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06 : JAN : 07
ZooG: Vox Populis was the name of the zine distro which she started when she was 15 and the distro stocked over 500 paper zines from all over the world. It was about promoting freedom of speech and creativity. Her own zine was called 'Kitsch', and was an arty personal zine...it rocked! I did a zine called 'Pleasure Species' and it was my outlet for my megalomaniac rants. Meeting through zines was awesome because our relationship has been based on creative collaboration.
You formed in 2004… It is very difficult to find a band that could be recognized in such short space of time... Really impressive. How do you feel with that? ZooG: Angelspit formed in 2004, but we'd
been making zines and other art projects together before that. So
Angelspit was an extension of our pre-existing creative relationship
so we could already work together efficiently. The success of the
band currently has been extremely surprising and unexpected. It
is very exciting for us for this reason. We sincerely thought that
'Krankhaus' would not be well received because we were trying to
achieve something new and because we are a small obscure band from
Australia, that doesn't fit into the EBM formula. We're so honoured
that there are many people out there that appreciate and encourage
us.
We have worked furiously over the past 2 years on the music, live show, visuals, merchandise and promotion. We had to expend all of our energy and money on this project in order to create something of this magnitude. We've both been in other bands before, so we've made many mistakes which have taught us some important lessons: when you want to do something, do it right the first time, put as much effort in as you can, make it the highest quality, don't cut any corners and go extreme. Our efforts have helped us to get signed, and we are so lucky that Dancing Ferret can help us channel our creative monster.
Why the name 'Angelspit'? ZooG: Angelspit is a lyric from a Sonic Youth song (Orange Rolls Angel's Spit). Sonic Youth is Destroyx's favourite band. That song is angry, wild, raw and driven and embodies what Angelspit is all about. Aside from that the opposites of 'angel' and 'spit' also reflects the idea of the beautiful grotesque which epitomises the concept behind the band.
As you said on a previous interview about the "Krankhaus" title, that means a kind of 'sick house' "Why the title is in German, as being Australian? It is anything to do with the German Goth scene? Destroyx: I'm currently learning German at university so it has influenced some of the lyrics in the album. Although I have never visited Germany, it would seem that it is the centre of much alternative art and music, particularly in the goth scene, so it infiltrates much of what I listen to and watch. Inevitably it influences the music. I can't wait to visit the German Goth scene, as its huge in comparison to the Australian scene.
"Krankhaus" is a kind of Hospice Entertainment Grotesque Centre, : where people are used to serve the sadistic appetites of dark minded people. The characters seem to come from a kind of "SAW" movie with more medical fetishism. And at the end, everything has a meaning. It is not only sadism of the body. But an advert to open different minds, I think… Tell me more about the album concept, and principally the lyrics or the 'message' you are trying to tell to the public? ZooG: We are trying to pose the questions: Is society becoming so base that people will destroy others and themselves for entertainment and vanity? To what extremes will people endure in order to achieve status or satisfaction. The 'Krankhaus' is a secret society where people indulge in perversity, greed and the macabre. Destroyx: It's about dancing on the edge of insanity, which is embodied by the butoh like figures in the album artwork. Japanese butoh dancing is the 'dance of darkness', and celebrates the beauty of the contorted and the grotesque, the demons beneath the skin. We're trying to explore the circularity of beauty and the grotesque, how some things can be extremely beautiful to the extent that they are grotesque and vice versa. The medical theme is an exploration of how the body can be manipulated to such extremes. In the end, what's more horrific? Someone who is being mutilated, or the person who pays to see such an act?
Skinny Puppy, Placebo, Cobra Killer, Sonic Youth, Nine Inch Nails seems to be a kind of music influence to you. When I saw 100% music track I thought was really a cover from SY, but then I realize that wasn't but still so, tell me more about these influences. Which part of these bands you pick more information. On guitars, on the attitude...the distortion? ZooG: With Angelspit we have tried to create music which has a genuine punk edge, in the lyrics, the aggression and the instrumentation. Even though we are largely an electronic band we don't want to write clean music, and these influences have a grungy, dirty edge which we have adopted. We have more in common with Nirvana than Covenant in sound and in concept because we're trying to make aggressive, hell raising turbulent music which reflects our world. The guitars are influenced by bands like Strapping Young Lad, Killing Joke, KMFDM and Soundgarden, they were played by Graeme Charles Kent (from the Grand Fatal, a highly respected Australian post-punk band) and then were mercilessly cut up- its not neatly edited, they have been butchered. The same approach was used with the vocals, with many types of distortion, vocoding being used. Einsturzende Neubauten is a huge influence on our percussion, as we physically destroyed metal shelves, road signs, tables chairs… anything that clanged when we smashed it, in order to generate some original, thumping sounds. All the sounds then get fed into a huge vintage modular synthesizer and minced. Our combination of electronic and organic sounds is largely influenced by Skinny Puppy's 'Too Dark Park'. Destroyx: Sonic Youth influence us lyrically, because they aren't particularly literal. Our lyrics are often beat poet inspired, clips of images and thoughts and are not necessarily linear. Their DIY attitude has been a huge influence to us.
It seems that you don't still have a videoclip already. Only your fans already did for you.. and you encourage them, as I discover… Why? And there's any chance to have any videoclip official made by you, meanwhile? Destroyx: Our music is very visual and quite evocative, which is probably why many fans enjoy making clips to it. At this very moment we are working on our official video, and hopefully will make more in the future depending on finances. We funded the visual production of our album artwork ourselves and that was extremely costly, so moving images will undoubtedly be even more expensive which makes it difficult. However we are excited about future moving image projects, and are currently also working on live video projections.
It seems that you have "magical sounds and vibes" on some tracks, like "Black Wine" or "Scars and Stripes" or even "Juicy"... Tell me more about that kind of shaman sounds you produce. How did you discover such information? Because it is really a profound and interesting theme.. ZooG: I have always been interested in music and its effects on the human body- physically, spiritually, emotionally. I studied music at university and researched the concept of the 'body drum', being that a drum is a skin stretched over a frame and the human body is just that. Within the human body there are different resonant cavities. Different frequencies will resonate the different sized cavities. With increased amounts of volumes, profound effects begin to happen. Some shamans believe that frequencies and beats evoke demons that possess your body. The big bass sounds that we've used will resonate the abdominal area. The higher sounds will resonate the cavities in your head. Basically much thought has been put into the sound design of the tracks, with such detail being heard upon subsequent listenings.
You talk also about vanity and cosmetic surgeries that grow more and more in the world. A vanity that blinds the Man. The '7 deadly sins' (in metaphorical matter) approach more and more the people's mind. What you think about this people blindness into this kind of transforming the things to beauty? Is it Grotesque a kind of beauty? Destroyx: I personally don't think there is anything wrong with cosmetic surgery because I see it as a form of body modification, however I find it interesting why people do choose to have surgery and the reasons for the stigma attached to it. For example, in the alternative scene it would be acceptable for someone to get transdermal implants on their head, but unacceptable if they got breast implants or a nose job. I believe that the alternative image is just as pervasive as a Barbie doll image of beauty. I think it's interesting to open up a dialogue about the cult of vanity in the alternative scene, because I think that it is an issue that is increasingly surfacing. Through many of the lyrics in Krankhaus, we're trying to ask, why do you have to wear your subculture on your sleeve? Do you have to get piercings, tattoos and fake hair to fit in? Is the alternative ideal of beauty just as unattainable as in the mainstream? We're not trying to make a judgement on these questions, but are merely acting as a mirror on what we see around us. It would be hypocritical of me to become dogmatic about vanity, because I myself am very interested in fashion.
ZooG: You are right about vanity blinding people, as the road to ultimate beauty is paved with stitches, blood, bruises and pain, as documented by performance artist Orlan (who has influenced us quite a lot). I guess what is interesting for us is the contrast between horror and beauty (surgery and the final product). Cosmetic surgery is an example of a grotesque process transforming someone into something considered to be 'beautiful'. We're also interested about the hidden beauty in the grotesque, such as in the symmetry of anatomy and in death, with the photos of J.P. Witkin being an excellent example of this (he takes exquisite photos of amputees and corpses).
"People spend too much time wasting away in front of the TV or on the internet". Unfortunately that is a true sentence you made on a past interview.. Tell me, this kind of… 'lobotomy' people are the same people that live inside your krankhaus novel? How you see the LIFE and Death itself? Life is being wasted for most part of the people? Destroyx: I think that most people spend their lives asleep, living their lives with their eyes shut and their dreams and hopes prescribed for them. Television tells you what you should want, believe and be. Modern day life is based around consumerism, which is one of the inspirations for Krankhaus. ZooG: People need to wake up. Do you want to waste your life working as a prisoner in a job you hate, so you can buy shit. Some people aren't even awake in goth scene, as their lives are hinged on new clothes, ebay and trying to compete with each other. We think people should aim to be more creative, supportive of local artists, designers and musicians in order to build a community that's diverse and truly alternative.
You also talk about the cults and secret societies. Tell me more about you think of this… ZooG: I have a fascination with bizarre religions and cults, from relatively harmless cults like Freemasonry to very dangerous cults like Scientology. What I find interesting is the fixation members have to their leader even to a gruesome death, which is linked to the cult of celebrity, which is linked to the television- which is the ultimate social pacifier. Television is controlled by God- God is whoever can pay. Destroyx: The popularity of many cults today suggests that people need them to feel like they belong to something.
Why medical fetishism? How it appear that idea? Destroyx: I've always been fascinated by medical fetish, as it's probably the most extreme and invasive fetishes. The transgression of the body through surgery incites terror in many and playing on this image in our artwork allows us to tap into such a fear.
Your image has also different kinds of art. You are artists too, as I far know. Very good creators, I insist! Tell me how appears the idea of creating such medical fetish outfits? There's any special concept being that clothes? Tell me more about your fashion creations.. The ties, the marvellous outfits, etc… Who made the designs, the ideas, and the concept? Destroyx: I came up with most of the fashion concepts. We sourced or made the clothes ourselves, much was custom made by Quantum Flux in Sydney (http://www.quantum-flux.com/). For the album artwork, each of the models had a different theme and character, for example one was a banker, one was military etc. Generally when I styled for the shoot, I just went with my own instinct, blending historical styles with cyber and fetish styles, to create a timeless, bizarre setting. I'm pretty much obsessed with fashion, so the Krankhaus artwork allowed me to indulge in styling and artistic direction. I also design all of the band graphics and the merch which we sell at gigs, such as the ties and collars.
Do you know that you will change the cyber Goth way of dressing, do you? (ehehe..!) You will be the responsible of a… excellent looking and style of being : I already saw some comments in forums talking about your clothe, what they want to buy etc, etc. Do you feel the pioneer of this kind of clothe design? ZooG: We definitely hope we will inspire people to push the boundaries and discover what they want for themselves. Destroyx: I believe that clothing is a great way of expressing oneself. In the goth scene nowadays I feel there is too much conformity, for a scene that is meant to be based upon originality and individuality. With our clothing and visual design in general we strive to push our own limits of creativity. I want people to find their own style.
The underground scene in most part of the people is divided; unfortunately we still have minds that think that way. What do you think is needed to people change and open their own minds on this statement, and how do you see this kind of "Division" in the most countries in the world? Isn't Goth a mix of all underground scenes together? Destroyx: I think it's impossible to unite various subcultures under the one banner of 'underground', because the scenes are getting larger and more disparate as they become more specialised. For example in the goth scene there are people that enjoy traditional medieval style music, in comparison with those that like noise. There isn't any way these musical styles can be played on the same dance floor, so some segregation needs to occur. In fashion this is happening as well, you have those that prefer fetish clothing and others that stick to velvet. I guess the only thing that you can do is for everyone to be tolerant of the diversity within the scene.
Industrial has been too repetitive, has been the same recipe, in general (in my opinion). Nothing changes a lot since the 'explosion' of the huge industrial movement around the world in the late 90's. There are few bands that did feel the difference, of course. But many few, I think. And Angelspit is one of them; I assume. How is your opinion about the present and habitual repetitive Industrial Music scene?
ZooG: There is too much formulaic music today. People don't make their sounds anymore, they just call up a patch on a softsynth. They use the same drum loop, same tempo, same bass line, same vocal delivery. There isn't enough experimentation in industrial music. If you want to get heard you have to get played by DJ's, if you want to get played by DJ's you have to be between 124-140 BPM. Most of our music is much faster. People sacrifice artistic freedom for playability in clubs, and no one is willing to take a risk. The DJ's won't play anything outside of their formula because they fear people won't dance and come to their clubs… it's a vicious cycle… but we're lucky because we don't give a fuck. We make the music we want to hear. We want to put emotion, personality and passion back into the now placid industrial music scene. Please don't get me wrong, there is some excellent EBM being made right now but its time musicians start pushing themselves.
What do you suggest to the people want to create something different? ZooG: Listen to something different. Be influenced by something outside of your immediate scene. If your only point of reference is a particular style of music, your music will probably end up sounding similar. We listen to a huge variety of music and it really shows in the music. Destroyx: Don't be confined to what's readily available to you. Push yourself to find wide creative resources, mediums and influences… it'll make your creations unique. Nothing worthwhile is free or easy, you have to push to make it happen.
Australia is a special Continent. Very far from almost everything… but you two, as Australian people inside the Goth Scene, showed to the world, how you can be creative and have different concepts that we are used too. Don't get me wrong… See Germany. A fantastic country with a HUGE Goth scene, but the minds continues to repeat all the musical concepts without stopping and it is hard to find differences between them. Do you feel that, staying outside Europe and America, there's more chances to understand how to create music through different kinds of scenes, like Goth, Indie, Rock and Industrial all mix together, like you can do? ZooG: The goth scene is much smaller here, and generally we mix with a wide variety of people from different scenes, punk, indie, fetish etc… this wide music influence and being an outsider from the trends of the US and Europe, means that much of the music is less influenced by such trends. It's a curse and a blessing to an extent, because the smaller scene means that there are less people to appreciate the music. Angelspit hardly gets played in Australian clubs, which is a shame.
You belong also to the band collective called Crash Frequency, which recently has a compilation with brilliant artists. Do you work all together really? Is it hard to you all, to spotlight the Australian bands to the rest of the World? ZooG: Crash Frequency is a wonderful group of bands who are also our friends. It's like a support network for bands to share knowledge about music and the industry, we remix each other, help each other with gigs and touring, while also putting out the compilation. Ironically, we have had more success gaining exposure overseas than in Australia. We've only put out 2 compilations but have already made quite an impact- now people know that Australia actually has a goth music scene!!
How is the underground scene in Australia? Do you have any local magazines that could help you at the international movement, or radios or anything related with it, besides the clubs? Destroyx: We have quite a few clubs, radio stations and Fiend magazine. We've been running Australiangothic.com for 7 years now, which has a definitive gig guide, interviews and reviews relating to the Australian scene. The scene at the moment is going well, though it is getting harder for live bands and clubs to run successfully often due to venue problems due to the fact that the scene is quite small.
I saw that you contribute with a remix on the
album of Emilie Autumn. Tell me more about how did appear the opportunity
to mix it! Which more bands did you help to contribute with more
remixes?
"Nurse Grenade" was a free online EP offered by you in 2004...What was the reason to offer such music track to the public? Did you receive many good replies on that occasion? ZooG: Nurse Grenade was a demo release by us, we wanted to test the waters and experiment. We wanted to offer it for free download because we believed that it was art not commodity. It didn't cost us anything to make, so we didn't have anything to lose. Angelspit is not about money, it about expression- free MP3's allowed us to get our music heard. Destroyx: Having said that, Krankhaus is not a commodity, it's just we spent a lot of money on the production, so we aren't in a position to be giving it away for free. I wish we could… but we need some money so we can make more albums.
You will make a tour through Europe (we hope to have you on Portugal or Spain, but at least we will have you in Mexico. The tour has been increasing during your album promotion? Do you feel that you will be a surprise to some countries or yu already expect great audience? Tell me more about the tour of 2007 and which countries we wish to see…! Destroyx: We have loosely planned for playing gigs in 2007. Unfortunately we have not confirmed all of the dates yet, so aren't allowed to talk about it just yet. We can safely say that we will be touring Europe, and will hopefully make it to Portugal and Spain. Check our website for the dates as they are announced.
Do you want to say anything more that I didn't ask and would be important? Destroyx: Thanks for this opportunity to talk about Angelspit. The questions have been challenging and interesting for us to answer. I hope the readers will enjoy the article. Also, we love to hear from anyone that enjoys our music and if it inspires you to create something please let us know. Our forum is www.krankhaus.net/forum and it is a creative place for people to talk about their art and music. ZooG: Krankhaus is being released throughout Europe in January 2007 through Dancing Ferret Discs. A special edition will also be available which features a 2nd remix disc including artists such as Combichrist, The Tenth Stage, Angel Theory, Tankt, The Mercy Cage, The Crystalline Effect, Diverje, The Process Void, n0nplus, Ego Likeness, Stromkern, and more. The remixes are very diverse…from EBM to hard industrial to cyber punk to psytrance. KRANK IT UP!
Read the original version in ELEGY IBERICA Magazine
(January, issue#5), Page62. |
