Gary Numan Q&A

September 10, 2025

Your pioneering use of synthesizers significantly shaped the sound of electronic music. How has your relationship with technology evolved over your career?

I’m still very much involved and enjoy the technological advances but I wouldn’t claim to be an expert in any particular area–not synths, not software, or the various outboard processors and FX. I know a little about most of it, but I scratch the surface just deep enough to be able to write and record songs. For the deeper stuff I rely on Ade Fenton who produces my albums and is far more knowledgeable when it comes to gear and what it can do.

I realized many years ago that it was impossible to stay on top of every new thing that came along, be it musical instruments or studio recording gear, software, whatever. To truly understand the complexities of that constant flow of new tech would require you to study every hour of the day. I’d barely start coming to grips with a new unit when they’d release an updated version, and it was back to a new page one of another manual. It was like a dream where you’re running in syrup and making little progress. I decided to stop trying to understand every aspect of what each new upgrade could do and just concentrate my efforts on song writing. So, these days I know enough to be aware of what’s out there, how to use it in a fairly basic way, but I no longer have a pile of manuals beside my bed for my nighttime reading. My wife is very happy about this.

You’ve maintained a distinct sound while also evolving. How do you balance staying true to your artistic vision with exploring new sonic territories?

I don’t try to stay true to anything to be honest. My interest in music is always where I’m going next, very rarely in where I’ve been before. I’m certainly not interested in living on past glories, but I am constantly excited about trying to create new ones. I think it helps that electronic music is technology driven and so as each new manufacturer or developer releases new product we benefit from that enormously. We are constantly being supplied with new sounds and the ability to create ever more interesting sounds of our own. The way we are able to manipulate those sounds and turn them into music continues to improve so a lot of the heavy lifting is done before we even sit at a keyboard and start to write new things. I get genuinely excited when I find a new sound, something that blows you away. Electronic music is a genre that is itself constantly evolving and many of us are happy to keep evolving with it. Having said that though, I have a leaning towards certain types of sounds, a darker form of electronic and that probably gives the impression of staying with an artistic vision.

Many contemporary artists cite you as an influence. How does it feel to know that your music has inspired generations of musicians?

It’s lovely when I read those things, and I’m very grateful to all the artists that say I’ve been influential or inspirational, but it doesn’t change the way I feel about me. I’m very aware that there are a huge amount of people out there that can sing better, play better, write better, and perform better. I’ve never felt particularly talented or special in any way, I’ve only ever felt lucky. I still worry about everything. Will the next idea be any good, is that melody strong enough, is that chorus powerful enough, is the new album good enough, have I moved forward musically. I’m riddled with self-doubt, always have been. But, that doubt makes me work hard, that doubt makes me write a dozen different chorus’s rather than settle for the first one. I always assume I can do better so I’m constantly looking for improvement. Doubting yourself can be a good thing for the music, just bad for your stress levels.

You’ve been open about your experiences with Asperger’s syndrome. How has that influenced your perspective on creativity and your connection with your audience?

First and foremost, I see it as a gift, not a problem. I feel it gives far more to my life more than it takes. There is a price to pay of course but it’s one I’m okay with, despite the problems it can bring. I interact with the world differently to most people it seems. In fact, I try to interact with it as little as possible. I’m told I don’t really have empathy, but I think that’s a misunderstanding for the most part. Misunderstandings are a common thread I find. The way I see the world, and the people in it, definitely has a bearing on the things I write although I would struggle to point to an example. It’s just fundamentally a part of me and the way I process things. I certainly process emotion differently, and that can cause problems, but it helps with the writing. Social interaction can be a nightmare, so I tend to shy away from that whenever possible. It amazes me that I’m okay doing Meet and Greets these days as that would have been unthinkable when I was younger. I think all I can do is write music and hope people like it. Hope they find things within it that connects with them in some way. That’s where the connection can be found, and on stage of course. When I perform, with all the passion I genuinely feel for the music, the hope is people will share some common thread in that experience, and that binds you together in that moment.

The 80s were such an amazing period of musical expansion, vibrant pop culture, the rise of MTV & music videos! What’s one thing you wish would come back and one thing you’re glad we left behind?

I’m glad to see the strong resurgence of vinyl in recent years (although not purely an 80’s medium to be fair) and I’m glad the horror of the 8-track cassette got left behind.