Ergo Phizmiz on Lost Operas, WFMU and Mechanical Music-Making Machines

British experimental musician Ergo Phizmiz (Dominic Robertson) has given an extensive interview to It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine covering more than two decades of work across experimental pop, sound collage, radio, opera and mechanical instrument building. The conversation traces his path from childhood tape experiments and teenage opera writing through his WFMU radio show 'Phuj Phactory' (2006–2008), the fifteen-hour 'Faust Cycle', and recent collaborations with Lottie Bowater (Depresstival) and Palestinian musicians. Robertson discusses his return to turntables, cassette machines and self-built mechanical instruments using wind-up gramophones and suspended pencils. A forthcoming triple album 'Smoking, Baby!' includes the track 'The Blockhouse', shared exclusively for the interview. The artist advocates Creative Commons licensing and views copyright law as protecting only wealthy interests. The interview was conducted by Klemen Breznikar and published 13 October 2026.



