Intelligent Music Project (or IMP) has released its third album almost a year after “My Kind O’ Lovin’”. IMP is a music project which features various renowned musicians on its ranks such as John Payne, Joseph Williams, Simon Phillips and so on. Grande Rock had a chat with the famous singer John Payne about IMP & the new album “Touching the Divine” among other interesting things…
Hi John… I’m glad that we have the chance to talk about Intelligent Music Project III. First of all, do tell us… how did you get to work with producer and composer Milen Vrabevski & Intelligent Music Project?
J: My good friend and drummer, Simon Phillips, gave me a call and said that he had worked on several projects with Milen. Milen then sent me song demos and that mixed with the band made it impossible to not be involved.
Since Milen is the mastermind behind Intelligent Music Project, do you have any musical freedom so as to suggest things or even add your own ideas on some tracks too?
J: Yes everyone injected their personality into the works but Milen had a strong vision.
Honestly, how easy or not was it for Milen to bring such celebrated musicians such as yourself (John Payne), Joseph Williams, Simon Phillips, Tim Pierce, Nathan East & Carl Sentence on board?
J: If you put your mind to something and are determined it will happen. Milen is a very determined person. Plus let’s face it, what a band to work with.
How is working with such talented and renowned musicians in general?
J: I’ve worked with Simon and Tim before. Simon worked on Asia’s “Aqua” CD. It’s very inspiring to say the least. It’s was also a first for me to have recorded with the mighty Nathan East.
Do you believe that the final outcome would be way different if it weren’t for you, Joseph Williams, Simon Phillips, Tim Pierce, Nathan East & Carl Sentence?
J: The songs were already there but knowing Milen everything came out just as he planned.
Which are the differences between “Touching the Divine” and “My Kind O’ Lovin’”?
J: I believe Milen is growing as a songwriter. I feel this album is more mature. Not to say the previous one was not great but I believe you can feel the progression.
What’s that mystic recipe which makes the Intelligent Music Project’s albums so wonderful on the whole?
J: The chemistry and magic is bound to happen when you have great players and great songs. It’s always new when someone else has the vision other than you.
Do you think that the tag “AOR” fully covers IMP’s music or is it something more than that?
J: It’s more than that. It spans from hard rock to orchestral to progressive to almost standards.
How did you come up with the title “Touching the Divine”?
J: I’d say as Milen. It was his idea.
Please make a comment about each track…
J: “Opening (Cool Inside)”: A very cool opening…
“Escape”: Superb song. Helps me explore my lower range…
“Sky”: A real rocker. Joseph’s voice is killer…
“Stay Up”: Nice to sing with Joseph, a real journey…
“A Smile Away”: A wonderful ballad…
“We Can”: So cool. A jazz influence. I see shades of even George Michael in this.
“Simply Feels Good”: Joseph and Carl on this. Great rock riffs!!!
“Dream”: Joseph’s beautiful voice, piano and strings. With surprising changes.
“Coming Soon”: Reminds me of the Zombies…
“Life”: Shades of Toto…
“Fate”: Starts like Dream Theater, I sing a bit harder on this…
“Roots”: Boogie on Joseph.
“My World”: A sensitive ballad...
“Mind Projection”: A very cool track. Slightly progressive. Tim plays a killer solo.
The album was recorded at Simon Phillips Phantom recordings in Los Angeles (Williams, Pierce, Phillips and East) and at Intelligent Music Studios in Sofia (Pierce, Payne, Sentance)… did you have the chance to record in both studios? What do you of the album’s production?
J: I only worked in Sofia. The production team are amazing.
What’s next for Intelligent Music Project according to you? Will you be part of any upcoming releases?
J: I would love to be involved.
Is there any plan to tour as Intelligent Music Project or is it strictly a studio music project?
J: We were asked to possibly do some shows. That’s all I know right now.
What are your personal music plans for the future?
J: I’m working on a musical, a tribute show, Asia FJP and dates with The Rock Pack.
Time for our “weird questions”!!! If you could “erase” one thing from modern music, what would it be?
J: Computers!
Which is that band that you’d like to be part of (any time & era)?
J: The Beatles. They changed the world of music.
Which are the top 3 AOR albums of all time?
J: “Escape”, “Foreigner 4” and “Breakfast in America”…
Which are the top 3 melodic rock/AOR voices of all time?
J: Perry, Gramm and Rodgers…
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
J: Again “Foreigner 4”. The songs and hooks are so well structured.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
J: “Foreigner 4”…
Fill in the phrase… “AOR music wouldn’t have evolved the way it did, if it hadn’t been for…”
J: Albums like “Foreigner 4”. This album defines this genre completely.
If you could be any historical person, which one would you be and why?
J: Leonardo DaVinci. He was just good at everything. From an artist to scientist to inventor and visionary. One cool chap.
If you had the chance to travel in time… where would you choose to go? To the past or the future and why?
J: It would be nice to go back and visit passed friends but now is what’s most important. Now we can make a difference.
Imagine that your girlfriend is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
J: My wonderful girlfriend would not do that. She loves music as much as I do.
Thx for taking to Grande Rock, John. Wish you the best for your future endeavors. Any last words? Thx for the music all these years… take care!
J: As they said in the movie: “have a good time, all the time”…
J: My good friend and drummer, Simon Phillips, gave me a call and said that he had worked on several projects with Milen. Milen then sent me song demos and that mixed with the band made it impossible to not be involved.
Since Milen is the mastermind behind Intelligent Music Project, do you have any musical freedom so as to suggest things or even add your own ideas on some tracks too?
J: Yes everyone injected their personality into the works but Milen had a strong vision.
Honestly, how easy or not was it for Milen to bring such celebrated musicians such as yourself (John Payne), Joseph Williams, Simon Phillips, Tim Pierce, Nathan East & Carl Sentence on board?
J: If you put your mind to something and are determined it will happen. Milen is a very determined person. Plus let’s face it, what a band to work with.
How is working with such talented and renowned musicians in general?
J: I’ve worked with Simon and Tim before. Simon worked on Asia’s “Aqua” CD. It’s very inspiring to say the least. It’s was also a first for me to have recorded with the mighty Nathan East.
Do you believe that the final outcome would be way different if it weren’t for you, Joseph Williams, Simon Phillips, Tim Pierce, Nathan East & Carl Sentence?
J: The songs were already there but knowing Milen everything came out just as he planned.
Which are the differences between “Touching the Divine” and “My Kind O’ Lovin’”?
J: I believe Milen is growing as a songwriter. I feel this album is more mature. Not to say the previous one was not great but I believe you can feel the progression.
What’s that mystic recipe which makes the Intelligent Music Project’s albums so wonderful on the whole?
J: The chemistry and magic is bound to happen when you have great players and great songs. It’s always new when someone else has the vision other than you.
Do you think that the tag “AOR” fully covers IMP’s music or is it something more than that?
J: It’s more than that. It spans from hard rock to orchestral to progressive to almost standards.
How did you come up with the title “Touching the Divine”?
J: I’d say as Milen. It was his idea.
Please make a comment about each track…
J: “Opening (Cool Inside)”: A very cool opening…
“Escape”: Superb song. Helps me explore my lower range…
“Sky”: A real rocker. Joseph’s voice is killer…
“Stay Up”: Nice to sing with Joseph, a real journey…
“A Smile Away”: A wonderful ballad…
“We Can”: So cool. A jazz influence. I see shades of even George Michael in this.
“Simply Feels Good”: Joseph and Carl on this. Great rock riffs!!!
“Dream”: Joseph’s beautiful voice, piano and strings. With surprising changes.
“Coming Soon”: Reminds me of the Zombies…
“Life”: Shades of Toto…
“Fate”: Starts like Dream Theater, I sing a bit harder on this…
“Roots”: Boogie on Joseph.
“My World”: A sensitive ballad...
“Mind Projection”: A very cool track. Slightly progressive. Tim plays a killer solo.
The album was recorded at Simon Phillips Phantom recordings in Los Angeles (Williams, Pierce, Phillips and East) and at Intelligent Music Studios in Sofia (Pierce, Payne, Sentance)… did you have the chance to record in both studios? What do you of the album’s production?
J: I only worked in Sofia. The production team are amazing.
What’s next for Intelligent Music Project according to you? Will you be part of any upcoming releases?
J: I would love to be involved.
Is there any plan to tour as Intelligent Music Project or is it strictly a studio music project?
J: We were asked to possibly do some shows. That’s all I know right now.
What are your personal music plans for the future?
J: I’m working on a musical, a tribute show, Asia FJP and dates with The Rock Pack.
Time for our “weird questions”!!! If you could “erase” one thing from modern music, what would it be?
J: Computers!
Which is that band that you’d like to be part of (any time & era)?
J: The Beatles. They changed the world of music.
Which are the top 3 AOR albums of all time?
J: “Escape”, “Foreigner 4” and “Breakfast in America”…
Which are the top 3 melodic rock/AOR voices of all time?
J: Perry, Gramm and Rodgers…
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
J: Again “Foreigner 4”. The songs and hooks are so well structured.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
J: “Foreigner 4”…
Fill in the phrase… “AOR music wouldn’t have evolved the way it did, if it hadn’t been for…”
J: Albums like “Foreigner 4”. This album defines this genre completely.
If you could be any historical person, which one would you be and why?
J: Leonardo DaVinci. He was just good at everything. From an artist to scientist to inventor and visionary. One cool chap.
If you had the chance to travel in time… where would you choose to go? To the past or the future and why?
J: It would be nice to go back and visit passed friends but now is what’s most important. Now we can make a difference.
Imagine that your girlfriend is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
J: My wonderful girlfriend would not do that. She loves music as much as I do.
Thx for taking to Grande Rock, John. Wish you the best for your future endeavors. Any last words? Thx for the music all these years… take care!
J: As they said in the movie: “have a good time, all the time”…