Icehouse Quotes

All the way through the writing of the new material I've been very much into using groove sampling. This is the process that I've used for quite a while, in fact right back to 'Primitive Man'. The thing that drove that album was the acquisition of the Linn Drum Machine. I always start with the creation of a groove and these days I'm referencing more modern grooves. Part of this process has been learning how people create using standard samplers and such things. So basically I've been playing with software, drum loops and processing. I spend quite a while doing this and in fact the last couple of songs I've written have been a direct result of this process. I've even referenced some hip-hop grooves of late because to me that kind of thing always sounds unfinished. What I have done is take a similar premise and add a singer rather than a rapper. I like the style of groove used but I'd rather hear a singer on top than a rap. 
Iva Davies

Well, it's never been the main basis for what I do but that type of experimentation has contributed to certain pieces I've done. It has never become the main component of the song but has led to a title, melody or chord structure. Normally I'd sit down at a keyboard or with a guitar and try to come up with a melody and lyric. That would be a natural process for me and thus in order to change my approach I've had to trick myself into creating what at first may seem "useless time" to experiment and seeing where it leads. Normally I'm a more linear person than that! 
Iva Davies