INTERVIEW WITH STIN SCATZOR

Stin Scatzor is 20 years old, that’s a teen’s lifetime! How does it feel?

I guess it’s a case of getting old but we’re still alive and kicking! It feels weird that after all Stin Scatzor is known in the genre, and not only Belgium.
I am not speaking in terms of songs that are known, but as a name we are. I mean, if even the singer from KMFDM asks what Stin Scatzor means….

In those 20 years people you worked with are famous, others have completely disappeared. Is it a case of being the lucky one or do you think that quality rises above in the end?

I would rather see it as a coincidence. Right, I worked with Johan Van Roy as I recorded my first demos over there, I worked with Peter from Liquid G., I know Dirk Ivens and Eric Van Wonterghem quite well.
But in the end I think it’s due to the fact that it’s a small world, everybody knows everyone.
For me it all started with a stupid advert about electro-music in the musicmag “Fabiola”…an ad placed by Johan Van Roy!
But it still does something to me that after 20 years I might share the stage with Suicide Commando, Dive, Die Krupps, Insekt, KMFDM and now Front Line Assembly.

With Suicide Commando Johan became a sort of institution, never felt any jealousy towards him?

Yes and no. I still consider it as a hobby but for Johan it has become something that got out of hand. But that was to be expected, like he was committed with Suicide Commando. Hat of to that and I think he deserves it.
Maybe if I had the same drive and character as him, we could be as big as he is…who knows.

Ben wel blij dat ik het eerste optreden van Suicide Commando en de opgang van Suicide Commando heb mogen meemaken ! En er wordt zelfs al over een eventuele terugkeer van Lescure 13 gepraat... Maar dat is toekomstmuziek, wie weet. Alleen de tijd ontbreekt ons...
Maar ik ben tevreden, zoals het nu is. Ik ben ook niet dagelijks met muziek bezig.

You also are children of the so called tape-area. Technically speaking it surely was inferior but I still think these tapes meant more than the cd-r releases now.

Somewhere these tapes kind of fascinated me. You know making the covers by yourself, copying them…it was all an amateur thing.
Still think it’s damn cool that there are two split-tapes around with one side featuring us and on the other Suicide Commando.
We also made splittapes with Liquid G. and Notstandskomitee.

Never thought to feature all those tapes onto one cd?

In a way we did, especially with our 20th birthday. But such things take time and I need to make a good selection. Plus they all need to be remastered as well.
Having said that, releasing them on vinyl appeals to me as well.


2000 was a very important time as then Kris joined.
Was this meeting pure coincidence or were you searching to make the group any bigger?

Coincidence is not the word as we knew each other from the gigscene as he used to play with The Lace Of Allotment. One day one I met Kris at a vampire party I was already involved in recording songs for “Industrogression”.
I asked him back then if he would like the idea to add a guitar on that. When those first demos arrived I was thinking : this is the new Stin Scatzor sound!

I didn’t ask it yet, but what does Stin Scatzor actually means?

That’s of course the kind of question that is always asked.
Stin Scatzor is a word without sense, it’s like some kind of puzzle from different letters and it just seemed to fit fine. I found that 20 years ago when I had some boring times during school.
The logo is also pure by coincidence, no meaning and certainly not anything to do with Nazis.
One day I got a compliment from Rudy out of Wumpscut for my logo.

The longer you think about, the less concertorganisators that are around…

I kind of do understand that if you see what it all involves. I just think it’s a genius thing that there are still people around in our genre who are willing to do so.
Also not forget that Belgium is a small country, I mean every time there is something going on…one event being bigger as the other.

Belgium is the country that breed its EBM-children but I still do think that this country doesn’t treat its children in a right way.

I am really happy that it is all underground as I never want this genre to get commercialised. I know others will have other opinions and I am sure it’s different for organisators or people who are earning their living with music but for me : no thanks to those mass events!

Now that EBM is being in South America, don’t you get reactions?

We get some once and a while but apart from some fancontacts that was it.
I have no idea if Stin Scatzor is known there anyway….

For a band like Clan Of Xymox it’s no problem to play there for tenthousand people…

Honestly said in some way I would like to experience that once. The biggest audience we ever played for was in Leipzig at Wave & Gothik Treffen and we are talking about 1000 man only…but I really enjoyed that!

You soon will be on stage with Front Line Assembly, what can the people expect?

From us or Front Line Assembly? (Lol)
We will play a short but powerful set. Nothing special, just like always!
Pure “industrock’n roll”!!!!!!! I hope the audience will be as wild as the one we had in Nijlen.

Anything to add?

Well, I can reveal you that “Industremakes” will soon find its release on a European label, as soon as details are coming in we’ll let you know!
And our latest mcd3” “Industruction” is still available…and follow us on Facebook!

INTERVIEW WITH SANTA HATES YOU

Hello, most people will know you, of course from Project Pitchfork.
I just asked myself : why does someone who plays in such a legendary band decides to form a second band?

PETER SPILLES: I guess that‘s because artistically and musically I have a lot more to give. There are many dimensions in my personality, and they generate the multiplicity of my musical projects. I am „chronically inspired“ and a cure has not been found yet! :)
I love to experiment and to explore new musical ways. In Santa Hates You there‘s the female component which obviously is not present in Project Pitchfork, and that alone is a quite intriguing aspect. Also, the two projects are very different, musically and lyrically, too. So, as you can see, it‘s a thrilling and exciting new adventure.


Is there a sort of concept behind Santa Hates You?
I mean is this your outlet in where everything’s possible?
PS: Santa Hates You is the answer to all questions of our times. The truth in its name and lyrics are frightening and in all aspects sizzling. We don‘t limit ourselves, so everything is possible at all times without a warning sound. You have to understand, that there is no love existing in any imaginary product which is used to make you consume in a more happy mood.

“Crucifix Powerbomb” is like hearing a weird horror film in where freaks are ruling.
Is horror an important part in your life?
JINXY: I gotta say, I like your description of our album! :)
Horror per se is of course one of the many facets of life, and it wouldn‘t be possible for us to truthfully portray the contemporary society without referring to it.
But to answer your question in a much more trivial manner, I can reveal that both PS and I are huge horror movie fans.
PS: Jinxy, your choice of movies really scares me shitless. :D

Maybe life is just horror?
JINXY: Sometimes real life is even worse than the most gruesome horror movie.
PS: And sometimes horror is just a product of human fear.


There is lots of humour too and to be quite honest I normally hate that type of horrorhumor just because there are soo many clichés being overused, but it seemed like you did a more than pretty job to avoid that!

JINXY: Well, yes. :) I think that‘s because Santa Hates You is by nature the opposite of banal: we are an „anti-cliché“ band, if you will.
Our art is not created to please the masses. People may love us or hate us, but even in this second case they will have to recognize that we are not an ordinary band.
We are both creative subversives and humor is our weapon of choice to fight against the ethic-less and fraudulent world in which we live. Even when we‘re being witty, we still have something to say!




You are an artist who could profit from the big German wave, in the sense that twenty years ago mags like Zillo, Orkus and Sonic Seducer were like kings.
For or against, it helped to create a solid scene. Now this power seem to vanish, is that a good or a bad thing, you think?
PS: In my eyes it was that the bands of that time helped to evolve a scene that was worth being reported about and so there grew some former fanzines to the size
we now know as important magazines of our scene. First there was a solid scene, then there came the mags..., a magazine cannot give birth to a scene. Power is by nature not something that will last forever, so it is neither good nor bad.

Having said that, I can’t imagine that it must be easier now or am I wrong?
PS: You are wrong. :)

I always wondered, how come that Germany is the country that seems to breathe goth and EBM.
Why does Germany has such a strong link with that scene, you think?
PS: I think it is because in our catholic dominated culture there are themes blinded out which are important to have a fulfilling life. On top of that I guess Germans have a secret love for everything that is made with electricity.


Some will say Santa Hates You is a typical club album…I’ve never been to a club (haha) and I like it a lot…..
JINXY: Well, Mister, you‘ve got an exquisite taste in music, that‘s for sure! ;)
PS: “Crucifix Powerbomb” is a club album, but not only. It also has the power of turning your living room (or every other environment you choose when listening to our music) into a realm of dreams.

Recently Project Pitchfork released a new album….it seems like you’re having a busy schedule to deal with!
PS: Yes, in fact I trained myself to sleep only on sundays.

I ask this to everyone : what’s your fave record of all time and please tell why!
PS: That changes from time to time. In the moment it‘s „Crucifix Powerbomb“ Why? Just listen to it. ;)


What would you do if Santa would turn up anyway?

JINXY: Well, the first instinct would be to run away, ‘cause he‘s one creepy, evil mother fucker who hates everybody and if he‘s coming right at us, say, in a Michael Myers kind of way, his intentions cannot be that good. However, on a second thought the best thing would be to fight back in some deliciously absurd way, for example by poisoning his cookies, or by hugging him to death, or other fun stuff like that. You get the idea.
PS: I would tell a nice little rhyme to pretend I was a good boy.


You soon will be at Necropolisfestival here in Belgium.
What can the audience expect from your show?

JINXY: Some wicked, fucked up awesomeness, if you‘ll excuse my French. :D
You may wanna bring some aspirin, an umbrella, a couple of candy canes, shaving cream and an extra pair of panties.
You‘ll never know.
PS: You can expect everything...., so be prepared!

The last word is yours!!!!!

JINXY: You don‘t have to be crazy to love Santa Hates You, but it helps.
PS: It is scientifically proven that Santa Hates You loves you deeper than any regular band.

INTERVIEW WITH THE ETERNAL AFFLICT

YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 20 YEARS ALREADY, HOW DO YOU SEE THOSE TWO DECADES?
WINUS: Looking back through the years life has treated us good enough - at least most of the time.
Somehow we survived all the ups and downs and now we are still here.

YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE BANDS WHO HAD TO BREAKTHROUGH WITH THE USE OF SELF RELEASED TAPES, I EVEN GOT THEM SOMEWHERE AROUND HERE. DO YOU THINK THE GENERATION OF TODAY HAS IT MUCH MORE EASIER?
CYAN: The internet has changed the whole process in various ways. But that doesn't necessarily make things better.
Of course some convienience is nice to have but the myth of making music is almost gone.
Not to forget that unless you are a real big seller you can't earn a living with it anymore.
You can be a big star today - and tomorrow people won't even remember your name.

IN THE EARLY DAYS THE ETERNAL AFFLICT HAD A BATCAVE-SOUND. THAT WASN’T THAT MUCH OF A LOGIC CHOICE…I MEAN LOTS OF GOTH IN GERMANY, BUT NOT THAT MANY BATCAVEFANS…..
WINUS: If you try to do something special the ways you choose are never easy and seldomly logic.
We always chose what we thought to be best and if it turns out that the people like it ... well done.

THE ETERNAL AFFLICT HAD A LOT OF GUEST MUSICIANS TOO. DO YOU THINK THAT’S A GOOD THING?
CYAN: Don't you? It has always been a pleasure to work together with other musicians because their contributions give you new impulses and ideas.
Each of them was special in their very own way.

I ALWAYS CONSIDERED YOUR SOUND LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE SEARCHING FOR WHO OR WHAT THEY REALLY ARE…..
IN FACT, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR OWN MUSIC?
WINUS: The good thing about music is that every listener can canalize his own feelings and ideas through it.
Of course that also counts on the musicians side...

THE ETERNAL AFFLICT AND BELGIUM ALWAYS SEEMED TO GO HAND IN HAND QUITE WELL………
CYAN: Thank you ...

YOUR LATEST OFFERING “EUPHORIC & DEMONIC” WAS A SORT OF BACK TO THE ROOTS THING….
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY MUSICIAN DOES THIS ONCE, OR NOT? AND YET SOME TECHNO-INFLUENCES TOO….
WINUS: Where would mankind be without it's roots?! Actually E&D is not our latest offering (that was 5 years ago)... 
We have since founded our own label "AFFLICT:ME RECORDS" and had two releases last year:
"SAN DIEGO 2K9" (our 20th anniversary celebration which includes a rerelease of the original "(LUMINOGRAPHIC) AGONY")
and our latest album "ION". In fact we are already working on the next album which is due to be out next summer.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CURRENT GOTHSCENE? IS IT DEAD LIKE IT’S BEEN ANNOUNCED BY GOTHTTRONIC?
CYAN: Just because people get older and find their place in life doesn't necessarily mean they're dead.
Of course the scene has changed throughout the years but without change the world would stop to turn and then we would all die....

I ASK THIS TO EVERYBODY : WHAT'S YOUR FAVE RECORD OF ALL TIME AND PLEASE STATE WHY
WINUS: That is a hard question to answer. Being as old as we are... 20 years ago the answer would have been different than today.
Every musician has his own very special virtues and vices. No matter which we would choose to state, it would be unfair to all the others.

YOU SOON WILL BE PART OF NECROPOLIS, LOOKING FORWARD TO ANY PARTICULAR BAND?
CYAN: We are very much looking forward to seeing Dirk Ivens.
He has always been an inspiration and a good friend throughout the years whom we see too seldomly...

WHAT CAN THE FANS EXPECT FROM THE SHOW?
WINUS: A trip through 20 years of eternal music. Hopefully there will be something for everyone to enjoy and party on....

THE LAST WORD IS YOURS!!!!!!!!
CYAN: Rock on and stay tuned ......

INTERVIEW WITH FRANK (JUST FRANK)

HMMMM, PLEASE TEL US WHO FRANK 5JUST FRANK) ARE

FJF are Anthem and KD.

YOU ARE TECHNICALLY SPEAKING AMERICANS BUT YOUR SOUND IS SO FRENCH

I (Anthem) have dual citizenship USA+France. Kirti is born in France of a French father and an Indian mother. I grew up with Kirti in the same school in the Riviera where we both attended class in the Anglo-American section.

HOW LONG HAS THE BAND BEEN GOING?

Since high school really. So that’s 8 years !


I KNOW IT’S WEIRD (HAHA) BUT A FRENCH BAND THAT HAS A FRENCH SOUND TURNS UP ON SOME AMERICAN LABEL….

I think I finally realize how exclusive that idea actually is. It never came to mind as something bizarre. Pieter Scwhoolwerth, the man behind Weird records, is a very open minded person who loves European sounds. He happens to love French alternative bands from the 80s and believes that the French language is perfect to express melancholy. Despite the distance he didn’t hesitate to sign us to his record label which is somewhat of a blessing.

I DEFINITELY COULD HEAR THE INFLUENCE FROM ASYLUM PARTY…

Yeah. We discovered them years after we started FJF. At first our only influences were solely British. We came across bands from the French touching pop scene much later and realized we had a similar sound to theirs. It’s as if we inherited this French coldness unconsciously.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS SUCH A SHAME THE WHOLE FRENCH MOVEMENT WAS SO IGNORED, WERE YOU AWARE OF THAT THE TIME IT CAME OUT?

Sure, I think the same goes to all latin speaking countries. I only discovered amazing Italian bands recently through the ‘Danza Mechanica’ compilation released on Mannequin mailorder. Howcome I didn’t hear about these bands before, but knew all about German based DAF instead ? I don’t know.

THERE WILL BE PEOPLE AROUND WHO WILL ACCUSE YOU OF A DATED SOUND……

They’re perfectly allowed to. We can’t help the fact that there will be some people out there who will criticize our music for whatever reasons. It’s always the risk you take when your main influences were active 30 years ago.

IS FRANK JUST FRANK ALSO A BAND THAT CAN BE SEEN ON STAGE, OR NOT?

Of course. We’ve been playing in different areas in Europe and played twice in NYC. We got a few gigs planned in Italy, Norway and the USA in the next months.


WE UNDERSTOOD THAT “THE BRUTAL WAVE” HAS A SPECIAL MEANING, PLEASE EXPLAIN…..

‘Brutal Wave’ is the style of music we play. ‘The Brutal Wave’ also happens to be the name of our first album. In this case, it refers to the wave of French post-war militias that would grab girls who slept with German soldiers and shave their heads off. Unfortunately, they would sometimes do worse to these girls.

ON THE COVER WE SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE OF….
HUMILATING PEOPLE AS THEY WEREACCUSSED FOR DOING EXACTLY THE SAME.

That’s right. The duality of good and evil in men and things is a strong theme in FJF’s music. What’s happening to this girl is a perfect example of ‘good people’ doing awful things.

DO YOU CARE ABOUT SUCH ISSUES?JUST LIKE ALL COLD WAVE, IT’S MUSIC WITH A NICE MELANCHOLIC ATMOSPHERE BUT VERY UPLIFTING IT ISN’T, NOT?

That’s a way to see it. We like to express our personal concerns in our music. And life can sometimes feel like that girl on the cover. You can sometimes be a ‘victim’ of good.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVE RECORD OF ALL TIME AND PLEASE STATE WHY…

I think it’s impossible to have a favourite record of all time caus that can change every 2 months. All I know is that Rage Against The Machine’s self titled first release turned my world upside down. Made me start listening to music obsessively rather than just for entertainment purposes. If I was to give you a modern album that is definitely one of my favourite records of all time, it would be Xeno & Oaklander’s ‘Sentinelle’ on Weird records. That album is sincerely a gift from God.

WHY SHOULD OUR READERS ABOUT FRANK JUST FRANK?

Huh ?

INTERVIEW WITH LIQUID G

Liquid G. does exist for 25 years, seems like an eternity or not?

Time flies as they say, but yes almost 25 years…don’t really count it myself.

In those 25 years you experienced music throughout 3 decades. Do you think a lot has changed?

Yes, I do. It’s not only the music that changed but the scene too as for it fels like there was a much bigger freedom to do your own thing.
Now they decide what is good or not to be part of the scene, be translated as everything has to be perfect on both cd and stage. If you ever see Liquid G. on stage you know we’re nothing like that…

How has those changes influenced Liquid G.?

I guess chaos ruled like it always had. Even our musical style changes from time to time…from electro to industrial to noise….
I think we did everything and that’s fine for us as long as the fun is there.

It seems so important that we put a point after the G. in Liquid G;, not?

Absolutely als Liquid G. comes from Liquid Garbage.
We started as two bass-players with a rhythm box (Peter VB and Michel VDP).
It didn’t last that long till the garbage dropped, so yes that point has to be there!

When you started in 1987, what were your motivations and which big dreams did you had in mind?

I guess I never had that much of big dreams as for me it was a hobby, even if at that time it worked pretty fine.
I was involved in the tapescene and that was an international thing : America, Portugal, Brazil, Germany, France, Holland, Japan.
In that time I only had one problem, I thought my stuff wasn’t good enough to be played on stage and so it happened I only was once on stage, with the 10th anniversary of Suicide Commando that was.

You could witness how some of your friends got succesfull, how did that feel?

I was always proud that I knew these people. I have a lot of respect for them and I know it’s not that simple to make it. It was great to be in the studio with them or sharing the stage :
Vomito Negro, Stin Scatzor, For Greater Good, SOL 19,…
Also Dirk Ivens taugt me a lot about cd recording and gig playing.

All those EBM-bands over here in Belgium, do I have to see that as a sort of clan?

Well, honestly said I never considered Liquid G. as an EBM-act in the first place, aznd I’m certainly not an EBM-man.
My roots can be found in the punkscene, and I try to bring this out in an electronical way.
I never pigeonhole bands in the first place.

One day the black scene in Belgium was divided in two, honestly said, this was literally the blackest period in the black scene…

I agree on that one, Belgium is such a small band and certainly the black scene so we definitely should work together.

I don’t mean it with some aftertaste but I never thought Belgium had that much respect for its musical heroes.
So I guess you have to fight for every opportunity to get a gig?

Absolutely true, it’s not that easy to find a place on some stage.
When you don’t sell cd’s or your name isn’t hip, you can forget it.

Do you think digitalizing of music is a good thing?

What do you mean? Digital sales or digital recording?
I don’t care about it that much and good or bad, we have to go with it as it’s a sign of the times.

You did remixes for institutions like Crash Course In Science or Portion Control, something like that must make you proud, not?

It’s a nice thing just a shame they don’t do anything with it…
Personally I think our version from “Being Boiled” is genius!

In 2009 Kim joined the band, how did that change the band?

Ah that’s something else as she really gave us a different vision on how we had to look on the musicscene within Liquid G.
Now Kim has joined us, I can find more time to care about our music while she is concentrating herself more on the lyrics.
Playing live is also totally different as we can switch places now.
Everything clicks between us, we feel things that weren’t arranged before.

Your fave record of all time is and please state why…

Ah, that’s a tough one…for Belgian ones I definitely go for “Sabotage” by The Klinik which was just great and innovative and it still sounds good.
On a national base I can sum up something like 100 but let’s leave it to Sex Pistols, Dead Kennedys, Ramones, Cabaret Voltaire, Skinny Puppy,…..

Soon you’ll be at the ZAPPA with Front Line Assembly.
What can we expect?

Fireworks, it will be a short set but with power including one brand new song.

ALBUMREVIEW : PIETER NOOTEN - THIS IS WHY

Being 42 I think I can say that my life has been dedicated to music, sometimes it's a pain to realise and then at other moments it's a relief.
When you spend all your hours in this life to music you happen to have idols and I guess I must have more than 10.000 by now but I also have some heroes.
All my heroes are musicians and I think I have enough hands to count them, must be around 10 I think and Pieter Nooten is one of them.
Who is he, you say?
True, it's not exactly a name that ring bells but in the 80's he did something in the 80's that changed my musical world and the whole musical universe I think.
Along with Ronny, Anka and Frank he created Clan Of Xymox.
Thousands of bands are forgotten today but tons of people remember how Pieter played the keyboards in a way I never heard before.
Pieter's play was both uplifting and melancholic at the same time and from time to time, he even picked up the mic by Xymox to sing songs I thought they only could be performed by Gods.
If you don't believe me, just check out "After the call" by Clan Of Xymox.
Nothing is perfect in life and Pieter and Ronny went seperate ways.
Around that time Pieter Nooten released along with Michael Brook (and the use of Brian Eno's own Yamaha DX7-synth) the immortal "Sleeping with the fishes"-album.
It might be my pussy heart but I cried tons of times on this masterpiece, but as life isn't based on tears alone, I also got my pleasant moments with this one.
Twenty years Pieter dissapeared out of sight, even if he worked along with Anka Wolbert and then I got informed by the man himself (what a genius thing this Facebook is) that he has a new album out.
And yes, and from the very first second I felt this was going to be another album that will be played till the day I will seek my eternal sleep.
In all honesty "This is why" just felt like a sequel to something of the most beautiful things I ever came across, yes...it comes very close to the atmosphere and musicsound of Pieter's debut on 4-AD.
It feels like a soundtrack from dreams in where you realise things can only be formed in your imagination, the unreachable things.
I never thought I would ever embrace that old feeling.
I could quote here many lyrics from songs he played in the 80's but I won't do it as Pieter said it in a recent interview : "now" is the time that counts.
You're a hero, Pieter, and heroes never let you down : even if the wait was long you didn't.
If you can read Dutch, you can find an exclusive interview I did with Pieter on www.darkentries.be

INTERERVIEW WITH MONO ELECTRICITY DENSITY

WELL, HELLO TELL US WHAT DOES MONO ELECTRONIC DENSITY MEANS…

- JM: It’s a name chosen by Valie (Bernard’s girlfriend) which is very significant to us because it contains physical reference (chaotic concepts) and also a simple reference to “electronic” because it’s our passion. So it’s like a flag to say our aims: a passion with technology, electronics, physics…

- B: Everything has been said by JM. This is a pure electronic density.


I DESCRIBED YOUR MUSIC AS ALTERNATIVE DANCE JUST BECAUSE I HEAR A BAND WHO HAS A VERY WIDE VARIETY IN THEIR MUSIC…
FROM FRONT 242 TO HARSH TO FUTUREPOP….

- JM: Thank you for the “wide variety”. Indeed what we wanna do is an electronic/synthetic music quite powerful and danceable but without any kind of conventions to be tagged as “ebm” or “dark-electro” or those categories. Electronic music is a huge area to explore. So we always thought it was very restrictive or fanatic to just try to explore one way and only one way. So indeed we are curious and we always want to explore new directions.


I THINK IT’S RATHER FLATTERING BUT I WROTE THAT “COME INTO MY WORLD” SOUNDED LIKE A FUTUREPOPVERSION FROM PAUL HARDCASTLE’S “19”….

- JM: Thanks again for the comparison  Paul hardcastle was very well known indeed with the top-hit “19”. He was known to use lots of digital technologies (samplers, DX synths, …) and it’s what I try to do. I listened for 15 years analog sounds from tons of people but you quickly get the limit of this style of sounds. They are primitive. People in the 80s were haunted to raise new levels in sound research and digital synthesizers like Yamaha DX or Korg M1 or Roland D-Series were the perfect keys to help composers to break walls and explore new horizons.
It’s sad to see how much digital technologies are powerful but get often pathetic results… That’s maybe why so many composers are stuck again in the sandbox with analog/vintage sounds. Because they sound warm and it’s so easy to program you can get a nice sound in less than 2 minutes.
So I was very interested to get back with digital technologies to show to people digital can also be used to produce interesting sounds… Much more interesting to my opinion than vintage/analog ones.




AND WITH THIS YOU AVOIDED THE TRAP OF MANY OTHER BANDS WHO HAVE A RELEASE OUT WITH 10 SONGS THAT SOUNDS THE SAME…


- JM: Yes because it’s the typical trap I know very well for decades. When I was about 12 or 13 years old, I already did electronic music with old gears like Yamaha CS15, Roland Jupiter-8 and Juno-6. I could do a good track… But when I started to have more ideas, everything was sounding like my first track. With time I could then avoid this trap. Now it’s the opposite. I only want to do tracks always different. It’s easy when you use digital stuff. Not so easy with analog… I put some limits also to break my comfort and push myself always on the cutting edge to get new “fresh eyes” on the sound research… changing every 10 days the studio configuration is a way to help 


TALKING ABOUT RELEASES. WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE “UNTOLD WORLD” IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR THE PRESS?
HOW CAN MUSICFANS OBTAIN THAT?

- JM: Actually we are in the deal process with some labels and distributors. Untold World is finished for 2 months. All the graphics and pics are also finished. It was important to do all those things before starting to deal with labels. We want to have the entire artistic control. Of course it’s less easy to deal and it takes time… But on the other hand, we are sure to deliver exactly what we want to the audience! It’s like “bio” food… No “artificial” treatments added! 
The album should be available pretty soon!

- B: As I answered on the web two days ago to someone who wanted to buy our first album: Patience is the key word in music industry nowadays...


IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE PIPELINE ABOUT SOME RECORDDEAL OR EVENTUALLY AN OWN RELEASE?

- JM: The second album is already half-recorded!! We work very fast indeed because the harmony we share about the music conception and artistic views! We also use a studio very reliable and easy to modify.

- B: A little scoop: We’ll have a Belgian guest featuring on one track on the second album and several remixes by well known persons... We keep this secret for the moment.

MED ARE A YOUNG BAND, BUT YOU DON’T SOUND YOUNG…I MEAN THIS SOUNDS LIKE MUSIC FROM VETERANS.

- JM: (laughs). I have almost a foot in the grave with my 40 years old! I do music with synthesizers since 1983. It was with a Yamaha CS15 and a Roland Jupiter8. Quickly I used Atari computer for sequencing with MIDI and then some MIDI synths like DX27 synth or old 8bits sampler: Ensoniq Mirage DSK.
So … 27 years later and maybe 100 tracks done in various projects… I’m pretty happy to know we don’t sound like newbies ;-)

- B: As JM already said, we both started music during the 80’s and our roots are in the 80’s! We don’t try to create something completely new, we just try to put and add modern views and original sounds in our music creations. We got a feedback a couple of weeks ago saying: MED doesn’t reinvent electronic music but it sounds vintage and new in the same time, it’s an interesting paradox. We are proud of this kind of comment.

AN EBM BAND THAT COMES FROM THE COUNTRY THAT GAVE BIRTH TO EBM, HOW DOES THAT FEEL?

- JM: I’m very proud of it. To my opinion Belgium bands have a distinctive touch and specific sound. EBM was a worldwide revolution at that time. Electronic music was only the purpose of pop and new-wave bands but was not seen as a raw and brutal style of music. Belgians are very open minded and very talented in the electronic music field and EBM was a typical Belgian way to see the things. We have a natural capability for innovation. It’s sad we cannot say the same for the management of our country…. But at least in music we did lots of outstanding innovations!

- B: I received an add request on myspace from an American EBM fan, telling we were lucky to be Belgian and that he would love to live in Brussels only to have the chance to get closer to Front 242 and the EBM scene  Funny isn’t it ?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CURRENT EBM-MUSICSCENE OVER HERE?

- JM: As always… You get the paradise in a hand and the hell in the other… There are very talented bands. They dare to use electronics in new ways. Using sampling in a very clever way. Trying to mix different kinds of technologies with a very interesting artistic vision. But you have also typical electro-pop bands who do music like in 1982 or doing always the same for years… I have to say lots of good bands from Belgium and Germany are played in my iPod every day! 

- B: Pretty active scene with some very good bands. And a lot of interesting new ideas on stage. And of course, but it’s life, some bad stuffs.


SOMETIMES YOU HEAR THAT THE MUSIC IS GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER, AND THE AUDIENCE GOT OLDER AND OLDER….

- JM: Yes because we need new bands ahead and the lack of massive media interests doesn’t help. Lots of crap music makers have lots of media access and worldwide known artists. With EBM music we don’t have that opportunity. Radios and television stations are not aware of what they think to be a “minority” affair …
We need new Front 242, new Depeche Mode, … big bands with new blood and massively involved into the media market. It should help to get new audience too ! Believe it or not, but lots of young people don’t even know what Front242 is ! But they know very well the latest rap crap on tv… The challenge is there and nowhere else!

- B: I agree with JM about the media involvement but I don’t have the feeling it’s getting so smaller and older as you mentioned in your question. We meet indeed old fans but young people also who like the current Indus/electro scene. Smaller: Yes and no. Think about some actual big concerts and festivals like Treffen in Leipzig, The Gothic Fest in Waregem, Mera Luna, Castle Festival in Poland, Sinner’s Day, Necropolis in Bruges, Gothic Cruise in Florida, BIM Fest and many others...


DO YOU FEEL THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SCENE IN WALLONY AND THE ONE IN FLANDERS?

- JM : Undoubtedly. Wallony is French minded. So I mean with all the bad sides of latin minded way to think. Always living in doubt, fear, … very usual, classic, without the envy to win, to fight to win. So in wallony tons of usual musics are available. Pop-music, rock music, rap, RnB, … When I go in flanders, we switch to german way of thinking. It’s more open to new things, and with a strong feeling to do things the way it should be. I’m sad to see very few people in wallony don’t even try to discover new things. It’s typical of the latin way to be: we take the food from the hand that feeds us. But we don’t fight to eat. Anyway I hope things will change with time…

- B: No doubt! The best parties, concerts and festivals are in Flanders. Wallony is more rock oriented. There are some exceptions like the ESN festival near Tournai and few others but Flanders rules for electro/indus/goth/New Wave parties and gigs.


I GUESS IT’S DEFINITELY NOT THAT EASY TO FIND PLACES TO PLAY….

- JM: Yes but excepted craps from pop and rock music… It’s hard to find places to play. But it’s like this from the very beginning. The main market is Pop, Rock, RnB, Rap music. Electronic music is seen as something “nasty” from Mister “typical people”. I have to say it’s a pity to see lots of bands always doing the same kind of music too! We need something that could help electronic music to be seen as an entire concept and then get a place to race in the media market too!

- B: The crisis is also a factor. This is why, nowadays, festivals work better than unique concerts. People get more bands for the same price. It’s almost easier to get a contract for a festival than a concert.


EVERYBODY HAS THEIR DREAMS, BUT WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM MED?
SOMETHING GLORYWISE OR IS IT JUST A HOBBYTHING?

- JM: I don’t do music to access to glory or to help me to believe I’m a god. I don’t do rock or pop music 
I do music because I need challenges to try. And electronic music is probably the most open and huge universe to do so!
I only do music for the pleasure to do sound research and to learn more and more new ways to program machines. In a 2nd time I love to play this in live to “share” (one of my most important word) it with people. I just hope some people will find it interesting and will be pleased to discover it!
If it’s the case, I’d be happy ‘cos I share something with people… And that’s the most important to me. Of course I hope M3D could reach big audience but not in the way to feel myself like a god or for glory or to be famous. I really don’t care about it.

- B: Same as JM, I do music and sing ‘cause it’s a passion. But to be completely honest, I would have a fucking erection on stage hearing hundreds of people singing our songs with us. Again, not for glory/money. Just for the great pleasure of being in communion and sharing a passion for electronic music. Just to see dozens of crazy asses moving like mine on JM’s music and beat  I get exactly the same great feeling when I’m in the audience and sing with the band playing on stage.


A LIFE DEDICTATED TO MUSIC, OR DEDICATED TO EBM?

- JM: You have the M that stands for Music in the EBM ;-) But I learned classical piano when I was very young during my music academy. And I’m a big lover of lots of different kinds of bands. I’m a music lover. But my sensibility is undoubtedly related to electronic music.

- B: A life dedicated to passions, pleasures, music and sins  I like different styles of music but electronic music is my favourite one. And in electro, EBM is my favourite one. The body part, that’s the key! I like to share my sweat with the audience. After our last gig in Maastricht I was so wet that I had to take a shower. I was wet from head to feet. JM too, by the way... 


I ASK THIS TO EVERYONE : WHAT’S YOUR FAVE RECORD OF ALL THE TIME?

-JM: “Relax” – Frankie Goes To Hollywood

- B: Too many killing hits to give you only one! I love hundreds of records from 1971 up until now. I prefer to mention bands like Kraftwerk, Skinny Puppy, Klinik, Front 242, Bauhaus, Visage, Gary Numan, And One, The Neon Judgement, à GRUMH, A Split Second, The Cure, Dead Can Dance, Rammstein, Cassandra Complex, Fad Gadget, FGTH, DM, Archive, Poésie Noire, Sisters of Mercy, Joy Divion, Covenant, Nitzer Ebb, VNV Nation, Implant, Anne Clark and many others...







YOU SOON CAN BE SEEN ON STAGE WITH PRAGER HANDGRIFF.
WHAT CAN THE AUDIENCE EXPECT?

- JM: The best of M3D! We are on stage like in a fight to the finish. Our aim is to share a maximum of emotions with a massive sound. We try, during the show, to give the best of us to the audience and we try to get connexions with people.

- B: We’ll try to share the best emotions, feelings, beats and pleasure. We’re going to record this gig on video ‘cause we’ll have a well known guest on stage for one track and many friends promised to come front line to move their bodies with us.


THE LAST WORD IS YOURS!!!!!

- JM: we are very happy to get there and we will play to our best to share our electronic visions with the audience! 

- B: Thanks a lot for your interest in M3D and this very good interview. And our best regards to our friends, fans and all the people supporting us. You kick ass guys!