The Hardest Working Man in Space

The first cut I heard by Sula Bassana (David Schmidt) was In Space, off of his ’09 platter, The Night. And I was…in space…Then I started to find out how much of that space Sula has already explored; I’m still only on the launch pad. From his involvement in multiple outfits, running Sulatron, producing, keeping Electric Moon orbiting, playing live and finding time to sleep, Sula is a force of nature with a reserve that is apparently as endless as the space he knows so well.

And is still exploring.

In Space :: Sula Bassana :: The Night (Sulatron, 2009)

Thanks for taking some time out to get us up to speed…and beyond. Can you give us a little background history straight from the source?

Sula: Oh, long story…I’ll tell a short version. I started in the mid 80’s with electronic music, playing synthesizers, sequencers and drum machines only. Did some gigs with projects, solo and made some cassette releases and some tracks on sampler LP/CDs. In the early 90’s I made a break and started playing bass in a new psychedelic-rock-band, called Liquid Visions (founded in late 1994). We released several albums and singles and gigged a lot. I started the space rock project Zone Six in late 1997, also with some albums and gigs. I made 2 records each with Weltraumstaunen and Psychedelic Monsterjam (Neumeier, Genrich, Schmidt), and played drums for some months in the band Growing Seeds. I spent some years in Austria, played in some bands (Interkosmos, Alice Dog) and started my label Sulatron Records. We also founded Electric Moon there, together with my girlfriend Komet Lulu (on bass), Pablo Carneval (from Interkosmos and The Blowing Lewinsky, on drums) and me on guitar. Last year we moved back to Germany and found Alex, who replaced Pablo in Electric Moon.

How are things on the Electric Moon? Live discs, Lunatics, Lunatics Revenge, Inferno…

Sula: Oh, great, a very successful band! We are working on a lot of new stuff! Just back from a festival gig, together with Daturana (nice people!), and blown away by listening to our live recording. So, be prepared for a new Live CD-R! The old live CD-Rs are all sold out as well as the first edition of Inferno! Inferno got a second issue with slightly changed cover-artwork and is still available. The Lunatics and Lunatics Revenge LPs are selling well and I think they are sold out soon. We finished 2 cooool tracks for a split LP with Glowsun (the Sun and Moon album!). Also finishing our new CD and double-LP what comes out some later this year on Nasoni-Records. One album is planned where we do the music for a comic of legendary Matt Howarth! AND we do a 10″ EP later this year (started recording some weeks ago), on Sulatron-Records!

The Landing :: Electric Moon :: Lunatics Revenge (Sulatron, 2010)

Finishing the new Sula Bassana (psych-rock) album, finishing the new Zone Six album, releasing the new Electric Orange album, playing more Electric Moon and Zone Six shows, releasing more Vibravoid stuff and so on and so on…

I also organized 3 Label Festivals in September, with Electric Moon, Vibravoid and Tracker (23. in Jena and 24. in Wuerzburg); Electric Moon, Electric Orange and Zone Six (30. in Fulda). More details at www.sulatron.com. So, more work than time, hahaha…

What was your early electronic work like? Heavily psych flavored?

Sula: No, it was some kind of crappy electronic with EBM influences and (maybe by mistake) some cool soundscapes. My first project (Solaris) was maybe the most experimental one, but chaotic and sometimes very boring as well.

Was your more electronic, ambient flavored Kosmonauts an attempt to revisit those early days again?  I mean, you haven’t turned away from electronic music obviously, with Kosmonauts, your work with Modulfix…

Sula: OK…I did some electronic tracks here and there, but a whole album in a short period was something I haven’t done for many years. I mean the solo stuff. The recordings with Martin (Modulfix) were very deep, into more classic electronic (I mean Berlin school influenced), because we recorded a lot at Martin’s place, and he is more into electronic. His recording room contains synthesizers, guitars and bass only, no drum kit, so it ends up more electronically as my solo stuff.

Barbarella :: Sula Bassana :: Kosmonauts (Sulatron, 2010)

How did Sulatron come about during all this?

Sula: It was in 2004. I was unemployed and tried to do my own little label. I released my first solo-album Dreamer on CD, but the employment agency made too much trouble about it, so I quit. Later, in 2006, when I was in Austria, without any support by the government, I tried again. And I still run the label and have my little income, still without any help by the government. I’ve released 18 CDs (one combined with a vinyl LP) and 12 CD-Rs so far, by bands from Germany, Norway, Sweden, USA, Denmark and Austria.

Sulatron’s roster is impressive. What do you look for in a band? What gets you excited?

Sula: That’s very different. Sometimes I ‘just’ release music of friends or my own bands, and sometimes I hear something new and get blown away, like URAN did with me, or Hills.

URAN and Hills are monsters. Writing, playing, label, recording…your work ethic is staggering. How do you keep motivated, so prolific?

Sula: I have no other choice! I make my income by selling CDs and LPs, so I must work as much as I can! And all this still doesn’t bring enough for getting rich. I mean, buying a band bus, paying rent for more than a ramshackle hut, buying some good microphones or good working equipment…sometimes I’m very depressed and want to quit everything. That’s normal…but it always gets better after some days and I go on with my work and music.

Hypothetically: What would you do if you quit. I mean, I can’t imagine you doing anything else.

Sula: Yes, I also (feel the same). I’m too long out of a normal job, and I think I can’t do this again. The only place for me would be in a booking agency (I hate this job, hahaha!), or in a big label or some other music- or art-company.

Hey freaks: Buy at sulatron.com and make my musician-life possible! THANKS A LOT!

There’s your solo work, and then the many projects/bands you’re involved with. Can you talk about solo work vs. collaborating?

Sula: They’re both important! I love and want to do it all by myself, because I love playing guitar, bass, drums, synthesizers…all that stuff. But I also love to play together with other people. Electric Moon is a very satisfying band. We are totally connected with our minds and make the music we all want to do! This is amazing!

Do you prefer one over the other?

Sula: Not really…hmmm, but it’s sooo fantastic when we lift off together, this is the most impressing moment! Better than doing stuff alone.

You’ve played with Modulfix, Zone Six, Electric Orange, Mani Neumeier and Ax Genrich (Guru Guru)…but I have to ask: how was it playing with Circle?  Those guys are no strangers to working hard…  

Sula: I arrived in Wuerzburg one day before we had a gig there with Ax and Mani, and I went to the Cairo (concert venue) and saw Circle doing the sound check. After their sound check, Jussi (Lehtisalo) saw me standing there. He asked me if I like to do a little jam at the end of their show, so we checked my stuff and I joined them later at the show. It was very relaxed and very nice. Circle are great! Especially at that time (2003). And they are lovely people!

Whether solo or in a band setting, your ‘sound’ is so…Sula. You’re impossible to miss. What were your influences that formed your sound?

Sula: I think a deep influence was Pink Floyd! Also Tangerine Dream, Hawkwind, Man, Far Out and many other groups. I love the sound of the late 60’s, early 70’s.

…and you turn them into the sounds of the future…You could have made 3 records by now if I wasn’t bothering you. Any final words to us freaks out here?

Sula: Hahaha, I’m not so quick! I’m not good in final words…I only wish peace and a filled fridge!