David Sylvian interviewed (pt. 1)

A Q & A with David Sylvian upon the release of 'Secrets of the beehive'.

[@kirstinmazzy]

Aw, this lovely man stayed at my parents house as he was chums with my brother and he was so lovely

[@agnescouvreur3766]

Lucky you !

[@sarasen8147]

wow!

[@teresaroberts5907]

I have been a fan since I was 15 years old of Japan/David Sylvian. I listened to "Nightporter" as a 15 year old, I will always love their music. Beautiful.

[@justinebourke2811]

How honoured and blessed you are to had had his ethereal essence in any measure, so close to you.. though once you let his feeling in from his beautiful art, then his essence is in your soul forever.

[@alwaysinseptember11]

tell us more omg

[@Rickyroo1980]

I'm very new to Japan and have only just started listening to Sylvian's solo work and I have to say I'm absolutely loving it, the production is so unique and inventive and the music is lush, very addictive and it all instantly grabs me

[@ajs41]

I remember being new to Japan a few years ago, and being blown away by albums like Tin Drum and Oil On Canvas. Those two are probably my favourite albums of all time. Gentlemen Take Polaroids is pretty good as well. I like his solo work to a certain extent, but haven't really got into it yet. Maybe when I'm a bit older I'll appreciate it more.

[@Becsturf]

@@ajs41 ds solo material is the best!!!!

[@JamboLinnman]

Better late than never. I’ve been a huge fan since 1980 and Quiet Life is my favourite album of all time but love everything the band did from that point forward as well as David’s solo work and collaborations, especially with Ryuichi Sakamoto.

[@robertmcafee4680]

Nice South London accent. I love Japan, I love Sylvian and his music.. very good artist,

[@ajs41]

Not many people talk like this in Lewisham these days.

[@blackmore4]

Haha, true... bruv. Difficult to imagine Sylvian in Lewisham back then. Impossible now.

[@paddymulligan]

Nod Arf

[@Thedirtinyoureye]

His accent could've shaped into something else due the places he used to travel (mostly Australia, London, San Francisco and NY)​@@ajs41

[@bemyart90]

Thanks for posting. David has such a charming voice.

[@kentborges5114]

David Sylvian is an AMAZING musician and artist.

[@mandykelly9968]

Brilliant they'll never be bands like that again like the 80s

[@dasist3321]

My idol, Japan nurtured me through my youth and the quiet life album had such positive energy that possessed and guided

[@annecopeland2628]

me as well. ;-) peace, my friend

[@dasist3321]

@@annecopeland2628 peace to you too.

[@badcatrosy]

I think that's true for so many of us, it certainly is for me.

[@TeddyPomPom]

What a great interview. Thanks for uploading

[@SOUNDsculptures]

Interesting to hear him speak of what Harold Bloom called the 'anxiety of influence' in the arts.

[@DameHaha2011]

Can't believe this is from the 80s, the quality is amazing!

[@adammeredith2117]

David sounds just like David. He is a music style - like Rock, Funk, Trip Hop, David Sylvian, Ambient ...

[@indiareed]

Listening to this interview was such a treat, thank you so much for posting this.

[@GreySunday29]

Ah the 80's. takes you back to halcyon days

[@TheDaddyO44]

Lovely to hear. My favourite Sylvian era

[@Stacity]

I thought that was a stupid question about why the band looked the way they did at the time because of the New Romantic movement. David looked amazing like a boy version of Marlyn Munro .

[@robincoleman6098]

a brilliant interview

[@mobiuspaw494]

Brilliant Trees, his first solo album , still sounds timeless. Could be released tomorrow and would stand relevant.

[@Donato-nj4xt]

VERAMENTE POCHI ARTISTI COSÌ... C'È COME IL MAESTRO SAKAMOTO LO HA CERCATO, CHE A CHI HA DETTO NO, PERCHÉ DOVETE SAPERE CHE SILVIAN DELLA MUSICA GIÀ PRONTA, DEGLI ARRANGIAMENTI GIÀ COLLAUDATI NON SA CHE FARSENE, LUI LA MUSICA, LA NOTA, IL SUONO, LO DEVE "" PARTORIRE""... LUI

[@dixgun]

Their dad was in construction, it sounds like. Both Steve and David have an ease at constructing rhythms and noise. Lewisham always seems pleasant. When I hear or read his words regarding identity, at some point the song ‘Running Away,’ by Sly & The Family Stone is thought of. Searching for freedom from anything is something many of us can relate to.

[@heyswampy]

This is a fantastic interview. It's funny. Usually artists when they're younger sound more pretentious when they speak about their work or about whatever. In this interview, he sounds relaxed and like a nice guy. Whereas interviews he's done in the last 10 years, DS really comes off like a humorless, self-important snob. Go figure.

[@Westlake72]

Good Hair.

[@DonHaka]

He had a very different voice here compared to later and earlier interviews.

[@louiseminton2239]

Hath merged with bhuddist master of nyingoma oldest school in Tibet via dreamscape visions of incarnationbaby Jewel of the Intelligent mind sending g you and SJ infinite love

[@ajs41]

I guess this is from November 1987.

[@StofStuiver]

David, Japan, the music, was and is still great. Aswell as a lot of your solo albums. I cherish them. And im not some idiot hyped fan. Ive made music myself, composed too. Not many popbands have differing keys in the same song. You know that, right? Its not like you wrote music for the average person; popmusic. Which is why you never scored a real hit (except for adolescent sex somewhat, which is from actually the first and lesser album). You wouldnt have scored a hit, ever, bc your music is too difficult for most. But people that know music, will appreciate it. You, Mick and so will be remembered, while most of the others will be forgotten. Even though they may have scored huge hits. It means nothing. Ive always said that i consider your solo work as modern, classical music. Cant get better than that m8.

[@hardiestgirl2012]

Million thanks for sharing this with us! oxoxo

[@mikaelvasararadiopromo9758]

svensk interjuv

[@Kenszen]

Where the 2nd part of this interview?

[@ria.6815]

Japan were my world as a teen

[@louiseminton2239]

Martians no take

[@emilereynaud]

It's because I don't find the others parts :ox

[@Nibster213]

This is really good, how old is it?

[@markkeogh18]

I find it strange that 10 times as many people watched this first part of the interview as have watched the following sections. Why would this be? Was the first part too boring to interest people in parts 2, 3 etc. ? Surely not.

[@sophiafake-virus2456]

Where are the other parts?

[@harveytg]

To be so self-regarding and so ordinary at the same time is a truly remarkable achievement.

[@AlejandraRafa]

Oh, you found one video in which you hadn't commented yet... congratulations!

[@ajs41]

David Sylvian was pretty amazing on albums like Tin Drum and Oil on Canvas, and therefore I wouldn't describe him as ordinary.