Playlist: Michael Cupoli, Noise Arcade

Kipp Whittaker | Dec 30, 2014 1:00 pm | Add a comment | 2064 reads

In this month's Playlist we chat with Michael Cupoli aka Noise Arcade about what he wishes he could play, his workout playlist, and what his Beijing theme song is.

Which song lifts your spirits?
Pair’s “Gig of the Week” always seems to lift my spirit. The drums on this track are great and I can’t believe that Xiao Zhong would be screaming his heart out while playing this beat. The lyrics aren’t the most uplifting but that doesn’t really take away from the music.

What’s your favorite Chinese song, and why?
I would have to say “Kuai” by PK-14 is my favorite Chinese song. The first time I saw them play was at a music festival like seven or eight years ago and they played this song. The amount of energy they had on stage was impressive. Then I listened to the record at home and it still had that level of energy.

If you could play any instrument, what would it be and why?
If I could play another instrument, I would choose the bass clarinet. The tone of the bass clarinet is quite special. Of course it can sound like a clarinet, but it can make sounds quite similar to a synth. Eric Dolphy is one of my favorite bass clarinetists to listen to. His solo bass clarinet version of “God Bless The Child” is great.

lack of regrets by noise arcade

Name a song or record for your time in Beijing?
At this point in time, I have lived in Beijing for ten years. A piece of music that would describe that amount of time would Morton Feldman’s String Quartet No. 2. It is a four to six-hour piece of music that is quite beautiful to listen to. Time-wise, that feels like an equivalent amount of time because no one every thinks they will stay here that long or finish listening to the piece.

What is your workout music?
Recently, I have been listening to either Death Grips or Nine Inch Nails while I work out. I find both groups are great to listen to when I am running or lift weights so I don’t have to play around with my iPod while exercising.

What was your favorite period or year for music?
I have two favorite periods for music. The free jazz that came out in the 1960s primarily on Blue Note Records and ESP Disks is one. The level of musicianship and the mature compositions that came out of this period are ridiculously good. The other favorite period of music would the late 70s/early 80s post-punk movement that was happening in England. Bands like Joy Division, Bauhaus, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle, and a ton of other bands are among my favorites to listen to.

Check out Noise Arcade’s new album Lack of Regrets.

Michael Cupoli's Five-Song Playlist:

“Acknowledgement” by John Coltrane