My muse and I – a quick introduction
I’ ve been a fan all my life. From junior school on, music has been my biggest obsession. And my greatest inspiration. Interests came and went – for a while I liked Bros, then got into House Music and Euro Dance I the‘ 90s-, but some bands and singers have been with me from the start. They provided the soundtrack to my life. Because of them, I met a lot of my dearest friends, saw some amazing concerts and travelled to some interesting places. The honour of having been so important to me goes to British band Pet Shop Boys and to Marc Almond, who some of you may know best as front man of Soft Cell. Tainted Love? That’ s your man! To me, they are more than music. They are a way of life, part of who I am and who I aspire to be. As artists, they are amazing and have developed a keen sense of identity. They have become their own brand. Instantly recognizable. Unique. They exist in their own bubble, their own universe and yet each time you meet them in the form of a new song or album or the latest concert, there is something fresh, exciting and new. They always push the boundaries of what they are and do and of what pop can be. They taught me to keep an open mind, to find inspiration everywhere – in books, in songs, in everyday conversations, in nature, you name it. They also taught me that being an outsider is okay, that it gives you a unique perspective on life. In addition to that, they introduced me to different aspects of lgbt culture and knowing that they are part of the gay community had made coming out easier for me. I guess every fan has a picture of what their idols are like in their head. An image, which does not necessarily have much to do with the real person behind the pop star. With me, my idea of Marc Almond, of all the mystery and magic, despair, bleakness and joy of his songs, morphed into this character I now call Raoul Sinclair. He even talks his name from Marc! Raoul because in the early‘ 80s, Marc had formed a band called Marc & The Mambas. A bootleg recording of one of their concerts was released under the name Raoul & The Ruined. Sinclair because Marc’ s real name is Mark Peter Sinclair Almond. There you have it. Music really is the muse! Raoul just had to be a pop star. He wanted to be flamboyant and outrageous and camp as can be. He is fun to write because he became a complex character with many flaws. He had a dark side but he is passionate and loyal and fun. I love him dearly and I hope that any future readers will love him as well. Pet Shop Boys have inspired other characters, like Francis O’ Neal and Jean Christopher, who of course are in a synth pop band called Synthetic Symphonies. I have yet to explore their mindset and their past but I’ m looking forward to that. They already have a sense of who they are and of where their story will lead. My favourite music has influenced my writing a great deal and I know many artists who are as inspired by music as I am.
17