"A Place with No Name" ~ "This song is like an escape from everyday life, it is a song where one is literally transported" Producer and co-writer of the song Dr Freeze talks about recording the song with Michael. The song is scheduled to be included on a new album of Michael's songs in the new year.
Q: You were playing in the studio or you went to Neverland?
Dr F: Yes, I went to Neverland, to relax and work. We worked a lot there. He had a studio at the farm. So he was working there and sometimes he would say: "Come, let's stop Freeze, go have some fun, go to the screening room, check out an attraction or you will walk in the zoo!" Neverland was a bit like a second home to me.
Q: I did not know you worked at Neverland! It's interesting because we do not have many details about the studio Neverland. It was a professional studio?
Dr F: Yeah, totally, had many professional equipment, Pro Tools, stuff like, you know
Q: Does he work alone
Dr F: Sure, Michael was unbeatable when we were working in the studio.
Q: Actually we know that he really could not play an instrument, so I always wondered if he was able to record anything on his own without the help of studio engineer or producer .
Dr F: He could do it all himself. You know, Michael was truly a "living instrument". He could play a few chords on the keyboard, it was going very well. He also knew programmed beats.
Q: Was the idea. "A Place With No Name" itself a kind of escape, a song where you just close your eyes to find yourself immediately in a wonderful world.
Dr F: Actually, this song was inspired by "A Horse With No Name" by America group. The lyrics of this song are very deep. I wanted to update it, make a version of the 2000s.
Q: You have obtained the rights to the band quickly? Did you ask permission?
Dr F: Ah yes, the American group loved the idea. They found this "update" absolutely fantastic. They were really excited about this project. Compared to what was leaked on the internet, many wonderful items were added to the song by Michael. It is more dense, very dense. Believe me, when you hear it! ..
Q: So you did not [change] it, it will appear as you had finished with him?
Dr F: The song will be released as the latest version in which we worked. It will be drastically different from the leaked (July 2009) and higher. Actually, this song is very cinematic in its form. It would have been a perfect song for a movie like Avatar, because it shows us a wonderful, weird world where people are different, but happy. This song is like an escape from everyday life, it is a song where one is literally transported"
Edited from full interview.
