Anthony J. Resta is keeping Rise N Shine up-to-date with Nuno’s new album, from pre-production onwards. The first interview went a bit off-track into a (very enjoyable) dicussion about music, which I had to edit for the sake of space; and the second interview was to quickly get the latest info before the mag went to press. We’ll hear more when the recording process is underway...

Interviews by Alison Cummings

Monday 8 June 1998
Un-Started Symphony

Anthony, what have you been doing since Schizophonic?
“I have been really busy, I spent nearly two months mixing Medazzaland, Duran Duran’s latest with Bob St.John. I added a lot of interesting sounds and played live drums and rhythm programming for most of the album. It’s been critically well-received but sales-wise it hasn't done so well. Also spent two months working with Nuno and Suze on her solo debut, along with guitarist Dave Leslie and engineer Carl Nappa on this wonderful 128 farm in North Brookfield called Longview Farm. It’s a legendary studio, the Stones spent some time there and they actually built them a full size stage in the barn. The main room is in a hundred year old barn, but its all done nicely, game room, excercise room, sauna, jacuzzi. Although we didn't use any of it because we would work from 12 noon to 2am. It went well and we are very excited about the outcome. Its really interesting and retro and modern at the same time. Very hard to explain. But it’s her favorite record that she’s done so far. I did a lot of vintage sythesiser stuff and some grungy beats etcetera. It doesn't come off as electronica, but more of a pop/rock album. It does sneak out here and there though, if you’re familiar with what I do you will hear plenty of it. Also, I just returned from five weeks with Collective Soul in Miami and Atlanta and had an unbelievable experience, they were very receptive to my input, and let me create cool rhythm beds and interesting soundscapes, on a number of songs. I ended up working on eight and hope to go back down and help with the mixes at some point. Bob St. John is mixing in Atlanta Other things I’ve worked on since Schizo, a single for Letters To Cleo and a single for a band from New York, New York called Shelter. Formerly "Youth Of Today", did some techno/opera trip-hop stuff with a great singer from Germany named Deborah Sasson. I worked with this great keyboardist Jeff Calder on that. On one song Nuno played some really cool guitar noise also. It is supposed to come out on BMG eventually. I have to mention the Mudhens, and Annette Kramer as well. I collaborated with a great singer from Boston, Michael Troy and we have written two songs that have appeared on Melrose Place. Sort of cheesey but its kinda cool as well, to hear songs you've written on national TV. I better shut up now. I am leaving out some important clients and I worry they will read this and think they aren't important to me and that’s not the case, I work just as hard on local demos as I do on the major label stuff. I guess I have been working fairly non-stop since Schizo.”

Good to hear. How are you feeling about working with Nuno again?
“I love working with him, his boundless energy and enthusiasm never make for boring sessions. We learn things when we work together, we are always being influenced by new things and they rub off on each other.”

Do you know what he has in store, song-wise?
“I have heard about ten contenders and we have written a couple of others, so there is a lot to work on.”

Any ideas what you'll be doing with the material, or will it all evolve in the studio? That is, will the album be pretty much a creative partnership between you - or does Nuno have a firm vision of what he wants to do?
“A lot will evolve in the studio but he has a pretty clear vision of what he wants it to be. I think Extreme fans will love it because he’s playing more guitar in a funky, rootsy way. Organic but more back to where he comes from, great classic funk-rock riffs! On songs we write together it’s more of a shared vision [and] on lots of songs he has them mapped out already and we just have to see how they evolve.”

When do you start your work with Nuno?
“Pre-production has begun [choosing songs, etc]. We are doing some construction at my studio, a 1300 square foot brick and beam loft with 20 foot high ceilings in a hundred year old mill. I call it Bopnique Musique. A majority of the record will be recorded there.”

And so how long do you imagine the recording process will take?
“It took about seven weeks to finish Suze’s record, so that would be the minimum amount. But I am sure he has a fall deadline,
if not sooner.”

Saturday 4 July 1998
The Latest News

WHERE ARE THEY AT?

“We are still working on arrangements and song selection, we just recorded drums for one song so far. Things got pushed back a bit with the shows in England, and me having to go back to Atlanta again to finish up the Collective Soul stuff.”


WHAT SHAPE IS IT TAKING?

“Very guitar heavy, but cool innovative funky riffs that Nuno is known for pushed to a new level.”


POSSIBLE VIBES AND TITLES?

“In general it’s more uptempo than Schizo. Song titles are still evolving.”


WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

“I have to go back to Atlanta on Tuesday to finish the Collective Soul stuff. When I get back we will jump in to full scale recording, and work straight through the rest of the summer.”