Dean Garcia Versatile and innovative musician Dean Garcia has played and collaborated with many musicians over the years, creating distinctive and interesting sounds. Born in Kentish Town London, he left school at 15, and is self-taught on the bass, guitar and drums. He started off working and touring with the likes of the Eurythmics, Mick Jagger, and Sinead O’Conner, and then played in State of Play in the late ’80s where he met Toni Halliday. They created Curve in 1991, composing and performing incredibly innovative music together until deciding to move on to other things in 2004. Dean continues to bring his distinctive sound to his collaborations with other artists, including his daughter, Rose Berlin and The Black Holes. Dean lives and works in London, England with his family. Popexperiment had the pleasure of asking Dean a few questions. This is what he had to say.

PE: In Curve you manged to create a new sound, a rock without all the baggage associated with it. Is there anything you’d like to share about that time or the work you did on the Curve project?
DEAN: A wonderful chaotic time was had by all….

PE: What is Doglab?
DEAN: It’s was more of a studio identity for collaborations. I’ve ditched that now and pulled the site and am in the middle of setting up a new one probably under my own name this time (see www.deangarcia.com) …I like to chop and change things and names for the work I do. [note: Doglab was a website Dean had up for a while with mp3’s of his recent collaborations and links to artists he was working with.]

PE: What is it, overall, that you’d like to express or explore with your work?
DEAN: I like to take the listener through stages..some moody some scary some irritating…you know, just like you would if you were talking to someone in a pub..different reactions and feelings not all of will be easy on the ear…

PE: What is your greatest thrill as a writer/musician? Greatest disappointment?
As a writer it would be writing Horror Head…and the recent tracks I’ve been doing with my Daughter Rose.

Life is so full of dissapointments…they’re all the same. not sure which one stands out.

PE: When looking for inspiration where do you go?
DEAN: I like visiting art galleries, walking along the Southbank…reading the usual.

PE: How has your work affected you?
DEAN: I’m not sure…it can make me a miserable bastard, then again it can bring joy like no other…it effects me in every way possible.

PE: How about your son and daughter? What do they think of your work? How does your family affect your work?
DEAN: They love it…Harry is seriously kick ass at all things new tech…like I was at his age but much more so because of all the new creative tech available..he’s brilliant on the guitar as well…I taught him a few funky riffs about 2 years ago and his progress is astonishing…much better than I was at his age and all self taught like me, watch this space…Rose is a very gifted singer and artist…streets ahead and wonderful in all aspects…I feel that I have done very well as a parent..even if I say so myself….As you can tell they are very much involved in my work.

PE: How did you get into the industry?
DEAN: I made it my ambition in life…all I wanted was to be an active musician/writer/producer..

PE: What do you admire most in other musicians/artists work? What most disappoints you?
DEAN: I admire originality. Bland shit is very upsetting.

PE: How do you perceive peoples reactions to your work?
DEAN: Depends if they’re being cruel or nice..I mostly respond to the people who don’t like what I do…in a very nasty aggresive way. I’m a mouthy bastard.

PE: How has your work effected you?
DEAN: In everyway possible…

PE: What would you like to do that you haven’t done?
DEAN: Play bass with PInk Floyd on a world tour.

PE: How was your time with the:

Eurythmics? Mind blowingly fantastically brilliant introduction to all things cool and global…I love them both and always will…uber cool and clever with it…Dudes.

Mick Jagger? Totally cool…I really liked him. There’s so much history to the man and still he comes across as interested in people and listens…someone who gives a shit…Dude !!

Sinead OConner? Brilliant…Love her to bits. I only got to know her properly when she wore her long wig, She was easier to talk to when she had it on…She’s funny clever and very dedicated to her beliefs and I respect that…She’s a Dude.

Ian Drury (of Ian Drury and the Blockheads)? Dury…He was and always will be the Don for me…I loved him dearly and will never forget the times spent with him chatting drinking and playing some funky ass bass…Ian is a genius to me.

Brian Ferry? Very very cool sophisticated, clever, smart and knows about everything arty and interesting…also he taught me about vodka martinis and the joy of pasta and garlic in olive oil…delicious. Uber cool DUDE.

Toni Halliday? Toni is like the sister I never had…you know what those relationships involve…extreme ups and extreme downs…But I still love her dearly no matter what.

Others?
Bring em on !!

PE: Do you enjoy travel? What have been some of your favorite destinations?
DEAN: To be honest travel freaks me out…the only form of travel I can relax with is on a tour bus, probably the most statistically dangerous of all. I’m very skittish about flying…I’m alright once I’ve had a drink or ten but it’s not always the best thing to get of a plane pissed as a fart…then again.

PE: I saw the Istanbul tour pictures. Did you get to spend time there?
DEAN: Istanbul is deep….intense and beautiful yet very fucking scarry. I’m sure it’s to to with that film…Midnight Express.

PE: Any interesting tour anecdotes?
DEAN: Never get off the bus…

PE: Who are you collaborating with now?
DEAN: Rose Berlin / Lucia Cifarelli / Jason Novak / Bomb The Bass /

PE: How involved are you in the production of your work? Specifically, what aspects?
DEAN: The meat and potatoes of it…The start up and general overall everythingness of it…

PE: What do you most dislike about your line of work?
DEAN: Ummm…not enough sex?

PE: How is the internet impacting music?
DEAN: In all ways…

PE: What do you have planned for the future?
DEAN: Have more sex and grow old gracefully without botox…

PE: What do you most enjoy about life?
DEAN: My family…drinking with pals….making music, funny people and lets not forget the old faithful SEX…

Links:
www.deangarcia.com
www.myspace.com/deangarcia01