JARBOE: I'm really curious: What music were you listening to as a teenager?

BRIAN WILLIAMS: I could lie and say that I was listening to all those bands who were latter considered "cool", such as The Velvet Underground, The New York Dolls and Iggy Pop etc. But in my early teens (13-14) I was listening to people like Gary Glitter (the first album), early Slade, Alice Cooper, T. Rex, normal stuff, nothing exceptional. Latter (15-16) I was listening to early Hawkwind (!) , Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk and trying to pick up on other interesting sounds coming out of Germany at the time. In school I was surrounded by friends who listened to crap like Yes, Jethro Tull, Genesis and ELP (shudder) then punk happened, which really was a breath of fresh air.

These days, it's pretty much as it was before punk came along, and for a long time I've considered "rock" as being dead, it's just that sales of back catalog on CD by the dinosaurs created the illusion of it being still alive. But then, I never did like "rock", and find it pretty much irrelevant from the late 50's..

JARBOE: How did you keep focused and productive through your early lean years in London?

B:
London was easy, apart from the usual distractions of living in a major city. Earlier, living in Wales was harder, but then, there was always the train...

JARBOE: Has that famed character building hardship/struggle affected your views/artistry?

B:
I'm very aware of where I'm from (working class background), and yes that certainly does build "character" ! I feel it's important to have a healthy sense of humor, and to view life with a touch of cynicism.

JARBOE: How do you view yourself: soundshaper, musician, artist...none of the above?

B:
I don't think of myself along those terms, I'd rather like to be thought of as a reliable friend to those that matter, far more important than any of the above.

JARBOE: What techniques do you utilize to keep your hearing fresh?

B:
In the literal sense, ear plugs whenever I go to clubs or gigs. In the abstract, it's all part of the ongoing process. No specific approach, I've never lost the excitement of discovering new sounds, be they in music by others, good sound design in movies, in life or in my own work, and I don't think I ever will.

JARBOE: What do you do to avoid burnout in shaping, creating sounds and textures?

B:
I don't do anything other than make time to hang out with friends. Getting drunk and falling over can be a important activity after spending too much time in the studio.

JARBOE: Is there a point in the day when you are working on a project when you must have silence of listen to something completely different - like a gently babbling brook or bluegrass- to refresh your ears?

B:
No.
Though after a few days I can get a touch of cabin fever and need to get out and browse a bookstore or two.