Intro by VAC: I have heard a lot about some of the new bands, from a lot of drama i experienced from doing an interview with a certain someone that turned out to be a big mistake. It opened this huge can of worms. That is how I first discovered this band. So yeah, I went out and listened, and really liked what I heard. They are synth enthusiasts like myself. Finding out we have a lot in common. Very cool band(noisy industrial, brutal, fetish, blood, dirt), I wish I had discovered them sooner. Any how I took some time to pick their brains. Interview is below.

VAC: How are you doing?

Nikki: I’m doing well in this flesh prison On a creative binge
lately. Working on the next Prometheus Burning album. A few circuit
bending projects in the works. Performing with the Bridge City
Bombshells burlesque troupe. I’ve also started a new series of art
pieces made out of dolls that I mutilate and display in real
horrorshow fashion.

Greg: I am doing well I suppose. 2009 was a hectic year. Lots of eye
opening and life changing events unfolded all at once. I am not sad to
see this last year pass and look forward to 2010, as well as finishing
up our next album which is in the final stages of production.

VAC: What inspired you to make music initially?

Nikki: When I was around thirteen I was exposed to Industrial music.
Around this time I was learning to play the Piano and experimenting
with my Casio keyboard. Industrial seemed the most natural path for me
to take with my music, as my childhood sound experiments always led me
to tune into the noise and listen from within. I like music that makes
people look inside themselves. That’s what I strive to create. That
connection in the first Industrial music I discovered helped save me
from the isolation I felt. It gave me something to connect with when I
had nothing else. I’ve made art using various mediums all my life, but
have found music to be the most powerful. Music has the ability to
instantly effect the emotions and mental state of the listener. This
phenomenon and my sensitivity to it is what sparked my interest in
making music. The ability to amplify and transfer energy and emotion
through sound.

VAC: What is the main theme of your band?

Greg: We try to infuse each song with as much depth, subliminal
themes, and jagged emotional fragments as possible. We strive to make
Prometheus Burning something different by encapsulating as much of
ourselves and the things that inspire us, frustrate us, scare us, and
enlighten us. The more that we put out there and expose of ourselves,
the more like minded individuals we encounter. People with similar
thoughts, feelings, interests and ideals that find something they can
relate to within our music. I suppose you could say Prometheus Burning
is more of a project than a band. An experiment which we are
conducting upon ourselves, hoping that in the process we might just
learn something greater about the dimensions inside us and around us,
while inviting others to take part if they so desire.

VAC: How do you go about making music?

Greg: Set and setting is very important. Finding the right state of
mind is also key. I have found over time that my most creative moments
are when I first wake up and am still in a dreamlike state, or very
late when I am getting tired. Sometimes even altered states of mind
brought on by sickness has aided in our creative process. We recorded
the basic structures of our first album “Influenza” while I was very
sick with the flu. I would wake up from a fever dream and stumble into
the studio to capture the sounds in my head while Nikki would be
working on the melodic elements or the occasional vocals found on that
album. We also rely heavily upon concepts with our albums, and try to
shape the music around them. With our “Beyond Repair” album, we both
delved into our painful childhood memories for inspiration. We would
read our old personal journals, poems, sketch books, confronting old
demons and deconstructing years old mental scar tissue. It was a
difficult and emotionally taxing album to create, but one that we felt
was necessary for us to move forward. For our recent release “Plague
called huMANity”, we wrote down notes detailing an entire fantasy
story of a girl named Nyx and how she brings about the end of the
world. We then used this story as a blueprint for the lyrics and
music. Nikki and I feed off of each other when in the studio.
Sometimes a song will start from one of her poems or synthlines, other
times from a beat or sequence of noise from me. Our formula is
continuously changing and evolving.

VAC: What gear do you use?

Nikki: Access Virus Ti. Bugbrand AudioWeevil08. Akai r-50e drum
machine circuit bent by Alien Devices. Yamaha VSS-30 circuit bent by
myself. Eurorack modular system consisting of modules from Harvestman,
TipTop, Doepfer, Flight of Harmony, Make Noise, WMD, and Livewire for
the most part. Boss effects pedals and rack mountable units such as
the FZ-2 and SE-70. Lexicon MX200 delay. Freakshow Digilog delay. King
Capital Punishment devices. JoeMeek SixQ compressor. Theremin.
Electric Violin.

VAC: What is your favorite Instrument?

Nikki: The Virus Ti. I spend more time with it than anything else in
the studio. There are so many possibilities. I can get lost inside it,
spending hours crafting sounds. I love the modular too but nothing
beats being able to save my patches.

Greg: Our modular system “The Beast”. I like the level of
customization and openness you get with modular. We are constantly
expanding and changing our system, swapping modules for others we find
more intriguing. I especially enjoy the interface, manually patching
the cables and tweaking out.

VAC: Do you like playing shows?

Nikki: I definitely enjoy playing live shows and feel the concepts of
Prometheus Burning really come alive on stage. During our live shows I
get to use not only our music, but my body, motion, visuals, and
symbolism to express myself and our art. There are so many more levels
of expression at my disposal live than when we are in the studio. What
I love most is connecting with the audience though, and being totally
free and raw in front of them. Each performance is like a
transformational experience for me. I tend to loose myself in the
moment. I often recall shows afterward as if they were vivid dreams.
The last tour was our most extensive. We did twelve shows in two weeks
and traveled across the Midwest, the East Coast, and even a bit down
South. It was a life changing experience that has inspired me greatly.
I look forward to touring more in the future and playing as many shows
as possible.

Greg: Yes and no. I have a condition called “Panic Disorder” and live
shows can really be difficult for me because of it. Where as Nikki
finds freedom on the stage, I consider the studio to be more my
element, away from the crowds I am often a complete mental wreck the
entire day of our performances. But nine times out of ten, I am always
glad we did the show in the end. When things come together and an
enthusiastic audience gathers to lend us an open ear for an hour or
so, it can be quite powerful. That’s when you know people are not only
listening to the music, but they are feeling and experiencing it right
along with you. There is nothing greater than that.

VAC: What is the funniest experience you have had while touring?

Nikki: We both agree on this one. I’ll let Greg explain…

Greg: After our final show on the “It Ain’t Dead Yet” tour in Atlanta
Georgia, Kellie Laplegua took me, Nikki, Matt of Caustic, and Brian
and Katja of The Gothsicles to a little joint called “The Clermont
Lounge”. This place is not your typical stripper bar by any means, and
felt like something straight out of a John Waters film. It was trashy
as hell and we all felt right at home. At one point a dancer old
enough to be my grandmother came over to us and gave Brian a strip
tease and a lapdance. Shortly after that, another dancer by the name
of Blondie came over to us and offered a dance. Blondie was an
overweight older black lady with huge sagging tits and long blond
curls. After doing her dance, she crushed one of our beer cans with
her giant tits (which Matt Caustic had her autograph and kept as a
souvenir), and then proceeded to smash me in the face with those huge
sagging tits. She was hitting me in the face so hard I saw stars. I
thought she was going to knock me the fuck out. I stank like her cheap
perfume the entire drive home from Atlanta to Pittsburgh. Everyone
shared some hardcore laughs at mine and Brian’s expense.

VAC: What is your favorite hair style?

Nikki: I’ve had many hair styles; shaved, hawked, dyed… loved them
all but I really like the style I’ve recently cultivated. Long hair,
pointy bangs, pin straight or teased to giant proportions. I couldn’t
name a favorite. All depends on how it’s worn. I like it when hair
expresses one’s individuality and creativity.

VAC: Where is your favorite place to shop for clothing?

Nikki: My favorite places to shop are the Goodwill and Thrift stores.
I enjoy modifying second hand leather and vintage items for myself. I
find some really unique items. For the “It Ain’t Dead Yet” tour I had
a custom outfit made by Artifice Clothing. I’ve also commissioned
Weary Drearies, and am currently collaborating with a local designer
Emilee Kohan of Lucid Wear on an outfit I designed to use for future
shows. We also make it a point to shop at NorthBound Leather every
time we visit Toronto.

VAC: I’ve noticed you guys are into circuit bending, elaborate please.

Nikki: Bending for me is an intuitive art. I find it cathartic to sit
down and mutilate circuitry, pushing old toys and forgotten
instruments to make new sounds they weren’t intended to make. My most
recent project, the Yamaha VSS-30 aka “little devil”, has seen a lot
of use since its rebirth. We strive to craft a unique sound and these
custom devices aid us in achieving our goal.

VAC: Who are your main inspirations?

Nikki: I’ve been inspired by many nameless faces as well as those
close and distant. Some are famous people who have altered my
perception of reality, reinforced what I feel at my core and have
inspired me artistically. Those people are: Genesis Breyer P-Orridge,
Cosey Fanni Tutti, Peter Christopherson, John Balance, Nivek Ogre,
cEvin Key, Al Jourgensen, Bjork, William S. Burroughs, Brion Gysin,
Timothy Leary, Clive Barker, H.R. Giger, Aleister Crowley, Austin
Osman Spare.

VAC: List your top ten favorite LPs.

Nikki:
Coil – The Ape of Napels
Skinny Puppy – The Process
cEvin Key – Music for cats
Front 242 – Geography
Converter – Blast furnace
Numb – Language Of Silence
Gridlock – Further
Ministry – Twitch
Portion Control – Filthy White Guy
Ah Cama-Sotz – 10 Years Bat Vibez

Greg:
Coil – Loves Secret Domain
Mr. Bungle – Disco Volante
Venetian Snares – Doll Doll Doll
Nine Inch Nails – The Fragile
Ministry – The Land of Rape and Honey
Skinny Puppy – The Process
Noise Unit – Decoder
Download – The Eyes Of Stanley Pain
Tarmvred – Ileus
Somatic Responses – Touching the Void

VAC: List your Top 5 favorite movies.

Nikki:
Dune
Heavy Metal
Hellraiser
Firewalk With Me
A Clockwork Orange

Greg:
Natural Born Killers (directors cut)
A Clockwork Orange
Bladerunner (directors cut or final cut)
Jacobs Ladder
12 Monkeys

VAC: List your favorite books.

Nikki:
Hatchet – by Gary Paulsen
The Great and Secret Show – by Clive Barker
The Illuminatus! Trilogy – by Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson
The Law Is For All – by Aleister Crowley
Wreckers of Civilization – by Simon Ford

Greg:
Imajica – by Clive Barker
Design for Dying – by Timothy Leary
Invisible Monsters – by Chuck Palahniuk
The Ultimate Evil – by Terry Maury
Media Virus! – by Douglas Rushkoff

VAC: If you could change anything about the scene, what would it be?

Greg: We believe that by dedicating ourselves to our art, we already
are working to change the scene toward our own personal vision of it.
The definition of Industrial and the expectations of “the scene” mean
different things to different people, and the argument is a long dead
and well beaten horse. There is a definite rift between certain
mindsets within the community. A community which has been greatly
weakened by this lack of a common ground to stand upon anymore. In
fact, some of the most “Industrial” music we have heard or experienced
live over the last few years at shows or a Midwest warehouse party has
come from outside the scene. Certain artists and albums and events
being labeled as Breakcore, Dubstep, Power Electronics, Technoid, etc,
but containing more abrasiveness, creativity, anti-pop elements, and
DIY Industrial ideals than most of the releases found on some the
biggest Industrial and EBM labels out there at the moment. Most of
what is being slapped with the Industrial brand name these days is
sterile. Conformed. Accessible. Systematic. Assimilated. Predictable.
We are disappointed, certainly, and wish to see the return of more
intelligent, interesting, creative, and challenging music as the
“common ground” that we can all stand upon once again.

VAC: What kind of vocal effects do you use?

Nikki: Not trying to sound vague, but we experiment with literally
anything in the studio that can process audio. Hardware or Software,
if it has an input, we’ve jacked a microphone into it. We’ve been
having fun using the “The Beast” for vocal processing lately, as well
as Native Instruments Guitar Rig. We ended up selling all of our TC
Electronic hardware. We tried using their Fireworx and VoiceWorks
units, but found them too limiting for our type of vocal
experimentation.

VAC: Where do you hail from?

Greg: Hello from the gutters of Pittsburgh, which are filled with dog
manure, vomit, stale wine, urine, and blood.

VAC: How did your band come together?

Nikki: Synchronicity. Fate. Call it what you will.

VAC: Are you into comics?

Greg: I used to read “Heavy Metal” religiously and collected every
Clive Barker related comic I could get my hands on. Every so often I
pick up a manga or graphic novel or art book if it catches my eye. I
have always been into the erotic side of art more so than action types
of comics. I grew out of “Wolverine” and “Spiderman” quickly, and
started exploring erotic graphic novelists like Milo Manara, or
erotica photographers like Eric Kroll at a very young age. The guy at
the comic book store used to tell me “as long as you parents don’t
show up here to bitch at me”, he would sell me whatever weird shit I
would find interesting in the Adult section.

VAC: If you could pull off the ultimate prank on someone, who would it be, and what?

Nikki: If we told you it would ruin everything…

Check out their sites!
http://www.prometheus-burning.com.
http://www.myspace.com/pr0metheusburning.

Opening Words: Very happy with the remix they did for “Caustic Disco” I wanted to help promote them more because they did such a good job for me. My buddy krztov introduced me to them, and one of the guys goes by mindcage on the game Socom on the ps3, I have played a few rounds with him. Any how, they hail from DC. They question the mainstream, they have rage and disdain, something that is lacking in the world these days. The have been in video games like Project Gotham Racing 3 on the 360. They won a NIN remix contest and got to hang out with Trent. This band seems to do it all.

VAC: How are you doing?

Exeris: Angsty as usual… you’d think it’s a job requirement.

J: Sober, unfortunately. But I’m trying to fix that.

VAC: What’s in the works?

Exeris: We’re about to release the 2nd album for our side project Grains of Sound… it’s a 3 volume CD release of music for altered states – one ambient, one downtempo, and one uptempo.

J: We also have a Mindless Faith remix album that’s underway.
It’s just more shit like we’ve always done, but with a more club-oriented focus like the VAC remix. Songs that are too outside the box don’t get a lot of traction, so why fucking bother?

VAC: What got you into industrial and goth music?

Exeris: A dark soul and hearing it via skateboarding friends

MindCage: Probably just hearing bands like NIN/Ministry back in the day and a lot of the bands that were on Fifth Column.

J: My brother said it would get me lots of money and pussy. I didn’t realize he was being sarcastic.

VAC: What do you think of the scene?

Exeris: still too stuck in the 80s.

J: Goth isn’t dead, it just deserves to die.

VAC: Favorite web site?

Exeris: dailyshow.com

MindCage: Textsfromlastnight.com or lamebook.com

VAC: What DAW do you use and why?

Exeris: Now using Ableton Live. We used Cubase up until 2004, but it wouldn’t let you do simple things like re-ordering the fx chain.

VAC: ANALOG OR DIGITAL?

Exeris: Whatever works… there’s usually problems with both.

VAC: What do you think about world politics right now?

Exeris: Well, we’re pretty much fucked

VAC: The united states?

Exeris: Very fucked

VAC: What is the strangest thing you are into?

J: Making guitars sound like synths

Exeris: and making synths sound like guitars.

VAC: List your top ten favorite lps.

J:
Dead Kennedys – In God We Trust
Refused – The Shape of Punk to Come
Metallica – Master of Puppets
Alien Sex Fiend – Another Planet
Future Sound of London – Lifeforms
Ministry – Land of Rape and Honey
God Speed You! Black Emperor – Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada
Tom Waits – Bone Machine
The Binary Marketing Show – Destruction of Your Own Creation
Aphex Twin – Select Ambient Works Vol II

Exeris:
The Cure – Pornography
Social Distortion – Mommies Little Monster
Nine Inch Nails – Downward Spiral
VA – (Instinct Records) CHILLOUT Phase Two
Fields of The Nephilim – The Nephilim
Gullwing’s Inside Out skateboarding video soundtrack
TSOL – Revenge
Descendents – Somery
Agent Orange – Living in Darkness
Carbon Based Lifeforms – Hydroponic Garden

VAC: Who is your biggest Influence?

J: Vodka

Exeris: and other intoxicants

MindCage: Billy Ocean.

VAC: What are you reading these days?

Exeris: The writing thats been on the wall for a while now.

J: Not much. Maybe Shel Silverstein now and then. I only have a limited
amount of time, and I’d rather just write and record more music.

VAC: How does your band operate? Who does what?

Exeris: I make Jasin do everything, and then Rick takes all the credit.

VAC: Do you have a formula on how you start songs?

Exeris: do something cool, rinse, lather, repeat.

MindCage: I think Jasin’s formula is vodka, beer, Twinkies, back to vodka. Then he usually starts a song.

VAC: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

MindCage – Back to the Netherlands.

Exeris: Yeah, I’d love to go back to Holland, but I’d go many other places too.

J: I’d stay home in my studio working on music… I don’t like to go anywhere.

VAC: Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Exeris: Chocolate chip cookies and blondes.

J: Vodka.

Mindcage: The Golden Girls.

VAC: Favorite food?

Exeris: aloo cabbage.

MindCage: Moroccan or Thai.

J: Vodka.

VAC: Dark and old, New sinister and cyber?

Exeris: The best elements of each blended together.

MindCage – Definitely over the cookie monster vocals “hellektro” or whatever goofy genre you want to call it.

VAC: Favorite art?

Exeris: Giger.

J: Whatever other people find distasteful.

VAC: Favorite movies?

Exeris: I Heart Huckabees.

J: Mulholland Drive.

MindCage – Devil’s Advocate or maybe Swordfish.

VAC: If you could punch one person in the face as hard as you could,
who would it be?

Exeris: Wow, are you reading my mind? I’ve been bitching lately how
I’d like to punch God in the face, if he exists, I mean what kind of a
gift is a life of suffering. If not God, any corrupt power elite will do.

J: Exeris

MindCage: Bryan Erickson for when he snipes me on SOCOM. I kid…

VAC: Thank you guys for taking the time to answer my silly questions. Good luck in the future. I hope some day I can return the favor on the remix. Who knows maybe we can tour together some day. I’m open. Any how. If you like what you read and hear on this page, go buy some stuff from this band. Click Here to buy music from Mindless Faith.

Intro: One of the elite female heroines of the gothic industrial dance scene over the past 7 years. Her self created project started back in 1998. She started out power noise and evolved to incorporate a more ebm dance theme into the act. Signed to Alfa-Matrix(a belgian label, with other acts: front 242, Leæther Strip, Ayria, Hungry Lucy) in 2005. With 3 lps under her belt, she has proved to be very relevant in the EBM-GOTH-INDUSTRIAL-DANCE scene. Click Here to check out their myspace page.

VAC: How are you doing?

UN: I’m doing really well! I’m in a great state of mind these days… The past year has been extremely rough and it’s nice to finally see a bit of light at the end of this long and dark twisted tunnel.

VAC: What are you working on currently?

UN: Right now, I’m working with my live band members for a huge show we have coming up next week with Nitzer Ebb. It’s a pretty big deal for me, because it’s in my home-town, and, well, it’s with a band that has been so influential to electronic music, so it’s quite an honor to be playing with them. Besides that, I’m wrapping up my next Unter Null album “Moving On”, which I’m very proud of, some of my best work to date… and I’m also finishing up the next album for my Stray project, which is going to be all kinds of epic. I’m also starting to book a tour in Europe for 2010- it will be REALLY nice to get back overseas, I have missed Europe dearly, especially Italy.

VAC: How did you come up with the band name?

UN: Years and years ago… I thought “Unter Null” would be a funny self-detrimental title – literally translated it means “Below Zero” but I also interpret it as “Below Nothing”. The name stuck and just kinda rolls off the tongue easily now.

VAC: Are you excited to be opening for Nitzer Ebb?

UN: Ha, as stated above — very much so I’m a huge fan… And luckily I’ve seen them play before over in Europe and it was just an incredible experience to see these legends perform.

VAC: What other acts have you played live shows with?

UN: Oh, God… A lot I’ve toured in Europe with good pals XP8… Other bands in Europe I’ve performed with (as either opening band or headliner, that is) have been Suicide Commando, Reaper, …and of course some festivals where there were numerous acts on the bill. In the states, I did a US tour last year with C/A/T.

VAC: Do you like performing live?

UN: I love it – it is the ultimate catharsis for me…. As my songs are all quite personal, being able to perform them live and let all that rage and emotion out is just awesome for me. Being on stage brings out a whole other side of me that I can’t really channel in my day-to-day life; I become fearless and ready to take on anything. It’s especially great when you have an audience that is right there along with you and you get so much energy from their enthusiasm. I love it.

VAC: Of all the shows you have played, what town was the best?

UN: Some of my favorite places to perform have been: Russia (St. Petersburg, Volgograd, and Moscow); Copenhagen, Denmark; New York City… those are the places that really stick out in my mind..

VAC: What is the worst pick up line you have gotten from a groupie?

UN: Oh, god. I once got this weird long rambling email about someone who wanted me to take photos of my feet for their boyfriend because they both had a foot fetish and it would be ‘an honor’ to have pictures of my feet. Uh, what?!
I don’t really have ‘groupies’ though… And how do you distinguish groupies and fans? It’s kind of a fine line, isn’t it?

VAC: Most memorable tour moment?

UN: Just one?
Ha!
Let’s see…
Getting 50 drink tickets in Champaign, IL…That was pretty amazing.
Actually, the entire US tour last year is what spawned the parody project I have called “Afterparty”…

VAC: Is it true, you are going to be the female Gordon Ramsey?

UN: Well, my day job is cooking… It’s my other passion besides music. I attended culinary school and all that… I love to cook, and evetually I’d like to run my own restaurant where I call the shots. I don’t know if I have it in me to be a total asshole to fellow workers though… But I can be pretty demanding for perfection. We’ll see =)

VAC: Will you start a restaurant called “Below Freezing” ?

UN: That’s a brilliant idea, Bryan… If I use that name, I will so credit you on that. I still haven’t come up with a good name for a restaurant… I was kind of thinking of “Uber Noodle”. Where I sell really cold noodles…

VAC: I heard you had a studio fire, was this because of cooking school?

UN: HAHA!!! No. I had a fire last year on Christmas, it was completely devastating. Took out my entire music studio, and the entire upper floor of our house… I lost so many things. Luckily all material items and we were safe, but we had to live in a hotel for a couple of weeks while they rebuilt the upper floor. And thank god for homeowner’s insurance!!
What had happened was, earlier that evening I was recording the vocals on the collab track I did with Leaetherstrip, and had some candles lit. Before I finished for the evening, I blew out the candles… well, they were those little tealight candles, and supposedly they have a tendency to fucking relight. Amazing what one stupid candle can do. The weird thing was, the candles weren’t even near anything flamable..

VAC: Forgive the bad joke.

UN: Just try to offend me.

VAC: What gear did you lose in the fire?

UN: Luckily, my harddrives WERE refurbished… amazingly. I lost 2 MIDI controllers, an electric guitar, an acoustic guitar, an Alesis Ion, my external audio card, all my cables, 4 microphones (3 condensors, 1 dynamic), 3 books full of lyrics that can never be replaced, fuckkk… a lot of other stuff that I had listed down for the insurance company but can’t recall off the top of my head. I think it’s something I try to block out.

VAC: What is your favorite synth?

UN: Right now I’m drooling over the Roland Juno D… What a sweet, sweet synth that is. I still love the Alesis Ion; it packs a serious punch. These days, however, I’m using mostly virtual synths. One of these days I will rebuild the hardware part of my studio

VAC: What do you use to make music?

UN: Currently: I use Logic Pro 9 as a DAW, an M-Audio Axiom 61, AKG Perception 420 condensor mic… and a fuckton of AU plugins I still have a huge crush on all the NI instruments…some of the best for virtual instruments. NI Massive is on my favorite lists these days, as well as Kontakt.

VAC: You are classically trained, do you ever play more organic instruments like piano or cello?

UN: I’ve played piano since I was 3… I also play cello to some extent, viola, guitar, bass. I would LOVE to someday become more coordinated so I can play the drums. I have a hard time with the feet-hands thing. I also would love to learn to play the Oud… But according to a friend it’s one of the most difficult instruments to play, and he’s been playing for 5 years..

VAC: Despite your antzen and noise influence, you seem to have a ton of melodic musical talent. What makes you like Noise?

UN: My love for noise has died down a bit in my old age… But I still just love the power and harshness behind some of the good tracks. Just complete, utter rage… At least that’s what it sounds like to me. I love the extremes of things. I took Unter Null in a more melodic direction, though, because of my love for melody… and it’s a tricky thing to combine melody and noise, but I’ve tried.

VAC: I love some of the acts like Immanent Starvation. I love synapsescape and Asche, I often beat mix that stuff in when I dj. But honestly, I think a lot of that scene is umm, un listenable, not musical enough for my tastes although when it’s totally kick ass rhythm I dig it though. Who are your favorite noise acts and why?

UN: Well, my introduction to the whole ‘rhythmic noise’ genre was via Noisex, and I still have a soft spot for them I absolutely LOVE Winterkaelte… their programming is brilliant and they have some amazingly harsh tracks. What ever did happen to Asche? I really did like his material. I haven’t kept up on current noise acts, unfortunately, as it just doesn’t grab my attention anymore. We need more stuff like Gridlock – they were brilliant at combining harsh elements with lovely melodies…

VAC: List your top ten favorite bands.

UN: Oh this is cruel…
In no order, really:
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
The Flashbulb
Junior Boys
Spiritual Front
Lustmord
Dimmu Borgir
Apparat
Venetian Snares
Telefon Tel Aviv
M83
and, Skinny Puppy

VAC: List your Top ten Favorite Lps.

UN: Skinny Puppy – Vivisect VI
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Henry’s Dream
The Flashbulb – Soundtrack to a Vacant Life
Kattoo – Megrim
Venetian Snares – Rossz Csillag Alatt Született
Spiritual Front – Armageddon Gigolo
Nitzer Ebb – That Total Age
Halou – Wiser
Beefcake – Coincidentia Oppositorum
Junior Boys – So This Is Goodbye

VAC: Who have you collaborated with, what remixes have you done?

UN: I’ve not collaborated a *whole* lot. I tend to be really solitary in my creative endeavors. I’ve done a few guest vocal appearances – Leaetherstrip, Implant, E.S.A. I’ve done remixes for Glis, GenCab, Inure, Suicide Commando, Tamtrum, Autoclav1.1, C/A/T.

VAC: If you could change one historic event in history what would it be?

UN: I wouldn’t. I’m a believer of that everything happens for a reason, be it good or bad. I wouldn’t change anything, who knows what the outcome would be? I prefer to let go of the wheel when it comes to things that are out of my hands, out of my control. There’s no use in trying to change destiny.

VAC: Anyone you would like to see in prison or worse?

UN: Every rapist, every murderer, every child molester, anyone who has brought horrible harm and grief to innocent people. Let the pot smokers out, they’re not hurting anyone but themselves. Take care of the really really bad guys….

VAC: How do you view the modern club scene?

UN: Eh, it’s not really my thing anymore. I go out once in a while to support my friends’ nights, but it’s just socializing. As I get older I’m more apt to stay at home and be entertained that way I don’t have the energy to go out as much as I used to. If I do go out it’s usually to catch a gig.

VAC: If you could win any piece of musical gear in the world, what would you pick?

UN: Probably the ARP 2500

VAC: Who are your influences?

UN: Musically, I gather influences from… god, so so much. I can’t even begin to list them all. Otherwise, I take in everything around me, all life events, what I see and what I experience… and that’s channeled into my music. I don’t try to emulate other musicians, I write what pleases my own ears. I’m probably totally unaware of a lot of my influences

VAC: TV?

UN: I don’t watch a whole lot, but lately I’m hooked on NCIS! I love that show! Also, The Whitest Kids U’ Know is the funniest damn sketch comedy I’ve ever seen. It makes Kids in the Hall seem like a soap opera. A bad soap opera. Brilliant comedians. I highly suggest people go to YouTube and search “WKUK Grapist”. Your life will be impacted by it forever.
Also, props to Dexter.

VAC: Movies?

UN: I’m a zombie fans… so bring on the undead, I love it. I love French horror, as it seems they really know how to make a truly terrifying film; see “Inside”. I am totally desensitized these days but that movie scared the hell out of me. So disturbing. I love Se7en still to this day, and pretty much anything Kevin Spacey does. Christopher Walken, Robert Deniro, Christian Bale, and Crispin Glover are some of my hands-down favorite actors. I’ll watch any movie they’ve done. I’m more a fan of independent cinema, and think Hollywood has put out some of the worst movies ever. I was really excited for 2012, for instance… and I walked out of that movie totally pissed off and disappointed. Way to go ruining the apocalypse, guys… I love apocalyptic films and that just totally got trashed.

VAC: Books?

UN: Well, I read a lot of books on food and cooking and culinary geek stuff I also love a good horror book. I have way too many books on audio engineering and general music/audio geekiness. I loved House of Leaves. That book was amazing. Also really like anything zombie-related, once again..

VAC: Authors?

UN: My guilty pleasure is Dean Koontz. I also really like Christopher McCammon. Swan Song was such an amazing read, and even at ~1000 pages I’ve managed to read it almost 10 times. I also really like David Sedaris.

VAC: What is your favorite food?

UN: Another cruel question!
I’ll eat anything, pretty much – at least give it a go. I kind of have to! But I LOVE good sashimi, a good steak, I love gnocchi so much… especially gnocchi alla sorrentina. Good Indian curry. Bruschetta done right. ANYTHING with fresh basil. And… the pizza in Naples. I’d go back just for the pizza there. I generally eat healthy, organic, and fresh foods. I tend to crave vegetables and fruits rather than sweets. I hate fried foods.

VAC: who is your favorite artist? art not music.

UN: I honestly don’t have one. I can appreciate visual art, but I’m not a painter or drawer (seriously, I suck so bad) so while I can say “wow that is awesome”, I don’t keep tabs on artists, really..

VAC: Do you like where you are currently living?

UN: I love Portland, there’s a lot here for me. I live in a rad house with tons of space, and have some great friends in this city. So yea, I like this a lot more than other places I’ve lived.

VAC: What can we expect next from Unter Null?

UN: Well, the new album definitely… And hopefully a tour in 2010… and of course more and more albums

VAC:I myself make a lot of food, but mostly raw vegan stuff. I have considered writing a recipe book, how about you?

UN: I definitely have. I keep a journal of my own recipes, and someday maybe I’ll throw it into a book. I’m very knowledgable on different diets and nutrition, so that is an angle I’d probably approach with a book. I was vegetarian for 7 years myself My downfall was cheese when I went vegan, and then eventually I craved seafood again and the veg*an period of my life was over. But I cook mostly vegetarian meals at home. Hey, we should collaborate!

VAC: Krztov says high, he is working on his new music and expecting a kid! He told me he hung out with you a while back and you guys had fun joking around.

UN: Hah, yea. We hung out at a show in Seattle once YEARS ago. He’s a nice guy.

VAC: Thank you for your time, is there any thing else you would like to add?

UN: Thank you for the interview! I can’t think of anything else I’d like to add… But I think 2010 is going to be an awesome year and I hope it is awesome for everyone.

VAC: Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview, we hope to help get you some more exposure in the music world. Take care..

UN: Thank you!!

If you like what you hear on the youtube vids, go buy some unter null: Click Here to buy Mp3s from Unter Null.

Opening words: In a scene full of acts that garnish the label “Future Pop”, one act has almost perfected it and is still making very relevant music in this genre. I honestly enjoy compass more than anything I have heard in the last 5 years in that style of music. He is the best future pop act on metropolis now. If he continues to put out this quality of music, I can see him standing on top alone. Interview conducted by Hexfix93.

EDTM: How are you?

A23: Busy, but busy is a good thing.

EDTM: Is there a theme to your new lp?

A23: I wouldn’t say so. I think concept albums and albums with a single theme can be tough to pull off. They’re definitely cool when they’re well done, but for the time being at least, I’d prefer to keep each song as a self-contained entity.

EDTM: What new bands are you into these days?

A23: Lately I’ve been digging the Presets, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ulrich Schnauss, Hadouken, The Editors, Burial, Trentemoller, The Field, The Big Pink, Jon Tejada, Deadmau5, and various electro-house stuff.

EDTM: How is the scene treating you?

A23: It’s hard to complain. A23 has been releasing albums for ten years now, and the new one seems to be getting a pretty positive response. It’s a lot more fickle than it used to be and you’ve got to work hard to keep afloat, but my fans have always been really supportive and make it all worthwhile.

EDTM: Who were your musical idols growing up?

A23: The Clash, the Buzzcocks, the Circle Jerks, the first 2 Human League albums, Yaz, Depeche Mode, Fad Gadget, Joy Division/New Order…

EDTM: Is there a theme to your band?

A23: Not really. Writers always say to write about what you know, so A23 has always been about my experiences, things I’ve seen or been through, things I think about. It’s just one big ego dump. haha

EDTM: What is your favorite A23 lp?

A23: I’m really happy with the new one. It’s probably the first time I’ve finished an album and been almost completely happy with it. There’s always those tiny little things you want to tweak, but overall this one was the smoothest transition from what I was envisioning in my head and how the final project came out.

EDTM: Which LP was the most fun to make?

A23: Definitely “Compass”. I knew I wanted to get away from the older style a bit and incorporate influences from the kind of stuff I listen to these days. I felt like electronic music in general was advancing and evolving, but out scene was just kind of remaining stagnant, recycling the same late 90′s trance sounds that have been driven into the ground by this time. So I just did whatever felt right without worrying if it fit into what was expected for a specific genre. Frankly, I wish I’d loosened up this way much earlier.

EDTM: Who have you collaborated with in the past?

A23: I don’t really like collaborating too much, but last year I collaborated with Matt Fanale on a Caustic track under my Nerve Filter side-project.

EDTM: Now that VNV has left metropolis, you have taken the crown of Future Pop on that label, how do you feel about that?

A23: I don’t know. I’ve always hated that genre name. I don’t really consider what A23 does these days to fit that style, but ultimately, you are whatever the music listeners say you are, so there you go. “Status” on a label doesn’t mean a lot to me. I’m just happy I can keep making music for a living and am thankful that people like what I’m doing.

EDTM: Honestly, I think your new LP is excellent. It reminds me of a modern old depeche mode. I think you sound better than most of the acts doing this style these days, ho do you rate your new lp?

A23: Thanks very much. Like I said, it’s really the happiest I’ve been with an album. I’m looking forward to getting out and playing the new stuff live.

EDTM: I hear a little severed heads in your sound as well, is this just my imagination?

A23: I don’t listen to them so much any more, but I listened to them a lot when I was in high school, so I’m sure they made an impression on me. I’ve always had a lot of respect for Mr. Ellard.

EDTM: What is your most cherished synthesizer?

A23: At the moment is probably my Sequential Circuits Pro One. The previous owner painted it green, so it’s pretty unique. It’s just brilliant for bass sounds. I do wish the old SCI stuff had a better build quality, though…

EDTM: What DAW?

A23: Logic.

EDTM: What kind of recording gear do you use?

A23: My studio is centered around Apple Logic with a MOTU 828mkII audio interface. Probably 90% of the plug-ins I use are the ones that come with Logic… they’re very good. For compression and EQ I use a Focusrite Liquidmix. That piece alone is the best money I’ve spent on my studio. It sounds fantastic.

EDTM: MAC OR PC?

A23: I’ve always been a Mac guy. I’m not much of an ‘under the hood’ computer owner. I just want it to work right out of the box, and for me personally, the Mac stuff has always been great in that respect.

EDTM: What is your favorite 80s movie?

A23: Probably a toss-up between Blade Runner and Brazil… it’s amazing how well both of those movies have held up visually.

EDTM: What is your favorite B movie?

A23: I’m a bit of a bad movie fanatic, so it’s hard to name just one. Lately, I’ve been turning on a lot of friends to Tommy Wiseau’s “The Room”. It’s the most unintentionally funny movie I think I’ve ever seen.

EDTM: What is your favorite TV show?

A23: The Office… 30 Rock… COPS is still a guilty pleasure for me.

EDTM: Favorite Book?

A23: Hard to pick just one… Catcher in the Rye… 1984… Brave New World… Just about any of Chuck Palahniuk’s earlier books. I also really enjoy David Sedaris’ essays.

EDTM: List your top ten favorite lps.

A23: Man, that’s tough… it would probably change from day to day, but off the top of my head and in no particular order…
Black Celebration by Depeche Mode, Belief by Nitzer Ebb, Reproduction by the Human League, Post by Bjork, Official Version by Front 242, Movement by New Order, London Calling by the Clash, Upstairs at Eric’s by Yaz, Fad Gadget – The Singles, Computer World by Kraftwerk…

EDTM: If you could teleport any where in the universe, where would you go?

A23: Preferably some place with an oxygen-based atmosphere or I’d be in trouble…

EDTM: What do you desire most on this earth?

A23: Happiness.

EDTM: Of the lyrics you have written, which one is your favorite?

A23: I don’t think I could choose. I put a lot of work into the lyrics, so they’re all kind of special to me. I guess the obvious choice would have to be “Disappoint”. I wrote it just as a way of trying to make sense of my father’s suicide, but I get more email or people at shows telling me about how that song effected their lives when they went through something similar. It’s kind of nice when something as simple as a song can make a connection with people that way.

EDTM: Anlog VS Digital?

A23: Digilog. (They both have their place…)
…….

If you like the music, go buy their music! Click here to buy on Amazon. Click Here to buy from Metropolis Records Online.

Opening words: Velvet Acid Christ is hard to define. They have their own sound, and use many elements from many genres to make their own blend of alternative dark music. I think there is something in this band for everyone to like, no matter what kind of alternative music you lean towards. Click here to check out the Official Velvet Acid Christ Web site. We sit down with Hexfix93 the front man of VAC and ask him a few questions. Enjoy. Interview by: Krztov of Distorted Retrospect.

EDTM: How are you?

VAC: Strange. Isolated. Nervous about the new LP.

EDTM: You have a new LP out. What was your main inspirations for the new lp?

VAC: The end. The end of everything. The last 3 years have been hard on the personal level. My circle of friends has dissolved. Everyone has moved away, or not involved in VAC much. No socializing at all in real life. Empty. Alone. Giving up on people, the world, in politics, society and everything. Misanthropy.

EDTM: The lp is so different from the last 5, are you worried no one will recognize it as VAC?

VAC: Yes and No. The acoustic tracks might really put off the electronic heads and people who like synth music. I honestly have grown so tired of electronic music in the scene. Nothing really great has come out in the genre in a long time in my honest opinion. Everything now is all this distorted kick drum and detuned trance leads. It’s boring. I decided to make a really heavy record. Even the electronic songs are heavy on the new LP. So I dug deep, and ended up listening to a lot of acoustic music during this period. Mostly Death In June, Tegan and Sarah, old Current 93, old Sisters of Mercy, The Legendary Pink Dots, Old Mission UK, and Sorrow. When I was 20, these were the bands that I listened to the most, and these are the bands that inspired me to make Velvet Acid Christ. It wasn’t Industrial music that lead to VAC. It was apocalyptic folk, goth, and death rock. My image and look is more like this as well. The industrial thing kind of happened because I never had a band, so I used machines to replace people. It was then that I really learned to appreciate bands like Nitzer Ebb and Skinny Puppy.

EDTM: Who died during the making of the LP?

VAC: In my head? Mankind. Watching this political season has sapped the soul right out of me.

EDTM: Why so much acoustic guitar?

VAC: When I started making this LP, my technology was betraying me. The p.c. I had was on the fritz, I eventually had to get a mac to get tight midi, and a system that sounded good and was stable. I had to learn a new DAW “logic” I had been using cubase, SAW, and sonar before hand. This took some time. I got rid of most all of my preset synths like the virus, and jupiter. All I had was mono synths and a modular. So making this lp was like stepping into a brand new studio. It was intimidating, so I fell back on the guitar, and because I was listening to so much acoustic music, I really wanted to try my hand at it and put the VAC spin on it. It was fun and challenging to try and come up with simple and catchy songs that anyone could sing along with. That was my goal. My guitars are great, easy to tune, they sound good with out even having to fuck with them. All my synths I have to fuck with hard core to get any decent sounds out of them, they all have the What you See is What You Get Interfaces. That kept me away from going through presets, finding one I liked then tweaking it and putting effects on it. It really was more spiritual to me to just pick up a guitar and pour my heart out, all my honest feelings and frustrations. It was so therapeutic for me. I have never done anything like this before. Well, I have had guitar goth songs, but not with real acoustic guitars. I learned how to mic real guitars, I also upgraded my converters, mic pres, and compressors to get good results. I spent most of my money on this.

EDTM: What is your favorite song on the new lp?

VAC: Black Rainbows. It has this magic to me, on a really loud system, or on head phones, it has this drone, the melodic drone. It was inspired by some really emotionally heavy moments. The passing of loved ones. Having to talk one of my friends down from his mother dying. It was so hard. It has this endearing sincerity and love and caring in it that really makes it stick out in my head. Like singing about someone you love, and they die, or you die, you fail them, it fails. There is so much love in that kind of sadness. I kind of find it beautiful, it seems like we take each other for granted so much, and then when someone dies, you remember the good things and want it back so bad. There is this selfish love there that I find so beautiful in people. I am not a sadist, but there is something really pretty about the agony of loss. You really see how much someone cares in those moments.

EDTM: Who were your main inspirations on the new LP?

VAC: I knew that I wanted to make some club music, So I did that, and I used like Meat Beat Manifesto, NIN, Astral Projection, New Order, S-express, old acid house Psychic TV, and Juno Reaktor as inspiration for that part of the LP. The other half of the LP was inspired by all the acoustic music I was listening to. This LP was hard, originally there were more Electronic tracks on the lp, but they were instrumentals, and alt versions, and those will end up on the single as B-sides. I wanted to release two EPS, but the record labels were not down for that. So I was going to split the LP into two halves. I tried it and it Lulled. No matter how I set up the track list. So when I mixed all the tracks together, I found the best track order and balance to make the lp flow. I still think I should of done two eps. But, unfortunately I can’t have it my way all the time.

EDTM: Tell us about the artwork.

VAC: The art work happened in this weird way. I run this Media Blog now, Electric Deth Trip Media Blog, electricdethtripmedia.com, So I cover all kinds of media, photography and models. I was asking my fans for an lp cover, and one fan suggested that I use the model I featured on my blog. So I contacted her and found out she was a VAC fan, and then she got me in contact with the photographer and artist who did that photo. I was so happy that doing my media blog has allowed me to talk to so many other musicians, photographers, models, and artists.

EDTM: Why did it take you so long to put out this record?

VAC: Wow, the technical problems. Todd went off and did his solo project(the twilight garden) and didn’t have much time for VAC. So this was more of a solo effort. I had to get a job for a while, then I hurt my hand at work, couldn’t play guitar or synths, couldn’t bend my finger, I cut the tendon in my finger and it had to stay still for about 2 months. My new mini Dachshund puppies bit my ear playing around, it was bad. I got a cat scratch and had a super mega allergic reaction that almost killed me.:( Depression on top of that. I did have the record done last spring but it took the label a while to get it out.

EDTM: What is your take on the gothic industrial internet scene?

VAC: It is really confusing. Because there are so many bands calling them selves EBM that are really pop acts. Everyone is in a band, there is so much shit to wade through. It is mostly social networking sites now like facebook, myspace, and vampire freaks. To be honest, I kind of hate it. These things have replaced night clubs. People go online to date now, not to the clubs. Instead of listening to music on a big system, they now listen to a overly compressed piece of shit versions of the songs on computer speakers. Music has been demoted to the back ground music of females taking angled top down photos of themselves, on a mp3 player tucked away in the corner of their blog page. Music has been demoted. In the old days, loud music in clubs on impressive sound systems ruled the day, now it is center stage background music to the drama of personal profiles of blog sites.

EDTM: What are your opinions about the music industry?

VAC: CDs are worth nothing now on the used market, I blame cd stores for this. They helped music decline by cheapening the resale of cds. Cds are in less and less stores. No more posters on the walls in most shops. Promotion is a nightmare in the U.S, no magazines really covering this scene with a large reader base. Now when you use the only medium left, the internet, it is futile. It is like, you let people know when to go pirate the music. They don’t buy it usually. Only a few buy. So when they find out there is a new lp coming, they just pirate it. Because they follow genres and not bands usually now, they download everything and get ear fatigue and don’t really build bonds with their favorite acts, no reason to choose a few that your dollars can afford when you can have them all and get burnt out on over listening to it all. The clubs used to have a medium of all styles and you would not get burnt out as easily. Now you can have it all on demand fast, and I think that leads to the ultimate boredom of music in general. You lose respect for it, because you don’t work to get it, if you buy it, you cannot resell it at all and get any value back from it. In the 80s MTV killed the radio stars. In the late 90s, the internet has killed all music, devalued it. Made it sound like shit by compressing it. Then using it as a back drop on social networking sites even further devalues it. No one will pay for stuff when they can just youtube it, or listen to it on a social networking site for free while they sit on their asses. If you don’t stand, or dance for music, i think you lose your connection to it. Sitting on your butt listening to it in the background while you do menial things really isn’t as inspiring as a concert or a club night. I would say things are lazy now, people don’t go out, go to the stores to buy it, now they social network instead of going to the clubs. What really sucks on top of that, is that you cannot really do any target promotion on itunes, or amazon, or the stores that sell mp3s, so it is impossible to hype anything on the net where it really counts. Things are getting really bad. Soon, there will be no music. Less and Less are paying for it now. People have justified it with a million excuses, the labels are evil, they steal from the artists, blah, this or that reason. But still I don’t see them trying to donate to the bands directly either. It’s sad.

EDTM: How did you get into this scene?

VAC: Wow, a long time ago. I was never cool in school, moved around and was a social out cast from the main clicks. One day I saw these people picking on this girl all dressed in black, and I stood up for her, they were throwing rocks at her, and I was like WTF. Calling her a demon, and shit like this. This was in highschool. So that click befriended me, and that is how I found out about the music at first. My friend steve told me about this night club that played all the strange music that they used to play on the PBS alternative music video shows. So we went. I remember the first night, I was kind of normal. Didn’t fit in, well I wasn’t normal I was one of these kids that wore military clothing from his fathers vietnam days with a bad hair cut LOL. I remember seeing all the big hair, the wild clothes like nothing I had seen before, the club was packed, there were a lot of normal people, but 1/3rd of them were like uber weirdoes with huge hair and really weird clothing that you never could find in a store. It was magical. I got pulled aside by some girl, my friend dan had some outrageous bad make up on. She dragged us into the girls bathroom and gave us a make over. It was so cool. People were so open back then. They invited us to their parties. There I learned how to dress weird, ratt my hair, and make clothing. It was so magical. The 2nd time I went, I dropped acid, and I knew, this was my future. This is where I belong, this is where I fit in, this is the music that I relate to the most a vast variety of 80s wave, death rock, goth, industrial, EBM and acid house. I got a DJ gig at this club, and met other musicians. I was doing music with my cousins before then. So I started a band with this guy I met at this club. That is how it all started for me. It was a super magical moment in my life. I met so many people who made their own clothing, had their own styles, and were super creative. This club used to get 1500 people in on a saturday night back in 1991. We would always recruit weirdos, have parties and invite the normals, and give them mow-hawks and shit That was so much fun. That is why VAC even exists.

EDTM: If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

VAC: Honestly, I would prevent the internet from being brought into existence. I think everything was better before. Music was better. Clubs were better, stores were better. The internet has dumbed down retail, made music, movies, worthless. Instead of sitting on your ass getting fat in front of your tv, now you sit on your ass and get fat behind the internet. There is so much great info on the net, no one really reads it. People use it like a fast food porn dating hub. Steal games, music, and movies. And play armchair critic. People are overly negative and lash out on the internet. Everyone has balls on the net, but not in real life. I feel like the internet destroyed the very things I know and love the most, Music, Movies, ART and photography. People don’t go out anymore to hear music, they check out myspace, and listen to it there and don’t buy it. It is so sad.

EDTM: If you could teleport, where would you go?

VAC: Now, in my old age, I would love to find a place far away from humans, with a fantastic waterfall or lake or mountain cave stuff, and go there to meditate and get away from the filth of humanity. The plastic and glass, the pollution and fast food.

EDTM: What do you think about Obama and american politics?

VAC: 1 year later and what has changed? NOTHING. He is the same war mongering asshole who we voted out. He lied! I hate democrats and republicans. They are the same thing. Just the good cop bad cop routine, one apologizes for it, and the other doesn’t that is the main difference. What has obama done? He created Socialism, great, oh, but wait, socialism for the BANKS, but not for US. FOR THE FUCKING BANKS, We bail them out, then they jack up all the rates on our credit cards to pay us back for helping them out! NICE. Obama loves REGAN. LOL, it shows.

EDTM: Favorite sport?

VAC: Used to be Hockey, now it is the UFC mixed Martial Arts. I love martial arts.

EDTM: List your Top favorite LPS.

VAC:
#01: The Maria Dimension – The Legendary Pink Dots.
#02: Faith – The Cure.
#03: Violator – Depeche Mode
#04: The Witching Hour – Ladytron
#05: The Brown Book – Death In June
#06: Remission – Skinny Puppy
#07: Embryodead – Wumpscut
#08: The First Chapter – The Mission UK
#09: First Last and Always – Sisters of Mercy
#10: 99% – Meat Beat Manifesto
#11: In The Mix – Astral Projection
#12: Loved – The Cranes
#13: Sequencer – Covenant
#14: Beers Steers and Queers – Revolting Cocks
#15: The Fragile – Nine Inch Nails
#16: Toxic Coma – Toxic Coma
#17: The Tinderbox – Siouxsie and the Banshees
#18: Belief – Nitzer Ebb
#19: The Land of Rape and Honey – Ministry
#20: So Jealous – Tegan and Sarah

EDTM: List your top ten Favorite songs.

VAC:
#01: Charlotte Sometimes – The Cure
#02: A ship named despair – The Tear Garden
#03: In your Room – Depeche Mode
#04: Censor – Skinny Puppy
#05: To Drown a Rose – Death In June
#06: Destroy Everything you touch – Ladytron
#07: Even Now – Edward Kaspel
#08: Is it you – Wumpscut
#09: Tabula Rasa – Covenant
#10: Tragic Beauty – The Legendary Pink Dots

EDTM: List 5 DVDs.

VAC: Farscape serises on DVD. Suspiria on DVD, Hellsing anime. Elfin Lied Anime. Fight Club DVD.

EDTM: Who were your idols in your different times growing up?

VAC: Growing up as a kid, the band RUSH. As a Teen, The Cure. 20s: The Pink Dots and Skinny Puppy. 30s: Death In June.

EDTM: Will there be tours?

VAC: Maybe Mini tours. Nothing major. I never want to tour with a big band. I don’t like splitting the bill, so I will have to pay for it out of my pocket, and get a band together that can rehearse. When that Happens and the look and art direction gets worked out. Maybe this spring.

EDTM: Who else is in the band?

VAC: Todd Loomis is still in VAC, but in a much diminished role now that he is so busy with his project.

EDTM: Favorite food to eat?

VAC: For health, Kale Salad. For junk, Raw butternut squash mango gazpacho. Love Curry anything vegan.

EDTM: What do you see happening in the future?

VAC: The world powers, the secret society, They will make the prophecies of the bible happen(fake of course), bring back a fake jesus, and purge the earth of all sinners so they can control a smaller population. The sad thing is, the gullible masses will buy into it. I think this day is coming fast. They tested the waters with 911 to see what they could get away with. I think the mass purging will happen with in the next 5 years.

EDTM: Anything else you would like to add?

VAC: Thank you to all my fans who buy my music and help my record label, and help me eat and put a roof over my head, clothes on, and food on my table. Thank all of you VAC fans who promote me to others. I really appreciate the ones who are left who are still really supporting me. Thank you all.

….
Click the image below to buy the new VAC LP

Click here to listen to Bench or Die.
Opening words: This is the ultimate industrial party band. They have a sense of humor, their music is old school and super danceable. A while back, a VAC fan posted a link to these guys on my forum(how I discovered them), they reminded me so much of my side project toxic coma, that I had to buy their stuff, I got a T-shirt and everything. My favorite song by them is probably “Punch a Christian in the Face”. Their music makes me laugh and have fun, which is something I cannot say about most of the music coming out these days. I also really like their song “THE HAUNTED GYM”. You owe it to your self to hear those songs. When I was djing on second life, I would play these guys and it would pack the dance floors and people would laugh their asses off. So much fun. Any how, I hope to help promote them some, that is why I sought out an interview with them, to share with you. Click here to go to their Official Web Site.

VAC: How are you doing?

Blasten Pastyah: Splendid.
Quitcher Bichen: Well, I just got back from the gym, where I did some pretty intense cardio and the usual round of squats, deads, benches, rows, curls, and pull-ups. I’m pretty stoked about the results I’m getting from my new routine.

VAC: What is the music writing process like for you guys?

BP: It involves plenty of time in the gym, flexing in front of the mirror. Nothing inspires like admiring the results of a superset. Also I get a lot accomplished in the shower. This usually creates a lot of little segments of lyrics, or music, which I then work off of later.
QB: I usually psyche myself the fuck up with the help of my pro wrestling video tape collection and a few energy drinks. Then I think “what muscle group deserves a song?” Then I blade my forehead, and once my proverbial crimson mask starts to flow, I lay down some beats and industrial rhythms.

VAC: How many people died in the making of your last lp?

QB: I suppose our last proper lp would have to be “BADITUDE Hijacks The Hits,” and if memory serves me correctly, 4 people died.
BP: I think it was 11. Wait, that one girl was pregnant. Make that 12.

VAC: Do you think you are the ultimate industrial party band of all time like I do?

BP: Let’s just say that I would like our chances in a 12-man double-elimination tournament, if you catch my drift.
QB: Although I feel that title is befitting of us, I think that honor must go to C+C Music Factory.

VAC: Do you guys break dance?

QB: Indeed we do, among other dance moves (such as “The BADITUDE Dance”, the Crip Walk, and the Josh Fenderman). In fact, at our last show, after I dropped an elbow on a pumpkin, I busted out a quick back-spin followed by a wicked stall. You shoulda seen it.
BP: I try to break dance. However, other than the fact that lots of things get broken when I dance, i don’t know that it could be called “break dancing.” I will say that I am inspired everyday by the moves of Josh Fenderman, and everyone’s favorite alien, Nukie. I also like to pull out a little dance known as The Zawistowski.

VAC: You guys are inspired by old school video games? Explain.

QB: The childhood years of BADITUDE featured many hours playing Nintendo, Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo, when we weren’t out riding our BMX bikes around town and causing mischief and mayhem.
BP: Old school video games were great because you had to be a real man in order to beat them without cheat codes. It takes real balls to beat Ninja Gaiden 2 or Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts. And they had some of the most simplistic story lines, so you didn’t get bogged down by having to think. You just relied upon your keen hand-eye coordination to blast through as many enemies as possible. Just like in real life, brute force wins the day. Also, the limited capabilities of the old audio synthesizers led to the creation of many awesome scores. The combination of quirky sounds and Japanese musical sensibilities completely warped the way I though about music.

VAC: Are you into any new video games?

QB: No. I haven’t the time, as I spend countless hours in the gym. And when the time comes for video-gaming, I still play Sega Genesis.
BP: I play them occasionally, but typically don’t have the time. Now, if they had a game that involved lifting weights, I would be all over it!
QB: The game of life involves lifting weights. And the cheat code is steroids.

Click here to listen to Religion is for the Weak.

VAC: Who are your influences?

QB: Fred Nietzsche, The Ultimate Warrior, L. Ron Hubbard, and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
BP: Old video games and horror movies from the 1980s.

VAC: Who do you hate the most?
QB: I don’t know if it’s possible to answer that question! SO MANY CHOICES!
BP: Mike Mitchell – that guy is an asshole!

VAC: Have your shows ever been protested by christians, thanks to your hit song “Punch a Christian in the Face?

BP: Christians don’t have the balls! However, we almost made a marine flip out and go all PTSD on us by pulling the old switcheroo at an Independence Day show. You see, at first we made it seem like we were all patriotic (which is gay). Then, for our last song, we revealed that it was all a joke, and blasted out our hit song “Fuck U.”
QB: Our shows have evoked some pretty negative reactions. There was a time when some dudes were watching us do our thing, and then we busted out “Punch a Christian” and they were like “not cool” and they left. Fags. I look forward to the day that Christians really protest us. But nothing will ever top that time with the patriotic marine and how he “rescued” the American flags from us after we defiled them at our July 3rd show. Joke’s on him; one of those flags has my ball sweat on it.

VAC: Do you guys like playing live, If I had to choose a band to open for me, It would be you.

QB: We should totally play a show, bro. Our live shows have grown increasingly awesome with each performance, and I am proud of our antics. We now use dual electronic drum pads! How fuckin’ sweet is that?
BP: We love to play live. There is nothing like the surge of adrenaline one gets by running around on stage like a retard and then screaming your lungs out in some nerd’s stupid face. Unfortunately, most people who go to shows in our neck of the woods just stand around like dickheads, so you have to get out there and really kick some ass.

VAC: What is your favorite synth?

BP: Some of my favorite sounds have come from the DX7, and a crappy old Yamaha Portasound that my sister got for Xmas in the mid-80s. I also use a Virus a lot – mostly for leads, pads and rhythms. I should add that I am very interested in trying out the Arturia Origin. I use a couple of their virtual synths as plug-ins, and have been pleased with the results.
QB: My primary synth for the past decade has been my Nord Lead virtual analog synth. It looks and sounds gnarly and has proven itself to be unstoppable.

Click Here to listen to Never Give Up.

VAC: Favorite rhythm maker? Beats.

QB: My original source of sweet beats came from a Kawai R-50e drum machine. But it died after I suplexed it through a table. So now I am back to using the good ol’ Alesis SR-16. The key here is the use of old drum machines.
BP: I do all of my beats and rhythms by hand in a MIDI editor, primarily using a Roland drum pad for the sounds. I have also started using a software percussion synth called Microtonic. I also want to start experimenting with an electronic drum kit, but that will have to wait. Other than that, I have used an 808/303 combination a couple of times.

VAC: If you could time travel, where would you go?

BP: I did – I went back in time and killed Abraham Lincoln and then framed John Wilkes Booth.
QB: I would go to a distant, post-apocalyptic time, so I could get my hands on some post-apocalyptic warrior armor. I’m talkin’ shoulder pads, shin guards, guantlets, all that shit.

VAC: What do you think of the night club scene in your town?

BP: I am not sure. Most clubs I see around town are usually trendy spots full of douchebags.
QB: LAME. I’m in the midst of trying to get a shot at DJing at a dark, evil club, where I will surely inject the place with a lethal dose of audio steroids.

VAC: Who is your favorite fighter?

BP: Don Frye. He has an amazing moustache, and looks like Mike Haggar. His fight with Takayama is legendary.
QB: Quitcher Bichen. That dude is one tough son of a bitch.

VAC: What is your favorite finishing move?
BP: Powerbomb through a table, onto concrete.
QB: Head Rip (forward, down, forward, high punch)

VAC: Name each of your specialty skills.

BP: RNC, Kimura, Guillotine Axe-Kick, Hadouken
QB: I possess a deadly submission manoeuver called The Viper Lock that incapacitates opponents quite quickly. My uppercuts actually set things on fire. I can beat Contra without losing a guy.

VAC: What kind of underwear do you wear?
BP: Burlap – it keeps me honest.
QB: A snug jockstrap. I have to keep my large testicles in order at all times.

VAC: Have you heard of the Rusty Trombone?
QB: I think that Blasten Pastyah invented that move.
BP: Yes. I one day aspire to open an instrument repair shoppe called Rusty’s Trombone and Instrument Repair.

Click Here to listen to Exorcism 2: Turbo.

VAC: How do you like life?

BP: Medium rare!
QB: It’s fuckin’ terrible, and that’s why you have to be motivated and work out and kick ASS and don’t take shit from all the bastards that make life as terrible as it is. You gotta MAN UP and become the one thing that makes these bastard’s lives worse than yours. Life can’t be good, so make it BAD.

VAC: What are your goals as a band?

BP: To kick ass, take names and create awesome music that you can dance to. In order to get a record deal or mass appeal, you usually have to compromise in a big way or write bullshit music. Fuck that. I would rather toil in obscurity and have a product that I like, than try to sell records.
QB: I think one of our goals is to be the band that is responsible for helping humanity to shed millions of unwanted pounds and to develop the biceps that they deserve. We would also like to be responsible for ending religion. And causing the complete and utter collapse of the system would be nice.

VAC: Who do you plan on running over?

QB: Whoever the fuck gets in my way!
BP: A hitchhiker, like in Creepshow 2. And I would like to crush the Popemobile with a monster truck.

VAC: If you could work with any artist, who would it be? Music of course

BP: Falco.
QB: Dude, Falco’s dead. I’d say definitely that ripped dude from The Lost Boys that plays the saxophone. What’s his name? Tim Capello? He needs to join BADITUDE. Him, and a huge black dude with a flat top who wears a tank top and plays a Steinberger bass. Do you know someone like that?

VAC: What is your favorite thing to do on Halloween?

QB: Torch a church or two, in celebration of my dark lord Satan’s birthday. Sometimes I spray-paint Satanic imagery on banks, too.
BP: I terrorize children and the elderly all year long, so I actually take a break on Halloween. I like to relax, eat stolen candy and watch absurd horror movies. I stopped trick or treating because I got fuckin’ tired of people saying that a 6’3″ dude with a beard shouldn’t get candy. Fuck that shit! My costumes were way better than anything some retarded 8 year old could come up with. This year, I went as Bennett from the movie Commando! It was awesome.
QB: It certainly was awesome. You let off some steam.

Click Here to listen to Monosyllabic Mesomorph.

VAC: How do you record and write your music, what software?

QB: I utilize my trusty Nord Lead synth, my various drum machines, and perhaps an effects processor, and I record into a Roland digital 8-track mixer, in a very retarded, bootleg fashion. I don’t use any software in my music creating process. Then everything gets transferred to Blasten’s computer using ProTools, and the vocals are added and the mixing is done (we have developed a special series of effects known as the BADITUDE Effect that is always applied to the percussion tracks).
BP: I don’t have any set way. I could start with drums, bass, melody, or lyrics. For the drum parts, I either start by playing patterns on my drum pad, and then cleaning them up, or I just program them in by hand. For the bass, I sometimes write the lines using a bass guitar. Most of the time, I just start out with a patch that is a rough approximation of what I want, and then record it with a synth or keyboard. While I record, I output MIDI data and record that as well. The same goes with melody and lead lines. Right now, I am recording using a couple of outboard preamps and a Digi 003 rack. I record into Pro Tools and use plug-ins from waves, arturia and native instruments. I then bounce down to disk and clean things up in Wavelab. I don’t really use sequencing or loop software. It might make things a little easier, but I question whether or not it would be a worthy investment.

VAC: Analog VS Digital? Your take

BP: They both have their places. As for a recording medium, I think that tape can certainly yield desirable sounds. But it is too much fuckin’ hassle for me. With modern techniques and gear, you can get pretty fuckin’ close to that sound, if you so desire. Digital recording has come a long way, and for my money, it is ideal. As for synths, I usually prefer analog basses and pads, but go digital for most everything else. This, coupled with the stability and repeatability of digital causes me to lean toward digital instruments. But nothing will ever replace the freak-outs and wacky accidents that occur with analog gear.
QB: I say digital. Welcome to the 90′s, dude.

Click Here to listen to Conisder Your Ass Kicked.

VAC: List your top ten favorite lps.
QB: 1. “Oh, No! It’s DEVO” – DEVO
2. “New Traditionalists” – DEVO
3. “WAT” – Laibach
4. “VivisectVI” – Skinny Puppy
5. “Ctrl” – ORI
6. “That Total Age” – Nitzer Ebb
7. “Fire Dances” – Killing Joke
8. “Für Immer” – DAF
9. “No Comment” – Front 242
10. “Big Sexyland” – Revolting Cocks

BP: 1. “Special Music From Special Kids” – The Kids of Widney High
2. “Let’s Get Busy” – The Kids of Widney High
3. “Act Your Age” – The Kids of Widney High
4. “Hulk Rules” – Hulk Hogan and the Wrestling Boot Band
5. “Be a Man” – Macho Man Randy Savage
6. Wrestlemania the Album
7. “Sleight of Hand” – Guy Mann-Dude
8. Tenebre motion picture soundtrack
9. Rad motion picture soundtrack
10. Friday the 13th Part 3 motion picture soundtrack

VAC: What is the future of Baditude?

BP: I don’t want to tip our hat too early, but there are a few surprises in store that no one will have expected. For now, suffice it to say that we are going to keep kicking ass!
QB: If there is an audience for BADITUDE, then we’ll keep cranking out our electronic industrial workout music and we’ll keep playing sporadic shows to small groups of people, and you can bet your stupid ass that we’ll keep honing our fighting skills and developing larger, more ripped muscles. There’s only one way to go with BADITUDE, and that is UP. TOP THAT.

Please buy some of their cds and t-shirts. Click Here to go to their store. You have to email them, so click on the C Baditude thing at the bottom of the page. Click here to goto their Myspace page.