Born Keigo Oyamada, Cornelius – his moniker is an homage to the Planet of the Apes films – began as a guitar player in the same Japanese bubblegum pop scene that spawned Pizzicato Five. Since 1993, however, he has dropped several EPs, full lengths and remix records that have challenged listeners by showing a constant progression toward the less mundane. The greatest being 1997’s fantasmic Fantasma.
This year, Cornelius released Sensuous and has graced the U.S. again with his art/music/spectacle. There were many attempts to sit down with Cornelius and get this interview done; yet it just was not to be. Thanks to the good people at Magnum PR and the magic of email, we were able to get a few questions answered. The unfortunate thing about email is that you don’t really get the most out of a person, so our apologies. Nevertheless, this is how it all went downover the computer.
Alex Roman: You started out as a guitar player in Japan that was heavily influenced by Sabbath and Kiss, how have those early formative influences played a part in the music you make today?
Cornelius: I don’t think I’ve been known as a heavily influenced guitarist. I think I’ve been influenced and it probably comes out of my music all mixed up, but it doesn’t really show physically.
AR: Has the rapid improvements in technology allowed you to make a record much easier than in the past?
Cornelius: Before people couldn’t buy these equipments, now it’s easier to make the environment and gather parts to make the recording, but the recording itself has not become easier.
AR: Do you think that technology is helping or hindering the music industry?
Cornelius: I think technology is helping musicians. I think it’s damaging the system up until now, and don’t think it’s bad thing, but we need to create a new system.
AR: You chose Cornelius as your moniker and named your child Milo in reverence to Planet of the Apes?
Cornelius: It was coincidence. (Note from Magnum PR: He means naming his son Milo, which coincidentally is the name of Cornelius’ son in the film series.)
AR: You have limited exposure in the U.S., what type of people come to your shows and how are you received?
Cornelius: All types of people come to the shows. I pull up one person on stage for each show and so far I’ve pulled up 10-year-old kid, a black guy, white guy, a girl and a guy with a Mexican sombrero, so all kinds of people have been coming to the show.
AR: How was it playing Coachella?
Cornelius: The sun hurt. Had some difficulties with our production for the show, but we enjoyed it.
AR: If they made a “Cornelius” ice cream what do you think it would be like?
Cornelius: Brown with corn in it.
AR: Would you eat it?
Cornelius: I wouldn’t eat it.
