This "interview" was conducted with andy of Xotox on 16-Aug-2010 Thanks andy
we are happy to get the chance to ask you a few questions For the first question will be Thanks andy that you have found time to give answers to these questions.
I have to thank you!
From which country / town do you come from?
I am living in paderborn, germany
how are you doing? Where are you currently?
I am quite fine and i am at home working on new tracks
Could you briefly summarize xotox and what you guys are about?
Xotox is my musical project and it´s my personal way to express my thoughts and feelings
andy what noise do you make in xotox?
Any noise i like to – mainly rythmical noise
How's the start of 2010 been for you thus far?
Quite well... first gig in 2010 was in cannes, france – so.. the year started really great!
Other incoming projects?
The music is my hobby – i have a regular daytime-job as an industrial clerk
If people don't know what you and your music are about where have they been!?,how would you describe yourself?
My music is my very personal output – i work out all my feelings and thoughts and ideas. My music is mainly distorted, dark, loud and uncompromising and very rhythmical.
If you could play a show anywhere in the world where would it be?
There are many places where i would like to play, to name just a few: the pyramids in south america, iceland, somewhere in a deep forest... just unusual places would excite me.
What day jobs did you guys have while you were putting the band together?
I work as an industrial clerk and my wife, who´s also the second person on stage, works as an accountant.
What is your music background? Who are you and your bandmembers? Tell your story
my background is, of course ;-), the music from the 80is as i grow up in those days. I always liked electronic music like depeche mode, kraftwerk, front 242, the klinik, dive and so on... as a little child i went to a school of music to learn about rhythm and musical score – the musical basics in general and then i discovered the music and especially the above mentioned bands and i wanted to make music like them – that was at the age of about 12 or 13. the first steps were horrible but i improved from time to time and in 1998 i put everything together under the name „xotox“.
What do you do when you're not partaking in band activities?
I listen to music a lot, i like watching movies and i like to read good books. I like being outside and discover new places.
Back to your roots, how did you first come to music?
The very first impressive moment with music was „people are people“ by depeche mode – that really gave me a blast! Later on „official version“ by front 242 and then „black leather“ by the klinik and all stuff from dive.
If you weren't a musician what would you be?
I think something similar... i can not imagine doing anything else.
What are your top ten favorite Industrial / Electro / Experimental Club Songs of all time?
That very hard to choose just 10... ok, i will try but there is no particular order:
front 242 – masterhit
dive – bloodmoney
kraftwerk – das model
the neon judgement – chinese black
the klinik – black leather
sonar – mainframe
monolith – disco buddha
apoptygma berzerk – eclipse
skinny puppy – assimilate
pal - gelöbnis
Do you keep up with how the record has been selling? Is that really important to you?
I would lie if i would say that it is not important, but the mpost important thing for me is to hear that the peopüle like what i do, that they like my music – if they like it the record will sell by itself – numers of sale or just numbers...
Who is your favorite band at the moment?
There are many bands i like – i wouldn´t fair to name just a few
What band or bands would you like to tour with and why?
I would like to tour with all bands i like, especially with bands which music is not too similar with mine – that would be interesting
Is touring a pleasure or a necessary evil?
If i could make a real tour, which i can´t because of my regular job, it would be a real pleasure
What would you be doing right now if you weren't in xotox?
I think the same that other people do right after work – listening to music, watching movies...
And that's how you came up with the name of the band? How did you come up with the name xotox?
It was a kind of a spontaneous idea – i was thinking about a name and then „xotox“ came into my head – there´snothing special about the name
How did you come up with the title „die unruhe 2.0" (xotox latest CD)
„die unruhe 2.0“ is a re-release of „die unruhe“ wich was originally released as a limited edition in 2004 but was sold out very quick just only because of the pre-orders. So my label and i decided to re-release „die unruhe“
How do you feel to hold the finished cd in your hands?
I am still very excited – it is a very special moment and i alwayws feel very happy !
What are you currently listening to on your mp3 player? What artists have you been listening to these days?
Currently i am listening to the „vertraut“-ep by klangstabil a lot and „der katalog“ by kraftwerk, "rocket science" by apoptygma berzerk
Do you spend a lot of time on remixing other artists tracks or is it something you do when you have some time over?
I can´t do a remix just as a sideline – working on a remix needs as much attention as working on my own material.
Is your family pretty impressed with what you've done?
My family is not into that kind of music but i think they are a bit impressed ;-)
Have you recorded any previous cd`s or posted any audio files on the Internet? what type of recording process did you use? who produced your recording?
I self-released a few albums before i signed to pronoize and i also posted the tracks on the internet. I do everything on my own fromt the first idea to the complete track, the mixing and the production. I only give my music to jan of x-fusion music prduction to let him do the mastering.
What are your views on the current state of this Industrial / Electro / Experimental scene in Germany.in terms of creativity and audiences? And the scene in other countries?
There are soooo many different styles in music and in this scene - i just think that there´s enough music for every personal taste and everyone should pick the music that he likes the most.
What new music inspires you when you are writing? tell me about lyrical compositions what you can tell about the done work? How does your music creation process work? How do you create a song?
Everything that´s around me, everything i see, hear and everaything that i realize inspires me. First i have an idea and then i try to transformt hat idea into music. I first create the basics and once i have the basics i built this basic structure up.. more and more and everytime i build it up there are more ideas coming into my head the the whole thing growas and grows until it reaches the pint on which i think, that the whole thing and the result is finished. It comes very spontanously and i don´t really have a whole track on my mind when i start to create music.
What about all the big festivals? Summer Darkness in the netherlands? Mera Luna in Germany and Wave Gothic Treffen in Germany and many more?
I like those big festivals a lot – it´s always great that you meet old friends and new people, to have the chance to see many bands and discover new ones...
Do you think the music industry is dead?
no.. i don´t think so... ti think it is changing and a change is not always a bad thing
Where would you like to see xotox three years from now?
let´s ask this in 3 years ;-)
Please let us know about your upcoming plans, some new releases you like to confirm here
currently i am working on new material for a new album
What's the band's favorite song to play live?
I like to play all my song live!
What was it like the first time you heard one of your songs on the radio ore internet ore clubs? who was the DJ that played your song?
I really was amazing! I couldn´t even realize it that it was „eisenkiller“ being played in a club! It was such a great feeling seeing the people dance to my music !!!
It has been a pleasure to interview you on your musical activity,Well,any last words to your ebm-industrial fans?
I have to thank you for the interview! Mmhhh... last words to the fans... THANK YOU ! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING XOTOX !
andy
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