Jessica Romoff: What specifically about Brion’s music pulled you in?

Tony Visconti: Well, when I heard Brion’s music I realised that he had been studying almost everything I produced.
Brion Starr: [laughs]

TV: Although Brion clearly studied my past I found him to be refreshing. He didn’t sound like David Bowie, he didn’t sound like T-Rex, he sounded like himself. He’s got a really really unique voice and the types of songs were like… I liked them. They were all kind of decadent, about decadence and that’s one of my favorite topics actually.

JR: When you received Brion’s album he had already begun it. So, what did you feel compelled to add and what was your role in the album itself ?

TV: Well, with this album I knew where they were going and what they were going for. They even used the Chateau d’Herouville which is part of the formula, it has a sound, it has a piano there, it’s got a vibe. Your environment always affects the way you make a record. You know, if you live in a city and you go out every night you somehow get the nightclub the next day into the session. When I got the multitracks to mix I was flabbergasted. It was so nice. By passing all the instruments through synthesisers and the harmoniser they already had great sounds. I just did more of the same with my effects. I just took his lead, as a producer I don’t try to put too much of myself into it, I want to make the artist sound as good as possible, represent everything the artist does. I often ask permission, I mean I did some backing vocals that he didn’t ask for but I heard them, you know I did backing vocals for David Bowie and T Rex and all that. So I said, I just hear them and if you don’t like them I’ll just wipe them but he gave me the thumbs up.
BS: And then we got into shakers and you did the baritone bass on that song.

TV: Yeah, I did play some instruments but I’ve forgotten, I think he’s right, I did play this baritone guitar.
BS: Yeah. The Danelectro. I honestly don’t think there is anything we put on those tracks that we took off.

TV: No.
BS: We used everything, we just clicked instantly.

TV: So, it turned out to be quite a stunning album to listen to, it’s never a dull moment on this album. If it’s not his vocals it’s some little thing going on in your right ear, some sound or some little squeak, some little musical motif that comes on for a second or two. So, between the two of us we really jam packed that album full of yummy stuff.

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