Hi Steve I just wanted to ask you if you have any advise for starting a band at a young age or just starting a band in general???

You should follow your instincts really. It’s not easy to find people on the same wavelength but it helps considerably if you are, then as a band you’ll have more chance of developing rather that taking back-steps to fall in line, or possibly substitute someone. Once you’re a strong unit anything’s possible. And explore your musicality, don’t let form dictate – go where others don’t.

Hello Steve! I Was wondering if you had any advice for an aspiring singer in the biz. Also do you like the nickname Steve “dancin” Jansen it’s become pretty popular on the internet.

Try to sound pure, not proficient, and unlike anyone else.

I think that must be another Steve Jansen. I only dance for comedic effect.

A photograph of you I liked recently here seems to be black-and-white you with three-day stubble on in front of what looks to me to be a projection of a black-and-white photograph of John Coltrane’s face. Are you familiar with the photo and, if so, what’s it from?

First ever portrait photo session with Sheila Rock.

Has photography always been your repertoire or were you just interested in it and decided to make it part of your career? -Manon

I become interested in it when I was in my late teens but I’ve never considered it a part of my career. I suppose now that I’ve published a retrospective photo book it is in a way.

Hello Steve, it’s exciting to hear of the new project Exit North. I realize it may be a bit premature to consider this, but is it possible that there might be some live performances by Exit North down the road, as it were? Thanks for your time, Becky

I think we’ve established that we all welcome that possibility.

Steve, when have you started to smoke? And when have you stopped with it?

I was surrounded by smokers therefore it was easy to grab one, but it wasn’t really for me. I’m not a smoker despite how it appears sometimes in those early photos.

Steve, will you and Yukihiro Takahashi collaborate on anything ever again? I quite enjoy the creations you’ve made together (Stay Close, PulseXPulse, etc.) and hope more will be released someday.

We have been talking about that recently, possibly if I’m in Japan this spring/summer, but it would most likely be more an improvisation collaboration for a live performance rather than a recording per se.

What was the effect on the snare, especially, and bass drum in ‘Red Guitar’ or was that a machine? Would you say something similar was used on the snare of the Gary Numan track called ‘Replicas’ (assuming you’ve heard the track and assuming that it’s a drum kit there as well)?

Red Guitar snare was recorded in a stone stairwell at Hansa Studios, Berlin. The reverb created by the snare in the stairwell was then fed through a Leslie Hammond organ rotary speaker which spins, giving a stereo effect. This was added to the snare sound to create what you can hear, a sort of breathy modulation (the fact that the snare spring was not applied to the snare helps to create a more smooth, rounded sound). Listening to the GN track you mentioned (which I’ve not heard before and I can see why you would ask) I think the snare processing is different – perhaps a flanger of some kind which makes a more synthetic sound suitable for his material – (the snare spring applied gives it a more metallic edge too), and it does sound performed rather than a machine. But… ask him.

So there’s some news emerging from Sweden that you are involved in a new collaborative project with Thomas Feiner and others. How is it going? What role are you playing in the work?

News has been posted on my official facebook page. We are collaborating compositionally and as musicians. These guys are all very talented at what they do so I’m in great company. I have contributed lyrics for Thomas’ lead vocals and have also added some backing vocals. I’m sure we will explore one another’s ideas and contributions to the full over the coming months.

Why did u choose Tender Extinction as your album title is there a meaning behind that you would be willing to share? Cheers, Hiyori.

The mood and lyric content on the album subtly addresses aspects of transience and transformation and the complexities of holding onto what we feel is precious.