The
Ted Ansani
Project
can be at http://www.tedansani.com
Interview by Shauna Skye
I became a Material Issue fan by accident. I was visiting
a friend in the early 1990s and had brought CDs from
home so we could listen to music. My friend hauled her
collection out and as we sat on the floor going through
the piles of CDs to decide what to listen to she somehow
kept a couple of mine and I got one of hers by mistake.
I discovered it after I got home. An unfamiliar CD poked
out of my bag, the cover featuring three modish looking
fellows named Jim Ellison, Ted Ansani and Mile Zelenko.
The title of the CD was "International Pop Overthrow" and
the band: Material Issue.
Being a fan of alternative music in the early 90s and being
from Chicago I had of course heard of Material Issue. This
was the band popular in Chicago long after Cheap Trick but
before the Smashing Pumpkins. And yet, I had not heard
their music yet. I did recall a guy's vague reference to singer
Jim Ellison's hair while I used my scissors to give him a cool
new 'do. Aside from that Material Issue was just a name to
me . . . . Then I popped the CD in.
I can honestly say I was an instant fan of Material Issue. I
didn't have to listen to them a few times for this band to grow
on me. I immediately liked them. They had that britpop
sound I'd always loved, and I found the song titles interesting.
Most of them were about love and rejection and many
titled after girl's names. "Valerie Loves Me," "Renee Remains
the Same," and "Diane." They were catchy, poppy, and it
wasn't long before I was singing them around the house.
Diane's got everything... a helicopter and a submarine...
yeah man you're just what this world needs...
The band had other releases that came after "International
Pop Overthrow, and I had hoped to eventually see Material Issue
live. I never did. In 1996 singer, Jim Ellison, tragically ended his
own life.
I didn't know Jim personally. He was not a relative or even
someone I met briefly. However, I felt I knew a bit about him
through the music he wrote. His passing was a sad loss.
I did wonder what became of the other two fellows in the
band. What would Ted Ansani and Mile Zelenko do after
this loss? Would they continue playing music or was that
it for them?
This interview answers the question of what's happening
with Ted Ansani. It is a privilege to do
this interview with Ted, as I was thrilled to find that he
continues to make music and has released solo material.
He also seems like a very nice fellow and I thank him
for giving me this terrific interview.
Shauna: Ted, to start with why don't you tell us about
the Ted Ansani project. You released Throttle and Pistons.
Would you tell us about that and do you have anything
new in the works?
TED: I recorded the Throttle and Pistons EP at my home studio,
late at night over a span of a few months. I had a few ideas on
tape and decided to go ahead and release some new songs
just to test the water as a solo artist. I would wait for my wife to
put the kids to bed (I have 3 children now) and just go down to
the basement to work. I have new material in demo state that is
ready for shopping.
Shauna: When you played bass with Material Issue and Jim
Ellison was songwriter, did you desire to write tunes then or
was songwriting something that only came about afterwards?
TED: I had done some writing while in Michigan and even a little
before, but there was not really a real need for me to work on
writing too much with Jim's wealth of material. After Jim died I
took some time to just produce and do some session work. It
was about a year or two later when my own ideas started to gel
again.
Shauna: You've had the privilege of playing with several great
bands, and I recall that the Smashing Pumpkins opened for you.
What bands have been some of your favorites to do shows with?
TED: Cheap Trick was always great. The Smithereens, Pretenders,
INXS.... We also toured some in Europe with The Stranglers from
England. We shared a tour bus one stinky summer with The
Mighty Lemondrops; they are a great bunch of Blokes. We did a
show way back when at the Patrillo Bandshell In Grant Park
Chicago on the 4th of July with The Replacements (one of their last
shows).
Shauna: Like you, I am from Chicago. How does the home town
compare to other places you've gigged?
TED: Hometown crowds were always the greatest. Our Chicago
shows, even the earliest were packed with family and friends of friends.
The fact that our shows were so well attended by people we knew on
a personal level really helped to bolster our early attention from the
Major Labels. They could not believe the apparent buzz we had
generated for ourselves here.
Shauna: What bands do you enjoy listening to?
TED: I still listen to a lot of older music. Beach Boys, Beatles,
Byrds, BG's, Cars, Carpenters, Devo . . . FleetwooMac's Tusk
Album, Santana's early stuff. Oh yeah, just for the record my
favorite Brian Wilson work lies within the two records he wrote and
produced just before Pet Sounds. I listen to some newer stuff too.
Weezer's new disc is really cool. They toured as our opener out
on the west coast back in '93 or '94. Their new material is fresh
yet still evolving with more mature production and writing.
(Produced by Rick O from the Cars? I think.) Their second disc
Pinkerton was written really well and played very strong with great
dynamics but was lacking sonically. It sounded a little "garagey".
But I've seen 'em on MTV, Sat Nite Live, And Letterman recently
and they sound great.
Shauna: Ted, how many instruments do you play? What is
your favorite one?
TED: I kind of started in grade school with drums, then picked
up some guitar and played bass for my highschool's jazzband.
I can get some work done on keys if I'm in the studio. And what
else do I need? I try to keep it simple. My favorite is probably
bass just because it does come so naturally now. If I think it
just happens, usually. Percussion too I've been at is for so long
it's like second nature. As for my solo stuff I prefer to play
rhythm guitar during any live performance. It gives me more
control over the product as it's produced. If the whole band
passes out or starts picking daisies during a gig I can still get
the song out by myself without anyone else. Can't do that on
bass so well.
Shauna: You had the big record deal with Mercury before.
Would you like to go that route again?
TED: Yes indeed! Any takers in da house? It was really great
to be able to concentrate on the music aspect of the biz (writing,
recording, touring) and let the label handle setting up press
and promo. We were always more than happy to do acoustic
radio on airs or instore sets--what ever it took. Being from Chicago
we had a real strong work ethic and looked forward to getting our
chance to play for new fans as well as our friends. Now it's really
hard for me to find any serious management or representation.
It seems difficult to locate people willing to work as hard as I have
and want to. I am still interested, Yes.
Shauna: What advice would you give the musicians reading this
who strive to make it in the music business?
TED: Make sure to be reliable and try to act professionally. If your
load in for a gig or session is at 7pm. Be there! Prepared. Follow
through with your e-mails and phone calls. It really is the "Music
Business" so treat it that way if you want to get anywhere. And
it doesn't hurt to look the part a little too. No white gym shoes! No
"I'm with stupid" t-shirts. No "this sucks" attitude even if it does.
Shauna: Aside from music what hobbies and interests do
you have?
TED: My kids are starting to get into sports now. I played a lot
of soccer growing up, in school and with my brothers and friends,
so I'm going to start coaching this fall. And as I mentioned before
I have three kids and I am busy doin somethin' all the time now.
Shauna: What's the best way to get hold of your music?
TED: www.amazon.com, www.tedansani.com and
Chicago area Best Buy stores.
Shauna: Who is your favorite Beatle?
TED: It has always been George. George all the way.
Shauna: Anything you'd like to shamelessly plug? If so the
floor is yours.
TED: Just stay tuned to www.tedansani.com this fall.
Shauna: Awesome! Thanks a bunch. I will! :)