Anything Box

The beauty of dysfunction is the discovery that it may lead to creative heights, personal lows. Experiences. Sometimes, it forces self expression upon people. Case in point: Anything Box. The name comes from the title of a book written by Zenna Henderson. The title story weaves a tale about a child from a broken home who is almost sucked into an imaginary world between her cupped hands.
My father said it would never be understood. I think he may have been right, but what a surrealist name. Perfect.

How can I hope to describe the nature of the music we make? Four people. One stage. Microchips. Human Beat Boxing. Two guitars. The ghost of Moon on hard disc. A 1965 Gibson SG which I love to sample. An MPC3000. A group of computer programmes. So many questions. What follows the longing to be loved? What is 'being' someone? Why does sonic chaos and melody go so well together? Why is our galaxy so big? Who are we, really? Where did we come from?

Anything Box is more than just music, my self expression of life through electronic noises. Abox is a lesson in life, an ever evolving story about being poor, coming to California to record an album, getting a few hits, touring the world... And still remain true to the origional purpose: To make something of this gift we all have within us. Not many people are willing to admit that there are such things as divine gifts. I am simply not afraid. See, I think I'm onto something here. Even when I was a child, I knew something about the world and the people who walk upon it. I see their loneliness. I see their questions. And it has become my biggest obsession to try to explain it and share it for the rest of my life through music, art, and these words.

The change in me began after a near death experience. I almost drowned. I was nine years old! At 13 I picked up my first instrument. Maybe that is why 13 is my favorite number, who knows right?
It was amazing to have met Dania Morales, Paul Rijnders, and Dave South, who along with my younger brother Gary, we shared and continue to share a great friendship and awareness. These are all very talented people, and they put up with alot of my emotional turmoil, hardships, creative twists, and general shit. To make it up to them, we travel and play in front of people on the stage. God how we love the stage. Ask anyone. We really do.

We have had success. We have had "hits". That is sooo trivial compared to how we feel when we are on that stage. Loved. Connected. Warmed. Humble. We feel our place in the world. We hear, breathe, and get in touch with our subconsciousness. That is who we are. And yet, we are simply a pop group. A strange one at that. Children of the TV generation.

I would like to leave you with these thoughts...
There is no such thing as need.
There is no condemnation, only consequences for your actions.
There is no dis-unity. We are all connected.
There is no such thing as failure.
Love is the greatest gift.

See you later...

Claude S.
9.6.64
www.MySpace.com/anythingbox