As extensive and impressive as John Fryer’s career has been, it’s hard not to say he’s simply one of the best, a true corner stone in the music business. His latest project “Black Needle Noise” is nothing less than brilliant, beauty and decay with each soundscape standing alone, taking you on a journey that is unique in and of itself.
But before we dive into John’s latest project one must revisit his past for a moment. John is a multi-platinum selling record producer and musician. Starting in 1980 at London’s Blackwing Studios, he worked for some of the most prestigious indie labels at the time like 4AD, Mute, and Rough Trade. He has produced and worked with many influential artists, the list is both extensive and impressive including; Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil, Depeche Mode, Wire, NIN and Love and Rockets. Also his bands DarkDriveClinic, Muricidae, Silver Ghost Shimmer and now Black Needle Noise. The list is endless, if fact when asked what their influencers are, many musicians today include a list of bands that John has worked with. “It’s very flattering and I’m very honored for them to say that.” “I hope people will be saying that about Black Needle Noise too.”
Black Needle Noise came about when John wanted to continue creating music after his last project Silver Ghost Shimmer. “I’m always writing music and I had written some of these songs when I had my other bands (Darkdriveclinic, Muricidae and Silver Ghost Shimmer) but they didn’t fit into the sound of those bands.” “So after Silver Ghost Shimmer was laid to rest, I wanted to carry on but not in the traditional way.” “I wanted to get all music I had laying around out there as it was to good to waste, so here you have Black Needle Noise.”
Each and every song is sung and lyrically composed by a different talented artist. It’s literally a 50/50 collaboration. John feels like it’s been an overall very positive experience. “The singers are people I admire and am honoured to work with.” “Then it’s just about getting the right music for them to sing on.” “It’s been amazing, I couldn’t be happier.” “Every song is wonderful.” “The journey so far couldn’t have gone any better and I’m really looking forward to where it’s going to go next.”
The creative process with Black Needle Noise is completely different than your traditional band and overall positive experience. “I can do what ever I want, what ever comes out of me.” “If you are doing a band, you have to write in a certain way so it fits the sound of the band.” “Black Needle Noise doesn’t work like that, the only constant with the sound is me.” “All tracks have my DNA in them.” As far as challenges go, “There are no challenges, as I can do what ever I like.” “As long as the singer and I’m happy with how the song sounds then we are all good.”
Each song is very different and has the ability to draw out deep emotions good and bad from its listeners. “I’m glad you say they bring out different emotions, as that’s what I try to achieve in every song.” “Every song should be like its own movie, you should close your eyes and get taken to a different place.”
As far as the future is concerned, “Black Needle Noise will continue as long as I can continue doing it.” “I’m hoping in the near future there will be some vinyl, maybe CDs and if I can work out a way of doing it some live shows.” Black Needle noise can easily be found online with instant downloads of each song and are listed as they are created. (blackneedlenoise.bandcamp.com)
Black Needle Noise is a 50/50 partnership between Fryer and many different talented singer/songwriters, including Attasalina, Mimi Page, ZiaLand, Omniflux, Jarboe, Betsy Martin, Andrea Kerr, Ledfoot, Spectra Paris, Jennie Vee, Ana Breton, Kendra Frost, Elena Alice Fossi, Antic Clay, Andreas Elvenes, Bill Leeb, and Sivert Høyem.
Interview With John Fryer
TM – With Black Needle Noise you say there are no rules to your creative process. Can you explain how this process works? How is it different from the past?
JF – Well, with Black Needle Noise, I can do what ever I want, what ever comes out of me.If you are doing a band, you have to write in a certain way so it fits the sound of the band. Black Needle Noise, doesn’t work like that, the only constant with the sound is me. All the tracks have my DNA in them.
TM – Each song is very different and has the ability to draw out deep emotions good and bad from your listeners. Did you have this in mind during the creative process?
JF – I’m glad you say they bring out different emotions, as thats what I try achieve in every song. Every song should be like its own movie, you should close your eyes and get taken to a different place.
TM – When asked what their influencers are, many musicians today include a list of the bands you have worked with. How does this make you feel?
JF – Its very flattering and I’m very honoured for them to say that. I hope people will be saying that about Black Needle Noise too.
TM – You say that your songs are a 50/50 collaboration, how do you go about finding the right singer/song writers to contribute?
JF – The singers are people I admire and am honoured to work with. I try to write directly to the singers them selves and ask if they would be interested in working with me on Black Needle Noise. A couple of singers are friends of other singers who think would be great to work with me. Then its just about getting the right music for them to sing on.
TM – Do you think it’s been an overall positive experience working with many different people?
JF – Yes, its been amazing, I couldn’t be happier. Every song is wonderful. The journey so far couldn’t have gone any better and I’m really looking forward to ware its going to go next.
TM – What are some of the challenges that you face by doing it your own way?
JF – There are no challenges, as I can do what ever I like. As long as the singer and I’m happy with how the song sound then we are all good.
TM – How and when did you come up the concept for Black Needle Noise?
JF – Well, I’m always writing music and I had written some of these songs when I had my other bands (Darkdriveclinic, Muricidae and Silver Ghost Shimmer) but they didn’t fit into the sound of those bands. So after Sliver Ghost Shimmer was laid to rest, I wanted to carry on but not in the traditional band way. I wanted to get all the music I had laying around out there as it was to good to waste, so here you have Black Needle Noise.
TM – What do you see for the future of Black Needle Noise?
JF – Black Needle Noise will continue as long as I can continue doing it. I’m hoping in the near future there will be some vinyl, maybe CDs and if I can work out a way of doing it some live shows.
Feature photo by Morten Ryming
TORCHED MAGAZINE 