RO:
Intre un bis la Te spun si un rooftop session cu I come from a star, l-am prins pe Apartman pentru un super interviu. Apartman, sau pe numele lui de pamantean, Catalin Rulea (n. 1979) este artist si muzician, activ pe scena alternative din Romania in trupele Toulouse Lautrec si The Pixels, membru fondator al Centrului de Introspectie Vizuala / Asociatia PPLUS4 (2008-2013), licentiat in grafica la Universitatea Nationala de Arte din Bucuresti si, pe langa toate acestea, este implicat in proiecte de teatru contemporan . Pe ultimul album Toulouse Lautrec, Dejun pe iarba, canta la chitara, cümbüs si lead voice in romana, engleza, franceza. Daca toate aceastea nu te-au convins, te invit sa citesti interviul de mai jos, dar numai dupa ce dai play pieselor de la finalul paginii. PLAY!
EN:
In-between the encore of Te spun and a rooftop session with I come from a star, we “kidnapped” Apartman for a super-interview. Apartman or on his earthly name, Catalin Rulea (born in 1979) is an artist and a musician, well known for being part of the bands Toulouse Lautrec and The Pixels from the Romanian Underground scene, founding member of Centrul de Introspectie Vizuala/ Asociatia PPLUS4 (2008-2013) ( Visual Introspection Center / PPLUS4 Association (2008-2013)) , licensed in graphics at the National University of Art from Bucharest, and beside all of this he is involved in contemporary theatre projects. On the latest album of Toulouse Lautrec, Luncheon on the Grass (Dejun pe iarba), he is playing guitar, cümbüs and lead voice in Romanian, English and French. If all of this wasn’t convincing enough, I invite you to read the interview below, only after you press play on the songs from the end of the page. PLAY!
Say Rouge: Fa-ti o scurta descriere folosindu-te de 3 titluri de piese din repertoriul formatiilor in care activezi.
Catalin Rulea: Papa was a lover asa ca am trait Nopti Albe ca sa imi gasesc drumul, sunt o piesa intr-un sir de Domino si, in general, I’m Cold.
S.R.: Cum arata ascultatorul ideal Toulouse Lautrec?
C.R.: Ascultatorul ideal a venit la concert sa se distreze, Listen to the music with no fear, you can hear it too if you’re sincere. Este o combinatie intre punk si rafinament, ascultand atent textele. In general la concertele noastre am intalnit numai oameni buni. Vreau sa incerc sa intru intr-un cerc de oameni drepti, curati, atenti… da semn daca semeni. Sunt oameni care-si traiesc viata fara prejudecati si o masoara in ani.
S.R.: Smoking sau costum de calarie?
C.R.: Ambele… si cateodata chiar caciula de blana. Costumul, in general, te baga intr-un film. Actorii il imbraca pentru a intra in rol. Asa se intampla si cu muzicienii, cu businessman-ii. „Haina il face pe om” are sensuri mai filozofice decat la prima vedere.
Say Rouge: Describe yourself using the titles of 3 songs from the bands you are playing in.
Catalin Rulea: Papa was a lover so I lived White nights to find my way, I am a piece in a string of Dominoes and I am cold usually.
S.R: How does the ideal Toulouse Lautrec listener looks like?
C.R.: The ideal listener came at the concert to have fun, Listen to music with no fear you can hear it too if you’re sincere. It’s a combination of punk and refinement, if paying attention to the lyrics. In general, at our concerts I have met only nice people. There are people living their life beyond limits and they are measuring it in years.
S.R.: Smoking or horse riding costume?
C.R.: Both…and sometimes even a fur hat. The smoking usually sends you into a movie. The actors wear it to get into the part. It is the same with musicians and businessmen. ”The tailor makes the man” has a deeper meaning than we can see at a first glance.
S.R.: Fara ce accesoriu vestimentar nu te urci niciodata pe scena?
C.R.: Daca e sa gasesc o constanta in ultimii 5 ani, aceasta este: blugii stramti (slim sau slim-fit). Nu mai suport sa plutesc in pantaloni. Fara palarii si caciuli am mai urcat, dar nu ma mai vad pe scena in pantaloni largi.
S.R.: Cina in oras sau dejun pe iarba?
C.R.: Cina in oras de cele mai multe ori, dar cel mai mult imi place sa gatesc. Pot sa apreciez si sa judec fiecare nuanta de gust din ceea ce fac. The difference between a producer and a consumer.
Dejunul pe iarba (*) este simbolul decadentei, chiar daca in epoca pictura a fost scandaloasa. Este o pictura de dreapta si foarte sexista, pentru mine este un motiv neserios.
S.R.: Unde compui si ce te inspira in mod special?
C.R.: Ma inspira drumul, trecerea, calatoria. Am renuntat la a conduce masina pe distante lungi tocmai din cauza asta. Eram un pericol in trafic pentru ca scriam pe bord. Am scris versuri in avion, in tren, in masina, autobuz… cateodata si la masina de scris. De compus, compun pe chitara, de foarte multe ori in calatorii. Cateodata opresc masina ca sa dau trei acorduri si un riff si sa le inregistrez.
(*Dejun pe iarba = tablou pictat de Édouard Manet in 1863)
S.R.: Without what clothing item you never walk on stage?
C.R.: If I look back in the last 5 years, I can say the tight fitting jeans (slim or slim fit). I cannot stand floating in pants. Without hats and caps I was on the stage, but I cannot see myself on the stage with baggy pants.
S.R.: Dinner out town or Luncheon on the Grass?
C.R.: Dining out, but most of all I like to cook. I can judge and sense each nuance of flavour from what I do. The difference between a producer and a consumer.
The Luncheon on the Grass (*) is the symbol of decadence, even if at that time the painting was outrageous. It is a right-wing yet sexist painting, being a frivolous reason for me.
S.R.: Where do you compose and what inspires you in particular?
C.R.: I am inspired by the road, the travel, the passage. I gave up driving the car on long distances because of this. I was a traffic hazard because I was writing on the car board. I wrote lyrics in the plane, train, car, bus…and sometimes at my typewriter. When it comes to music I usually do it on my guitar, very often on trips. Sometimes I stop the car only to record two-three chords and a riff.
(*The Luncheon on the Grass = a painting by Édouard Manet, 1863)
S.R.: De-a lungul timpului, cu Toulouse Lautrec, ati abordat cateva stiluri vestimentare inedite. Cum v-au venit ideile?
C.R.: La inceput a fost o intamplare. Am zis sa ne lege ceva si am facut cadou baietilor cate o caciula. A fost inceputul a ceva ce nu am putut controla. Costumele de calarie nu sunt decat un follow-up. Ne-am obisnuit cu ideea si cred ca vom continua, dar trebuie sa vina natural, din insasi chimia trupei.
S.R.: Cum mai arata o zi din viata unui lead singer boem in 2016?
C.R.: O gama larga variata de vinuri, m-am lasat de fumat (e o prostie), fete (pentru un mascul sunt tot ce se poate intampla mai interesant in viata), desenez, gandesc, gatesc, ma uit la filme doar o luna pe an (atunci cand le vad pe toate deodata), joc tenis si ii urmaresc pe Federer, Dimitrov, Wawrinka. In general, am gasca mea de baieti si fete cu care ma simt safe.
S.R.: Asa de final, ce-ai mai citit/ ascultat? Recomanda cititorilor Say Rouge 3 carti si 3 albume muzicale faine care te fac sa vrei sa te apuci de muzica/scris.
C.R.: Citesc mult SF in ultima vreme. Recomand Arthur C. Clark – cele patru carti din Odiseea Spatiala. Si in special capitolul “Nebunia Omenirii” din Odisea Finala 3001. De ascultat, ascult obsesiv Midlake – Antyphoon, The Do – Shake Shook Shaken, Placebo – Loud Like Love.
S.R.: Over the time you have changed some different and unique clothing styles with Toulouse Lautrec. Where did that come from?
C.R.: At first, it was a fluke. I thought of something to bond us and I got the guys some fur hats. It was the beginning of something we could not control. The horse riding costumes are just a follow-up. We got excited by the idea and things will continue this way, but it has to be natural.
S.R.: How can you describe a day in the life of a bohemian lead singer in 2016?
C.R.: A wide range of wines, I quit smoking (it is stupid!), girls (for a male it is the most important thing in life), I draw, I think, I cook, I watch movies only one month a year (when I am seeing everything possible), I play tennis and I follow Federer, Dimitrov, Wawrinka. Overall, I have my gang of boys and girls with whom I feel safe.
S.R.: In the end, what have you read/listened to recently? Recommend to our readers 3 albums and 3 books that make you start writing/composing.
C.R.: I read a lot of science-fiction lately. I would recommend Arthur C. Clarke the four books from Space Odyssey, especially the chapter “Human Madness” from the Final Odyssey 3001. Musically speaking, I am obsessed with Midlake – Antyphoon, The Do – Shake Shook Shaken, Placebo – Loud Like Love.
Keep them playing!
