Featuring 304 AKA Kevin Stewart Interview by Ruud Dreessen aka ebm-industrial.nl Date:26 Feb 2009 From:V2A
Thanks 304 AKA Kevin Stewart that you have found time to give answers to these questions,
Greetings 304 AKA Kevin Stewart could you please shortly introduce our readers your music project V2A? Please fill also a biographical resume about how, when and where...
<304>V2A was founded back in 2001 by 316 and myself.Before that both of us were active musicians in other projects and I also run many years EBM clubs in the UK.So we decided to create music that we like.Which soul purpose is to create chaos on the dancefloor.Our first Album called "EBM" was release on the German label TRISOL, which was sold out in just few months.We concentrated in playing live on Festivals all over Europe.We moved label end of 2008 to BIOHAZZARD REcords (a devision of DANSE MACABRE GROUP) and end of this month will be the release of our second album "MECHANIZED INFANTRY".
What and who are some of your influences in music and what are your top ten favorite EBM / Industrial Club Songs of all time?
<304> Musically I love 80's/90's EBM,Industrial and Hard Electro.Here is my top ten,
but not in particular order:
-Nitzer Ebb - Murderous
-Cat rapes dog - American dream
-Front 242 - Lovely day
-Bigod 20 - The Bog
-Swamp Terrorists - Brain Fuck
-Burghasia - Naked Uniformed dead
-KMFDM - Godlike
-Leather Strip - Fit for flogging
-Skinny puppy - Assimilate
-Evils Toy - Lucifers garden
Tell one secret about yourself or the V2A that you have never told to anyone? so tell me a bit more about yourself, such as musical?
<304> Breedkiller is a Hate-Song about a specific person and the secret lays within the song.I have been active in music for many years: Clubs, Bands,DJ'ing,etc.Before V2A I was the live-keyboarder for "Sulpher",who were an english Industrial project and before that I had a electro project with 654SMO.
V2A 3 members give me more backgrond info?
<304> The band members are
304 = Vocals, Synths, Programming = Carnage
316 = Vocals, Samples, Synths = Chaos
654SMO = Drums, Percusion , Noise = Destruction
And there is 254SMO, but that's a different story ;-)
how and why did you come about starting V2A? what else inspires you to create?
<304> 316 and I met in Slimelight London, while I was DJ'ing. There and then we decided we create our own band to create the music we want to listen to. I already run clubs with 654SMO so for the first few years he was our live drummer and became in 2005 official member of V2A.
Tell me about your Symbol chemical?
<304> At the design stage a code is assigned to each member.This allows central control to monitor effectiveness of the unit within battle, bio-upgrades / the value is purety not strength.
do you like old skool EBM?
<304> Yes, of course.Old-School EBM meant that each band did their own thing and sounded different,where nowerdays some bands just jump on the bandwaggon and trying to sound like who-ever is popular at the moment.
Ok tell me a few things about.V2A How did you decide to form this project, give us a more background information and Let's talk about your first debut album released 'EBM'
<304> We started off the project with six songs and before we were signed we already played gigs in Germany at "Zeche Carl" in Essen and WGT in Leipzig.We finished the album in Summer 2002 and signed with Trisol and the was released in August 2002,worldwide. We also had three remixes on our Album which were done by E-Craft / Schattenschlag and Neotek.All bands we liked.
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 "EBM"? Tell us a few words about the concept of this album?
<304> We called it "EBM" as a statement that "EBM is Alive" - and is a force to be reckoned with.V2A was created to be an EBM Band - our version of EBM.It was 7 years ago, it is today and will be in the future. We have no interest in creating other styles of music or changing our style on whatever is popular at the moment.We are doing what we are doing - and proud of it.
tell me about the Label Trisol and BIOHAZZARD RECORDS
<304> Trisol was a good starting point of V2A but now with Biohazzard Records we found a good partner to move V2A to the next level. Our new management "DARKMUSIX PROMOTIONS" and bands on the label are great fun to work with,ie.Remixes, Concerts,parties etc.
How is the current promotional tour going for supporting this album?
<304> great - we have a new video on our home page and my-space -we have interviews in sonic seducer / orkus / gothic / negativ magazines -we have release parties in the uk / germany / new-york and sidney.There will be more remixes released on compilation cds soon and more videos put on line ..
Tell us about the V2A project and how it came about? and why this name 304 and 316 ?
<304> names are old fasioned - numbers and codes are the future . the numbers are all about purity
Gife me more info about your debut album "EBM" will be released about 2002?
<304> ebm was released in 2002 on trisol worldwide - after 3 months it was completely sold out.I was contacted by records all saying that they had back orders for the cd but could not get it - i only have 2 copies for myself .The album was great fun to record which we did in our own death-machine studio - since then it has been totaly rebuilt.
Tell me about signed new recording contract with the German label Biohazzard Records,the subdivision of Danse Macabre?
<304> with bio-hazzard we have a better label that fits the needs of the band - we also have darkmusix as our management which helps alot - in the old days we had to do every thing .I am very impressed with danse macabre and bio-hazzard records - it like one big family - lots of remixes for each other and help.We have even organised a drinking contest at the electroshokk fesival with our very good friends "inline sex terror" - :)
The release date of V2A's new album "Mechanized Infantry" is scheduled for March 27th worldwide.tell me more......
<304> the album was really just before christmas but the label needed time to blast it out across the world so the date of the 27th March 2009 was set - we cant wait
What's the history of V2A ? How did it initially come to be? can you give an introduction V2A? What are your views on the current state of this electro scene in Worcester, US States, United Kingdom in terms of creativity and audiences? And the scene in other countries?
<304> in our home town there is no scene - in the uk our favorite clubs like slimelight (london) are great,the scene is very dancey and the people love the hard music.We spent alot of the last couple of years playing holland (which has a great scene - terror-gotha twice and dark summer) / beligum / denmark which again have super crowds.We are really looking forward to playing germany again as it been nearly 7 years.We have had a ton of interest for the usa so we are currently talking to 2 promoters to sort out a couple of mini tours .
Sounds Like Front 242 / Nitzer Ebb / Combichrist Influences EBM / Electro / Cyber -Goth / Industrial tell me more about this?
<304> we find it hard to describe our sound but when we set up my-space we had to put some sort of "sound-alike" for the search engines - so we tried to keep it as broad as possible - i dont really like album reviews or "sounds like statements" - i would rather people hear the songs and make up their own minds
you have very nice numbers also Collapsed System `and many more Mix (E-Craft Mix) and (Darth Evil Mix by Schattenschlag/Siechtum) 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?
<304> i alwasy start of with an idea for a song - a specific thing . So in my mind i have already got a good idea of how the song is going to sound . I then spend too much time writing the music - i normally start off with the verus - then chorus and then keep adding layers over a simple drum beat.The song is then restructed and 654smo is let loose on the drums - i will then re-arrange the song .Once this is done i will then stick it on my mp3 player and keep playing over and over until i work out the lyrics and structure - record the song.. play it acouple of times live to see how it goes down - then take it back into the studio and remix it again..only then its ready to release
Out of all of your two albums,which album would you say is your favorite Numbers? Why?
<304> my favorite songs are always the last ones i have worked on - on the album it was jesus loves you and mechanizm
my Favorite are Breed Killer (Neotek Mix) ,Collapsed System and Fade To Grey tell me more about this number Fade To Grey?
<304> visage were the first electro band i really heard - i have heard fade to grey so many times over the years i have been clubing that i knew that one day i would like to do a cover.I cant work out why bands do a cover of a song that sounds the same as the original - with fade to grey we decided to do an over the top cut down version - which used to go down a storm live
What is currently inspiring your material as an artist? tell me all about the dark scene of Worcester, US States, United Kingdom?
<304> i have tons of ideas for songs that are currently bouncing around my head - the problem is always stopping my self writting new songs until i have finished the current ones. As we now have had a couple of months waiting for mechanized infantry to be released i am already got 10 song ideas for the next album.the 3rd album will be out some time next year - not in 7 years time like the last one :)
How did you come up with the name of your band,V2A? what is the key to making music from V2A? and what inspires you to keep growing as a musician?
<304> v2a is a life project - we set out to create hard cold aggressive dance floor music - so the name fits perfectly,I also like the way stainless steel does not rust - is cold - futuristic etc.I am very self critical about the songs so always push my self to get better and better - i have an image of v2a in my mind and i am always trying to reach that goal.The true test on how good the song is for me is when we play it live - if the dance floor goes mad then its worked.
What ideas, movements and personalities would you say were crucial for the definition and development of V2A as a creative entity?
<304> the mix of the 3 are key to v2a - spending the last 7 years together and not killing each other or falling out shows we have the right mix.We just want to push ourselfs more and more live - a killer live show is our main goal in life.
If there was one thing you want people to know about your band what would that be?
<304> v2a are here to stay - we like being a very underground band - with a cool following of hard core people "the mechanized infantry"
Tell us a little bit more about V2A What do you do in your spare time?
<304> no much spare time at the moment - i do alot of mma - i am a black belt at tae kwon do and now are training in bjj and ecrima stick fighting.all 3 of us are fans of the UFC and cage fighting.We also have alot of visual interests so would like to get involved in films / computer games etc / graphic novels .
gife me more backgrond info about Breed Killer" (including NeoTekk's masterly rave-styled remix) and "Retribution" and about the cover of "Fade To Grey
<304> i love covers - where our own songs or other peoples,i am currently working on remixes of all the new tracks for compilations or to hide on the internet.On all v2a albums there are codes hid in the art work and music - if people can de-code them it will release all new songs / mixes / give aways.. so far no one has cracked the code
What do you think of its intermingling with the electro, Darkwave and EBM scenes? while electro is your main musical pallet,what other music do you listen to?
<304> alot of my old cd collection (80/90's ebm ) - industrial / noise / dark wave .. i do like some hard gabba
How long have you been in the music industry and how has it changed over time? Now I have to ask,what's the inspiration for the V2A story?.
<304> years ... lots of years dj-ing and running clubs and then about 9 years in bands ..v2a is our life project -
we have so many ideas for new songs thats why we cant wait for the album to be released so we can start on the next . Always with one simple goal .. .. the create chaos on the dance floor
Please let us know about your upcoming plans, some new releases you like to confirm here
<304> new album out on 27th march 2009 - then we have abut 4 remixes coming out on compilation cds - i am also just finishing off remixes for a couple of bands (one is inline sex terror)
How and why did you begin to make music? Why various electronic styles? tell us about your unique style of music and who are your major influences? Where do you typically get your inspiration for numbers? <304> i began writing music as being a dj i was always looking for the next killer dance floor track - as a dj i had every specific tastes on what i like and dont - v2a was creating to make killer ebm dance floor music and also an out lay for our creative side in both sound / visuals and lyrics . I really enjoy the lyrics - hiding messages and meaning in the songs that only afew people understand
On question about influences and inspirations about Worcester, US States, United Kingdom? Are you currently working on or planning any new releases? Are you working on any current or future projects?What is the future for your music?
<304> new album out 27th march - then over the next 3 months remixes released on the internet or compilation cds / start on the new album and tons and tons of live gigs .. the ground assault starts here
It has been a pleasure to interview you on your musical activity,Well,any last words to your ebm-industrial fans? and what is next on the the Worcester, US States, United Kingdom.agenda?
<304> thank you for the interview and for the really good questions - We love holland / netherlands - we have played there alot over the last couple of years and regard it as our second home - enjoy the new album and check out the new videos which will be loaded on my-space .Check us out live as we have a killer live show and cant wait to cause MORE chaos on the dance floor - if any promoters are interested in booking us please contact our manger at info@darkmusix.de
Thank you very much for the interview. It was a pleasure and I am looking forward for your full length album. All the best mate Last question Some final words to our readers to conclude this interview?
<304> Prepare for the ground assault .... the Mechanized infantry want YOU!
V2A - "Kill-9" Official Song video - of album "MECHANIZED INFANTRY"
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