reap what I’ve been sowing. I’m really pleased to be back among the 100 best DJs. I’m back to where I belong.