We recently sat down with the elusive Figure, whose abstract sound sculptures permeate his deeply personal and surreal new album "When the Alphabet Hides In Your Mouth". It would be easy to wander off topic, as ideas and intensity explode forth in his gestures and long, convoluted sentences . . . but we stay on course, determined to gain some understanding into the approach and intent within his newest work.

ss .. This album is referred to as "an opera for closed eyes open", and there is a surreal, dream-like quality to both the words and music. The effect is often as if you were drifting in and out of sleep. What was your state of mind for the concept and inspiration for this project?

f .. I wanted it to be very big and expansive and at the same time very intimate and closed in. It should sound like it's all happening within your head, which is why headphones are so important. I had a general idea for it for many many years and it took a while to accumulate material that fit together. I wanted there to be an overall sound throughout that contained many varied chunks, sections, textures and colors swirling around inside of it and I am always interested in creating work that is "psychedelic" or "mind-altering" if you will.

ss .. The album involves several characters who appear in different sections of the work: figure, (face) and FATHER, each one being associated to colors: blue, red, yellow. What roles do these characters & colors play, and what is the symbolism behind each?

f .. I just wanted to suggest a certain atmosphere by envisioning colors. As for the characters, they are all one. They are all me. I am the "there" prisoner within. The characters and text came out of the music. I wish the text could be shown with pictures inside the mind's eye and could be experienced with closed eyes and headphones.

ss .. Yes, the colors and images you invoke in the text are quite vividly realized in the music; it is intensely cinematic, visual. But let me go back to this idea of the "there" prisoner, and all of the characters being you . . . which parts of yourself does each represent, and do you feel trapped by these personalities since you refer to being a prisoner?

f .. Everything that I create is trapped in my mind. It will never be the same for anyone else. Characters are just characters. But, hopefully other people's experiences with the work will lead them on their own personal journey and every character will become a friend. How can you not become friendly with a metallic-skinned Indian with a huge cable attached to his spine>?!

ss .. Certainly the experience, the effect you have realized in this recording will be experienced in different ways by different listeners . . . but what is your own personal journey as you created this work, and as you listen to it after the fact?

f .. My own personal journey while creating this work was guided by my life. This is a very personal and autobiographical collection for me. From the structure to the sounds to the text to my singing. I tried to give myself to the music, and I feel this particular piece opened me up for everything else that I have done since and will do in the future. As for listening to it now, I'm very happy with it, and I feel that (for me, especially with the first and last tracks) it is a wonderful experience to surround oneself with.

ss .. There are strong themes of shifting identities, elements of time travel, and changing costumes, and environments . . . when you say that "Alphabet" is a very personal journey, is the character figure . . . (you) . . . seeking answers about his identity? I almost get the sense here that you are exploring the idea that consciousness, identity exists in multiple realities, states of mind.

f .. Yes. I love the search for identity within a creation. Is it the identity of the piece or of the creator? I like the idea of cutting into and reorganizing a specific reality. The "reality thread" can be smoothly going along and then maybe it gets tangled up or cut and tied to a different color of thread. Anything is possible within a creation, so why not? It's like a daydream. One's mind bounces along freely from one thought to another. Emotions, visions, memories, making plans, sounds, etc. It all seems very random at times, but everything is connected because it's all within the individual's mind. In my mind, everything I know. In your mind, everything you know. Everything. And then! What is outside all of our minds? What if technology developes so that we all essencely have cell phones implanted in our brains and thus TELEPATHY! Of course, the information sent could be the full range of perception and we could keep improving the technology so that eventually we would all be lined into each other. Now, who's reality would that be? No one particular person. That's why all my characters are really all me. I feed them and they feed me.

ss .. That really shines some light on "Alphabet" from that angle . . . why it sounds as if it is searching, elusive, multi-dimensional. Did you ever intend to create a "live", performed version of the work? As I said before, it is so cinematic and visual . . .

f .. Parts of it could be performed live. I once did a version of part of "Through These Twisting Shadows". But over-all, I was going for something that can only be experienced through the recording. The listener being alive is as live as it needs to be. Passing moments from my life poured into theirs.

ss .. Thanks for the insight. I look forward to approaching the album again, with some of the personal perspective you shared.

f .. Thanks and enjoy.

Figure
When the Alphabet Hides In Your Mouth
limited edition CDr (2004)
100 copies hand-signed and numbered

Your Voice is a Flute  [mp3]

Bloom  [mp3]

The "There" Prisoner  [mp3]

Third Door Left (1)  [mp3]

Third Door Left (2)  [mp3]

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Limited edition of 100 copies
hand-signed and numbered