Due to the release of Wideband Networks debut album "Universe" which attracted attention in the SynthPoP scene, I really was happy about getting the chance interviewing Caesar and Casey.

Please tell me something about the history of Wideband Network.
Where did you meet and how long has Wideband Network existed?
Caesar:
Well, Casey contacted me about producing vocals for one of his tracks that I really loved (World of the Living) which is now on our album. After doing that, I made some music that I knew would need vocals and I asked Casey to sing on it. The song was "3am" and I absolutely loved what he did. We just kept making more tracks and next thing we knew, we had an album!

Casey:
Wideband Network met on the bt-network.org message board community (a fan site created for the most amazing musician/producer on the planet BT). I heard a remix that Caesar posted of Depeche Mode's "Dream on" and was blown away at the production. I asked him if he wanted to work on something... so we started working on "World of the living". He produced my vocals in that song. I had the music done... but wanted to have the vox "tweaked out". So to speak... and he did... and then we moved on to our next song which was "3am" and then all of a sudden we were working on like 4 songs at the same  time. We then formed the name "Wideband Network".

What's the meaning of your band name?
Where does it come from?
Caesar:
I just love names that could be anything. A band, an entity, an object, etc. So, being that we made our album via the internet, it seemed fitting and Casey seemed to like it. I just like that it makes sense as a name for our method of collaboration.

Casey:
We are located in different parts of the USA. Caesar lives in Seattle and I live in Ohio. We needed something that got the message across for "distance" as well as something that meant being combined or joined. So Caesar came up with the name and I loved it.

What are you doing when you aren't investing your time in music?
Do you have other jobs, university? If so, which ones?
Caesar:
I am a sound designer for a company called Omni Interactive Audio and I work with the most amazing sound designers and composers. We do the music and sound design for video games, for companies like Microsoft and Sierra. My first game will be shipped later this year actually! When I'm not doing that, I love to go jogging and spending time outdoors walking around. Going out with friends, movies, seeing live music, pretty normal stuff. I love a nice relaxing weekend out in the country when I can get away as I live in the city at the moment.

Casey:
I (3pm) work a full time job in Retail and work on music full time as well. That's about all of my life. However I have been playing a lot of computer games lately J.

What are the sources of your lyrics?
Own experiences, disaffection with existing situations or pure fiction?
Caesar: Ca-sey?

Casey:
Experiences .... every song is about something in my life lyrically.

I listened to your brand-new debut album "Universe".
You are mixing up different styles (soul, groove, guitar and electronic) and were able to create a new kind of SynthPoP.
Have you ever thought about, that some SynthPoP addicts won't accept your music?
Caesar:
My musical influences are all over the map. I think Depeche Mode is one of my favorite bands of all time, as well as acts like Duran Duran and New Order. Production-wise, I love BT's music as well as a lot of other music in other genres. I actually really like
Linkin' Park's first album because it seems very cinematic to me. When making music, I usually like to stay on the electronic/synth-pop side of things as I feel I have a lot of freedom in that area musically, but am definitely not afraid to throw in some guitar or
funk bass as I love that stuff too. I hope people can just appreciate this material as it is and not confine us to a genre....I have never tried to categorize this stuff, I just want it to speak for itself and hopefully people will dig it!

Casey:
Well, there are always going to be "haters" and "naysayers" out their but we are making music we love. If one song sounds "r&b" and the next one sounds like a full out "trance" song then so be it. We love all types of music.

Who inspires your music?
Caesar:
Less people and bands, more like movies and emotions inspire the music I make. A lot of times I'll just feel a certain way and I'll want to make a song that is sort of like a soundtrack to how I'm feeling. Sometimes Casey will have some lyrics that strike an emotional chord with me and I'll just hear a sort of soundtrack or feel a vibe from that. Then, the music-making process is almost like auto-pilot as I know exactly how I want the music to make me feel (if that makes any sense). Our song "The Silence" is a great example of that happening.

Casey:
The people around me. Everyone that has ever entered my life and been a part of it inspires me.

As you make a very special kind of music, do you try to aim reaching any special audience?
Caesar:
Not really. I am inspired by so many things that I cannot say I'm trying to connect with any particular audience musically. I am inspired by the fans of a lot of different music and I get a lot of energy from people.

Casey:
Anyone that will take the time to listen and hopefully connect with it either from the lyrics side or the music side.

Universe was released by A Different Drum (www.adifferentdrum.com?
Tell me about how you got in contact with Todd Durrant. In my opinion he is the Master of SynthPoP music, at least in the USA.
Caesar:
I met Todd through my friend Dayvv Brooks who is a friend of his. My friend Dayvv literally said, "Hey, you should send Todd your CD". I did, Todd seemed to really dig it, and now here we are! I was really blown away by how cool Todd is and how sincere he is about his love for music. Great guy!

Casey:
Todd Durrant is amazing! We were introduced to him by an old friend of his who stopped by our website and wrote us about getting in contact with him. We did and two weeks later we were signing a contract. Todd is truly someone to be recognized in the industry.
He is a good business man as well as friend.

How was the work with Brian Hazard, who did the mastering?
Casey:
Brian Hazard (Color Theory, 11th records) did a great job mastering our album. I was completely shocked at how well it sounded mastered. Well, Caesar communicated with Brian almost daily.

What's about live performances?
Are you looking forward having some live-gigs in future?
Caesar:
As soon as we can work out the logistics, we will definitely play live. Hopefully in the next few months. Is it very important for you to play live and feed off the audience? I used to play live in this rock/pop band and it was great! I cannot wait to play this new material for people. Definitely getting that instantaneous feedback from the crowd is an amazing thing.

Casey:
Live performances is something we are planning on doing with the whole distance thing.It's hard for us to rehearse our live show. So we are working on some ideas for future dates.
I love playing live - it's an incredible rush. I just hope we get to tour with this album soon!

Well, your CD is not copy-protected. In German/Austria most of the new releases are including a copy-protection mechanism.
How do you think about the necessary of such mostly incompatible mechanisms?
Caesar:
Well, like Casey, I'm just all about sharing this music with as many people as possible. It does cost money to do this though. Equipment, mastering, manufacturing, art, etc. Word-of-mouth is the best advertising and if someone ends up with an MP3 from our album and digs it, I would hope they would go look for the album and buy it for the full experience so that we can continue to make music and have it distributed to the world.

Casey:
I would release every song for free off of our website if I could. I don't think music should be "bought". I think the artists deserve recognition for the work they do. But I think that music should be available to anyone that wants to hear it.

What are your plans for the future?
Are you going to release another track from the album as single?
Caesar:
That's the idea! We have also started work on the n! ext album.

Casey:
Yes J! The next single will be "The Silence" and quite possibly at the same time targeting main stream radio with "Forward Reverse Universe".

Back to "Universe". Do you believe that there exist other creatures out of our universe?
Caesar:
Indeed, but probably nothing like we expect. Meaning, life can be in many forms ranging from the microscopic to something huge like a redwood tree. I think it's possible that the definition of "organic life" could change if extra terrestrials are discovered. I mean, we have creatures living in our oceans that live near plumes of sulfur and seem to survive just fine, so who knows what's out there.

Casey:
Of course there are! To think otherwise would be selfish of humanity.

As you know you got a very positive feedback of "SynthPoP For The Masses".
How are the feedbacks of other e-magazines?
Caesar:
Seems pretty positive! I think the most common reaction is that we are doing something different and that's a huge complement in my opinion!

Casey:
So far the response to universe has been amazing. So many great things that people are saying about this album. It kind of takes the breath away from you.

That's all. Thank you very much for the interview, live long and prosper!

Now, lets enjoy the below MP3s from their debut album "Universe"  and CD single "Orbit".

• Orbit (album version)
• Forward Reverse Universe
• Suberhero
• Crazy

The copyright in these sound-files is owned by Wideband Network, U.S.A.. For all files I got the exclusive authorization of Wideband Network. All sound-files are only for private use. Any commercial distribution and copy is prohibited.

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