Featuring Evan from Psykkle | Interview by Ruud Dreessen aka ebm-industrial.nl 02-03-2010
For the first question will be- Thanks Evan that you have found timeto give answers to these questions. How are you doing?
Well currently I'm kinda tired. It's just about 5am. I've been up for a while haha. But pretty good overall =]
Hello Evan what noise do you make in Psykkle?
A style of Dark-Industrial that mixes influences from many different electronic genres, ranging from Industrial, Noize, Trance, and even things like Trip-Hop in some cases.
How's the start of 2010 benn for you thus far?
So far 2010 has already proven to be an eventful year for Psykkle. I've been super busy in the studio, finishing up writing the new album. I've also been putting some more focus towards doing remixes for other artists.
Do you know the Netherlands?
I know it's across the ocean ;]
For alot of people, this is probably going to be their first full introduction to Psykkle, so tell us a little bit about how you guys know each other and how the band came together?
In the studio Psykkle is my solo project. It's an outlet for everything I see and feel. But when it comes to live shows, I also have Xer-ox on stage with me playing keys. Xer-ox and I have a long history together making music. I originally met him through his brother, who most know as Siborg from Virtual Terrorist. From there Xer-ox and I started collaborating on a project I had started called Ac1d1c Dr3am3r. From there I went on to do other projects, until finally starting Psykkle. Psykkle took a few years to build up to what it is now, and when Psykkle first took to the stage in 2009, Siborg was playing keys. Shortly after, Siborg had to leave to pursue things with Virtual Terrorist and his other band iVardensphere. It was the only natural choice to bring Xer-ox into the live mix.
Do you follow the electronic music Dark-Electro/Experimental/Industrial/Electro do you have any other favourite bands?
I think there are alot of artists in the Industrial genre [in all its forms] that are amazing at what they do. Groups like In Strict Confidence, HexRx, Cyanotic, genCAB, etc. Alot of these bands have definatly played a part in getting me hyped on my own music.
How is your relationship with other electronic bands?
I try to keep a very positive relationship with other groups that I work with, whether it be locally, or with artists around the world. I think that alot of the artists have a mutual respect for each other because they understand the art. And it is a pretty tight knit community. I think being based in a city like Edmonton has really helped me develop that sense of respect, because there are so many industrial influenced acts here, and we're all friends. That definatly helps.
Can you give us a brief run-through of Psykkle story so far?
To be totally honest there isnt much to the story of Psykkle itself. There's more of a story in the events leading up to Psykkle.
How did you start to make music and what is gothic for you?
I started making music when I was 14 when I met Siborg. When I had met him he was working at a record store and we had started getting into writing industrial music around the same time.
I think the term gothic no longer really matters in this day and age. I dont think it's much of a culture anymore. It has a cultural history, and it has deep roots, but I feel its decayed into another money-grabbing "look".
Tell me about this your demo The Parthian Shot 2008 and The Parthian Shot 2009?
The release of The Parthian Shot [2008] was a special moment in my musical career, because it marked my first official release. The 2008 demo was released on a handful of CD-R discs, and online download and featured remixes from some of my close musical friends Virtual Terrorist, [Product], and Per[c]eptor. I also did a collaborative track with Per[c]eptor on that one.
The Parthian Shot v2 [2009] came about because I loved the songs on the original demo, but I knew I could clean it up and make it better. I saw it as not only as an oppurtunity to clean up my work, but also as a place to start build a real fanbase, because at that time Psykkle was still in it's younger stages. The Parthian Shot v2 featured remixes by Nolongerhuman, Left Spine Down, and Chaos Theory, as well as a new collaborative track with Virtual Terrorist.
What are you currently listening to on your mp3 player?
The new Velvet Acid Christ album, The Retrosic, The Birthday Massacre, Terrorfakt, Tempting Fate, Tactical Sekt, genCAB's "II Transmuter" album, Solitary Experiments, Skinny Puppy, Schiller, Portishead, Obituary, Neuroticfish, Mushroomhead, Mesh, Massiv In Mensch, Faithless, Bitch Brigade's "Pastel Aggressive" EP, and iVardensphere's "Remix Vol.1" remix album.
By the way do you like my questions?
They give me a good oppurtunity to really give people a good picture of where Psykkle came from, what it's all about, and what it means to me.
What is the main idea, the message you want to leave to people who listen to you? What is your motto?
Psykkle doesn't have one overall message.Some tracks are a view on the state of the world through my eyes, others songs have more emotional meanings behind them.
Some people are content coasting along, and living a standard life. Psykkle is built on the emotial foundations of people who say "Fuck That" and are willing to put everything on the line for the things they believe in.
A motto that I try to live by is "Everyone needs to be offended". I think people need to realize that the world is an immensly offensive place. People always try to turn a blind eye to the bad in the world, and I'm here to show them it won't go away if you ignore it, but only worse.
What's the name of your band? Where did the name come from? and Whats the story behind the bands name?
Well as you know, the name of my project is Psykkle, and there is no real history behind the name. It was just a random name that came about, and it stuck.
If people don't know what you and your music are about, how would you describe Psykkle?
I would describe it as a manifestation of emotion. I always try to maintain a certain level of beauty in my songs. Some songs are very dancy and club oriented, others more rhythmic and experimental, but always really heavy on atmosphere and character.
Your new EP "Rock Bottom Paradise" where did the concept come from? And whats planned now that your album is finished? or anything else you're working on?
Rock Bottom Paradise is actuall the name of the new album, although I am releasing a free digital split-single for the tracks "The Jolt" and "Blessed By Lesser Gods" in March to promote Rock Bottom Paradise. There never was a concept when I came up with the name for the album, but it began to develop meaning as time went on and as the album developed. The plan for right now is finish putting together the EP, as well as finishing the album, because its still has some loose ends to be tied up.
I do have a couple of other projects and bands in the works as well. I have a dark Cyberpunk group with Denyss McKnight [formerly of Left Spine Down] called Replikunt and we have a few demo songs in the works. We intend on setting up a place online where people can preview what we are working on. There will also be a Replikunt remix on the EP.
I've also recently started working on a project with Roger Jarvis [HexRx, Kevorkian Death Cycle], although this project is still in its conceptual stages.
Some quick fire questions. Guitar or Synthesizer?
Synthesizer. Definatly my speciality.
Band or Solo?
Sometimes it good to work with other people in a band. You can bounce ideas off each other, and build something inspired based on what a band member has written. But I think solo projects are better for a personal outlet, where you can write what you're feeling or thinking without having to sacrifice something for someone elses idea. So it's really 50/50.
How is your current promotional tour going for supporting this album?
Currently Psykkle isn't touring. But I do want to do something of a mini-tour soon, but unfortunatly I dont have any details to give.
What do you think of a modern gothic and about Dark-Electro/Experimental/Industrial/Electro scene?
I dont know what a modern gothic is. I think alot of the music in the scene these days is hit and miss. There are some incredibly talented people out there making music, and like any other genre, there are also incredibly bad ones too. I try to promote artists I like as much as I can through things like the internet, as well as encouraging people I see face to face to check out certain bands. I think some of the most talented artists are those who are really underground up-and-coming artists. If you take the time to find those smaller bands with that have drive and talent, you wont be disappointed.
What is your favourite track of yours?
It tends to change, but right now I'm super hyped on a track from Rock Bottom Paradise called Massacre The Loved.
What and who gets you excited about music today?
Lately its been genCAB's "II Transmuter" album. I just love the technicallity in the production of that album.
Our usual question - What is music for you?
Music is my pulse. Without the pulse, the heart doesn't beat.
What was your best live preformance?
The only show that stands out is the show we played in Calgary with Left Spine Down and Chaos Theory. It started out just doing the usual stuff. Xer-ox, Me, Siborg, and The Chaos Theory crew drove from Edmonton, got to the venue to set-up etc. We got most of this done nice and quickly so Siborg and I passed to time until the show drinking in the back. About 10 minutes after Chaos Theory goes on stage, my friend's girlfriend comes in and says that the crowd looks like they're in shock. Nothing as dark and evil as Chaos Theory had been to Calgary before, I guess. But the crowd really started to get into it. Chaos Theory always puts on a crazy, energetic live show, so its hard not start moving. When Psykkle went on we played some exclusive songs, and some stuff from the original stages of Rock Bottom Paradise. The crowd was still ready to go after Chaos Theory, so we rocked it for them. Chaos Theory and I had also put together a special collaborative song to preform that night, and once it came time to play this song, I realized we didnt have enough cables to run everything we needed. So it turned into Chaos Theory playing this song, and me stomping around on stage, drunk. Up to this point it had been a very straight forward night. But as we were moving things off the stage during teardown, someone had left a bag, or jacket, or something in the middle of the floor. As we were carying our stands on synths off stage I tripped over it, and my Virus TI synth falls and bounces off crates before hitting the floor. This put me in something of a shock, but I was to drunk to really get upset at the time. I also found out that Chaos Theory had dropped some gear as well. Within 5 minutes of finishing the set we have 2 potentially broken synthesizers [we tested them when we got back to Edmonton, and luckily everything still worked]. After spending the night in a cramped hotel room we hit the road back to Edmonton. We got back to Edmonton fine, but one of the guys from Chaos Theory got in a car accident before getting out of Calgary, and him and his girlfriend had to resort to catching a bus home. Luckily all the gear was in a seperate vehicle which was on its way to Edmonton. Or so we thought. Calgary is only 3 hours away from Edmonton and the gear didnt get back until almost 12 hours after we left Calgary. That was definatly the most eventful show we did.
Please list the name, age, school, and respective instrument of each band member.
Name: Evan Collingwood:Age: 21
In the studio I write, mix, and produce all the songs, as well as vocals. On stage I do vocals, and occasionally sampling.
Name: Sean Lacroix: Age: 23
Live Suppot: Keyboards
What are your views on the current state of this Dark-Electro/Experimental/Industrial/Electro in Canadian terms of creativity and audience? And the scenes in other countries?
I think Canada is definatly making its mark in Inudstrial music. Especially in recent years, and its just going to get better. Even locally it's noticable. Edmonton alone has at least 7 indsutrial groups, including Sebastian Komor [Icon of Coil, Komor Kommando, etc], and iVardensphere. And then there's Festival Kinetik. Canadian audiences are very supportive of other Canadian artists. I'm not familiar with the scene in other countries, but I know that they do have their loyal fans. I went to Kinetik 2.0 and meeting people from all over the world really shows the dedication of the fans.
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?
The lyrics in my songs can sometimes be based on my views politically, and others are based on extreme emotional response. When I create a song, I don't always have a set way of writing a song. I never plan out what I'm working on. I'll sit done and maybe work on a synth line, or perhaps just come across a good initial preset for a bassline. When I write a song I just sit down and let it come naturally.
What genre of music do you consider your work? Who are your major influences?
Dark-Electro. Psykkle has many industrial influences, but also many other influences. Dark-Electro is the best way to describe it. It leaves it more open for me to be able to experiment with my sound. Some major influences of mine musically would be groups like In Strict Confidence, Velvet Acid Christ, and Suicide Commando. But my biggest influence would probably have to be Virtual Terrorist, because we have been working together for so many years.
Since the music industry is more open now to purely electronic music has this made things easier for you?
Not at all haha.
So what are your main influences as a band at the moment?
The pain of having a perfect personal paradise, and having it all decay away.
What is currently inspiring your material as an artist?
See Above. Tell me about the Dark-Electro/Experimental/Industrial/Electro scene of Canada? See question 30.
Do you think that people from the music press didn't expect you to grow up musically?
The music press that I dealt with around the time of The Parthian Shot [2008] was very supportive of how Psykkle was developing in it's early days. And even doing interviews on local radio shows, I've always been treated very positively.
What is the key to making music from Psykkle and what inspires you to keep growing as a musician?
There is no real key to making a song. It all just comes out naturally. I find alot of my inspiration to continue growning musically comes from a natural drive to grow.
How do you see the future of download /Copyright in area of Goth/Dark-Electro/Industrial/Electro music? What are the best ways to develop it in your mind?
The future is definatly digital. People download music so often, so now artists are utilizing that. Now you can get the newest releases for way cheaper, or without having to leave your house.
What was your childhood like?
It was...eventful. Alot of things happened in my childhood that really set my views on the world. If it wasn't for those events or experiences, I wouldn't be the same person I am today.
If there was one thing you want people to know about your band what would that be?
Psykkle is a reflection of me. Lyrically its not always very personal, but the music itself its a reflection of what's inside at the time I write it.
Please let us know about your upcoming plans, some new releases you like to confirm here
Well obviously the digital single comes out this month, as well as the album will be coming out in June if everything goes according to schedule. Psykkle will be hitting the stage again in june as well and we plan on bringing it harder then ever before.
It has been a pleasure to interview you on your musical activity, Well,any last words to your ebm-industrial fans?
Thanks to everyone who not only supports Psykkle, but the scene as a whole. Support he scene and the music that helps build it.
and what is next on Canada agenda?
So far just ideas. Nothing has been set in stone yet.
How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
People can check out Psykkle either on myspace, facebook, or blogspot.
How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
My music has progressed so much over the years that its hard to describe how its evolved. It's grown and developed naturally.
How is the new line-up working out?
the current line-up is working well, but I do want to build upon it in the future.
And, finally, what does the next twelve months hold for the band?
It looks busy, busy, busy.
Any last words?
Keep supporting the artists you love
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