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26 : SEPT : 08 We chat to with Australian electro-industrial band Angelspit, one of the most innovative new industrial bands. They have completed remixes for KMFDM, Emily Autumn, I:Scintilla and Helalyn Flowers, and have just released their new album "BLOOD DEATH IVORY" Destroyx: We met through a mutual interest in zines as I ran a zine distro for punk rock zines. We started making zines and other arty things together and music was just the natural progression for our creative collaboration. ZooG: Zines are dirty, gritty, lo-fi, bold and honest – we try to make music that follows this ethos. Destroyx: We formed in 2004, and put out our first EP in the middle of that year. The band has progressed really quickly and has just been an unexpected tornado of activity for us!
What was the inspiration behind the name Angelspit? Destroyx: ‘Angelspit’ was taken from the lyrics of a Sonic Youth song ‘Orange Rolls and Angel’s Spit’.
Where do you get your ideas from regarding Angelspit's image (including outfits, web graphics, cd covers) ZooG: Artists like J.P. Witkin, Orlan (French performance artist), Mathew Barney, David LaChappelle and Bill Henson. Destroyx: I think it’s important for bands to have a visual image that matches their music. I have a great love of fashion and design, so Angelspit has a pretty big emphasis on our fashion sense because it’s an extension of our creativity. I’m not saying that every band needs to do the same, but I think it makes sense that the bands visual image matches their music (for example Nine Inch Nails has a great logo that accompanies their Cds and merchandise).
How do you go about writing your songs? Is it a joint effort, or do you just each go with the creative flow? Destroyx: We write the basis of each track on paper. We both come up with ideas for sounds, beats, bass lines, lyric, mood and make notes about it. Then we sit down and compile the ideas. ZooG: We write pop songs, then we beat them with a stick until they are demented and psychotically dangerous. Then we starve them for a few days, sharpen their teeth and set them loose in a room full of people
What has been your most successful medium for promotion so far (internet / radio / tv / word of mouth) ZooG: Definitely the web. We can actually talk to people – mostly on our Forum.
Have you worked on any projects with other bands in the industry? ZooG: We’ve done a bunch
of remixes for bands like KMFDM, Ayria, Ego Likeness, I:scintillia,
BAAL, The Mercy Cage, The Tenth Stage… Destroyx: We’re also very interested in working outside the Music Industry. We are increasingly doing video and art installation. Working with visual and video artists is great because they think differently to musicians – they’re inspiring and often open to the more abstract ideas. Often music is tied to a formula (loud beats, dance friendly, 3 and a half minutes long). It’s always refreshing to work with another media – and thus can provide new inspirations and ideas that can drive our music.
Which bands have you enjoyed touring/performing with the most? ZooG: Ayria and Ego Likeness – they are THE best fun!! The played Europe with them and also did East Coast USA with Ayria. We have a story about a certain band member dancing COMPLETELY NAKED on the bar in Berlin after the gig…no names will be mentioned.
How did you find Wave Gotik Treffen this year? ZooG: We played in 2007 – it was an amazing experience. We’ve never seen so many Goths in the one place. The entire city was taken over with Goths. There’s something amazing about catching a tram full of Goths, or being in a super market that is full of hundreds of or Goths.
What do you do, with regards to your stage performance, that make you stand out? Do you do anything specific (if anything) (-like dancers / firebreathers / lasers / etc) ZooG: We try and go as ballistic as we can. For us, it’s all about making a high-energy statement. We like to dress up and have fun with our fashion, however it’s not the main concern for us when we play live. We jump around a lot and have a lot of energy to give to the audience, so that’s more important to us than looking nice.
Do you prefer live shows or recording and working on albums? ZooG: Both. There’s something really cool about working on an album for several months. It kind of drives you insane – you become a hermit. Touring is AWESOME. We meet so many wonderful people. We’re actually wanting to do another tour. We want to tour the USA and Europe again! We should try and drop in on South Africa on our way!!
What are your plans for the near future? Any more tours? ZooG: We really want to tour our new CD Blood Death Ivory. We’ve already toured it though Australia – we toured with BAAL, Japan’s Cyberpunk Masters. We want to do a remix album and do a BIG tour.
Any hope that we might see you performing in South Africa someday? ZooG: We would LOVE to get there!! KRANK IT UP! Goth.ZA Webzine - http://www.goth.co.za |
