Featuring Phil from SCHULTZ | Interview by Ruud Dreessen aka ebm-industrial.nl 07-02-2010

 

 

01- For the first question will be - Thanks Phil that you have found time to give answers to these questions,How are you doing?

Good question…I sleep only 4 or 5 hours by night and gives all of my time for this project.I never takes holidays or week-ends.Peoples thinks musician only makes music but there are a lot of things to do like gigs booking, gig organisation, promotion...It is a full time job! I have my job, and the night I have SCHULTZ!

 

02-Hello Phil what noise do you make in SCHULTZ?

SCHULTZ is an industrial rythmic project.

 

03-How's the start of 2010 been for you thus far?

Things are good ! I will release my new album next month and I have booked several gigs for this year.I have report 2 gigs (my tour in Japan) to prepare this new tour with new videos on stage and lot of surprise.

 

04-do you know the netherland?

Yes, but I only know Amsterdam.I have perform sevral time with my partner (VDREY.) in fetish events like Boudoir Bizarre, Fetish  Sins, Wasteland and I have maybe 2 gigs for the end of summer, I m waiting for confirmation.I really like Amsterdam, it is a wonderfull city.

I have try to visit it several time but I haven't got enought time.

 

05-For a lot of people, this is probably going to be their first full introduction to SCHULTZ so how about you tell us a little bit about how you guys know each other and how the band came together?

SCHULTZ is a project born in 2002.I have release a demo in 2005 only for promoters and friends.I have made some concerts and in decenber 2006, VDREY., a french female performer purpose to me to make music for her show.We have made our first show in Swiss during a fetish night and have presented this combination during 2 years.After playing in several country like France, Germany, Holland, UK,Swiss, VDREY. have decide to have a break for working on new things and I have decide to continue to play alone for this year.Of course I continue to work with her, VDREY. makes some vocals on my albums and was the model for the cover on my 2 last albums.She also makes videos for my show and for the free album I have release last year on a net label called IKULTURA.

 

06- Do you follow the electronic music Industrial / Electronica / Techno,do you have any other favourite bands?

Difficult questions...I try to listen lot of things but haven't got enought time for that.I always listen old electro bands like Cubanate, Eternal Afflict, Das Ich, :W: (the old albums)...Generally I discover bands when I play with them.

 

07-How is your relationship with other electronic bands?

I know some bands (generally more by mail like in real) and I have good relation.When you meet bands during events, everybody have lot of things to do and it is difficult to know someody.Everybody have not lot of time for the other bands but everythings are fine.

 

08- Can you give us a brief run-through of SCHULTZ story so far?

Like I have always answer to you SCHULTZ is a project born in 2002.Before this project I have played in several bands making metal, gothic music, electro…I have release  my first album called "BioMeKaniKaL" in 2007 and a second in 2008 called " PsyKiatriK AreA ".I have also release a free album on a netlabel  last year and will release in Feb my new album called "War N' Sex" I have taking part in several compilations, makes several remix for international bands.

 

09- How did you start to make music and what is Gothic for you?

I have begin music there are around 15 years by playing guitar in a metal bands when I was at school.After metal I have discover Gothic music with bands like Bahaus, Sisters of Mercy and after in party Electro Dark and EBM.It was a revelation for me and it is again today.

 

10-What did you guys do for a living before SCHULTZ?

I was and I m again today light technician in a big concert venue.But I don' t really this work and things more and more to change to make only music but it is again difficult.

 

11- When did you form SCHULTZ? What inspired you to make music together?

SCHULTZ is born in 2002 but I have begin to work with VDREY. in 2006. with the idea to purpose somethings differents, something new mixing sevral form of art.

 

12- What are your top ten favorite Industrial / Electronica / Techno Club Songs of all time? Who are you influenced by? What would you consider your favorite cd's?

Oh it is difficult ! I love lot of things, lot of bands, I have more than 400 cds at home.I collect them since 15 years.I can't really make choose in fact.Just for example but with no real preference, it s too difficult,  I love bands like Cubanate,Eternal Afflict, Rammstein, Soman, Hypnoskull, Converter, The Mission, Sisters of Mercy, Sabotage QCQC, Bak XIII and lot of and lot af.It s too difficult to make a real choice

 

13- What are the future plans for SCHULTZ?

My new album is finish, it will be release, I hope, at the end of February it depends delay of the manufacturer.In the next months I will continue to promote it and will work on the stage video.I continue to book shows to promote it.I have also take part of several compilations will be release this year.

 

14- Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organizations?

Yes like the second album, my new album will be release on Soviet Media Kontrol, an US Label.This is not a big label but the man who have created it is a real fan of electro music and we have very good contact.Like everythings are good I will continues to work with him.For the first time, this album will be release also on legal donwload on a netlabel from UK called Industrial Culture.It is a very young label but guy work with a real passion.I have also make a special release will be available at the same period like my new album.This release is called "the Other Side", it is a remix compilation with artist from Germany, Swiss, France, UK, US, Portugal...I prefer to work with small label but with human relations rather with big structure without soul.

 

15-What are you currently listening to on your MP3 player?

Actually I m listening my last album to be sure everythings are good on each tracks before the final release.

 

16- By the way do you like my questions? tell me what you think about it! ;-)

Yes your questions are very interresting, its change from usely questions like magzine can answer.

 

17- What is the main idea, the message you want to leave to people who listens to you? What is your motto?

The main message is just have fun, take pleasure, open your ear, listen things differents…

 

18- What's the name of your band? where did the name come from? or what's the story behind the band name?

The name of the project SCHULTZ don' t have real signification.I have choose this name when I have in 2004 to make a show and at this moment I haven't got project name.SCHULTZ is a character in an American TV series what I saw when I was younger It is a fat character and sometimes audience are surpise caus' they wait for a fat man….

 

19-If people don't know what you and your music are about, how would you describe SCHULTZ?

Schultz is a mix of lot of things what Ilove.Industrial music, metal, gothic, electro music.I have take all this idea during my life listening music since ever.I have try to make a mix of all this things.And I hope it is a good mix.

 

20- WAR n'SEX 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,WAR n'SEX Tell us a few words about the concept of this?

The concept about this album is simple.I have release last year a free mini album available here:www.ikultura.net.This mini release was made with tracks I have specialy make for a fetish performance.The main them of this performance was the birth, the life and the death.

 

This new album is the simple following of this free album.What are the 2 things who makes lot of death everythimes and for what we generally can do nothing to stop it? The War and the Sex.This is the main concept of this new album.

 

21- Some quick fire questions: gitar or synthesizer?

Guitar when I was young and synthesizer now.

 

22-band or solo

Solo when I make music, excepted when I need female vocal.We are not a band.I prefer to call it collaboration.VDREY. have made and continues to make show alone and for me for my new tour I will make lot of show alone.

 

23-How is the current promotional tour going for supporting this album?

The promotional tour wil really begin in May in Latvia.I will make 2 show before in France but it is just support for other bands and it is more to finish details for the tour.There are lot of gig with WGT in Germany, 2 shows in London, several in Germany and more to come.If you want to stay connected the better things is to visit my myspace regulary.

 

24- What do you think of a modern Gothic and about Industrial / Electronica / Techno scene?

The only things I regret is the fact there are lot of bands and projects to discover but not enought people to listen all.People prefer to listen only the same kind of stuff like commercial electro-dark and don't try to discover other projects or things.There is lot of new things, lot of new productions every days.It become difficult for all old legendary project to continue to purpose good tracks.Some old band need to stop or to have a break, they have made their time, it is what I think.Young arrive on the scene and only good will survive.

 

 

25- What's your favourite track of yours?

I don't have really favourite tracks.I play some in live and never play another one.This is not because I think there are no good but I have to make choice.If I will have to play all my stuff, concert will during 5 hours...So to return to your answer, if I have to choose one, it is Today... from my new album caus' I know lot of people love this track and it is the first track with a video for me.

 

26-What and who gets you excited about music today?

Trying new musical things allways discovering new sound, new things, new idea.I also  think playing everywhere I can, meet people from everywhere, discover new cities, meeting bands what I listen when I was young.

 

27-Our usual question - what is music for you?

An essential things of my life,of course!I don't have time to listen lot of music but I can't stop making.

 

28- What was your best live experience so far?

Generally , excepted some bad surprise, every live is a good experience.If I have to choose just three,I will choose first our first show in Geneva during the Fetish Night at L'Usine because it was our first with music and fetish performance and people discover our.After  I will choose Level X event in London behind a small audience, but a crazy audience and the Dark Dance Treffen between lot of people who have never listen our music but who have really enjoy it.

 

29- Please list the name, age, school, and respective instrument of each band member

I will begin by my partner for the live act, VDREY.She's 30, have studying art and make sometimes performance during my concert, and also work on video.She 's the personn who have think the first to join performance and music, a great personn with lot of talent and idea.And after me, SCHULTZ, I'm 32.I make music and also work on the video.

 

30-What are your views on the current state of this Industrial / Electronica / Techno scene in Frankrijk.in terms of creativity and audiences? And the scene in other countries?

Industrial / Electronica / Techno scene in France is not big.There are lot of projects and bands but not real good quality things.I don't say projects are not good but I think there are lot of bad things who hide good things.And people don' t try to search new things.There is lot of creativity but maybe not enought know.For the audience, there are not lot of event here.Only some small festival in Paris but I regrets there is no real relation between Paris and the rest of the country.Just for example I live in a city with more than 350.000 residents.And there is not electro or industrial events.During several years it was a party one time a months but only with 70 peoples in the good days.

So no comments...It is the main reasons we play rarely in France and prefer to come to other countries.

 

31- you have very nice numbers` 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?

Generaly I work only alone.I take my computer and begin to experimente lot of things.I have lot of idea some are good another are bad.I always save my work and return to it later caus' I need time to think about music.For making 10 tracks I work on 30-40 tracks.When I think I have find the good way, I continues in this directions.After I have some compositions secrets, but it s secret so I don't speak about it...

I think it is like every musicians, no?

 

32-What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?

I think my music is rythmic industrial noize music.It is not a simply definition but like I have lot of influence it is not simply for me too to find work to definite it.I try to make a danceable music with the most beautyfull part of the noize, I think it is the best explanation I can give.

I have always listening lot of things, but my main influence are electro, gothic and industrial  music from the 90' Lot of people assimilate my music at bands like Converter, Hypnoskull, Tunnel, Sonar and generally productions from labels like M-tonic, Antz....

 

33-Since the music industry is more open now to purely electronic music has this made things easier for you?

Yes and No caus' I think it is the most commercial face of this music who have take profit from this.Yes,caus' when you say to people I make electronic music, now everybody knows this terms.But when you say I make industrial rythmic sound, people don't understand what you mean.People are not open for all kind of music caus' one times again they will listen only radios and tv purpose to them.But I hope with internet acces things will change now

 

34-So what are their main influences as a band at the moment?

Lot of things of course.Lot of discover made on internet or in concerts.I can't give name there are too much....

 

35-What is currently inspiring your material as an artist? tell me all about the Industrial / Electronica / Techno scene of Frankrijk?

I take my inspiration everywhere at every time.I have everytimes music on my head.Anythings can give me an idea.An event, a people, a things, a drama,a things I have watched on tv...

 

36-Do you think that people from the music press didn't expect you to grow up musically?

I don't really know.When I have release my first album I had very good feedback.But I thinks if you don't know the good personn at the good moment you can have result.For my second album people always know what I do and I have used the comments on review from my first album to correct some things in the second.Sometimes it s strange caus' you can receive a very good review from somebody and receive bad review for the same album by people from the same country...So I thinks after reading review and see what I do people become to think it is a serious project and I begin since several months to meet good personn for helping me.

 

37-what is the key to making music from SCHULTZ and what inspires you to keep growing as a musician?

I think you have to give all your time, never be desesperes and kicking back about what you can listen about you.When I have begin when somebody makes bad review about my work I would like to stop music.But if you want to grown you to don't take care about it, just continues again and again to have results.

 

38-How do you see the future of download / Copyright in area of goth-Industrial / Electronica / Techno music ? What are the best ways to develop it in your mind ?

I think it is a good things but of course people have to play the game too.And I m not sure they are ok for that.People prefer everythings are free.For trying to stop downloading of my album I have purpose to sell all my album on legal download for 5€.Of course you haven't got a cd for this price and album are release some months after cds versions but I think it is a good deal.But when I saw on internet you can find for example extracts I have send to radios for promo several months before the release of my new album I m not sure people understand downloading is a bad things and don't thinks with non legal downloading, they will kill the music industry.

 

39-what was your childhood like?

A very nice childhood with nothings special to say about it.

 

40-If there was one thing you want people to know about your band what would that be?

I have no special things to say, I prefer people coming to concert and have their own opinion about my music.Just  a things, sometimes I can read people are afraid to come to the concert when thre is a fetish performance sometimes.We don't fight you, it is just a show nothings else...We don't make orgy or other things like that.Be curious that all.

 

41-Please let us know about your upcoming plans, some new releases you like to confirm here

First my new album will be release at the end of February.You can order it now on my myspace or by mail.I have new distributors and it wil be easy to find it.In case or you don't find it easyly, just ask me.I will play in sevral country from March to September (France, Latvia, UK, Germany,...).If you want to have me in your country for playing, same things.I will also release a low cost remix release only available on download at this adress:www.industrialculture.org only for 5€ I think it will be a good way to discover my work.All my album are also available here at same price

 

 

42-It has been a pleasure to interview you on your musical activity,Well,any last words to your ebm-industrial fans?

Don't hesitate to visit my myspace www.myspace.com/electroschultz to listen it, to give your impressions, to tell about my project.It will really help me.Open your ears, try new things...And don't forget to come to concerts....

 

43-and what is next on Frankrijk agenda?

I will play next month in my city, it s the first time since 3 years.I m actually discuss to make another show in France very soon caus'we have big request for it more specialy in north of france.

 

44-How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?

People can buy my music in sevral shop and mailorder all over the world.I try to have days after days the most distribution as possible.If people don't find my album I also send some.People can download since several weeks all my albums at this adress: www.industrialculture.org For people who whant to discover my music, here is my myspace:www.myspace.com/electroschultz And to finish media can receive a fre promo pack,just need to send a mail at electroschultz@gmail.com

 

45-How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?

I thinks my music is more complete than the beginning.Most worked.At the beginning I made music for fun and time after time it s become more serious.In live it is the same things.We try to make new things for each show.We have includes video, live act painting and lot of other things.It is with try we will become more and more best

 

46-How is the new line-up working out?

The line up is the same since the beginning.Me for the music and on some dates, VDREY. for the fetish performance.

 

47-And, finally, what does the next twelve months hold for the band?

Oh lot of things.First my new album this months.We will also play in France and for the first time since 3 year in our city.We will begin the tour by our city.After we will play in Germany, Latvia, UK and are actually discussing for lot of show in Europe and for the first time out of in countries like Japan or USA.

 

48-Any last words?

Thanks for all people who support me since the beginning.Don't hesitate to visit my myspace www.myspace.com/electroschultz  to discover my work and to be in touch for concerts and news.Come to the concerts and don't hesitate to talk about me around you.

 

49-Thank you for your time

Thanks to you too,it was  a pleasure.

 

 

This page,and all contents,are © 2003 / 2010  permission by ebm-industrial.nl