Interview- Derry Brownson (formerly of EMF)

Band: Derry Brownson- (EMF) Interviewer:Matthew Willis Date: 7-9-05

Best known for his work with the British Electro-Pop band EMF, Derry is at work on his own solo material. I was able to contact him at his home in Forest Of Dean, England to discuss the past, present, and future of his music career with him.

Opening Statement (GC): Id like to welcome Derry Brownson (keyboards/samples) formerly of the Electro-pop band EMF It is a pleasure to have you join us for an interview with Grave Concerns E-zine Website.

Opening Response (Derry): Thanks Matt for having me! I’m glad I was here to take your call!

Matt (GC) Its been a while since the main-stream world has heard from you these days. What have you been up to these days musically and otherwise?

Derry: Since EMF, I formed a band in 1996 called LK with my cousin Richard, my brother and my girlfriend. We were rehearsing in the EMF studio located in the Forest Of Dean (England). We got some songs together and got signed to Island Records probably quicker than I got signed with EMF. We went to New York to record the album. Island was a good record company for us but a lot of things changed with them and it was very short lived. From there I did a few more things with EMF and a few more small bands. I have been working on solo stuff the last two years. Really, I have pretty lazy lately Matt. By August I should have a lot more stuff recorded.

Matt (GC) Elaborate on your current music project? How would you describe it to our viewers?

Derry: I’ve been working with some guys and we do some filmic sorta hip-hop type stuff. I’ve been recording all my parts live with a bassist and that is sorta the “bread and Butter” of the songs. They have been remixing it. It’s a good cross-section of stuff that I want to do. I’ve been trying to put a live act together for a while as well as just doing stuff on my own, completely by myself as well. I am able to blend these sounds, which is pretty much what I did with EMF as well. With my new website up, I will be working to put my stuff out there……Right now, I’m compiling my music and seeing where the land lies from there…..

(Dog barks)

Matt (GC): Who is our special guest? (*laughs*)

Derry: (*laughs*) “Here Woody.”… That is “Woodstock” the dog on my website. www.dgbrownson.com

Matt (GC) Ok, take me back to the beginning of the EMF days, How did you guys meet and can you elaborate on how things escalated into being signed by a major label, radio, Mtv, fame, etc….?

Derry: Very Quickly! Everything took of so quickly! We all grew up in the same area, which is where I am at the moment (Forest Of Dean, England). It’s a pretty crazy place! There’s lots of mines and stuff underneath the ground here and this magnetic sorta something underneath the earth. It is located in Western England on the Welsh border.

But anyway, every think went very quickly with EMF. The first four songs that we wrote were “I Believe”, “Lies”, “Children”, and “Unbelievable”. Our songs seem to catch on with people well and you could imagine how fast things took off from there….I still keep in touch with all the EMF guys these days. Were all good friends.

Matt (GC) What are some memorable moments within the band and being on the road/touring etc….

Derry: Plenty! (*laughs*) One of my most memorable moments was meeting David Bowie and hanging out with him while we were doing the (David) Letterman show. He and his band were doing Saturday Night Live. They were in the next studio over and we hung out and had some mutual friends. That was really cool! The whole experience with EMF was great and I just remember good things about it. What I can remember anyway…(*laughs*)

Matt (GC) It has been over three years since the death of band-mate Zac Foley. What is his legacy to the world of music and in the world in general? Explain the impact that he had on your life….

Derry: (*pauses*) Well, he was my best friend. We knew each other since we were really young so you know…. I was very surprised when he died. There were a lot of press in the newspapers and stuff. It took me a while to look on the EMF website to see what everyone was saying about him. I still can’t really believe it. (*pauses*) That’s really all I can manage to say about it. He was good guy and a great friend as well…

Matt(GC) What are some of your hobbies outside of music?

Derry: I should have more hobbies really…Gardening! I’m getting into gardening. I went through a phase where I bought a race car and got involved in racing. We would go down to racetracks and I stayed in a little place in Oxford which is owned by these guys that run racing teams. They do Sebring and Daytona and stuff. That is what I would do with a few friends. It is an expensive hobby! When I lived in California, I used to race out there as well. It’s a rich man’s sport though. It’s a chance to get in a few cars and do something a little bit dangerous….

Matt(GC) Is there anything you would like to say to your fans and our viewers out there?

Derry: Yeah, I’m going to be updating the sight more in the upcoming days so check out the site www.dgbrownson.com and I will being giving everyone update on my music as well. Best of luck to everyone through out the year….

Closing Statement Matt (GC): thanks so much. I really enjoyed talking with you!

Closing response (Derry): Thanks Matt! I appreciate your call. Talk to you soon mate!

EMF- Releases