A short Questions and Answers
as conducted by Elenka Freikkar,
August 2004,
Elenka: Who is the person on
the picture?
Freek: I wish I knew. The picture was taken in the early 50s. On the back of
the picture is written, in my father's handwriting, "my friend Weibel" and a very impressive list of Weibel's favourite sports. If there is anyone out there who
has a clue who Weibel is, please contact me.
Elenka: What is your
motivation to make music?
Freek: I have a strong urge to create. Creating is a part of day to day life
and essential to me. Music is just one method of creating.
Elenka: What is the
importance of titles in your work?
Freek: The titles of songs are an integral part and are often clues to
certain things – it’s a bit like a treasure hunt.
Elenka: What is the concept
behind Beequeen?
Freek: I'm not quite certain there is a concept as such. Frans
and I enjoy making music together. We have been active in this field since
1988. It's a bit like a marriage really.
Elenka: What is the
difference between Beequeen, Brunnen
and other solo projects?
Freek: The music of Beequeen is a combination of two very different
personalities. Other projects are me solo without other input. Brunnen is the project that has the songs with me singing
on them. The Beautiful Glassbottom Boat is based on
organ drones.
Elenka: I am looking for a
copy of the cassette Cris en Mouvements
released by Tranches De Vie, which has a track called Faustus Opus Magum by you. Where can I find it?
Freek: If only I knew. This was my first contributions to a compilation
cassette and I was never sent a copy. I tried to contact Tranches De Vie but to
no avail. If anyone has a copy I would be thrilled to hear about it.
Elenka: What is the first
record you ever bought?
Freek: Tarzans Nuts by Madness, which I still have. Originally I wanted to
buy Embarrassment by Madness on single, but bought this one by mistake.
Elenka: You collect records
by Adam and the Ants. Why is this?
Freek: On 2 February 1981 I watched Top Pop, a Dutch pop programme on television, that aired 30 seconds of Antmusic
by Adam and the Ants. It was a revelation; this was what I had been waiting
for, somewhere between Punk, New Wave and the New
Romantics, this was exiting and colourful music. The next day I went to town
and bought Antmusic, my first Adam and the Ants
record. A killer disc!
Elenka: What is the record
you would never part with?
Freek: There are several, but I think I would never consider parting with my
original 1969 pink label LP of Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake. Or my signed LP of Celestial Ocean by Brainticket.
Or my tape copy of Dots On The Eye by The Legendary
Pink Dots. Or perhaps my signed LP of Shadow Lady by Gudrun Hardardottir
or the signed LP copy of She And She As One by Anton Heyboer. The list goes on.
Elenka: What are some of
your favourite books?
Freek: Glad you asked! My all time favourite book is a Dutch novel called De Komst Van Joachim Stiller by Hubert Lampoo
from 1959. It is one of the most important books ever. Close second and third
are Murakami’s Kafka On The Beach and The Wind-up Bird
Chronicals. Then there is My Wicked Wicked Ways, the autobiography by Errol Flynn and his
travel book Beam Ends. Other favourites are The Catcher In The Rye by J.D.
Salinger, which I must have read a million times, Foucault's Pendulum by
Umberto Eco, Haroun And The Sea Of Stories by Salman
Rushdie, anything by Douglas Adams, Tolkien and most later books by John
Irving.
Elenka: What are some of
your all time favourite TV-programmes or movies?
Freek: I don't really watch much television, but at times I enjoy watching
series like
Elenka: Should I want to
surprise you with a record as a gift, which record would be appropriate?
Freek: Well, I could do with a copy of the Ursonate/An
Anna Blume LP featuring readings by Kurt Schwitters on Lord’s Gallery records from the mid-50’s.
Elenka: If I would like to
take you out to dinner, where would I best take you?
Freek: Any good Indian restaurant.
Elenka: What do you think
about Scandinavia, say for instance
Freek: Unfortunately I have never been to
Elenka: Do you like being
massaged?
Freek: I love being massaged, but……
Elenka: Are you a good lover?
Freek: I beg your pardon?