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 Of course, to a lot of people of a certain
generation, it was the first and only time that they had heard of
High Wycombe.
Howard: [laughs] That's where I lived during that time. Me
and my wife Jan had an end-of-terrace house in the bad side of town!
It was great for us. I used to keep my gear in the front room which
was about 10 foot from the road. Each time I did a gig, my banana-coloured
Escort van would pull up and block the traffic for as long as we
were loading!
The synth act is in decline! Why do you think
that's happened. Afterall, electronic music is as popular as ever?
Howard: I think it takes a different form if you think of
people like BT. It's more rooted in the dance world these days.
I always thought of myself as an artist who wrote songs and used
synths. It wasn't like I used synths and stuck some songs on top.
Most people who are involved in electronic music now go into the
dance world.
Didn't you renounce synthesizers a few years
back?
Howard: I've done every kind of manifestation of my music.
I've done a big band with brass sections and string. Plus piano
and percussion. Most recently has been purely synth again and the
things I've just finished is all piano. It's whatever is getting
me excited, really.
You do a lot for your fanbase. You create
special CDs at live events, etc.
Howard: I've put out about an album a year. I have a very
active website and I'm involved with lots of other people via my
label. But I want to set aside time for my own work too.
Last year you performed on the 'Hear and Now'
tour. Did it feel like selling out?
Howard: I thought it was great to be playing the big venues
again. I hadn't done that for a while. I did it completely with
my own setup so I felt that I wasn't compromising. I was really
happy to do it. It was really good fun. The audiences loved it and
I felt that it was the right thing to do. It wasn't
selling out, just doing what you do on your own terms.
No
rivalry between the acts. There was a very good feeling between
people. As time goes by, we learn that there's no competition between
people and we were just enjoying each other's company. I was with
Martin Fry, Tony Hadley and the guys from China Crisis. We got on
extremely well.
So what are you up to at the moment?
Howard: I sort of do sporadic gigs. I'm about to go to New
York to do some acoustic shows for a friend who used to run a club
there. Nena ['99 Red Balloons'] is doing a big tour of Germany at
the end of March so I'm going to do some songs on stage with her
- she's a great lady. Then I shall be working with the Sugababes
again on their next album.
Is it true that you wrote for their last album?
Howard: Yeah. It's called 'Blue' and it's the second track
on their album. Me and my team produced it as well. I really think
those girls are fantastic.
So, what is love?
Howard: [laughs] Well the third verse of the song is the
key! Maybe love is just letting people be what they want to be.
The door must always be left unlocked...
For
more pearls of wisdom, check out Howard's official website at
(The
´óÏó´«Ã½ is not responsible for the content of external websites)
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