CoolJunkie Interviews Panic Bomber

May 12, 2009 2:28 PM
by Marcos Colón

In Miami, the local musicians don’t get enough credit than they should. There are the traditional live music groups, then there’s the DJ, two letters than that signify the person who gets the most credit at the party if it’s either going well, or going straight to shit. Although we’re fans of the live music scene in the city, there is still something that’s lacking. On the other side of things, Miami is lucky enough to produce some heavy talent in the electronic dance music world, but when it comes to the performance factor, these guys just don’t cut it. Enter Panic Bomber, the definitive music artist in Miami that bridges the gap between performance value and electronic dance music culture.

Panic Bomber, aka Richard Haig, is a Scottish-born, California-raised, Miami-based musician who was brought up behind the piano keys, only to discover himself after years of experimenting with sounds, bands and writing. If you’ve never heard of Panic Bomber, check out the video below, and we’re pretty damn sure you’ll wanna catch his gig this Friday night at The Vagabond for their one-year anniversary weekend. Not only do his performances take the crowd to an all-new high, but the music is extremely well produced as well as executed on the stage. Although his unique musical style is hard to pin-point, there are hints of electro, tech house and trance with a salt and peppering of IDM.

CoolJunkie recently got the chance to catch up with Panic Bomber to chat about his upbringing in music, the infamous Panic Suit, and what he thinks is wrong with music today.

CoolJunkie: How's everything been going for you lately?

Panic Bomber: Quite well, thank you for asking!

CJ: What are you currently working on?

Panic Bomber: I'm continuously writing music. I'm also getting more and more interested in real time interactive systems, so I'm spending more time programming software and soldering electronics.

CJ: How would you describe your music to someone who's never heard it before?

Panic Bomber: Good question. When I talk to myself I like to consider it "avant electronic performance techno house pop."

CJ: When did you first start getting into music?

Panic Bomber: I've been playing music my whole life. I grew up playing piano, played in various bands in high school and college, taught myself a variety of instruments, went to University of Miami for a BM in music, and yeah, that's that.

CJ: How did the concept for Panic Bomber come about?

Panic Bomber: I was playing in bands with other musicians but I grew frustrated having to compromise on ideas. I spent a period of time writing and recording various solo pieces but they weren't cohesive, they had very little stringing them together. I realized that it would be difficult to perform these songs live or to even release them as an album, that I had to start setting boundaries to write within. I really like making music on the computer, and techno/house/whatever just happened to be what I was making when I started to set down my composition rules, so really it was all in the timing.

CJ: What are some of your musical influences?

Panic Bomber: My biggest influences are definitely my close friends. I was extremely fortunate to attend UM with a group of kids who are prolific, wonderful composers and musicians. We spent a lot of time working together in collaborative projects so we started a record label (really more of a loose artists' collective) called Atomisk Records. ( http://atomisk.com ) We all write in different genres, so I'm more influenced by the quality of writing and recording than I am a particular dance beat or what-have-you.

CJ: You're known best for your performances and the light suit you created. Can you go into that a little bit?

Panic Bomber: Yes. I'm a performer, I love being on stage, there's no better feeling than looking out and seeing a sea of people really getting down to what you're doing for them. So Panic Bomber is centered around live performance more out of narcissism than anything else. The Panic Suit is installation number one in an exploration of multimedia performance. As I alluded to earlier, I'm spending more time with interactive systems, and my live technology is only getting more awesome as I experiment with different media. I'll be debuting Panic Suit v2.0 this Friday at Vagabond, on the 15th. Things are starting to get very cool.

CJ: How do you feel about the live music scene here in Miami?

Panic Bomber: There are many talented performers, but we need better venues. The venues need cheaper drinks. More people need to come out. And I need to get paid more, dammit.

CJ: What are five albums you'd take with you to the grave?

Panic Bomber: I don't like this question because my tastes are always changing, but I'll tell you what I most like listening to now: Joni Mitchell - Blue; Mastodon - Crack the Skye; Throbbing Gristle - Part Two: The Endless Not; Yes - Close to the Edge; Björk - Vespertine.

CJ: What's your biggest argument about music today?

Panic Bomber: Why is it so shitty? Contemporary rock-based music is horrible compared to albums from the seventies. Electronic music has some interesting things going on, but while I appreciate the sound design in minimal dance music I believe it's too minimal in composition and narrow in concept to have longevity. I'm excited and extremely curious to find out what will be going on culturally in fifty years and what I'll be doing in fifty years.

CJ: What can we look forward to from you for the remainder of the year?

Panic Bomber: Loads of number one hits and some super secret surprises!

Click here to hear more from Panic Bomber.