Calling Nir Z's Station - Part 2

it: You play on all of Ray’s solo albums including the SHE Album. We have interviewed Ray Wilson last week before his club show in Heiligenhaus [Germany] and Ray told us that it’s impossible for him at the moment to afford you to be in his band. Despite that, would you like to play in his band again?
Nir Z: Well, let’s make it very clear. Ray Wilson is probably one of the best singers alive. And I am saying this from the bottom of my heart. I always enjoyed playing with him. I think the both of us can create something really cool, which can only happen when both of us play together. it’s the way we respond to each other musically. And of course, I would always love to play with Ray! But at the same time all the financial issues that come up – like he’s not able to afford me etc, we all have responsibilities, when Ray did his first solo record, he came to New York, I was there for him and helped him as much as I could. I did the record for him free of charge! it doesn’t happen often that you do something like that. And I’m happy that I could do that.
New York City is a very expensive City; I have a wife and a child. So if I go on the road, there are minimum conditions required…. who knows? Maybe one day we will play together again. I definitely would love to play in his band again. And I really hope that it will happen some day. You know…the fact that an artist like Ray Wilson doesn’t have a major record deal is pathetic. I don’t know what record labels are looking for. How can you avoid a singer like him? There are lots of good musicians out there, drummers, guitarists, and singers who are really good. But once every 20 year you get someone who really stands out – and Ray does! I can tell you that all the people who are involved with my studio, were shocked to know that this guy doesn’t have a major record deal when they’ve heard the tracks for the record SHE.
But it is what it is - what else can I say...

it: Talking about SHE, how do we have to imagine how you recorded the drum takes? Did you have blank backing tracks without drums to play drums to or was there some kind of drum machine?
Nir Z: Well there are many different ways. The producer, Peter Hoff, called me to discuss his ideas. He described me his vision. And don’t forget that I know Ray for many years and I know his taste and ideas and what he wants. And also, he knows me very well. it was a combination of trust, I guess. Peter sent me tracks that were very well arranged. And yes, he did send his drum machines tracks to give me an overall idea. So I took his ideas and translated them into real live drums! And I gave them different options for each song. I played one take from start to end and then I would play it again in a different way and then Peter and Ray have chosen what they thought is the best for the music.

it: On how many tracks did you play drums? Ray told us he’s got three extra tracks and on SHE you play on eleven of the twelve tracks?
Nir Z: Well, I did like twelve or 13 tracks for SHE, but not all of them ended up on the record. I don’t know exactly but on the record I think I don’t play on all of the tracks.

it: When did you record the drum parts for SHE?
Nir Z: Sometime in 2005, I don’t remember exactly.

it: You said that for the drum takes of the album Change, that Ray came to New York to have them recorded. Can you tell us something about the recordings sessions of Change and maybe The Next Best Thing?
Nir Z: Well I am a bit confused with the two records before SHE. Change was the one where Andy Hess played bass on?

it: Yes
Nir Z: With Change – Ray wanted a different approach and basically, we played more like a live band, Ray would play acoustic guitar and sing. And we really built the production around his voice and guitar playing. We did this more in a live environment. So the music will not be over produce, it was much looser approach I would say. it’s more acoustic, more like this middle of the road feel. Andy Hess played bass, he’s a friend and great musician and there was Adam Holzman who is a legendary musician who played with people like Miles Davis.
When Adam heard Ray’s voice he loved it so much that he just wanted to play on it. it was very loose, there wasn’t like a plan from A to Z. We just went with the flow. But for SHE, I haven’t seen Ray at all; I even spoke more to Peter than him.

it: Do you have a favourite track on the SHE album?
Nir Z: Oh – there are a lot of great tracks on it! I really think it’s a great record. So I really love it all. I would say that Taking Time is a great track, Fly High and Show Me The Way as well. it depends a bit what mood you are in.

it: Ok, now some questions about other projects that has nothing to do with Genesis. Where do you have your studio?
Nir Z: My studio is located in neighbourhood called Park Slope in Brooklyn. it’s a nice area and just 20 minutes from Manhattan.

it: You played with Billy Squier, who was supported by someone like Freddie Mercury in the 80ies. How did you get in contact with Billy?
Nir Z: Well, that really is a funny story. I was in LOHO studio in New York recording some music with bass player Jack Daley who is the bass player of Lenny Kravitz. We were recording a song and then he walked into the control room. This guy came to me and said, ‘I love your drumming, that was great’ and I said ‘thank you very much, what’s your name’, and he said ‘Billy’ and I said, ‘I’m Nir, nice to meet you’. And then I asked him, ‘are you a musician?’, and he said ‘yes I am, I am a singer and guitar player, my name is Billy Squier’ and at that moment I didn’t put the name together. ‘oh cool, nice to meet you’ and I left the room. And everybody where laughing. But I didn’t understand why. Another guy who was with him came to me and said ‘listen, I don’t know if you’re aware of that, but you met Billy Squier and he wants you to play with him on the next tour’’ and that’s when I finally put everything together. And a few months later I get a phone call from Billy himself offering me to go on the road with him. And we did - it was an amazing experience, we had such a great time. We had a great band and Billy was great. it was Billy Squier, Bad Company – Paul Rodger’s Band - and Styx.

it: But what was the reason for Billy Squier to show up in your studio. Did he just walk by?
Nir Z: No, the producer of the project we were working on, Jered Kotler, he is a friend of Billy’s. He just came in to visit him. I actually just received an eMail from Billy this week, he just came back from an All Star Band tour with Ringo Starr.

it: You have also toured with Nena, the german female singer...
Nir Z: The german Queen, yes. [laughter]

it: Nena was very popular in the 80ies and then she disappeared for quite a while until she did this unexpected comeback. So how did it happen that you’ve played with her?
Nir Z: A good friend of mine, Van Romaine, who has been playing with Nena for many years. asked me to replace him because he had some commitments in America, and then I played the whole tourr. it actually ended up to be a very good tour. I also think the live album sounds very good.

it: Were you the only non-german band member in Nena’s band or was there somebody else?
Nir Z: It was a bit of an international band, the bass player was american. But the rest were german musicians, it was a really great band.

it: Some general questions now – if you look back on what you did so far, what is the record you’re most proud of to have contributed to?
Nir Z: Oh, that’s a tough question...there are so many different records I’m proud of but they are all so different, different music styles, which makes it very difficult to compare. So of course to work with Ray Wilson or Alana Davis was great and there is some cool stuff I did with John Mayer, I don’t know if you know him. He’s really huge in America. I played on his first record and it sold over seven million copies here. And there are also different records that never get to Europe that I like. There are a lot of independent artist here in NY that I record with them and you can listen to some tracks on my studio web site www.zdrumstudio.com
Also recordings I did in Nashville, which are a completely different, amazing artists and musicians. That I like as well, what’s cool over there is that musicians still record all at the same in the studio.. like in the old days

it: If you could decide yourself now, is there someone out there who you would love to work and play with?
Nir Z: There are so many people out there. My original style of drumming comes from the middle east – although i do play different styles, musicians and producers in America, they always ask me the same thing, ‘how come that Peter Gabriel never picked you up?’ – I am being honest, I always get such comments. I did some projects with a producer called David Botriell. And that’s closest I got to Peter Gabriel ?. Peter Gabriel would be someone I would love to work with. I think that what comes from me rhythmically as a drummer could work well with his music.

it: You started drumming when you were 12 years old...
Nir Z: Yes, something like that

it: Was there someone who you’ve been looking up to, some kind of a model for you?
Nir Z: Oh yeah, it’s a long list my friend! And there are always the guys back in my country first of all, even though they are not world wide famous guys, but they were the leading drummers in my country and I learned a lot from them. So the list starts from people like Buddy Rich and Joe Morello, all the way to John Bonham and Tony Williams. And then Stewart Copeland, I was a huge fan of The Police as a teenager. And then Jerry Marotta who played on the early Peter Gabriel records. Phil Collins, of course – I mean it’s not even fair to name these people because I’m sure I leave out some that I shouldn’t. There are so many great legendary drummers out there who taught me so much.

it: During our last interview in 1997, we asked you whether you have ever met Nick D’Virgilio, back then you answered ‘no’ – have you met him during the last 9 years?
Nir Z: Yes, we’ve met once briefly – for two minutes. it was in LA – we ran into each other at the Namm show. And it was just ‘hi, how you’re doing’, ‘nice to meet you’, that was basically my only meeting with Nick D’Virgilio.

it: What are you working on at the moment and what will you do next?
Nir Z: At the moment I’m working with different artists that I develop in my studio. Also, I start a new record in Nashville with producer Frank Liddell, Chack Leavell on piano, Waddy Wachtel on guitar and Glenn Worf on bass.

it: What are your three all time favorite records?
Nir Z: [pause] wooow....again, that’s a tough one. it’s like I would have two kids and you’d ask me ‘who do you love more’ – I love all of them, you know...so favorite records – where should I start? What style of music we talking about?

it: Everything, just your favorite ones
Nir Z: Okay, it’s tough, but some examples. A record of Keith Jarrett, My Song, it’s an amazing record. Then Ok Computer by Radiohead. Erm...anything [laughter] you know? Led Zeppelin, anything, same with Tony Williams or UK with Bill Bruford. There are so many things of King Crimson so many records of Peter Gabriel. Wow, that’s a tough question! I was hoping no-one ever askes me this! If you come to my house and look at my collection, you will find so many different records. Today I could listen to OK Computer and tomorrow to the band from Spain, Ojos De Brujo, I don’t know if you know them. They do kind of funky flamenco stuff in the world music environment. But I honestly couldn’t pick only three records, I couldn’t say that! Everytime I look at the Rolling Stone Magazine when they do the 100 best albums of all time or something, that alwys looks funny to me – how can you do that? How can you decide these are the greatest records of all time?

it: Do you use PC or MAC?
Nir Z: I am a MAC user. Also in the studio, I am not dealing with an cheep gear any more which means that every unit I buy for the studio is always the top and that includes the computers because I don’t have time for technical PC problems [laughs]. I don’t understand why people use PC but anyway. I have used my MACs for many years and feel very comfortable with it. And most people here, also friends, are all using MACS.

it: Do you like american Whiskey more than scottish Whisky?
Nir Z: Ahh, no no no no! First of all, I am not a drinker [laughs]. I can drink beer better than whisky but there’s nothing like the scottish whisky. it would be like using substitutes for the real beer. it’s like having the real Weißbier in Germany. I never had this kind of beer in New York. You can get this here but it’s not the same.

it: Ok, that’s it, thanks a lot for taking time for us.
Nir Z: No problem!

.