In order to avoid turning the "reference" thread in the DT side into yet another Kevin Moore thread, I do a full translation of the Finnish OSI article from 2009 here:
Kevin Moore - Music by a hermit
When you turn your back on success, you can try to redeem the possibility to make music more freely. This is what Kevin Moore did fifteen years ago. After going under the radar he has kept the quality high.
A phone is ringing somewhere in Florida. A hand lifts the phone and a voice says shyly: "Kevin." Ever since the beginning one can be sure that one isn't talking to a man hardened and petrified by hundreds of interviews.
The songwriter, vocalist and songwriter, who will turn 42 at the end of May, says he's "a little nervous", not having talked to any outsider about his new brainchild.
The situation could be different. Had Kevin Moore not left the biggest and greatest name in prog metal after Awake album (1994), he would have remained in the spotlight. However, he decided to concentrate on making music on his own terms.
As a result there are three albums by Moore's solo project Chroma Key and as many records done with Fates Warning guitarist Jim Matheos under the name Office of Strategic Influence aka OSI.
Despite the good reception of the albums Moore hasn't performed live. Has he made a decision not to play live shows?
-Not properly speaking, Moore responds. -I recently played one mini gig in Turkey. The main reason has to be that OSI is a small band, or actually a project, under a small record label and there's no backing from a machine with hundreds of thousands of dollars. And to be honest I don't miss performing live that much. I last tried the position of keyboardist in a band with the group On sometime in 2000. I guess it beats working at McDonald's but it doesn't boost your creativity in any way.
Part of the reason for his unwillingness can be found in the beginning of the answer. Moore is known as a person who both gets on well on his own and changes his place of residence effortlessly. Before moving to Florida he lived in Istanbul and before that his home has been in different parts of North America. Neither tours nor regular band rehearsals fit the life of a vagabond.
-There's some of that behind this as well. Making records is quite painless even if the participants live in different parts of the world. But touring demands different arrangements. I'm also not a confident singer. My nervousness is emphasized when I have to sing in front of strangers.
And even if Moore does start playing live on his own, the situation with OSI is a harder one as the other songwriter Matheos lives in the northeastern corner of USA in New Hampshire and the drummer on the new album, Gavin Harrison, in London.
Moore, however, has always worked with respected names in his studio projects. Six years ago Steven Wilson performed guest vocals on the first OSI album. This time Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth is featured.
-I was goddamn frightened when I heard the files sent by him. "Is that how a real vocalist sounds like?", Moore laughs.
Åkerfeldt brings pleasant warmth in contrast with Moore's chilly voice, although he also throws in a decent David Bowie imitation on the song Stockholm.
-Mikael was Jim's idea. I wasn't familiar with his works but I couldn't be happier with the result. And of course there must be some variables because Jim and I never change into anything else!
What about the parallel universe where Kevin Moore could live? What if he hadn't departed from Dream Theater after the first three albums?
-I don't regret my decision. Although of course it's terrible for the remaining members to always hear me answer this way. My life changed and I left.
One also has to remember that the leader of Dream Theater, Mike Portnoy, played the drums on the first two OSI albums (2003's OSI and 2006's Free). Moore confirms the talk about an ugly split exaggerated.
-I haven't wished anything bad on any one of them.
After releasing an album the average songwriter sets out to perform their music to audiences. As said, Kevin Moore doesn't work this way. Now he would have time to work on another of his projects. Along with OSI's modern prog, Chroma Key's pasty art pop with atmospheres reminiscent of David Sylvian's early solo works and experiments with electronica has found fans from all over the world.
-It would be Chroma Key's turn now but I don't have any ideas. OSI will continue for sure, Chroma Key is a bit on thin ice.