per0846-philchang

8:46 PM

Electric Violinist Extraordinaire

words by
Eva Way
photos by
Will Cloughley

Phil Inje Chang, and interviewer Eva Way

Netcast reporter Eva Way catches Phil Chang between contributions to the ambience of the Be-In.

DBN: What is that thing?

Phil Chang: A custom-built, 5-string electric violin, semi-solid body.

DBN: What kind of music is that - what you're playing tonight?

Phil Chang: Oh, I hate to put a label on it. I would say meditative music with a beat.

DBN: How long have you been playing?

Phil Chang: 26 years, not in a dedicated way.

DBN: What kind of exposure have you had to non-western music?

Phil Chang: I love Indian music and Balinese gamelan, both of which I have played. Both are a real stretch for Western ears.

DBN: When did you fall in love with music and realize that you had a desire to express yourself that way?

Phil Chang: It was part of my adolescent angst period when I wanted to be accepted more as an artist than a person. Since then it's been a form of instant gratification in my busy life.

DBN: What do you think is exciting that's going on in music today?

Phil Chang: Not too much, except the attempts to integrate various kinds of ethnic music. Often times, though, that can be fairly shallow. I like Philip Glass, King Crimson, that Celtic singer Loreena McKennit, generally sincere artists pushing the envelope.

DBN: What do you think is exciting that's going on in technology and the computer industry today?

Phil Chang: Further advances in sequencers for real-time performance, easier levels of MIDI, better/cheaper samplers, cheaper recording to disk, online streaming transmission of audio, better sound fidelity in camcorders and portable DAT, etc.

DBN: How would you spend your time if you never had to worry about making money again?

Phil Chang: Doing art -- writing, painting, playing music. I would also get back in shape!