P l a y E r i e . c o m

The PlayErie.com interview with Chris Vrenna

Chris Vrenna has forged a formidable career in the music industry since his early days in Erie, first achieving major recognition with Nine Inch Nails in the late 80's... but NIN was only the beginning.
Since that time Chris has been involved with many facets of the music industry. Whether known as a solo artist, session musician, producer, remixer or programmer Vrenna has worked with the likes of David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, Hole, Megadeth, Nelly Furtado and Rasputina to name just a few. His talent and expertise allows him to cover a spectrum that ranges from playing drums with The Smashing Pumpkins and Guns N' Roses to creating the soundtrack for American McGee's creepy video game - Alice.

Chris is also a serious "gear head" and has appeared in a lengthy interview on Apple Computer's website as well as making an appearance on Tech TV and submitting music for a remixing contest sponsored by music software giant SonicFoundry.

And if all of this weren't enough, Chris Vrenna also releases his own music under the name tweaker. The Attraction To All Things Uncertain (TATATU) was tweaker's first release, originally scheduled to arrive in stores right around the time of the September 11th tragedies. Despite the awkward timing TATATU was eventually released to critical acclaim, however it never seemed to achieve a wider success that many felt it certainly deserved.

Chris is now preparing music for the next tweaker CD, which is to be released later this year. PlayErie.com spoke with him about his music, equipment and future:

PE: Lets start off with the new tweaker release, how does it compare with TATATU?

CV: Well, I'm still in the writing phase for the new record, but I am
concentrating on 2 things: more proper "songs" and much more live drumming. I had mostly programming on the first record, and I really miss playing drums. This time, rather than have programming or samples, I'm going to have all live drum performances that I'll manipulate later. I'll still have my weird noises and such, but I really want an emotional record, and there is just something about the live feel of organic instruments that connects. I also had more instrumentals than songs on the first record, and this time I'd like
to have more vocal tracks. Get back to more traditional songwriting.

PE: Are you still taking the guest vocalist approach with this new release?

CV: Yes, I am. I'd like to get more people involved this time. I have a loose concept in mind for the new record, which hopefully the guests will enjoy.

PE: Since you are widely known as a drummer, one has the idea that your writing begins with some sort of percussion track. Is this
accurate?

CV: Well, it was more so for the first record. This time, however, I'm
actually starting with a riff or chord progression first, whether it starts on acoustic guitar or piano. I've been playing much more of both and once I get the emotion and feel down then I go back and come up with a cool beat and tempo. That said, I will come up with grooves first that will send me down a particular path.

PE: Tell us about your writing process, and your partner Clint. How
does the music take shape, and does it happen differently for tweaker as opposed to something like the Alice soundtrack?

CV: Writing is an ever-changing process for me. With tweaker, Clint and I will come up with ideas separately, and then we get together and use each other as a springboard. That's a whole process for me. I've never had a partner before, and it's been a fun process. In the past, I've worked alone, and that can be fulfilling as well. The isolation makes me dig deep inside.

PE: Did you develop an interest in production, remixing, etc. during
your time with NIN, or did you gravitate toward this even earlier?

CV: I've always like tweaking knobs on anything with flashing lights. I owned my first Simmons electronic drumset and drum machines while in high school, and actually majored in television/radio production and minored in film/theater in college at Kent State. I love the technology involved with making music.

PE: What were some of the more interesting remix projects that you worked on? Anything new in the pipeline as well?

CV: I recently did another remix for P.O.D. and I am working on another game score. But without a doubt the most interesting remix project was working with U2 on the "Elevation" remix for the Tomb Raider soundtrack. It was an honor to record them.

PE: Give us a brief chain of events that happened after NIN, moving
on up through tweaker.

CV: Right after I left the band, I got a call from the Smashing Pumpkins to go do programming for Billy Corigan I did that for a few months, and then hung out to possibly join the new Guns 'N Roses. I decided not to do that and pursue things for myself, rather than join another band with a long- term commitment. I started doing some remixes for some smaller bands, then got to produce Rasputina for Columbia Records. All through this time I was writing random tracks at home that would become the first tweaker record. I eventually got signed to Almo Sounds, who closed their door just as I was finishing the record. After getting released, I shopped and got resigned to Six Degrees Records, who put out "The Attraction to All Things Uncertain."

PE: What are some of your musical influences?

CV: Throughout the years it's been Rush, Depeche Mode, Radiohead, Aphex Twin, Bjork, Brian Eno, Skinny Puppy, the Cure, Japan, Pantera...too many more to list!

PE: You are a big fan of computers and applications such as ProTools. Do you think that these effect the way in which you write and if so, how?

CV: I am absolutely affected be software and computers. They are a great way to just get ideas down, to edit, and to have professional sound quality cost effectively at home. For writing, I can just start recording, and jam into the computer for as long as I want to, then go back and edit together the ideas. It's definitely a time saver.

PE: Have you been working with any new tools that you would like to share your thoughts on?

CV: I've been using some of the new software synths for ProTools like Native Instruments Battery, B4, and Pro52, as well as some of the new sample playback plugins from Big Fish and Ilio. I am amazed at the sound quality of some of these new softsynths, and I like how seamlessly they work within ProTools. Now I just need a faster G4 to run them all!!

PE: Being well versed with computers, the internet, etc. how do you feel about the proliferation of music file sharing (Napster et .al.) and related topics such as the RIAA's war on internet radio? Have you been personally effected by any of this?

CV: I am completely against the stealing of music in any form. It shocks me how quickly the public got used to the idea that music should be free. I do understand the public's frustration with the price of CDs, especially when DVDs are cheaper in most cases to a full price CD. Something must be done so that the public feel they are getting their money's worth for their $18.99. Or, the prices of CDs must be adjusted. But no matter, stealing is stealing. And yes it has affected me personally. It affects everyone who works in the
industry. If people steal the product (music), record companies lose money and therefore sign fewer bands. They also aren't as willing to do special mixes. That means less producing/ engineering/remix work.

PE: So many young musicians are cranking out electronic music from their basements and bedrooms these days. Where do you think the genre is heading, and what could a young artist do to help forward their career in electronic music?

CV: I have no idea where the genre is headed. It seemed poised to break big a few years ago, then never did. I think electronic music may not necessarily be a big genre on it's own, but electronic elements will work their way into every genre of music. We are seeing the blurring of genres now with rap-metal, and country-pop. I think this trend will continue.

PE: Do you have any comments about your move into a solo career? How does it differ from being a sideman with some of the extremely successful projects that you have been involved in?

CV: There's a lot more pressure, but it's more fulfilling as well. tweaker is my outlet solely. That said, it's always great to be part of a huge successful team. I've been very fortunate to have had those opportunities.

PE: Would you ever consider taking tweaker on tour?

CV: I actually was putting a live version of tweaker together but 9/11 shut down my tour opportunity that fall. I do plan to tour tweaker after the second record comes out.

PE: As your song "Years From Now" asks, where do you see yourself in one year... five years?

CV: Hahaha, good one! I try to not think too much about the future. I prefer to enjoy the present. I'm grateful every day for my past accomplishments and the continued opportunity to make music for people.

Keep watching PlayErie.com for more info on Chris and tweaker. The new tweaker CD is currently scheduled for release this September. - interview by John Trevethan

Listen to tweaker
Linoleum - featuring David Sylvian	mp3
Microsize Boy	mp3

Listen to music from American McGee's Alice
Flying On The Wings Of Steam	mp3
Pool Of Tears (tweaker remix)	mp3

Order "The Atraction To All Things Uncertain"
tweaker store \| Six Degrees Records \| Amazon.com

Links
www.tweaker.net	The official tweaker site
www.podboy.net	Chris Vrenna fansite
www.apple.com	The Apple Computer interview
www.alice.ea.com	American McGee's Alice site