Dream Creation: When I last interviewed Cosmosis it was with both Bill and Jez, who were both involved in Cosmosis and Laughing Buddha. Now each prefering to work solo with all the freedom that brings, they both simply took one of the names. Jez became Laughing Buddha and Billy became Cosmosis. Cosmosis (Billy) releases his album Synergy² very soon on Transient. Using all my powers of persuasion and blagging skill I managed to procure myself a pre-release copy on tape, with strict instructions not to let any DJs with DATs anywhere near it. It's an extremely juicy, funky, varied and enjoyable listen, positive and uplifting.
Cosmosis: I think music shouldn't be just one colour it should be a healthy mixture that flits around. There are some dark bits in my tracks but I don't focus exclusively on darkness. When I first started smoking wacky baccy I was really into Black Sabbath, it's probably why I don't do dark music now, no more church bells and demons for me. I think I've been through my dark stage. It's a bit like growing out of watching horror films.
Dream Creation: I see you're on tour with Mindfield, Zen and Slide throughout March and April (see gig schedule). Do you enjoy travelling to other countries to play?
Cosmosis: Yes, infact I recently got back from Russia which was wicked even if it was a bit on the cold side. Travelling provides an excellent opportunity for cross cultural fertilization.²
Dream Creation: I believe you had a bit of a rough time in Columbia? By the way thanks for warning our readers in the last issue. I think most people will be avoiding Columbia for the eclipse. Venezuala seems to have become the prefered destination.
Cosmosis: Ah man, in Columbia there were uzzi's, dodgy war zones, it was dangerous there were tank road blocks, machine guns etc and you had to show passes. We were surrounded at all times by the people who were looking after us. We could not stray too far. One time we got lost in a market and when we got back and joined our escorts they were shitting themselves because of all the kidnappings that take place. They were worried about us being mugged or kidnapped.
Dream Creation: When making live appearances as he did spectacularly at Cream in Liverpool on Friday 6th Feb (see review) he likes to be joined on stage by either DJ/mad dancer Pied Piper or Wei, an oriental guitarist with uncontrollable Hendrix tendencies or sometimes both. How did he meet Wei? and who plays guitar on the album?
Cosmosis: I saw him at Tyssen Street, London one night playing a brilliant guitar version of Hallucinogen's LSD. I was amazed. As far as the guitar on the album goes thats all me. I expect I'll do some recording with Wei sometime in the future, probably more ambient stuff though.
Dream Creation: Favorite tracks on the album?
Cosmosis: Intergalactic Fluoro Funkster, I like the groove of that one. I like the production and textures on Turn On Tune In and I like the guitar on Down At The Crossroad - a tribute to John Lee Hooker. (Featuring blues guitar, an old black geezer talking, and a chorus of Ciccadas).
Dream Creation: For more detailed insight into the inspiration behind the tracks see Billy's track by track guide [below!] -Stu and Ricki
Thanks to Stu and Ricki of Dream Creation. DC can be contacted via the 3rd Eye site, http://web.archive.org/web/20010804202134/http://www.third-eye.org.uk/.