I want my MTZ

The improbably named MTV presenter Zane Lowe (yep, it’s his real name) is arguably the credible face of the long running music station which has become increasingly formatted in recent years. As host of the nightly Brand New slot, the New Zealand born Lowe has introduced a whole new generation to scores of bands, some of whom rarely get beyond that first interview but many who go on to become superstars. He has also built up a reputation as being the man that the stars want to speak to.

When Eminem toured the UK last year he only did one television interview – personally requesting Lowe for the job. The likes of Limp Bizkit and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers have also asked him to conduct their UK interviews, whilst on MTV2 he has recently recorded lengthy interviews with New Order, the Stereophonics, Jarvis Cocker, Tim Burgess from the Charlatans and Garbage.

Lowe’s relaxed interview technique and his encyclopaedic knowledge of his subject matter clearly makes him stand out from run of the mill crop of yappy MTV presenters.

“Most of the bands I talk to I happen to like and I’m usually interested in them,” he explains. “I don’t often get compromised into talking to a band I don’t like. That helps a lot. I don’t think I have any particular style but there is a generic approach to all of the interviews I do. They don’t all come to me either and I definitely have to fight to get to talk to some of the bands I’ve had on.”

Low started out as a journalist writing for various lifestyle magazines in New Zealand before becoming a presenter, writer and researcher on local TV shows. He also gathered a devoted following for albums recorded under the names Urban Disturbance and Breaks Co-op but eventually decided to move to Britain to further his broadcasting career. He became a stand-in on the quirky live late night MTV show, Up For It before taking over the long running Brand New. Presumably, he was a fan of MTV when he was younger?

“Strangely enough we never had MTV in New Zealand when I was growing up,” he says. “It seemed to be an exciting world and I used to get envious when I heard about it. But I didn’t really know too much about it until I came to London.

“Like anyone else I grew up with my brother’s record collection and when I got old enough to discover my own music I became a bit of a fundamentalist hip-hop fan, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Erik B and Rakim, stuff like that. Then I got more into rock stuff it was a golden era, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Mudhoney.”

In his current incarnation Lowe has presided over the teen rock explosion which has seen bands like Linkin Park, Blink 182, Staind, and the aforementioned Limp Bizkit become huge. Given their lyrical subject matter, which largely concerns teen angst, does he not feel they have a limited chance of the kind of longevity enjoyed by the previous generation of bands?

“Yeah it’s probably true, “ he agrees. “Sadly the loyalty isn’t there any more and it’s much harder to keep someone’s attention. A band can sell five million copies and disappear a year later. But you’ve got to remember that the Pumpkins are gone and REM are having a hard time selling records these days. But music has always gone into cycles and these kinds of bands will come around again.”

Does MTV and more specifically Brand New set trends or simply follow them?

“I’d like to think Brand New is educating,” he offers. “It’s trying to open people’s minds to new band’s and artists. It will always be a niche show but it’s not that reverent and I don’t take myself too seriously. MTV as a whole is more about entertainment.

Meanwhile Lowe also hosts a radio show on London’s XFM 104.9 a new departure for him. “It’s half a request show, half entertainment,” he says. “I never thought I’d get into radio but it’s become a successful show. One thing we’re discovering is that British rock ‘n’ roll is where it’s happening right now.”

Finally who would he like to interview given the opportunity?.

“I’ve done Bowie and that was good but I’d love to interview Madonna, just for the fuck of it.”