An interview with Apathy in Motion (Roger Erickson), Mar 2003
What is the short story behind Apathy in Motion?
Apathy In Motion is a band name I use fir music that I do solo. That way I can get Ideas into a music for that would otherwise stay silent because of band members throwing their input in. Quite selfish really... :) I have been playing/programming synths for about 13years now and AIM became the channel for most of that music. The first show Apathy In Motion played was in 1995 and there have been a few shows here and there since. Mostly AIM just records and releases music via friends or over the internet.
What other bands are you involved with?
Outside of AIM I play with a as of yet un-named band that consists of myself, Justin Campbell and a amazing musician/guitarist Mathew Keller.
You have contributed quite a few high quality remixes at the OMD covers site as well. How and why did you get into remixing.
I started remixing when I was 15, mostly cut and past ordeals involving an old reel to reel. I had not done any remixing from about 1992 until1999, then I started up again. The first real new remix I did was Genetic Engineering. I had a cool loop and just kind of synched it up to the original song. At that point, to remix anything I had to edit the song down into small wav files consisting of about 2 measures of the song at a time. That way I could synch a beat pretty good to the tune. As my comfort ability with the software and programming evolved I was able to do more complex remixes.
How long have you been an OMD fan?
My first OMD purchase that got me hooked was "Forever Live and Die" Still a huge favorite song for me.
What is the story behind recording this OMD cover?
Woman 3 has for me always seemed to be the stand out track on Crush, I love the slight swing to the song, and the lyrics are very poignant. The version on the CD went through many incarnations. At first it was a carbon copy of the original, then I had to start from scratch again due to a hard drive failure. But that gave me the insight to go in a new direction. After the song was recorded and after a few failed self vocal takes, I was glad to know that Bob Hanley would be nice enough to supply vocals for the track.
[Jim's note: I have one of Roger's failed vocal attempts and I will sell it to the highest bidder]
What other bands do you admire?
My music tastes have evolved over the years, I suppose that's due to maturing. But the main influences would be: OMD, Depeche Mode, Erasure, New Order, The Smiths, Thethe, Echo and the Bunnymen, Pet Shop Boys, The Mils Brothers, Rachmaninoff, Front242.....etc..
Have you also covered or remixed any of these bands?
I have done remixes of Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, New Order and a few others. Funny thing about the Depeche Mode remixes though, I did some in 1996 and gave them out to a few DJ's. Well, the next thing I know I go to buy a Depeche CD called "Ultra Rare Trax" and low and behold my remixes ore on there, and no credit given. In fact the CD claims that they are "unreleased" versions of the songs. Oh well.
What are the future plans for Apathy In Motion/Roger Erickson?
The next big thing will of course be the Radiowaves concert in London in August. This will be a dream come true to me to be playing at this show. I feel very honored to be invited to play alongside such amazing talent. Also the band I'm currently in are in the process of recording songs for an EP (or if there ends up being enough quality songs an Album) for release hopefully by summer.
"We Love You" is a CD by and for OMD fans. Tell us a story regarding an experience as OMD fan. Anything funny, interesting, weird, etc.?
Getting to stop and chat with Paul Humphries after a show in Salt Lake City, that would be a highlight. The after show experiences would kind of be the low point, after chatting with Paul My friends Gregg and Eliza went back to the car, only to find out that the headlights on the car were dead. Now this is at 10 at night in a not so great part of town 350 miles from home with my Wife and newborn daughter waiting for us to get home. So we basically limped the car to a hotel and Gregg and I got a double bed room and then snuck Eliza in the back door. Then I had to call home and explain to my wife why I was at a hotel with Gregg and Eliza..... needless to say all that grief was just to see some OMD songs played Live... now you tell me, is that not being a Fan?!
Jim Shilts
Roger Erickson:
Roger resides in Utah and is one of the original and most downloaded artists on the OMD covers page. Check out more of his work in the remix section, and see him perform live at Radiowaves in August.