RS: How did you make the move to DJing?
Billie Ray Martin:: I was basically regretting the fact that I never
go out to clubs because I didn't hear the songs I like. I don't even
hear the style I like anywhere. So I thought, wouldn't it be easier,
it gets me out of the house, if I put on some records? That's how it
started; it was quite funny. I played in front of ten people on my
first club night, and it was great. I couldn't mix. I was just putting
on 80s records and stuff, but it was so fabulous, and it all
snowballed from there. Hopefully I can mix a little bit now. I get a
lot of bookings, and I'm playing a style that I like and it's so
enjoyable, I really, really love it. It's as much a priority for me as
everything else, really.
RS: OK, some other questions from your fans. With "Your Loving
Arms" being such a massive hit, what are your thoughts about it now?
Are you sick of it all, do you still like it?
Billie Ray Martin:: Not at all, no. In fact, when I perform it and the
first note hits, I get goose pimples. I'm not sick of it at all, I
just love it. And I'm so grateful for it to have happened.
RS: How would The Opiates perform "Your Loving Arms?"
Billie Ray Martin:: Well, I think it would probably sound a little bit
like Liza Minnelli on vocals, and production-wise, something really
dark like Liza Minnelli meets Roman Polanski. Let's say Roman Polanski
makes the video.
RS: What's your favorite cocktail?
Billie Ray Martin:: My favorite cocktail is vodka Martini, very wet
and very dirty.
RS: Speaking of dirty, I always wanted to know what was going
through your mind when you did that nude photo shoot a few years ago.
Billie Ray Martin:: Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. It
wasn't nude. I had a vest on and some see-through nylon tights. It was
the whole time of electroclash, electro trash – everybody was looking
controversial, everybody wanted to look a certain way. I think it fit
right into the time. Because I wasn't signed to a major label, I could
do whatever the hell I liked. Nobody was trying to restrict me in any
way. So that was that.
RS: And speaking about hell, anything new coming with you and DJ Hell?
Billie Ray Martin:: Yes, we've recorded a song for his album, which
I'm so fond of; I can't wait for it. It's definitely coming out this
autumn. He hasn't told me which month, but I presume August or
September. It's a cover of Hawkwind's "Silver Machine," but it's a
very slow, jazzy version, and I absolutely adore it. It's so great to
work with him. I love him dearly and I can't wait for it to come out.
Do you know who sang the vocals for the original? Lemmy Kilmister
from Motorhead.
RS: What's the last CD you bought?
Billie Ray Martin:: Emmylou Harris's new album.
RS: If you were to write a song for Kylie Minogue, what would it
be called?
Billie Ray Martin:: In fact I wrote a song for her; the record company
never even considered it. It was called "Satellite." If someone gives
me enough money I'll record it, because it's amazing. I love it. It's
a fun pop song, something like Diana Ross' "Chain Reaction" meets
Kylie Minogue, and they should have just done it. I think Kylie would
love it, but I'm sure she never heard it.
RS: Would you ever consider doing a covers album; or, what are
some songs you'd like to cover?
Billie Ray Martin:: Absolutely. To be honest, there are two different
sides to me – I would love to do a soul cover album, because that
would cover my favorite soul songs. It would be, you know, definitely
a song by Anne Peebles; something by Al Green; it would definitely
have two songs by Martha Reeves and The Vandellas from the Sugar And
Spice album. So that would be easy; it would take me five minutes to
choose the songs. Then there'd be an electronic pop album I think,
where I'd probably pick things by the Human League and Soft Cell, and
people like that. Probably all 80s stuff.
RS: What's your take on all the different cover versions of "Your
Loving Arms?"
Billie Ray Martin:: Well, there have been a few. There hasn't been the
one great one that I'm waiting for and I'd love to hear. All the
trancy ones that are out there, they're kind of OK, but they never
really make me feel anything great, you know. But there's one, a folk
one by an artist called Sagi-Rei. That was the nicest one, actually.
I thought that was really just somebody singing the song, and singing
it the way he feels it, and I thought that was really nice. But I'd
love to see one day somebody amazing do it, not just Sagi-Rei, who is
amazing, but somebody doing it so that I say "Wow, you know, it needed
that."
RS: Very cool. And what would you like to say to all your fans out there?
Billie Ray Martin:: Oh my fans – thanks for being around and thanks
for being patient, because I know sometimes there are long periods
between singles where I mess around, traveling from one city to the
next, instead of recording my stuff. People are incredibly supportive,
incredibly patient, and really I want to say thanks. I just hope I
deliver something great in the future.
Posted August 4, 2008
