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26 : JAN : 05 ANGELSPIT For a project that has such concrete connections to the 'goth scene', you guys are very different from what Joe Normal would equate as 'goth' per se! How would you describe what you do, and what do you perceive as your relation to goth - or other - subcultures? DestroyX: I associate more with
the visual and aesthetic stimulus of the Goth subculture than the
music itself. ‘Goth’ as a genre has had a relatively
long musical history, much of which does not have an endearing relevance
to current audiences. The Goth ethos and image has a stronger significance
for us as a band. We are quite entrenched within the Goth scene
in Australia because it is the group we most aligned with, even
if we don’t represent the genre entirely and especially because
of the lack of specific alternative groups with ‘goth’
being a blanket term. Zoog: Our influences are drawn from Goth, Industrial and Punk. It’s all been amalgamated together, reflecting the growth of the Goth scene. New influences like Electroclash and Psytrance are resulting in ‘sub-subcultures’ like Cyber Goth and Dark Rave. However, ultimately it’s all still just a bunch of misunderstood kids with bad eye make-up.
What are the bands origins? Zoog, did you come to this from Jekyll Switch and what are your thoughts on the relationship textually between the 2 projects? DestroyX, what's your musical background? Zoog: Jekyll Switch was about ‘doing it all live’, exploring new song structures and challenging ourselves as musicians. Angelspit is about having fun and making music that is more enjoyable than demanding/challenging for the listener. Our music although filtered through a pop sensibility is very intricate and multilayered. We aimed to make catchy music that would still be appealing and interesting upon subsequent listenings. DestroyX: I’m a classically trained in several instruments and dropped that for the jazz bass guitar thing, then I tired of being the archetypal ‘chick bass player’ and moved into the realm of electronic music.
How'd you guys fit in at school? DestroyX: It wasn’t too bad for a ‘weird kid’ who spent her time running a zine distro and wore thick rimmed glasses. Zoog: I was the annoying crazy loud kid...
Angelspit have a very distinct 'look' - how do you see the image (including artwork, etc) working with the entire angelspit package? DestroyX: Image is paramount. People won’t pick up your CD unless it looks cool. Bands are remembered not only for their music, but for the fashion and visual styles they project and incite. Images and music work in tandem to express our concepts. With Nurse Grenade, we were inspired by the emblematic Russian Constructivists, David Carson, as well as the sterility of medical iconography. Zoog: It’s vital. We decide on the look and image before the music! For me visuals conjure up musical ideas. Once we had images for inspirations, we sculpted the music around them.
The Influence question. What do you love, hate, think would surprise us? Anything thats grabbed you lately? Any old favorites you think have strongly influenced Angelspit? Anything in the more 'mainstream' arenas that you feel is worth a hat tip? DestroyX: I’m a child of
mainstream music and I wouldn’t know one obscure German industrial
band. Zoog: Before I met DestroyX I listen to industrial/goth. She put me onto indie and ROCK! I’m now hooked on Sonic Youth, Amen and The Faint. Other stuff like Haus Arafna, Novacon Torture Technologies and Tankt also get played frequently! DestroyX: I like 80’s and Ladytron, fat Bob, The Smiths, Jeff Buckley... Zoog: ...and Felix Da House Cat and DefTones, Depeche Mode
You guys do lots of other stuff outside of Angelspit - sydneygothic.com, your art, etc. Are these all separate aspects to your lives or is it all working with Angelspit towards one great central ideal? Zoog: ...and we do the coolest hairfalls you’ve ever seen (www.angelspit.net/hairsurgeon) and used to run a huge indie zine distro. We love to be active and enjoy creating and communicating. Angelspit is our outlet and a great way to vent our design ideas and angsty thoughts. DestroyX: Our projects interlink in many ways, but ultimately they are all different forms of self expression and ways to build the scene positively. We are entrenched within the Sydney Goth scene in many ways allowing us to reflect the community as well as enrich it through our projects.
When did you start playing angelspit live - first gigs, etc. you have played with kmfdm and bloodduster - how'd it go? DestroyX: We were privileged to play our debut gig with Ikon and Tankt in Newcastle. The KMFDM gig went really well considering… Zoog: We walked on stage and were confronted with 12 rows of metal head who hated us, so we screamed at them for 30 minutes and I think they liked us by the end of it. Sasha went up to DestroyX after we played and congratulated her on a great set which was really cool. NYE at the Metro (Sydney) was fantastic as we unleashed our evil go go dancers. We try and have as much fun as we can at the gig – it’s about letting your hair down and going NUTS!
Whats the plan now? Zoog: We’re working on the album, although we are still finalizing the artistic theme and concepts which will underpin it. It will definitely be very dark, twisted, hard and angry, while still remaining catchy and danceable. DestroyX: An art book/zine is in the works, as well as developing new visual material that will accompany the album.
While a lot of more electro AU niche bands have gone directly to o/s markets to seek their fortune, you guys have embraced the local scene as well - i think the more punky aspects to Angelspit make you a hell of a lot more 'accessible' than a lot of niche projects (while still maintaining a pretty hard edge). Your response to this? Zoog: We are our own harshest critiques. If you can’t remember it and if you can’t dance to it we throw it out. The music must inspire images in your head. And we drill the songs until they do. We have this crazy theory that Australia’s Goth/Industrial scene is the best in the world. We look better, we dance better, we dress better, WE ROCK HARDER and we’re more open minded and are willing to try something new. This is probably the only country where you could hear EMB, Goth, Industrial, ElectroClash, Industrial Metal and 80’s in the one club! DestroyX: There is a real stigma
that in Australia that we are just cretins and that o/s scenes are
endlessly better.
Cyberpunk + Riot Grrl - names loaded with the cyberpunk (der!)/ post grunge movements. Why these names in particular - what is it about that era that is so totemic of Angelspit? Zoog: I love the ideas of Cyberpunk – but I just don’t think it was explored enough…it got dropped because it was uncool or something. Late 80’s/early 90’s ‘cyberpunk’ is really great music – it’s bare, unrefined and out of control – it was exploring the new (at that time) genre…and I really dig that. DestroyX: The undisciplined, anarchic and raw attitudes conveyed in both those genres are extremely influential when considering our approach to music. Riot Grrl for me was a particularly potent and eye opening influence as the power of these women inspired me to write music. Angelspit play at Cabaret Nocturne @ Dream Nightclub, Carlton on Friday 28 January. Download the EP : http://www.angelspit.net/nurse_grenade/ |
