Steven Wilson on 'Requiem For A Village' & Why Music Needs Imperfection (#303)

In episode #303 of the XS Noize Podcast, Steven Wilson joins Mark Millar to discuss his new album, Requiem For A Village, embracing musical imperfections, and why he believes the human touch matters more than ever in an age of artificial intelligence.

Following the cosmic scale of The Overview, Steven explains why he wanted to explore British folklore, childhood memories and the unsettling atmosphere of folk-horror films such as The Wicker Man.

He discusses deliberately leaving instruments out of tune, experimenting with instruments he doesn't know how to play, and rediscovering the excitement of making music without everything being perfect.

Steven also talks about working with XTC's Andy Partridge and actor David Tennant, his concerns about AI-generated music, and what he's learned from remixing classic recordings by artists including Pink Floyd.

Looking ahead, he discusses performing The Overview at the Royal Albert Hall with an orchestra and choir, and reveals that he and Andy Partridge have discussed the possibility of a sequel — or even a trilogy — based around Requiem For A Village.

Finally, Steven reflects on the emotional power of music and why some of its magic may never be fully explained.

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Website: https://www.xsnoize.com