Claude S + Anything Box

When did you first get into music?

That’s a strange set of circumstances. You could say it was when my mom took me to a radio station in Rosario, Argentina, and I sang on the radio. It was some sort of call-in thing, but they liked my 4-year-old attitude, so they asked her to bring me into the station to sing on the air! It was the first time I was ever in front of a microphone. But it gets weirder from there…

I was given music lessons when I was about nine and hated all of it. Wanted nothing to do with music. What changed my entire life was an accident on a lake in New Jersey, where I basically drowned! Before I was saved, I had ‘an experience’ with death. For whatever reason, the time I spent unconscious did something to me. I was never quite a child in the normal sense, and music and art became a way of exploring this other world I’d been to.

I hear the men with the straitjackets knocking…

Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music?

The what, as I said, was the drowning. After that, every musical thing I could get my hand on I explored. I loved records too. Because I tended to suffer from migraines as a child, listening to music in the dark was a must, and I enjoyed that inner space. For me, it was The Beatles as my best mates, followed by Pink Floyd as I got older, and eventually I discovered electronic music, which blew my mind. I heard the future, and it came from Computer World by Kraftwerk. But I also had the song bug. So I figured out a way to make that mesh with visual art too.

Anything Box, Seattle WA

As for a career in music, it happened really fast. My dad brought home a reel to reel that he won in a card game, and I immediately took to it. Recording became something important to me. By then I had my first synths, a mic and a bass, so it was all set up. That, and I figured out early that my paintings sold better when they were on t-shirts than in a gallery, so I had merch early on by accident! Music made more sense from that point on.

Claude S and Dania Morales, circa 1990.

A ‘chance’ to hang in the library of my high school for a day due to some strike allowed me to find the book with the perfect (or imperfect) name, and Anything Box was born. I still have that book, and God only knows how much I owe for it! But there are dozens of dots that led me here, and most importantly people I met and played with in every step.

How would you describe the music that you create?

I create emotional electronic music. If there were no titles, I would stick to that description. But because sometimes you can dance to it, I got lumped into Synthpop. I like to think of it as Kraftwerk, The Beatles and Joy division had a wayward baby, one that broke all their rules. That’s me. I’m a DADA / Surrealism fanatic. Logic has no place in art and music. So I make #synthpopsurrealism. There’s a hashtag.

How has your music evolved since you first began playing music?

It evolved through pain and suffering? Kidding, but not really. Like all teens, while growing up I gravitated to like-minded people, and thus Goth, Synthpop, and New Wave were my food. As I grew older, I went back to listen to other music, such as real 1950s Blues, Reggae, and Hip Hop. From there I got into sampling as an art form, so my focus over the years has gone into deeper electronic waters (digital and analog).

Also, I got deeper into the machines themselves, and I love electronic music more than I ever did. The evolution, or devolution, occurs at odd life intervals. Life determines this, not my tastes per say.

If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why?

I would choose passion. Because you have to love what you are doing because it does not love you. Music has been devalued to some extent. So if you make music and you want to survive off of it, you best be passionate about why you are doing it, as the road is already paved with land mines. Passion!

Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas?

I am somewhat on the spectrum, so my brain works differently. I’ve been told I am innocent without being naive. That’s one. Another is that I ‘see’ music as art, and this may come from my painting. But most importantly? I love people. I really do. Human connection is more important to me than ever before. Even now as i write this, my biggest laments are not doing more shows before all this Coronavirus madness began. I miss that!

I love to tell stories, engage people, see what makes them feel things. I get my best ideas from these connections.

Anything Box - Pablo Chinito, Dania Morales and Claude Marcelo Strilio.

What has been your biggest challenge as a musician/singer-songwriter? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

In the past, the biggest challenge was for the ‘industry people’ to understand or promote electronic music. The internet changed that, and I for one do not bemoan the fall of that industry. They were thieves. They still are!

I’ll answer that question better in one year or so, when I actually pull it off. We are in a time where there was the Earth we knew, and a new one that’s sprouting before us. Whether it is temporary or permanent remains to be seen. With shows cancelled, I’m not so sure of anything. But I am also good at adaptation. It’s in our genes to adapt to every situation. My unique brain allows me to shift focus. So I have. I’m taking live streaming (quaranstreams) more seriously now, and I’m going to be the best at it.

A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art”. Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

I do not believe that at all, even as I say to you that I have or might suffer. All one has is the work. I tell the younger ones all the time, “Just do the work, create, record, film, paint! The rest follows the passion you have for the work!” Suffering is when you focus on the likes you get, or the attention. Yes, you need a ‘plan’ and all that, but the truth is far simpler: Create good work and people will come to you. Take care of them, and you will do well.

How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?

I consider myself an activist for the freedom the internet gave us as creators! In one sense, it got rid of the gatekeepers, and in another, everyone who owns a computer can also release music and that creates noise. I’ll take the noise rather than the gatekeepers. I don’t mind sifting through the noise, as gems pop up in all forms. I love that aspect of the internet, which is why WE as a PEOPLE must always keep the internet clear of the corporations that want to become the new gatekeepers. Let’s not let that happen!

If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?

More transparency in the way the money is divided, especially when it comes to streaming income. I would love to see more boutique services for the artists, where accounting, marketing and placement is more affordable for the independent artist. But one improvement I would recommend to the artist who is reading this is that having your own identity, or website is still important. Don’t rely solely on social media, as it changes or can go away. Let that be a tool, not your brand.

What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today and why?

That changes every day, but I’l take that challenge. The idea of an album as a ‘concept’ came to me from the best album ever, and that’s Sgt. Peppers. I can always go back and learn a technique from that one, not to mention the beauty in it is unbearable. Next is Kraftwerk’s, Computer World, which is like entering a time machine. Everything that’s in that album predicted this future, both good and otherwise. I love the Beastie Boys’ Hello Nasty album. The diversity of what talent can do is found there. Talk about genre-bending. That album applies a trait I call “self-Made Culture” where YOU decide who you are, not a genre. Radiohead’s Kid A got me back into electronic music,

Peace Tour, circa 1990 - Claude S

Peace Tour, circa 1990 - Claude S and Dania Morales

Peace Tour, circa 1990 - Pablo Chinito

diversity of what talent can do is found there. Talk about genre-bending. That album applies a trait I call “self-Made Culture” where YOU decide who you are, not a genre. Radiohead’s Kid A got me back into electronic music, and the songs are beautiful. That’s four? Hmm… It would have to be Joy Division with Closer. That’s a record that never ages for me. I love the mood of that album so much, you know?

So, what did I get from that list? Be diverse, tell good stories, don’t be afraid to experiment with whatever turns you on, and don’t consider commercial success. Be yourself!

Tell us about your current project.

Right now I’m loving the live streaming, which is where I was heading when all this mess started… Anything Box is alive and well. I am working on new songs. I will release them as singles. Because of the pandemic, I am not keen on recording an album right now, as there are no shows. So it makes more sense to organize live concerts in a streaming format, and do more videos and singles. The last album I recorded was done under ‘Claude’ and is called Distances. I recommend that as a starting point to where Abox is right now.

What’s next for you?

I’m focusing on being there for people during this time. I don’t want to hide away in the studio. Right now, I want to open it up for people to hang out with me. I understand this need we all have to congregate, and my live streams will be a way for new material to come out, but also for keeping each other happier and entertained. I think the world needs that right now! But make no mistake, there will be lots of releases!

How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?

Best place to start is AnythingBox.com of course, but I can also be found on most social sites as @endpop. I have an art page too, which is endpop.redbubble.com. And of course, Anything Box is on Spotify, iTunes and all that as well. I’m International!

Peace Tour - First 8x10 + Band Photo