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Paul Robb is no stranger to fans of electronic music. After quite a few succesful years in Information Society together with vocalist Kurt Harland, Paul now spends his time scoring movies, and working on a myriad of different projects…

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Jenz Merril caught up with Paul on the web, and had a little chat with him about his current situation, the future, and … well .. what basically has happened since he departed from InSoc!

Find out more about the mysterious guy behind the machines of InSoc, the soundtrack of "Orgazmo" and more, as Synthpop.NET takes you beyond society into the world of Paul Robb…

(yes .. i know … it sounds cheesy, but i needed someting more to fill out this space with …

Jenz: At SynthCon 2001, Kurt expressed his opinions about the music industry and his career with Information Society, what are your feelings about the same subject?

Paul: Well, that is a rather large question, isn’t it? I think the "music business" per se is definitely in flux these days, but I disagree with those who think that distribution changes (i.e. downloading) will tell the whole story. It will still fall to large corporations to promote and market the music, and that has always been the crux of the business anyway. How people get the music is somewhat incidental; it’s all about how will they know what to buy?

Jenz: What were your feelings about Tommy Boy’s release of Information Society remixes? Did you like what was done with the material?

Paul: I did very much like the new remixes. It was great to see "classic" Insoc back on the charts. Both "Running" and "WOYM" made it back into the Top Ten on Billboard dance charts, you know. "Running" actually got higher this time around than it did originally. Don’t recall the exact positions, though.

Jenz: After InSoc parted ways, you went on to release two of my favorite electro albums under the name "Think Tank." Why were fans of this project never given any another release?

Paul: Mostly because I had gotten over my industrial fetish, and had moved on stylistically. I was very busy with Brother Sun Sister Moon for a few years and Think Tank had to step aside.

Jenz: What prompted your move to LA and why does it seem that Hakatak Records got lost in the move?
Will there be a resurfacing of your label in the future?

Paul: I moved to LA from Minneapolis, and was mostly in response to getting signed to Virgin. Virgin was in LA, BSSM’s management was in LA, and I just felt I had a better shot in general of re-igniting my career in LA than in Minneapolis. I still miss Winter, however.

Jenz: What prompted your decision to move to making music for commercials and soundtracks rather than staying with you established career and fan base? Was it a desire to have a steady income or was it more of a desire to move to a different field of the same industry?

Paul: Well, it wasn’t so much a "decision" as it was a necessity. After the whole BSSM/Virgin records debacle, I was (once again) disgusted with the whole music industry, and "music for picture" seemed like a nice quiet place to hide out, lick my wounds, and yet still continue to practice my craft. Also, the money is really, really good

Jenz: Of the movies you have worked on, "Broke Down Palace," "Orgazmo," "American Psycho," and "Deceiver," which was your favorite?

Paul: Well, actually "American Psycho" is my favorite of the films I’ve had music in. Not only because I loved the movie and the performances, but because it really perfectly encapsulated a perfect time-period in New York City during which Insoc was there.

Jenz: What are some of the differences in approaching a movie soundtrack and recording an album?

Paul: Too many to mention really, but the main one is that a soundtrack is intended to serve the picture, whereas an album serves only itself.

Jenz: What can you tell me about Bleep Records and your involment with them?

Paul: I am the founding partner of Bleep Records, and you can think of it as the new, improved Hakatak.

Jenz: After previously working with Barbara Cohen as, "Brother Sun, Sister Moon," the two of you have again started working together as, "Luminous." What makes this project different from the previous one?

Paul: It’s not different, it’s just four years later. We decided to change the name only because BSSM sounded a little too "new age" for us.

Jenz: What can your fans expect from you in the future?

Paul: I have a new record in the can, under the name of "Bitcrusher." If all goes according to plan, it will be out on Bleep in August or early September.

Jenz: How can you fans keep track of your future projects and releases?

Paul: www.bleeprecords.com and www.facethemusic.com
Nice chatting with you, Jenz. Let me know if you have any follow up questions…
-PJR