This is the "Duran Duran - In Review" Podcast interview. The podcast is the very first Duran Duran specific podcast and it aired its first episode on October 2, 2005.
the show started out as very one sided but it soon became much more multi-dimensional. the listeners of the show have become producers as well. many listeners have taken the time to write and suggest ideas or merely offer their support for the show.
The podcast can be downloaded for free on iTunes or you can go directly to http://figital.libsyn.com and get the episodes directly from there.
The show also has a Facebook page. Do a search for DuranDuranPodcast and you'll find it!!
The podcast has touched on a range of topics related to Duran Duran. Among them: Arcadia, An Andy Taylor Special, A Planet Earth Special (a critical look at the legendary first single), collector's corner, Duran Duran Springboard (a look at the musical influences of the band members), demos, rare recordings and much more.
Come and give it a listen. If you love Duran Duran you can't go wrong!!
Ladyaslan presents Derek Sumisu Podcast KING~
LadyaslanDDTTRH: Tell the fans how you decided to do Duran Duran-In Review Podcast ? When and where can it be heard, for those new to you and your podcast?
Derek Sumisu::
Well, it started out in October 2005. At that time I was living in Melbourne, Australia and working at a record label. Podcasting was just making its niche in the tech world and I thought it might be a good idea for our label (clananalogue.org) to engage in this new medium to see what it could offer us in terms of reaching out to our audience in a new way. The label manager, Nicholas Wilson, was (and is) a stickler for details and he didn’t want to just run hully gully into making a podcast, so he asked me if I could think of a way to prototype the idea so he could see it in action. My first thought was; ‘sure, I’ll just make a Duran Duran podcast. It’ll be easy.’ So within a day I had the first episode done and I had done all the little things to get it ready to make it public. That first episode was published on October 2nd, 2005. What caught me by surprise, and what drove me (and still does drive me) to continue was the immediate response from an audience. It was up literally less than 24 hours and I had already received emails from people who had heard it and who were keen to hear more.
LadyaslanDDTTRH: What is your favorite Duran Duran song and video?
Derek Sumisu:
I can’t actually just narrow it down to one and one! A band that has had such a long and distinguished career as Duran Duran is certainly worthy of some sort of list! So here’s today’s version, because like life itself, this list changes frequently!
Winter marches on
Khanada
Secret Oktober
New religion
My Antarctica
Planet earth
The chauffeur
Faster than light
Skin divers
Out of my mind
As for videos, same story. Here’s a few that I adore today:
The wild boys (long version)
Is there something I should know?
All she wants is
Girls on film (night version)
Do you believe in shame?
Plus I love going on YouTube and checking out the interviews and live clips from all around the world.
LadyaslanDDTTRH: Tell us about some of the topics discussed on the DD show?
Derek Sumisu:
Wow, there’s been a really broad range of topics. On some episodes, I just bring the listeners up to date on the news and in others I could get more into how Duran Duran has affected me and my life. It’s really not defined or dictated by any rules or topic list. Many times in the history of the show a fan has written in with a question or idea for a topic and I love that. One of the things I said in the earliest ep's was that I wanted the whole thing to be more of a two way street. That the listeners could do more than just listen if they were motivated to do so. That’s worked out really great as I have a great audience who never lack in good ideas!! But to give people an idea, here’s a short list of things that have been covered. Arcadia, Japan (the country and the band), Spandau Ballet, (both seriously and in massive jest) how Planet earth was made, what JT thinks of nose hair and literally tons more…the shows are usually segment based, so really anything could be covered.
LadyaslanDDTTRH: What contributions do you feel Duran Duran has made to the world of music and fashion and their philanthropist efforts in the past 30 yrs?
Derek Sumisu:
There’s an incredible amount of contributions made by the band as a unit and by the members individually. It’s easy to pick a few key ones though…
I think being involved with band aid and live aid made the band really aware of charity and how a public figure can help raise awareness of something that people need to know about and confront. As well, the relationship they had with Princess Diana certainly informs them in this regard. I think these events totally open the door for them and their philanthropic interests. It’s a smart thing to be able to use your brand recognition to help raise money or awareness of a good cause. Duran has never been super preachy or in your face about such things, but they’ve always been very kind about donating time and effort to help with worthy causes all over the world.
In terms of technology, Duran has always been on the cutting edge. Nick was one of the first synthesists to embrace sampling technology in 1983 when he bought a FAIRLIGHT CMI. Roger was an early adopter of Simmons electronic drums in 1982. Duran Duran was the first major touring act to use a massive screen to enhance the visual aspect of the concert experience in 1983. Duran Duran won the first ever Grammy award for a long form video (video album) in 1984. Duran Duran was the first band to sell a download on the internet in 1997. Duran Duran was the first band to make an entire music video in flash in 2000. Duran Duran was the first band to implement an augmented reality setup into their live shows in the early 2000s. So that in itself is a more than 25 year legacy of immense achievements. Any artist working today would be proud to be able to name one such achievement in their entire career, let alone a list of really impressive feats like Duran Duran has!
Regarding fashion, I am just thankful that they helped me!
LadyaslanDDTTRH: How would you describe the podcast to new fans who have never heard your show before? Does the show have any sponsors?
Derek Sumisu:
It’s like a radio show but it encourages the listeners to be move active in directing how the show could go. As well, it’s a lot more multimedia than a simple radio show. There have been lots of videos and the format is totally open, so there are really not any limitations to where it could go. As well, I would venture to say that no episode of the show has been the same as any other.
The show is sponsor free! I feel this is the best way to be, since I am beholden to no one except myself in terms of all the decisions made concerning the show.
LadyaslanDDTTRH: Tell us a little about yourself ….what made you a loyal Duran Duran fan? Why did you start the podcast?
Derek Sumisu:
I grew up in Toronto, Canada. I’ve lived in Paris, Osaka and Melbourne in the past 10 years. I have a son called Nicholas who will turn 4 next week. I studied music at college and have worked in the music industry in one way or another since I was 16 years old. I found Duran Duran at a time when I was a rudderless 13 year old teenage dope. Still being dressed by his mum. One day in 1982 I heard HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF on the radio and I was sold. Something about the sequencer cried out to me. I wasn’t really interested in what most of the other kids liked and I was happy to find my thing and not really too concerned with conformity. In the months after that I gradually got more into it and found out that this band had a lot more to offer me that just some songs. They had style and cool tastes and good clothes. I was reborn! A youngster who chose his own clothes, liked Chic, Roxy Music and Bowie and coloured his hair. The thing that really made me love them was their drive and motivation. They knew exactly what they wanted to achieve and they achieved it. They let nothing or no one stand in the way of their collective dreams and they went for them as hard as they could. Even in the face of great adversity, they never let up and never gave in.
LadyaslanDDTTRH: If you could have a sit down with any member of Duran Duran today who would it be and what would be topic of discussion? Have you ever met any of the members of Duran Duran? If so what is your fondest memory?
Derek Sumisu:
I would always say Nick is my favourite and I never seem to get long enough when I see him to get into anything substantial in terms of a good chat. But I suppose that applies to all of them. Given the time and opportunity, I guess art, cinema, books and culture are always good topics. You know, the usual stuff you’d expect to be chatting with Nick Rhodes about. LOL. I’ve been really lucky. I’ve met them quite a lot. The first time was in 1988 on the BIG THING club caravan tour in Toronto and that stands out as a great memory for me. But every time I run into them, something great always happens. So I am just thankful that I get any time with them at all. I know how busy I am in my own life, so I couldn’t really imagine how busy the guys must be. When people ask about my relationship with them, I always compare it to the older cousins you see once every year or two for about 20 minutes at the family picnic. You like each other and wish you could see each other more, but the realities of life mean that you got to make the best of your 20 minutes every couple of years.
LadyaslanDDTTRH: Since you are a fan (particularly ) of Nick Rhodes ( hope it’s safe to assume ) what is your take on the new song Nick collaborated on with Mark Ronson on his 3rd studio album titled Record Collection and yes the song I am referring to is “Sound of Plastic" ( Ladyaslan’s FAVE )
Derek Sumisu
Due to my having a background in dj’ing and music production, I’ve actually been a fan of Mark Ronson going back to his first record; HERE COMES THE FUZZ and when he started getting involved with Duran Duran, I was really happy. Mark’s an amazing producer and a really cool guy. He’s as big a Duran fan as any of us and I think that his promotion of them and the new album is really amazing. I absolutely adore RECORD COLLECTION and I’ve posted on Facebook a couple of times screaming my adoration of this record from the rooftops. I actually just got a copy of the SOUND OF PLASTIC limited edition 12 inch via piccadillyrecords.com where it was sold as a very limited edition to tie in with Mark’s UK record shop tour. It kicks ass!! I would also note that Ronson is going analog synth bonkers these days thanks to our Mr. Rhodes. As a lover and collector of analog synths myself, I whole heartedly encourage this sort of behaviour!
LadyaslanDDTTRH: In your bio it states that Nick Rhodes is your hero, what makes him your hero? ( I am rather partial to him as well *wink-wink*)
Derek Sumisu:
The essence of it is that he’s a goal oriented, self made go-getter who has pretty much achieved almost everything he has set out to do in his professional life. Plus he has great tastes that have informed and inspired me throughout my adult life. Plus he’s a really, really lovely person. I’ve never seen him ever have a cross word or bad attitude to a fan and that is the mark of a true and bona fide gentleman. I’m proud of the choice I’ve made and one of my fondest memories was telling Nick how much of an influence on me he’s been and how much I appreciate who he is and what’s he done for me and for millions of fans all over the world. You know, just getting the chance to tell him thanks. If it wasn’t for Nick, perhaps I’d be doing something far less inspiring that what I am now.
LadyaslanDDTTRH: What are your plans for the future?
Derek Sumisu:
I want to continue to make the best Duran Duran – In review podcast I can make. I’d like to try and travel more and I plan to keep making/playing/producing music. I’d like to try and eat better as well!!
To FOLLOW Derek and his AWESOME DD Podcast:
MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/duranduranpodcast
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/DuranDuranPodcast/18672053738iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/duran-duran-in-review/id81653096
Official Website:
http://figital.libsyn.com
Please follow DDTTRH on Twitter @DDTTRH!
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