Featuring Michael / [product] Interview by Ruud Dreessen aka ebm-industrial.nl Date:Sun, Dec 6, 2009 at 1:28
Thanks Michael that you have found time to give answers to these questions,
1- For the first question will be - do you know the netherland?
- I do know the Netherland, although I have never been there unfortunately.
2- Do you follow the electronic music scene, do you have any other favourite bands?
- I do not know of any bands in the Netherland, again unfortunately.
3- Greetings Michael could you please shortly introduce our readers your music project [product] Please fill also a biographical resume about how,when and where...give us a more background information?
- product is the independent industrial project of Michael Kurt. Originally under the title Season of Suicide, he released a handful of DIY demos and also played one show as SOS in Hawaii before moving to Portland, Oregon. Previously Michael was a member of Injekted with Justin Wright and played a number of shows before the band separated with no releases.August 30th 2008 saw the first release from product called Placement.
4- How did you start to make Industrial,and what is Industrial, for you?
- I started making industrial when I was 14 out of mostly boredom and a fascination for the club scene in Hawaii and the people that I was around. I chose to pursue Industrial over the other electronic genres because it encompassed all of my music fetishes; I've had an affinity for Black Metal, Punk, and Techno my entire life, and when I found Industrial, it all sort of came together to make the genre that described what I wanted from music: The intensity of Black Metal, the cause of Punk, and the dance qualities of Techno. Perfect.
5- What and who are some of your influences in Industrial,?
- From the beginning I started out with more experimental influences, mostly Skinny Puppy and :Wumpscut:, and from there went into more of the TerrorEBM bands: Suicide Commando, Tactical Sekt, X-Fusion, Agonoize, etc.
6- What are your top ten favorite Industrial,Club Songs of all time? What would you consider your favorite cd's?
1. "Top 10 industrial club songs"
- Suicide Commando "Love Breeds Suicide"
- X-Fusion "Bouncer At The Pearly Gates"
- Tactical Sekt "Xfixiation (Myer Burns The Dancefloor Mix - Haujobb)"
- nolongerhuman "Let Me Go"
- Agonoize "Sick"
- Terrorfakt "Spineless"
- Skinny Puppy "Inquisition"
- :wumpscut: "Christfuck"
- Columbine. "You Should Be Ashamed"
- Wynardtage "Cold Massive Blue (FGFC820 remix)"
2. " What would you consider your favorite CD?"
- My all time favorite CD would have to be :wumpscut:'s "Bonepeeler"
8- So tell me a bit more about yourself, such as musical?
- Musically, I grab what every I can within the genre for [product], my other music project Destroy.Silent.Minds is more free form and experimental, however [product] is more traditional Industrial structure wise.
9- By the way do you like my questions? tell me what you think about it! ;-)
- Your questions are good, I've edited them slightly, but it is definitely an intriguing interview.
10- What is the main idea, the message you want to leave to people who listens to you?
- The main idea behind [product] is to be able to communicate the hatred and immorality in the world on a more personal, in depth level.
11- What’s the name of your band? What’s the origin of that name? Have you changed the band’s name before?
- [product] : I am the [product] of my generation, of my youth, of my past, etc.
- I used to be in a band called [injekted], but it didn't go very far due to creative differences.
12- "first demo, 'Placement 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,'Placement " Tell us a few words about the concept of this?
1. "first demo, "placement," where did the concept come from?"
- "Placement" was the results of a girlfriend I had; she moved to Utah of all places without telling me and then called me three days later to share the news, a lot of abandonment and trust issues ensued from that situation, so I managed to compile them and outlet all of my anger towards her into the demo/first real happenings of [product].
2. Whats planned now that your album is finished?
- "Placement" was not a full album, only an 5 track EP, as was it's follow up EP "Reassignment." The reason I am only releasing 5 track demo EPs is because I want to save the full material for when I am able to join a Label and put together a true Debut Release.
3. Anything else you're working on?
- I mentioned briefly earlier that I have a new project I am working on called Destroy.Silent.Minds- This project is more free form aggression and less of the 4/4 dance beats and happy synth time. I have this growing obsession with Hardcore (bands like Miss May I, Emmure, Carpathian, etc) that I just cant get out of my head, and I think that it really shows in Destroy.Silent.Minds.
13- reassignment When's the new album coming out?
-"Reassingment" was released June of 2009, it is currently available.
14-How is the current promotional tour going for supporting this album?
- I have not been ballsy enough to launch a full tour on my own dime unfortunately. If I had the money and the connections, I definitely would love to go out on the road.
15- What do you think of a modern Industrial,and about Industrial, scene?
- My local scene, unfortunately is lacking at the moment. As far as the industrial scene world wide I see it going very well in places I've never been, mainly Mexico, Montreal, Germany. If given the opportunity, I would love to see all of those places and their respective scenes.
16- Our usual question - what is Industrial, for you?
- Industrial for me is the aggressive movement of intelligent minds.
17- What was your best live experience so far?
- My best live experience was in January of 2009, in New York City, NY where I played at a monthly party called STIMULATE; That was by far the largest crowd I've ever played in front of, it went very well.
18- Please list the name, age, school, and respective instrument of each band member
- [product] is only Michael Kurt, I am 20 years old, and currently not enrolled. I do all of the composition and recording, lyrics, techwork, etc. However, I do bring on a live keyboardist for stage shows, a good friend of mine: Levi.
20- 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?
- When going into the studio to work on a new track, I usually have a concept in mind that I want the song to take on, musically. I start with the main lines and rhythms and work up from there, encompassing many layers and ideas until I am satisfied with the quality of the music aspect of it. After the music is done, I go back and write the lyrics while listening to the music so that I know it will work with it well. From there I record, mix, pre-master and listen.
21-What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
- Industrial [period]
22-Since the music industry is more open now to purely electronic music has this made things easier for you?
- It has not made things easier for me actually, because I am under the age of 21 [ and unfortunate thing for someone in the USA,] I cannot play very many shows in the state I live in, therefore forcing under exposure. On top of those difficulties, it is extremely hard to find an American Label that is even accepting demo submissions because they have all gone under, or just cant afford to sign on any debut artists. It's a rough time for Industrial here.
25-Do you think that people from the music press didn't expect you to grow up musically?
- I think that a lot of people definitely dont take into account my abilities because of my age, but I also think that a lot of people dont really care about age, just what you are able to produce.
26-what is the key to making music from [product] and what inspires you to keep growing as a musician?
- The key growth pattern that [product] has taken is just keeping up on the current trends of industrial and trying to figure out what aspects I can take from what I like and make it my own.
27-How do you see the future of download / Copyright in area of goth-Industrial,music ? What are the best ways to develop it in your mind ?
- I think that it is required to download music illegally now, because there are so many bands that have gone to complete shit, Combichrist, Psyclon Nine, Dawn of Ashes, to name a few. If you dont preview it, you will be upset at the horrible direction they have taken away from Industrial. I still buy music that I like, because I am a collector, and I value the art work and sincerity of hard copies of the music. I think the collectors and the people that like the art will keep the CD on the shelves if you make it worth their while.
28-If there was one thing you want people to know about your band what would that be?
- The music is personal to me. I dont make music for you to dance to with terrible lyrics.
29-Please let us know about your upcoming plans, some new releases you like to confirm here
- Currently I am working with a promotions company (WELT MUZIK) and preparing for the new year when I am able to book more shows, provided the scene improves. I am also looking forward to possible shows out of state once the money is available.
30-It has been a pleasure to interview you on your musical activity,Well,any last words to your ebm-industrial fans?
- Believe in it.
32-thanks for your time! great work on the albums and good luck with everything.any How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
33-Were you asked to play or did you have to ask for a slot?
- I usually have to make it happen on my own.
thank you very much,
-Michael [product]
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