Giorgio Moroder talks first album in 30 years and embracing modern technologyGiorgio Moroder News Wired Italy 050814

Giorgio Moroder talks first album in 30 years and embracing modern technology

The last time Giorgio Moroder released an album of his own, the year was 1985. Exactly three decades later, the disco icon is on the verge of solidifying his return to music with another full-length project. Breaking ground with this generation on a Daft Punk appearance, the gates re-opened for Giorgio to explore modern dance. Having done so, he now readies ‘Deja Vu,’ where disco-era dance meets today’s hottest sounds with featured artists from Sia to Britney Spears. We caught up with Moroder to talk his return 30 years in the making, catching up on technology and more. 

What was your vision approaching a brand new album?

At the very beginning, we wanted to do something in the disco style but I thought I had done enough pure disco. We’ve got a good combination of dance music and violins, guitars and drums for something like EDM with a retro touch.

Who are you working with, production wise?

I have several guys in Germany I call when I need, they’re really good with electronics. Some stuff was done in London, most was done in Los Angeles where I have a few musicians who are really good and different that made for a nice combination.

You’ve been working with Lady Gaga?

With Lady Gaga, that’s an idea. I was supposed to meet her recently but couldn’t. I’m going to meet with her soon, sit down and start coming up for a song. That will be for her album. I’d love to have her do a song for mine but that’s not going to happen.

What made you want to return to making music?

I started to do DJing because we got gig offers. After that I got an offer from a record company in Europe but didn’t really like it, so I passed on that. There was the big hit with Daft Punk that opened the American interest. From there I got record company offers and finally decided to go with RCA because I love their artist roster.

What are the similarities or differences in music being made today vs 30 years ago?

I think EDM right now… first of all I love it, sounds are great. The whole quality of not only the recording, but the sounds, the power of the drums, everything is so much better than back them. We had some great melodies, and the time being it was a great sound. Now the sounds are so well done.

How have you seen the changes in regards to technology?

I’m not saying it’s totally different, but quite a lot. Now basically in the computer with all the technical help. You can add some retro sound, strings, guitars, saxophone brass. It’s great right now because you can get a full session and add some stuff. Helps with variety.

Will there be any analog recording on the new album?

New music isn’t really analog. I don’t believe if you do a drum set on analog that it changes too much. I like the digital sound. It’s really clean, really nice. If I wanted an analog sound on the drum I can do it easily, record it digitally and put the analog filters in, no one would know the difference anyway.

With the barrier of entry being lower today, do you think it takes away from creativity?

I think that the music programs today are so great and so easy to work wit if you don’t want to go into extreme detail. If you know a little bit about computers it can take a week to make a song. It helps the kids who are talented, the ones that in my time would not be able to record a song because of the costs. About 30-40 years ago, analog, would cost around $4,000 to do a song. Quite a lot of money. Now tracks can be done for basically nothing.

What music are you listening to regularly to keep on the pulse?

Since I’m producing an album in the dance mode, I listen to all the dance hits around the world. I go up and down the Billboard Top 100, the UK charts, German charts, I see what the Australian and French are doing.

What would an original fan of the disco-era think of the new album?

Disco fans wouldn’t be upset, they’d say ‘ok this is the new sound, you still have a bit of disco’ I think they’d be quite happy.

 

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