------------------------------------------------------- AUGUST 3, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------- Source: Metro Cafe (U.K.) http://www.metro.co.uk/metro/interviews/interview.html\?in_page_id=8&in_interview_id=887 Trevor Horn By James Ellis 60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles saw Trevor Horn come to fame. Since then, the music producer has worked with everyone from Yes and ABC to Tom Jones and Frankie Goes To Hollywood. He has just released Pass The Flame - the 2004 Olympic Games torch relay song - with Yiannis, Tarkan and Katia. 60 SECONDS EXTRA!: How did you get together with the others? TREVOR HORN: It's a strange bunch of characters, isn't it? Just off the cuff, I can hardly remember everyone's names. There was a guy there who was a brilliant Egyptian percussion player, Hossam Ramzy, and Lol Creme from 10cc. There was also a beautiful Lebanese girl [Katia] who wailed on it and a Turkish guy, Tarkan, and a Greek guy [Yiannis]. It was a real cast of characters. 60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Are you an Olympics fan? TREVOR HORN: Are you kidding? I love the Olympics. They are brilliant, absolutely brilliant. It's a great year for Greece to be hosting them after just winning Euro 2004. 60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Some people think they won't be ready. TREVOR HORN: Well [Very long pause], I know how they feel - they have my sympathy. 60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Did they give you tickets? TREVOR HORN: No, I'll be watching it at home on the TV. I need a break. When does it all kick off, anyway? 60 SECONDS EXTRA!: August 13. Are you aware of the number of Trevor Horn fan websites? TREVOR HORN: I am but I don't like to talk about them. It all makes you feel a bit daft. It's really nice that people are that interested. 60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Interested? One [www.trevor-horn.de] seems to have elevated you to some form of deity: 'Come into His Temple and bow to Him...' TREVOR HORN: That has caused me some of my most cringeworthy moments. People discover it and say: 'I didn't think you were God.' I rarely feel God-like. It has happened once or twice. 60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Any particular occasion? TREVOR HORN: Maybe when I saw my children being born. 60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Owner Of A Lonely Heart by Yes, Relax by Frankie and Look Of Love by ABC - are they the bands' songs or Trevor Horn tracks? TREVOR HORN: They are the bands' songs. If there are any similarities, it's that they are all singles, all up-tempo and all sparkly. They are proper songs. However, I was a writer on Owner. If you listen to that record, it is like a Swiss watch. I was working with people who had played in stadiums for something like 14 years. They knew their trade. 60 SECONDS EXTRA!: It was a marked change of direction for Yes, soundwise. TREVOR HORN: It was a marked change. It was also a huge hit. And the album it came from was a huge hit, their biggest album. It had a lot of fun stuff on it. If I'd been left on my own, I couldn't have made a record like that. You must be joking. 60 SECONDS EXTRA!: What is it about your production that makes songs into hits? TREVOR HORN: I've produced a hell of a lot of tracks and the ones you're talking about were all hit singles. It's the kind of thing you do enjoy doing if it's a good song. The thing I try and do is make sure there is not a bad moment from beginning to end - make the track so it keeps people going. I don't just churn it out. I'm not very good at that. 60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Do you rate the acts from reality shows? TREVOR HORN: It's the same as it always was, wherever the acts come from. It's all about competition in the music business. There's some good stuff - Will Young surprised everyone. People connect with him. At least it has produced one person and, in the end, whatever way you can get through, that's what's important. 60 SECONDS EXTRA!: Who is the most talented person you've worked with? TREVOR HORN: I wouldn't have been able to work with Seal on four albums if he wasn't a genius. But if you look down the list, you can't get a hit record without a hit voice. People like Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Tom Jones - they are people who have good voices - really good voices. Tom was classic. 60 SECONDS EXTRA!: It is said you spent the night before your wedding in the studio. Are you married to the job? TREVOR HORN: I'm afraid I am. Hold on, my wife is coming in. [Aside to wife] 'He's asking if I spent the night before our wedding in the studio.' She says it was the night of my wedding. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com