Interview: Under Dusken Magazine 1995
Under Dusken (Norwegian newspaper) on November 22, 1995.
The british band EMF are on their way up again, after some years on low activity. They will not write a new "Unbelievable", but do hope for a new hit-single. During UKA they performed with Seigmen in "Cirkusteltet". During the break between the show and the saturday night party on "Samfundet", Ian Dench takes some time to meet the press. He is the one who writes the songs for the group. As to add, he plays guitar.
He´s worn out after the concert, but has got the warmth to his body at last, after the cold, Norwegian November night. In spite of the cold, he´s in a good mood.
-The new material are very exciting. For the first time ever, we agree of which musical direction we should go for. Before, everyone in the band wanted to show what they new musically. I think it shows on our last album. The audience got confused of all the shiftings between styles.
The first single from their new album, "Cha Cha Cha", are the Beastie Boys-sounding "Perfect Day". The tempo is quick and funk inspired, and this is the line EMF will follow to get to the hitlist´s top again. The original meaning of the group´s name, Epson Mad Funkers, tells that the band always have been a little funky. But they don´t originate from Epson.
-We just called us that to get the bizarre element in our music into the picture, says Ian.
-We´ve been playing together for five years now, and at last have learned what we´re in to. Now I can say that we´re good musicians. Finally we managed to take care of the problems that appeared with our success. We hadn´t existed as a band for more than a couple of months when we suddenly got a record deal. We were totaly unprepared of all the fuss. Naturally enough, we change a bit now and then. The important thing is that we´re doing our own thing. You should be an "original" to make it. The things described as "hot" are constantly changing.
EMF originates from a small town in the English countryside. The kids hadn´t much to do except playing in bands, and everyone was involved in musical projects.
-I also like the dance-music for the same reason. Everyone can do it. The most things regarding EMF in the music press are infantile ideas, which Ian is fed up reading about.
-The english music press only write about scandals and not our music, which I think it´s more natural to talk about. Of course we party as other people, but do not run around beating people up.
He is also tired of british musicpress, which tends to ditch bands that they have been a part of building up.
-The best thing to do, is try to ignore music tabloids such as Melody Maker and NME, and play the music you´ve been listening to. You can not rely on the press.