«When Inspiration Comes, You Ride the Wave» : Morcheeba Talks Music, Memories, and Their Kazakhstan Debut

In an interview with STEPPE, Ross Godfrey, co-founders of the British brand Morcheeba, reflected on the band’s upcoming first show in Kazakhstan on September 4 at «Park Live Almaty», the song he believes captures their sound best, what has stayed constant in their creative process, how he compares making music in the studio to playing it live and their dream collaboration.

— This will be your first performance in Kazakhstan. What are your expectations about the country?

I’m hoping it’s going to be a fun experience. We don’t really know if anybody knows our music there, but we enjoy visiting new places and introducing our music to people.

— When visiting a new country, do you seek out local music, food, or traditions to connect with the place?

Yes. I like visiting art galleries, museums, and listening to local traditional folk music. I’m an atheist, but I still enjoy visiting old buildings, churches, and mosques.

— If you could spend a week off in Kazakhstan after the festival, what would you love to experience?

I’d like to travel into the wilderness, swim in a lake or river, and meet people outside the cities to get a feel for life in this huge country of yours.

— Over 30 years into your career, what has remained constant in your creative process?

We try to stay true to what’s within us and not force the music in any direction. Music is an abstract form of expression and sometimes difficult to describe, but when it feels right, you know it.

— How does the feeling of performing live compare to creating music in the studio?

Recording an album is like building a house: it’s a slow and methodical process, from laying the foundation and constructing the walls to decorating and finishing the details. Playing live is like having a party in the house once it’s built. Concerts are immediate — you get a response from the crowd and can feel your way to a crescendo.

— Do you have any personal rituals when performing in a new place for the first time?

Skye makes her own dresses and spends an hour or two singing along to a playlist while getting ready for the show. I like walking around the venue and exploring the local area to see it from the audience’s perspective. Just before the show, we start to feel excited — and a little nervous.

— Is there a particular track you never get tired of performing on stage, and why that one?

We always love playing The Sea and Blindfold from the album Big Calm. I think they’re like the center of gravity in our setlist. We’ve released 11 albums now, so that’s over a hundred songs to choose from!

— Do you remember the first time you performed outside of the UK? What did that feel like compared to now?

The first time we played abroad was at a festival in Belgium. It went very well, and everywhere we go we get a warm welcome, so touring with the band is a pleasant experience. Sometimes the travel can be exhausting, but the concert always makes up for it.

— Since the ’90s, the music industry has undergone many changes. How have you managed to adapt to these shifts, and what challenges have you faced in connecting with listeners through new platforms and evolving expectations?

It changes slowly enough that you can adapt to whatever happens in the industry. Musically, it hasn’t changed much since we started 30 years ago — especially compared to the 30 years before 1995, when music changed beyond recognition. We’re lucky in that sense; there haven’t been revolutions that made our music seem dated or irrelevant. I think the internet mixed everything up, and now there’s less definition between styles or places of origin. Music could be made by anyone, anywhere.

— What can fans expect next after your latest album Escape the Chaos? Are you already thinking about new sounds or directions?

We’ll be touring this record for a couple of years, and we don’t know when we’ll start making new music. When the inspiration comes, you ride the wave — it isn’t something you can plan.

— Can you tell us about your experience with acoustic or instrumental versions of your work, and how important that side of your music is to Morcheeba?

We’ve released special instrumental editions of our albums in the past, and I think you can get a version of Escape the Chaos without vocals. We were heavily inspired by film soundtracks, so we like to make the music atmospheric.

— If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be and why?

We’d love to do a song with Iggy Pop. We met him recently and he was so sweet. We love his music, and his gravelly voice would be a great counterpoint to Skye’s sweet tones.

— If you had to introduce someone to Morcheeba with one song, which one would it be and why?

The first song we wrote and released, Trigger Hippie, is a great example of what Morcheeba is about: a blend of different styles and traditional sounds mixed with electronic textures. I think The Sea is also a good introduction to our songwriting.

— What advice would you give your younger self back when Morcheeba was just starting out?

I wouldn’t really say anything — I’ve had a lovely life and career, and I wouldn’t want to change a thing.

This September, you can hear Morcheeba live at Park Live Almaty.