23 : SEPT : 08
ANGELSPIT Interview with SoulPhoenix

How Do You Feel About Being In Angelspit?

ZooG: AWESOME! We’re starting a revolution of music and art, and many awesomely creative people have some brilliant art they want to share. I love the huge creative workload in Angelspit and the sense of community that comes with it.

What Do You Feel Makes You Different From All Of The Other Bands Out There?

ZooG: We are more grounded in Punk than Gothic. Our attitude reflects all the idea of Punk – rebellion, strength, DIY, community empowerment.
We honestly do not care what anyone else thinks about us. Nothing can stop us from making our art with passion.

Do You Have A Favorite Song Of Your own?

ZooG: Maggot from Nurse Grenade. We always play it live. Also Wolf, 100%, Wreak Havoc and Vena Cava from Krankhaus. I’m also very proud of Grind, Paint Hell Red and Shaved Monkey from Blood Death Ivory. I think Paint Hell Red is the best song so far. The music, lyrics and sound design are very detailed and deadly.
I think the new material we are writing now is the best to date…it’s ferocious! Unfortunately you won’t hear it for a while.

What Is Your Overall Favorite Song by any artist?

ZooG: At the moment, I can’t stop listening to Religion616 by BAAL. Anything by Rage Against the Machine. Seven and the Raged Tiger by Duran Duran is an amazing Album. Depeche Mode’s Violator still makes me stand back in amazement. Bad Motor Finger by Sound Garden and Never Mind by Nirvana – it’s awesome.
Shock the Monkey, Mercy Street and Red Rain by Peter Gabriel are brilliant. Anything by Sonic Youth!!
But the only song that make me stop in my tracks is Mojo Pin by Jeff Buckley.

What did getting famous mean to your personal/social lives?

ZooG: I won’t call us famous…we get recognized on train stations! We were recognized on the Paris Metro, on the London Underground, on the Berlin U-Barn, and we were mobbed on a Melbourne tram…!
…why train stations???
We don’t go out much. People often recognize us…it’s cool because it makes conversation a lot easier. I enjoy a good chat to a new friend!

Do the fans change over time?

ZooG: Yes. People’s music tastes change. Fans come and go. We always try and turn fans into friends….so even if they don’t list to your music, you can still email them from time to time!
It’s interesting because the music you listen to changes over time, as does the music you write.
I thought we’d get more mellow, but our music is getting more viscous and darkly beautiful.

What Was Your First Job?

ZooG: I sold menswear in my parents’ shop. I hated it….but it allowed me to save up for my first synth.

What Would You Be Doing If You Weren't In The Music Industry?

ZooG: Trying to get into theMusic Industry! …or trying to be a Soundscape design artist.

What Were You Like At School, and How Have Things Changed For You?

ZooG: I was the weird guy who was very friendly and seemed to be able to talk to anyone.
Not much has changed.

Could you explain, in brief, how the touring process functions? In particular, I'd like to know about how the booking and site/venue selection process works and how logistics can play a part in creating the tour schedule.

ZooG: In Europe and the USA we get an agent to do all the booking for us.
In Australia, we do it ourselves.
We let the promoters know when we will be in their area, then we take it from there.

The average day looks like this:
5-8am Get up, get ready and travel (depending on schedule)
2-4pm: Arrive at venue. Start setting up
6pm: sound check
8pm: Doors open. Bands eat
9pm: Bands start playing
1am: last band has finished. Hang out with fans
2am: start packing up.
3am: leave venue
3.30am: arrive at hotel. Sleep for a few hours and repeat.

ROCK!!

Could you give advice on recording contract do's and don'ts? I've heard of some pretty good recording contract deals and then there's the other side, which tends to be quite dark and unsatisfactory to both parties.

ZooG: When you get a contract, show it to a few bands who have experience AND YOU TRUST. Get there thoughts. Then get an entertainment lawyer to look over it.
Be cautious of the “territories”…ie: where the record label can sell it. Eg: Don’t sign over the rights to the USA if the label does not have a very good representation in record shops in the USA.
The big question is this: do you really need a record contract?
Many of your sales will come from digital downloads…and you can set up many of these without having a record label.

How much creative control are you allowed? I only ask this, because I've heard where record companies have come in and may demand that an album have a radio friendly song or that there must be a ballad or some other perceived "song balance" on recordings.

ZooG: We demand absolute control. We make it very clear to our record company that their comments are welcome but usually don’t get implemented. Our record company know that we are driven to inspire and awaken this scene using sincere angry music. They know that we do not see our music as “product”, and we understand that they do.
Fortunately our relationship is based on trust…so if we tell them to FUCK OFF, they know we’re doing it for the right reasons.

Who generally comes up with the album artwork?

ZooG: We both come up with the core concept and expand on the musical and image content. Destroyx oversees the image design. I oversee the music programming.

What determines overall sound quality of a recording? Is it a function of how much is spent, equipment, engineer, band members?

ZooG: On Krankhaus, we had a BEAST computer, a very good speaker system, an awesome recording space and a very impressive array of analogue synths.
On Blood Death Ivory, we had minimal gear. The speakers cost 20Euros, the computer was so crap that the audio was skipping once every 3 seconds (I’m not kidding!!), we only had about one quarter of our modular.
…and I believe Blood Death Ivory looks and sounds better than Krankhaus.
The reason is the ideas were better and clearer.
The most important thing a work of art has is a clear and powerful central concept.

How do you feel the Internet has changed the overall landscape of getting musical artists exposure to a wider audience? Do you feel that the Internet has helped or hurt?

ZooG: It’s a complete revolution. On one hand, anyone can get their music out to many people with minimal effort (compared to 10 years ago)
On the other hand, it’s significantly reduced the income to musicians. Copying is out of control, but I believe fans increasingly WANT to support their favorite bands.

And finally, do you have any messages for all your fans out there?

ZooG: We are so excited about touring – we get to met you and talk with you.
If you make art, do it with sincerity and passion. Always remember that you are not alone – you are a part of a great community of individual thinkers and people who are not afraid to express themselves through music, fashion or whatever art form they choose.
Keep making your art!

ROCK!