Featuring "NTRSN " Interview by Ruud Dreessen aka ebm-industrial.nl Date:11 december 2009 10:04
For the first question will be - do you know the netherland?
dB – Isn’t that the country that will annexate Flanders in a few years ;-) Of cours we know the Netherlands, especially their second hand site for hardware stuff. Very nice country with very nice people. We already did one performance in the Netherlands, in Maastricht for our good friend Paul Mommers and “De Muziekgieterij”. It was very nice by the way ;-)
pi – I never had problems with Dutch people they say what they think
How did you start to make music?
dB - Music has been my hobby for a very long time. Since I was a kid, I liked “synthesizer”-music. That is what I called it. I went to musicschool to learn to play the piano and my goal was eventually to learn to play the synthesizer. The last thing seemed a bit difficult, as my parents did not understand me fully (and they still don’t ;-) ). For the moment I have a nice collection, but the real musicproduction is PI his responsibility. He is really good in what he does, so I leave that to him.
pi - For me was the start in 1988. I listened then to industrial bands like Sloppy wrenchbody,skinny puppy,early frontline assembly,front 242,a grumh,click click , ......... The bands before the big new beat era here in Belgium.And there was in the local Tandy store a synthesizer for sale,a realistic mg1 (same like the moog rogue ). I spend a lot of time to go to the Tandy shop for playing on this machine.hahaha Then there was the roland alpha juno 1 and my music interest was born.
What and who are some of your influences in Industrial / Electronica / Indie ?
PI- My influences are bands like cabaret voltaire , portion control , legendary pink dots , throbbing gristle , hafler trio , 23 skidoo ,and of course more the mid 80.s bands like cassandra complex , invincible spirit , f242, revolting cocks,manufacture ,klinik…
dB – I can only follow PI on this. As I was born in the 80’s, I did not grew up with these bands, so I really discover some new 80’s projects every day. This is great of course. Things I did not see in PI his list are Orchestral manoeuvres in the dark, Gary Numan, Frontline assembly, Skinny Puppy and of course much more.
What are your top ten favorite Industrial / Electronica / Indie Club Songs of all time?Who are you influenced by? What would you consider your favorite cd's?
PI- This is a very difficult question for me. I like so many things, for example YASHAR from Cabaret Voltaire. This song has a very high mantra feeling, it is like a hypnotic bomb for my brain, a spiritual thing. Very strange! I have this feeling with most of Cab Voltaire songs. With the early records and the last house detroit techno sound also.
dB – Very difficult to tell. Like most people I think, I listen to certain music in certain periods. Life changes and music can only fill in the gaps. I really can not answer that question.
Tell one secret about NTRSN that you have never told to anyone?
PI- Our biggest secret is that we do not use software synthesizers :)
dB – Héhé, definitly the biggest secret. Don’t tell anyone.
So tell me a bit more about yourself, such as musical?
pi - I wake up and I go sleep with music. It is like a virus inside.
dB – Like I said before music is a very big part of my life. I would die if they take it away from me. Unfortunately, I do not have the time to really finish productions that is why PI does that part. My part in NTRSN is working on the visuals and the lyrics. I really like that too. It is all part of the project we are building together. In this way, we can really work in a decent way. Everyone has his part and know what to do.
By the way do you like my questions? tell me what you think about it! ;-)
dB – They hurt my brain ;-) Just a joke!
What is the main idea, the message you want to leave to people who listens to you? What is your motto?
dB – Revolution!!! We use the things we see around us and translate that into word, music and visuals. In case you wonder, we do not like what we see around us! We want to wake people up and make them move. Let them dance, enjoy life and raise their voice if needed. We do not really have motto. We just want to kick some ass when we perform. Not literal of course.
What’s the name of your band? What’s the origin of that name? Have you changed the band’s name before?
PI- I started years ago with JB, the vocalist from the band kill vision (you can find this track on the sigsaly transmission double cd compilation machines agains hunger ) and we used INTRUSION as a name. Later when I started with BD, I change the name to NTRSN. There was another influence in the band and i said for myself, let’s change the name
"People like gods" where did the concept come from? and what’s planned now that your album is finished? or anything else you're working on? Tell me why this title "People like gods"Tell us a few words about the concept of this?
dB – It is a part of the lyric of “We hate you”. We do not hate you of course, but it is a message to everything or everyone who wants to dictate us and tell us what to do. And of course people like gods, just look around you. People just need something to explain the things which can not be explained. And I hate the way those people think. Of course, I do respect their opinion. If they need faith, they can do whatever they want with it. I only ask that they also respect my opinions on some things. This said, we saw the sentence “People like gods” as everything we were influenced by as we made the album. It combines all our thoughts we had the last couple of years.
When's the new album coming out?
dB – We were said it would be in the beginning of 2010.The end of January.
What do you think of a modern Industrial / Electronica / Indie and about Industrial / Electronica / Indie scene?
dB – We see some changes, which is very good. People are widening their horizon and I see they even start to listen to other genres, which is the right thing to do. You can not hold on to one thing for the rest of your life. Also, new wave is totally “in” in Belgium. I do not know about the Netherlands, but I think it is great.
tell me about the label Sigsaly Transmissions?
PI - Marc Goldfuss is the person behind Sigsaly Transmissions. We grew up with the same influences. The only difference is, that we are Europeans and he is from United States :)
What was your best live experience so far?
dB – Every live experience is an experience on its own.All performances are really great.But I have to say the one in Marseille was crazy.We were headliner over there,and people came from Paris to see us.Even from Lille.We were amazed by that,we really could not believe that there were people who were that crazy ;-) Anyway, the concert room was too small.Everybody was dancing, it was really great.A crazy audience in Marseille,I can tell you that.
Please list the name, age, school, and respective instrument of each band member?
pi - I am 37 years old, I started with artschool and never finished. Music was my thing :) and my respective synthesizer is an old Roland d5 ( yes the cheap d5 ). I have a lot of analogue / digital vintage synthesizers.I think now 23 pieces lol and every time I use my Roland d5 again hahaha !
dB – Hello, my name is dB and I live in Belgium. I eat cornflakes every morning and I have curly hear. I am 99 years old, but still look 27. As an instrument I use my videocamera, photocamera and if that is not enough, I make some noise with synthesizers and everything I find around me. Even pots and pans do it for me.
What are your views on the current state of this electro scene in Belgium in terms of creativity and audiences? And the scene in other countries?
dB – Every country is different,which is great.I like to go to parties in other countries,like France,the Netherlands,Germany,England … Belgium is also different from the rest.If we here foreign people about Belgium,they often see it as a holy place for electronic music.I don’t have that idea.I like Belgium bands (of course I like them),but for me are English or Dutch bands as good.Different,but they are good too.
you have very nice remixen so Portion Control - Defend remix and Autodafeh - Mother Green remix 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?
PI - Thank you. When I started on portion control's defend, it was a feeling like a mantra hahahaha.I think I listened for 45 minutes to the never ending sequence loop. the first thing that bd say to me , “this thing is like a drugs for your soul”. I start always with listen to the band. I think it is good to listen to other people's music and trying to feel what they want to say.Portion control's defend was for me a very nice track to do. The sound of this band is very high processed. John and Dean are working with very good sound choices.They are very clean and have a natural eq and not to much fx on the basic lines. Back to basics is good. In this computer age there is now a little overkill on fx and vst tracks i think.i start always with a basic line .mostly with my analogue synthesizers and a drummachine and try to find a spirit in the loops the rest comes sometimes in 5 minutes and sometimes 2 weeks lol .the track is ready when i say yes there is a soul in the track a spiritual thing
What do you do to chill out?
dB – Working for NTRSN!
pi - There is no chill out my brain is one record shop :)
So what are their main influences as a band at the moment?
pi – My life!
dB – I also have to agree with that. My biggest influence is just what I see around me. Not only for my music, but for work too. You can find anything by just looking around yourself!
What is currently inspiring your material as an artist?
pi - Things like Synth Britannia, the Sheffield era, the end of the 70’s the start to the new age 1980.
dB – For the moment deffinitly the Scheffield era. I always liked the things on Factory records. But lately I am really in to that. I start to discover new things from the same time on other labels and I like it a lot. Often they are forgotten bands, or the name is somewhere in your head, but you just do not remember any songs. You know the feeling? Then you have to rediscover those things again.
Do you think that people from the music press didn't expect you to grow up musically?
pi - This is the choice for the music press. If they don’t like ntrsn, so what! We do not say you have to like our stuff.
dB – We are just doing it for fun. If people like we really see it as a compliment.
what is the key to making music from NTRSN and what inspires you to keep growing as a musician?
dB – Don’t listen to what people say. If you believe in your project, that is more than enough. You have to get satisfaction from it. If other do to great, but you just have to find a way to put all you emotions and your daily experiences in your music. That is creativity for me.
pi - The key is to stay yourself and doing your own thing !!
How do you see the future of download / Copyright in area of goth-Industrial / Electronica / Indie music ? What are the best ways to develop it in your mind ?
pi - This is a problem! First, there is no respect for musicians today. Second, I think the mediums are growing so fast !! This year usb, next year a whole computerbox with a small chip inside. I don’t know what will be next. We will talk again in the future!
dB – Indeed, there is still little respect for musicians. But I believe when you make good stuff, people will buy it. Of course, if you make 10 songs and put them on a cd, and then ask 20,00 EUR for it, you won’t sell.
Please let us know about your upcoming plans, some new releases you like to confirm here
pi - I am busy on new tracks today. Maybe good for a new ep, album, … I have to think about that ;)
It has been a pleasure to interview you on your musical activity. Well, any last words to your ebm-industrial fans?
pi - This is a fantastic time for the black scene enjoy!
dB – Listen to the old stuff again and remember the early years, put your hear up straight, and party!
and what is next on Belgium agenda?
pi - Washing my car. He stinks and looks dirty :) and going to bim festival 2009.
thanks for your time! great work on the albums and good luck with everything.any
dB – It was a pleasure. Thank you and maybe until next time ;-)
pi- Thank u 2. It was a pleasure to meet you.
How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
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