Artist profile: Gert Emmens
By Glenn Folkvord

Electronic Shadows: What are your musical influences, and what is it about them that you like?

Gert Emmens: I'm influenced by the so called Berlin School, and especially by Tangerine Dream, from 1973 until about Logos Live. What I like about their music are the sequences, the harmonics and the way they improvised.

Electronic Shadows: Do you have other influences in your music, beside other artists?

Gert Emmens: Symphonic rock (progressive rock) from the early seventies and some influences of classical music. People say that I have an own style in how my harmonics are built up, I'm not sure where that comes from....

Electronic Shadows: Tell us about your background for becoming a musician.

Gert Emmens: I have to mention my Dad. He was a musician himself and stimulated me in everything that had to do with making music in one way or another. I started playing organ at a very young age (about 8 years old) and started playing drums when I was 12. My first band started in 1976 (in which I was playing organ and drums), influenced by Schulze, Tangerine Dream, Pink Floyd, Genesis. Since then, I've always been a keyboardplayer and a drummer.

Electronic Shadows: What are you trying to achieve in your music?

Gert Emmens: People loving my music is for me the most important thing. My music is something in which I express my feelings, and I am very happy to see that other people like it.

Electronic Shadows: Do you have any specific composing technique?

Gert Emmens: No not particular. Sometimes I start with a sequence, sometimes with harmonics, sometimes with a soundeffect.

Electronic Shadows: Describe your latest album.

Gert Emmens: My latest album 'Obscure Movements In Twilight Shades' has 4 long tracks. It was written specially for my concert at E-live on the 27th of September 2003. The music is a combination of influences of the Berlin School with my own harmonics. The album is more rhythmic than its predecessor 'Wanderer Of Time'.

Electronic Shadows: How is your studio set-up?

Gert Emmens: MAM MB33, Roland DC1, Roland VS1, EMU Vintage Keys Plus, Yamaha AN1x (two of them), Korg Wavestation EX, Yamaha CS-30, Yamaha SY-85, Hohner String Melody II, Moog Satelitte, Korg MS-2000, Arp Pro Soloist, Moog Sonic 6, Moog Minimoog, Moog Polymoog, Boss-DR-660, Elka Solist 505. Mixer: Roland M480, JVC monitors, Emagic MT4 MIDI-interface PC: Pentium III 880 mhz, Cubase, many plug-ins for soundeffects etc. etc.

Electronic Shadows: What do you prefer in a synth, or softsynth?

Gert Emmens: I love synths that sound characteristic. The Minimoog is one of my alltime favourites. I have tried many softsynths, but I don't like the virtual tweeking of the virtual knobs. Some synths I like for their endless possibilities, the Korg Wavestation for instance.

Electronic Shadows: What do you think of today's electronic music?

Gert Emmens: I'm sorry, I hardly listen to today's electronic music. Shame on me!

Electronic Shadows: Why do you think electronic music has not gained a wider popularity after having been around for 30 years now?

Gert Emmens: I really have no idea. Perhaps for many people the Electronic Music generally is too monotone, too boring?

Electronic Shadows: What do you see as the future of electronic music?

Gert Emmens: I hope there will be a future for electronic music.... I'm not sure there will be. Electronic music is not going very well lately, so I'm very curious about where this will end.

Electronic Shadows: Why do you think every person on earth has a relationship to music?

Gert Emmens: That's a difficult question for me to answer. Has every person on earth a relationship with music? Perhaps. I think for one person music is much more important than for another. I know people who never listen to music! Personally, for me music is the most important thing in my life.

Electronic Shadows: What do you do when you are not playing or listening to music?

Gert Emmens: Paying attention to my wife and son ;-), going to the movies, going out with friends, reading books and magazines.

Electronic Shadows: What is your favourite food, and colour?

Gert Emmens: Food: I don't have a favourite food, I like many. I love to try food that I have never had before. Colour: Blue

Electronic Shadows: If you were not doing music, what do you think you would be doing in terms of a job or hobby?

Gert Emmens: I would be collecting stamps. No! Just kidding. I guess, I would do something else in which I can express my feelings, probably painting or drawing or something. And I have a job, besides making music.

Electronic Shadows thanks Gert for taking the time to do the interview.