Control Future – Dutch-Anglo doom pop discovery re-prepare mini-LP vinyl release
Interview conducted on Aug. 12, 2020
By Dan Locke
Control Future is the anticipated musical brainchild of Neus Ruiz, long-time concert promoter, journalist, and head honchita of the Dutch/Anglo underground Heatwave Magazine whom we find on this album to be quite the ‘accomplished’ multi-instrumentalist as well. Her album will be released on November 02, 2020
What is your upbringing?
I grew up in a small town in the island of Mallorca, Spain.
I lived a very humble life but I had a complicated childhood. I moved to London when I was 17 looking to study and get involved in the music scene.
Are you a skater?
I wish, I only recently started skating.
How did you discover music?
My dad used to play me records every Sunday morning to wake me up. I do not remember when it started but I remember Spanish Punk was a big influence on me and later on the Ramones pretty much left me in awe.
How did you start to write music?
I wrote lyrics and poems for as long as I remember. I used to have a flamenco guitar in the house and so I would experiment with it. I started doing covers and then I made my own music in cassettes with a 4 track. I probably still have them somewhere.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
My first proper guitar was a telecaster of the 73´. It was a heavy piece of wood I could barely play sitting on the bed. haha. Later on, I bought an SG and an acoustic Gibson hummingbird. Still my favorite to this day.
I do not own them anymore as I have been selling and buying guitars over the years – life…
I am now after an Airline 59 3P DLX 🙂
What is your favorite guitar distortion pedal?
I never been much of a connoisseur on pedals but I played with the Rat and the Cry baby. I recently bought a Muff to tone down; Loop and I really recommend the Boss Super Overdrive SD-1
What was your first performance at like?
I guess that would be with my first proper band in London. We played the Grosvenor in Brixton. It was a bit of a disaster in terms of sound engineering but a lot of fun and people loved it. There should be a VHS lying around about it.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
How did you start the band?
With Control Future, the first song I recorded was The Right One.
I record it with some friends in my house as a night experiment. There was no project or band then, but that was the beginning of everything.
How the band did get its name?
It’s a bit of an inside geeky talk. We were recording and using a lot of shortcuts to play with the music software. Somehow, we were discussing that in life we should have a shortcut to look forward to the future. It’s very simple: Control Future.
Can you explain your musical style?
Honestly, not sure. Dark pop?
You have postponed the release of your debut recording. How long before it comes out?
Unsure at this time as we are looking for a new label.
How did you end up recording the video for Self in Destruction in Singapore?
I travel a lot to Asia for work so I just kept myself busy.
What is your favorite track on the album?
I really like Self-Destruction and is the deepest track, you can almost feel what I felt at the time of writing.
What are you feeling about streaming music?
Digital vs. vinyl?
I am OK with both. As a Journalist and promoter, I have learned to be flexible and keep an open mind on the music industry. Everyone does what they can.
Not everyone has a massive production behind.
Can you explain the statement “Don’t predict the Future. Create it”?
Be present. Go get it. Don’t expect someone to knock on your door and do things for you.
Whatever you worked on today will create your tomorrow.
Something on those lines.
You were a concert promoter. How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
It’s honestly bad right now but I am happy to see the flexibility and creativeness of the industry at the moment. I have myself a lot of ideas but i do not have the money to do it.
Can you name some of the bands you worked with?
Bad Sports, Radioactivity, Protex, The Gories, Bad Nerves, More Kicks…
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Making music
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You did the Covid sessions. What was that like?
Yes, it was fun. My first gig in over 5 years. Yet to be released on the web end of August more likely.
Live Nations just started Live Nation from Home. Which are concerts from artist homes. An all-new virtual music hub keeping fans connected to their favorite artists featuring daily live streams, performances, new music and more. Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
It has already started and I do not see why not. The profits might go to the artist and people can connect all around the world. I think this should defo stay as an option but nothing will ever replace the feeling of a live gig.
Live Nation is starting to do the first ever U.S. drive-in concert series — LIVE FROM THE DRIVE-IN — which started on July 10, 2020. Now there are many other Drive-in concerts popping up. Do you think this is something you would be willing to do?
Sure thing – I am always up for new ideas.
For smaller bands who do not play large crowds, this is not really an issue. How do you see bands going back to smaller venues and doing things like play for the door, with no guarantees?
I think adding a live stream to it will also bring new income for those who can’t join the gig at the venue.
With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it may be the end of the music fest for the next couple of years? Vertical Concerts?
Again, a lot of promoters are being very creative already in Europe.
My favourite is the Peepshow 360 stage already in place in Amsterdam.
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