Featuring deadbilly from Detroit Diesel | Interview by Ruud Dreessen aka ebm-industrial.nl | 28 januari 2010
What can you tell me about the origin of the name Detroit Diesel
At first, I just thought it was an interesting mix of words. Then we eventually found out it was a motor company. We thought it was funny and suited us well.
Greetings deadbilly could you please shortly introduce our readers your music project First,
we're an EBM group. We're inspired by military music, classical music, as well as the contemporary industrial scene.
How did you start to make Dark and agressive EBM,oldschool EBM and aggrotech and what is Gothic for you?
When I was 17, back in 1997, I used to play in a punk band but I was looking for new musical opportunities. So I started playing on an old broken Korg sas-20,which is one of the first personal arranger keyboards, as far as I know, and I used a distortion effect on top of it. A few months later, I heard Skinny Puppy's Smothered Hope: it felt like a revelation, it was exactly what I wanted to do.
To me Gothic is a type of font I never use on my computer.
What and who are some of your influences in Dark and agressive EBM,oldschool EBM and aggrotech?
Our influences are multiple and come from different types of music. For example, we listen to black metal bands such as Summoning, Dark Throne, and old Absurd. Of course, we're influenced by EBM bands such as Laibach, Skinny Puppy, LÆther Stripe.
What are your top ten favorite Dark and agressive EBM,oldschool EBM and aggrotech Club Songs of all time? Who are you influenced by? What would you consider your favorite cd's?
deadbilly: in no particular order:
1-Funker Vogt- Maschine Zeit
2-VNV Nation- Kingdom
3-Steinkind-Blutzeit
4-Apoptygma Berserk - Bitch
5-Assemblage 23 - Dissapoint
6-Covenant - Go Film
7-DAF - Allen Gegen Allen
8-Decoded Feedback - Bio-Vital
9-Informatik - Human Nature
10-Laibach - Achtung
clutch: in no particular order:
01-VNV nation - Standing
02-Alien Vampires - The Covent Burn
03-Tactical Sekt - Devils Work
04-Steinkind - Krank
05-Suicide Commando - Comatose Dellusion
06-Dawn of Ashes - Abyss
07-FGFC820 - Killing Fields
08-Nachtmahr - Deus Ex Machina
09-Informatik - At your command
10-Covenant - Like tears in rain
Tell one secret about D e t r o i t D i e s e l that you have never told to anyone?
We're really into New Wave…
So tell me a bit more about yourself, such as musical?
Clutch plays in Sui Caedere, a black metal band on Sepulchral Productions. As for me, I used to play in an oldschool punk band called The Aversions.
By the way do you like my questions? tell me what you think about it! ;-)
Awesome!
What is the main idea, the message you want to leave to people who listens to you? What is your motto?
Support your troups!
What's the name of your band? What's the origin of that name? Have you changed the band's name before?
It used to be called Manhattan Love Suicide. It was a first solo experience for me, just before Detroit Diesel. I changed the name because I wanted it to be more representative of how the band sounds.
"terre humaine" January 2010 where did the concept come from? and whats planned now that your album is finished? or anything else you're working on? Tell me why this title "The first demo "Dancing with terror" released 2008 "? Tell us a few words about the concept of this?
The title shows how we live in an entirely man-made environment,which is something we consider as negative.You can also draw the parallel with our music, which is entirely electronic.We're working on a new EP that will be called Normandy.It is going to be more achieved than Terre humaine.We called the first demo Dancing with Terror because it evokes the new generation.
Tell me about Alfa-matrix Compilation Endzeit Bunkertracks IV?
It was a honnor for us to be on the same disc than Nachtmahr, FGFC 820, LÆther Stripe, and all those great bands that were on the compilation as well.
How is the current promotional tour going for supporting this album?
We have several shows booked in Canada in the spring. We'll play at the Kinetik with Covenant, Alien Vampires, FGFC820, Hocico, Nachtmahr.
What was your best live experience so far?
Every city has its own flavour…
Please list the name, age, school, and respective instrument of each band member
deadbilly: Jocelyn Jr Laflamme; 28; school?; I used to play bass, but I can play just about everything.
clutch:
Christian Coulombe; 23; I study to become a graphist (I did the all the band's visual artwork); just about all, especially the guitar.
What are your views on the current state of this electro scene in Quebec city (Canada).in terms of creativity and audiences? And the scene in other countries?
Quebec City is a rather small town, there is no proper electro scene here. We feel closer to the Montreal scene with bands such as Memmaker, Leftside Neighbour and Headscan.
you have very nice album`and many many more 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?
I wrote most of the lyrics. I try to write about themes that suit the spirit of the band. I study English literature so I've read a large range of poetry. But I was greatly inspired by the play Billy Bishop Goes to War, written by John Mac Lachlan and Eric Peterson. I like theatre a lot.
I constantly create music although I didn't get paid for it so far. Once I come out with a new music, I show it to deadbilly who approves it and finds a vocal riff and then ask Greta Grey to write lyrics about a specific theme.
What do you do to chill out?
We drink Heineken… from the Netherlands, right?
Do you think that people from the music press didn't expect you to grow up musically?
We have had a bad critic from Regen Magazine for Dancing with Terror saying that we were a copycat band that could only disappear. But now I think we can prove him wrong.
How do you see the future of download / Copyright in area of goth-Dark and agressive EBM,oldschool EBM and aggrotech industrial music ? What are the best ways to develop it in your mind ?
I never believed in CDs, which offer poor quality, I think the future is in digital versions. I only buy vinyl and if something is not available in this format, I download it.
If there was one thing you want people to know about your band what would that be?
We never use presets, we spend considerable time working on the sound design of the band… I hate hearing a synth preset in a song… I know how sounds every single preset.
It has been a pleasure to interview you on your musical activity,Well,any last words to your ebm-industrial fans?
Come see our shows!
and what is next on Quebec city (Canada).agenda?
nothing…
How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
Were you asked to play or did you have to ask for a slot?
We just signed with a manager who will book shows for us.
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