It’s been awhile since I have heard Chris Corner’s voice, today was luck would have it I heard the sweet melody of the Sneaker Pimps with their song Bloodsport. I remember playing their cd in my very first car all during high school. It was then I became hooked to Chris’ voice and the addictive beat that is so submerged in his lyrics. The Sneaker Pimps broke up shortly after their album Splinter, however various sources would say that they never broke up at all, they just had a conflict with one of their band mates. Years went by and Chris went on to start his solo career under the name “IAMX.” He later came out with his first album “Kiss + Swallow,” which would lead his career into the spotlight in trip-hop. IAMX’ albums are dark and edge with an array of trip-hop beats intermingled among it. Since his first album in 2008 to present day he has four albums and in the studio working on his fifth album which has yet to be titled. Chris Corner is a true artist that has a very unique sound and style, which will leave you intrigued and wanting more. His latest album Volatile Times is very well produced however a personal favorite of mine is his second album “The Alternative,” which has number one songs on it such as; “President”, “Nightlife” and my personal favorite “Bring me back a dog.” If you are like me and loved the Sneaker Pimps then check out “IAMX,” because you might find a striking resemblance. I will leave you with my favorite song of his, “President,” (please keep in mind this is not one of his best music videos, just listen to the music).

At what age did you start learning how to play the flute?
About 21 or so while in transition from military to civilian life.

How did you learn how to play?
Applying my background in music theory and practice and upon finding the standard concert flute in C fingering chart.

What inspires/motivates your music?
As a photographer and graphic artist, music fulfills my innermost expressionism and experiences of beingness.

Out of all your albums which is your favorite? And why?
That’s easy! “CHANGES”, my first recording, is always my favorite because it launched me in a new direction full of possibilities.

Where do you grow up? Where do you live now?
I grow wherever I happen to be from one moment to the next. I have two homes, one in northern Sonora in an O’odham village called Chuk’saan and the other upon the Weeminuche’ Uncompahgre Plateau. Mostly, I live on airlines.

Out of all the places you have performed which was your favorite and why?
That would be craters in Volcanoes National Park on Hawai’I and later performing with Keola and Moanalani Beamer in Kamuela. My spirit comes from Polynesia.

Are you working on any projects or upcoming albums?
Yes, three but of those which will make it to Canyon Records will be discerned as each becomes finalized.

What kinds of music or artist influenced you?
Besides traditional ceremonial music of the Mojave, Chemehuevi, Yuma, Cahuilla, Hopi, Athapascans and Celts, I have always liked the music of many world cultures both old and modern.

Can you tell me about your cultural heritage?
I’m one of a number of peoples. I am born into the Red Willow people and born for the Mountain people of the Bear kiva. I am also born through my mother’s people for the Corn and Deer kivas of the Ashiwi. I also carry the blood of my ancient ancestor of the northern Spanish Celtic peoples.

If you had a chance to work with anyone you wanted whom would it be and why?
Saami, Senegalese, Mongolian, Moroccan dreamers of sound and silence. No particular individual strikes me at the moment.

Talisman is Nakai’s fifteenth studio album; the album celebrates 25 years of the Native American flute. The album will take you on a journey as it illustrates a soundscape of Native past. Nakai’s flute music in this album is not diluted with other instruments, only flute and in some songs two. The album sheds a new light on New Age music while paying homage to the heritage. You can purchase this album on Canyon Records website.

If you liked Nakai’s music, he also has a new album “Dancing into Silence” that is collaboration with William Eaton & Will Clipman. This album is different than Nakai’s solo work. “Dancing into Silence” not only has the Native American flute, but it also combines and harmonies with harp guitar and ethic percussion. In a few songs it also has some chants/prayers in the background. The album really portrays a Native soundscape and a good direction for world music. You can purchase the album on Canyon Records website

I understand this is your solo album, does this mean that Vermillion Lies broke up?
The band is on an indefinite hiatus. We are both focused on our solo projects and super excited to be doing music independently. I hope for a reunion tour someday though.

How does your music differ from Vermillion Lies?
Vastly. Vermillion Lies was part music and part cabaret. Some of our songs were genuine and many were story songs unrelated to our own lives and experiences. A lot of the songwriting was focused on comedic effect and shock value. While in Vermillion Lies I was writing a lot of the songs I play now and they didn’t quite work with the band. They were too honest. My sister and I both wanted to go in the direction of more sincere music making but its hard to change once people expect a certain thing from you. My songs are super vulnerable for me to perform. I still put a lot into my performance but in a different way… a more vulnerable and less theatrical way.

Your music is very unique if you had to put it in a genre what would you put it in?
Geek glam. Music for people who wear sequins to the library.

Who or what inspires your music?
Despite my best efforts, most of my songs are about heartbreak or heartache. Relationships are my inspiration. I don’t necessarily or exclusively mean romantic relationships. I have written many songs about friends or members of my family. They end up all sounding like love songs… which they are… just not the kind people might assume they are.

If you had a chance to work with any artist who would it be and why?
My goodness… that’s a super hard question to answer. I’m not sure I could pick just one. Andrew Bird is on the top of the list. He is incredible. Mosdef is in there. Johnny Cash if he were alive. Jona Bechtolt of YACHT and The Blow, he makes such amazing beats.

If you weren’t making music what other career path would you have chosen?
I have so many things I’d love to do. I can’t really imagine not doing exactly what I’m doing though. It keeps me sane… and also insane.

That said, I would love to focus more on prisoners rights activism. That is something I’m really passionate about and don’t have a ton of time to devote to. I have played at Folsom Prison four times in the last year. It’s been a really incredible experience to go in there. I’ve learned so much. The justice system in our country is not awesome. Its really punishment based instead of working towards rehabilitation. Its a self sustaining system with no hope of a cure the way its being run now. I could go on and on about this…

Can you walk me through your music making process?
Oh my… not really. It’s pretty random. Often there will be a line in my head for weeks and eventually there will be a tune with it and then I’ll pick up my guitar and try to figure out the chords to match the tune and then if its works and sounds good I try to write the rest of the song. Its a lot of trial and error. I’ve recently been experimenting with using just my voice to write instead of guitar. I will write and record backing vocal parts with harmonies and come up with a lead vocal to sing over it. That is really fun.

Out of all the places you have played at which was your favorite and why?
I love playing my home towns… anywhere I’ve lived and know lots of people. I get really nervous. I don’t usually get super nervous before shows so its a nice change. Its really exhilarating.

Out of all your songs which is your favorite and why?
That changes all the time. Usually my newest songs are my favorites. One that has been at the top of the list for a while is one that isn’t recorded yet. I wrote it a year and a half ago. Its called Serrated Spoon and is about a museum I build to display someone’s faults. I’m really proud of the imagery in it. “I’ll pick little parts of you out with a serrated spoon. I’ll fill jars with formaldehyde and put those parts of you inside.”

What are you looking forward to SXSW 2011?
I really loved SXSW when I went a few years ago with Vermillion Lies. Playing there is interesting because its hard not to get lost in the mix. There is so much going on. What I love is just hanging out and finding music. There is so much energy buzzing around and so much creativity. The unofficial shows are my favorite part. Every drive way, store front and back yard is hosting a show. It’s wonderful to be a part of it in any way. I’m excited to be hosting my own party this time. It’s also incredibly stressful. All the bands are really great and I can’t wait to see them all play.

Zoe’s new album called “Artichoke Perfume,” the album is catchy and enchanting. Her music sounds like a mixture between folk and pop and emulates the sound of an old vinyl record. Her lyrics will take you on a journey as she sings about heartaches and love with an array of whimsical charm she will leave you wanting more. If you want to find out more about Zoe or buy her album “Artichoke Perfume” check out her site http://www.zoeboekbinder.com/

The Noob News.com exclusive interview with Home Video

How long have you known each other and how did you meet?
We’ve known each other since freshman year of high school… so a long time. We shared an art class together and sat at the same table. We didn’t end up making music together until our last year of high school, but have been pretty much making music together ever since.

How did the band get started?
We used to play as a three person band with our friend Paul (who goes by the name Airman Our Pal) during the summer breaks in college when we would go home to New Orleans. We recorded a good amount together and played a handful of shows. We all went to school in different states, so it was hard to collaborate during the rest of the year.

Once we graduated college, David moved to New York, where Collin was . We ended up living in a brownstone in Brooklyn together and started making music together. We made three solid tracks that we felt were cohesive and started giving them to label people we knew. This was before blogs!

What inspires/motivates your music?
I think there is an immediate joy in making music that you feel proud of. That feeling is something very motivational. Also, the feeling of focusing your life and energy on something substantial. There are so many people who go through life doing things every single day that make them unhappy – all for the pursuit of money. And I think that life will catch up to you eventually.

Out of all the places you have performed which was your favorite and why?
We played Pukkelpop Festival, with Nine Inch Nails headling the festival, in Belgium a few years ago at 12 noon. We headed into it sort of exhausted from touring, and thinking that no one would be there so early. But when we came out on stage the tent we played was pretty much full, with at least 1,500 people. I remember feeling the exhaustion just evaporate, and this giddy feeling overwhelm me.

Out of all your songs, which song is your favorite and why?
I’m a big fan of Accomplished But Dead, the first track on our new album. I don’t know if it’s my favorite, but right now I’m liking it a lot.

What kinds of music or artist influenced the band?
From the old school – Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, Portishead, Massive Attack, Radiohead, Brian Eno, Bjork, Boards of Canada, The Cure. Composers like Chopin and Philip Glass have definitely left their mark on us.

But we also bonded in art class, so we have an attachment to visual art as well. Painters like Francis Bacon, Rothko, Edvard Munch. Film directors like David Lynch, Jeunet and Caro, Wong Kar Wai, Brothers Quay.

If you had a chance to work with anyone who would it be and why?
My first thought is Brian Eno. He seems endlessly creative, and insanely smart. Although, I actually haven’t thought about this question much before.

Can you walk me through your music-making process?
We utilize the computer/studio pretty heavily in our writing process. So, one of us usually will record a piece of a song, a beat, or chord progression and bring it to the other. Then each of us will add and subtract from this until there seems to be something inspiring going on.

At some point, Collin sits with the music and writes lyrics to it and susses out a melody. This usually will dictate some of the structure. Then we come back together for more refining and additions. For our latest album, The Automatic Process, we also hired our friend and drummer Jim Orso to play drums for some of the songs, which we recorded in a proper studio.

So far we’ve done all of our own mixing and production, so we’ve had months of relistening and refining mixes of songs until we feel like they’ve proven themselves to us.

How has your music evolved since your first album?
Musically, the songs have gotten thicker on this latest album. The mixes are more dense and epic. We’ve focused more on the piano also. There are more songs on The Automatic Process with live instrumentation than No Certain Night Or Morning – including more live drums.

Lyrically, the new one is more personal. There was an intention to bare something more honest in these new songs, where the first album was a little more universal.

Production-wise, we’ve gotten much more adept at everything. We have better equipment. We’ve learned how to record and mix better.

Do you have any upcoming projects or tours?
We will be playing some shows at SXSW in March (check out our website: www.homevideo.fm) and we are releasing our new album, The Automatic Process, in Europe and the UK at the end of February.