We’ve featured Error Operator on these pages a few times over the past couple of years; most recently for his majestic reworking of the John Legend acapella version of ‘Rolling In The Deep.
Fresh from a strong performance at Hideout Festival in Croatia we’ve finally managed to catch up for an informal interview. Here is how it went:
Cougar Microbes: What time did you wake up today? Was it out of choice or necessity?
Error Operator: 8:54am, I usually wake up quite early, I write alot at night so don’t often get that much sleep
CM: Describe Error Operator to the uninitiated?
EO: Error Operator is an electronic artist & producer from London who strives in constructing ethereal & alluring sounds.
CM: How do you kill time on the road, hobbies?
EO: I try and catch up with sleep, besides that you’ll catch me on Logic or in my own world with headphones on.
CM: What have been your favourite venues to play? Any Venues you hated?
EO: Hideout Festival was pretty awesome, it was my first show as Error Operator as I have been amazingly busy writing etc, clear blue sea, sunshine & on the same bill as artists like Eric Prydz and Simian Mobile Disco, what more could you want from your first gig.
CM: Is there a song you are simply sick of doing live?
EO: No way, I always listen to my own music, not in an arrogant sort of way, more because I also make the music I want to hear.
CM: What is the songwriting process like for Error Opeator. Also, Are you able to write on the road or do you do this in your off time?
EO: I am constantly writing away, tapping out a beat or humming a melody, If I am on the road I just have to repeat it until I am back in the studio, then it becomes a reality.
CM: Favourite Error Operator track and why?
EO: I am writing alot of new material right now and have been working with a band called We The Committee, they provided vocals for a track called Delay which is currently 19 plays in my iTunes.
CM: If you could record any cover what would it be?
EO: I recently did a cover of ‘Enjoy The Silence‘ by Depeche Mode with Harry from Waylayers, it got alot of great feedback so I was very happy with the result.
CM: Do your songs go through many revisions via demo recordings?
EO: Not really, alot of my new music is quite progressive, it has melodies and harmonies but also includes the same aspects as some dance music, it’s a nice combination to have, I feel like I have found a middle ground with all of my influences etc.
CM: What came first, the beat or the melody?
EO: For me it was the melody, definitely the melody.
CM: What are your views on auto tune?
EO: Depends how it’s used, I am a big fan of pitch shifted vocals when working with samples etc but I think that there are alot of people out there against it, I’m so easy when it comes to music, everyone needs to chill out and enjoy the end product, if it’s not to your taste then find something new, easy.
CM: Any other band/bands from your local scene we really should know about?
EO: Not really local, there is to much to choose from, but at the moment in general I am really into The Weeknd, such good night time music. Also a guy called Ifan Dafydd is creating some cool tracks.
CM: Most flattering thing you’ve read about yourselves?
EO: I’ve read a few things that were quite flattering, I can’t remember anything specific but it’s floating around the web.
CM: What was the first record/tape/cd you ever bought?
EO: This is one of those questions I don’t like that much, mainly because I don’t remember. I think the first record I ever bought with my own money was a garage compilation.
CM: What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
EO: ‘Blue Cassette‘ by Friendly Fires, AMAZING TRACK.
CM: What was the last show you paid and queued up for?
EO: I went to see Yuksek at XOYO a few weeks back, I didn’t queue, but I had to pay.
CM: If you had to bring on artist back from the dead in exchange for sending a living artist down ,which artists would it be and why?
EO: HAHA, HARSH. I wouldn’t want to kill off anyone really, I would want to bring back Gil Scott-Heron, such a great loss to music and I only discovered him about three years ago.
Error Operator is working on a collaboration EP with the band We The Committee called ‘Aurora‘ as well as finalising his own new album
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