The Future of Underworld
Catching Up With Co-Founder Rick Smith
Interview: Sue Apfelbaum
On Music//
"I believe that music as a lifestyle choice for people is now not so relevant as it was when I was younger. Music was sort of like the flagpole you gathered around, it sort of represented you, and I don't think it has that same feeling anymore..."
"So instead of getting worried about that, getting upset, it's led us to believe that what we will be doing with music in the future will be very different than what we've done in the past. Our aim is to continue making music for as long as possible but I think that the environments and the way that we deliver the music and how people listen to it and take it in is going to change, and that's something we're very positive about."
On Technology//
"What we are interested in doing is making 'environment music,' music that is a part of people's everyday lives, not something that you actually have to stop and focus all your attention on. It's music that just surrounds you, that's part of an environment you're in at home, that suits the mood and the feeling of where you are. And we're quite interested in producing visuals to actually go along with that, but in a way that's far more advanced than sticking a DVD on. We've been looking at some technology in Japan, and we're just about to work with Sony on a computer that controls the entire environment of your home in a very futuristic way, from silly things like running your bath to selecting your satellite stations to turning your lights on in the morning. But it also has the capability to involve large plasma screens - it's just this all around lifestyle delivery thing!"
On the World//
"Outside of music I don't think the future is looking very bright. I'm very disappointed in the way the world is going -- the corporate scandals in America, and the political battleground we're in at the moment are both very depressing. When you actually look at the people who are controlling our lives and destinies, it makes you very worried about the future and I'm talking about everyone, everywhere."
"I suppose I'm dreaming of the Utopian society, and it's not going to be here in my lifetime. Which is a shame, really, because I can only see things getting worse before they get better."
Underworld's Rick Smith and Karl Hyde take their audiovisual show on the road to support A Hundred Days Off this October. See www.dirty.org for additional tour info.
Oct 14 - Riviera Theater, Chicago, IL
Oct 15 - Clutch Cargo, Pontiac, MI
Oct 18 - Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY
Oct 20 - The Warfield, San Francisco, CA
Oct 21 - Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles, CA
