Marc Houle Interview

Marc talks Minus and his musical journey from 70s computer game bleeps to techno.

Windsor, Canada may sound like an unlikely haven for techno talent, but having nurtured both Marc Houle and Richie Hawtin, there must be something in the water there! Yet another talent signed to the mighty Minus, Marc Houle’s love of old school computer games grew into an obsession with using these sounds in his productions, and the result is techno that’s stripped back yet at the same time bursting with energy. He jumped into the limelight a couple of years back with his massive ‘Bay of Figs’ track, and has continued to impress clubbers around the world with his laptop-live performances. With his set alongside Layo & Bushwacka! in The End’s main room approaching, Marc Houle sat down to answer some interview questions for endclub.com.

Endclub.com: You’re part of the extended Minus family, and it’s one of the few record labels that actually seems very much like a family – is that the case?

Marc Houle: Yes we are like a sort of electro Addams family; the reason being that we were pretty much all friends before we were in Minus. There is nothing like having a close network of like-minded friends to bounce ideas off, or call in crisis situations and to just have a great time hanging out with. Sounds sappy but it's a reality - being in a foreign city with a foreign lifestyle is tough to deal with alone.

How did you hook up with Richie and co? Didn’t Magda move into your flat and start bossing you around?!

Well actually yes haha! Magda and I were both DJs at Rich [Hawtin]'s club in Windsor - me playing more new wave and electronic music. She was trying to get the sounds from in her head onto the decks so we started working together to turn my new wave Moog solo creations into something that she could play out at clubs. We taught each other a lot about music and nothing's really changed.

You seem deeply into your old school computers and equipment – does this stem from too much time playing games on an Atari as a kid?

I think something happened in the mid 70s when my parents brought home Pong - those blips really hit hard. Then the following decade of excessive Commodore 64-ing pretty much anchored my fascination. Those sounds were just so different from everything else. Plus back then, getting computer time initially was pretty rare, so when you did get the chance to interface, you felt a sort of privilege to be hearing those electronic sounds.

Have you ever been tempted to go full circle and write the soundtrack for a videogame?

Yeah I think I missed the chance now though - I mean soundtracks these days are just crazy trance songs or teeny punk songs. Regardless, I would still love to do something of course haha!

Who would win in a fight between Sonic and Mario?

I think Mario would pull through - but it would take him three tries. I am very partial to Nintendo.

You’ve often cited Iron Maiden as one of your influences! How do you incorporate heavy metal influences into minimal techno?

Well I guess it would be all about song structure. Believe it or not there is actually structure in techno music. So how they arrange parts, do chord changes, extend certain parts - they were melody masters! More people need to visit 22 Acacia Avenue.

During the celebrations for Minus’s 10th anniversary, there were 10 weeks of silence planned, not only with no releases, but also with no gigs from any of the Minus artists. Did you follow the rules or was there any sly cheating going on?

Oh, I took those 10 weeks off - I definitely needed it!

What did you do with your 10 weeks of silence?

Basically everything that I don’t have time to do during the rest of the year. Lots of experimenting! I was trying out new styles and sounds - real instruments, old synths that I haven't touched in years, different effects - working with Magda a lot. She is my guide so it's tough when she is always on the road and unable to help me in the studio. As a label, we had lots of meetings about technology, music, live sets, albums and the upcoming year. So it was very energising.

When can we expect from the next Marc Houle release, now the silence is up?

Well my goal this year is to make my first full length album. So hopefully once the smoke clears from all this experimentation, I will have something that is different from my older stuff.

Your ‘Bay of Figs’ track was absolutely massive! Did you expect it to have such a huge impact?

No not really - I mean I never really expect anything from any of my tracks - I just really make songs for my friends Magda, Troy [Pierce] and Rich to DJ out. I am happy when they like them and play them because that means I am on the right track. Anything else is a bonus. It would be great if it could cross over enough to other genres and lure eager listeners to our sound of course!

You seem to be involved in plenty of other side projects too – La Folie, Raid on Moscow, 2VM…anything else going on we should know about?

When I am at home I tend to listen to old electronic stuff from the 70s and 80s and rarely do I listen to modern techno music. Those projects are more of an avenue for my techno-pop synth desires - I get to use my favourite machines that don't always fit in with techno. La Folie is new wave with Joaquim Dos Santos, Raid over Moscow is more techno-pop with a super talented nerd Aymeric Mansoux with Laure singing and 2VM is more minimal indie early 80s electronica with Veronica Vasicka.

Who should we be watching out for in 2008?

Heartthrob and Troy Pierce have been working like madmen in the studio on albums. I think they are going to be really inspiring for other artists. I mean after I heard them I was compelled to go into my studio and record in excess. Kind of like when I would see a great band play live and want to leave half way through their set to go work on music myself. But then again, I am partial to Nintendo.

Published: 31/03/2008

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