Youth | A Drink with the Idler

Legendary producer and Killing Joke bassist Youth chats to Idler editor Tom about his career highlights, finding inspiration, and his new music and culture magazine Mü.
Youth has been there, seen it and done it. He can go from the giddy heights of producing albums by the biggest superstars on the planet - from Paul McCartney and Pink Floyd on down, with records he’s worked on having sold 20 million worldwide - to the deepest and weirdest underground dance scenes in dark basements and far flung corners of the planet. He’s been a member of The Orb, Brilliant, Blue Pearl and, of course, Killing Joke, played bass for Kate Bush, and remixed everyone from U2 to Siouxsie & The Banshees, De La Soul, A Guy Called Gerald, Malcolm McLaren and Marc Almond. His work on The Verve’s album Urban Hymns won him a BRIT Award for Best Producer, while the record itself won Best Album.
This conversation was recorded as part of the Idler's series of weekly Zoom events on Thursday 25 March 2021.

[@nymike06]

Very good interview.

[@TaraVanflower]

I love Youth so much. I wish I could just have him follow me through life and guide me.

[@dennisnelson8207]

I hope Hypnopazuzu bring out another album,it was a great collaboration between Youth and David Tibet,Create Christ Sailor Boy was a fantastic album.

[@altmilan]

I'd like to hear Mark discuss the AI music (and other arts) thing with Brian Eno.

[@libre-tad6283]

To me Aristotle, Plato and their like are a high bar that are non existent
Argument, debate are tranches of data that need to be remembered by those debating
Intelligence is what created AI in the first place, so go figure
As for Youth, he hasn't been truly relavent since 'Brilliant' disbanded, he talks alot of bollocks and produces awful records but the original KJ can't be denied as one of the best bands on the planet.. and still.. Still the earth exists which they said wouldn't be the case by now but if you pursue something long enough surely it'll happen eventually..

[@Abruzzo333]

Comparing Kraftwerk and drum machines to AI creating 100% of the art and music for humans...talk about false equivalence. I usually enjoy Youth's input but he's completely delusional here in his comparisons. Also I think there should be lawsuits for people putting out videos mimicing other people's voices using AI, which is already rampant online.