Thursday, September 27, 2018

Kollaps Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?


Damian: Right now we are preparing for a European tour. We have just finished recording a new album which is slated for release early 2019.



2.Your last release was in 2017, what are some of the things you feel you have done different musically with this recording that you where not able to do with your previous ep?

Wade: A lot of the methods that were involved in writing Sibling Lovers were intended to deconstruct traditional song structures and instead opt for relentlessness in repetition. We also completely abandoned the guitar, bass and drum foundation which opened up a lot of room for us creatively. There were also more esoteric experiments that were employed during the recording stages, for example, sleep deprivation was something we unintentionally used during the vocal takes and I feel that achieved quite an effective result. The desperation can be heard.



3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored with the music so far?

Wade: A lot of my words are heavily metaphorical. Sibling Lovers, for example, is not really related to incest but discusses ideas of forbidden love, infatuation and infidelity. Other songs feature themes about addiction, futility, love, and the fear of sickness, aging and death.



4.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that was presented on the album cover?

Wade: Yes! My wife Ligeia designs our artwork. The Sibling Lovers LP was autobiographical in nature and captured a short, tumultuous time in my life hence the fractured image of myself on the cover.  There are a lot of smaller components to the album artwork that tie in together to make a greater meaning, or accentuate lyrical ideas. For example, the record heavily discusses emotional states comparable to wastelands; Hiroshima Winds #1 & #2 are designed to paint this image on the album. The back cover art ties in with the theme of the bombing of Hiroshima and is personalised by the sketch which was illustrated by my mother-in-law.


5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?


Damian: Our best shows rely on factors that are somewhat unrelated to our actual performances. If the sound guy is happy to accommodate what we require, that is usually our main issue. Our show in 2017 at Urban Spree in Berlin was a major highlight - such professionalism in every regard, and an amazing lineup and turnout.

Wade: Also worth mentioning are the chaotic and disorganised shows. Damian’s first with us was in an abandoned, squat type building where some very intoxicated Germans had electrocuted themselves trying to connect a PA system up with car batteries.



6. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?


Damian: Once this European tour is done, we will commence booking 2019 to coincide with our album release; which will encompass the US, Europe, Japan/China, New Zealand and Australia.



7.The last album was released through a variety of many different labels, can you tell us a little bit more about the labels you worked with on getting the current release out?

Wade The EP was a Silken Tofu only release. The follow up was a split release between Silken Tofu and Trait Records. We haven’t worked with any other record labels in terms of releasing material. Trait Records is run by Damian and Kollaps signing to his label is basically how we met and eventually joined the band.



8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of industrial, noise and other underground genres?

Wade: Overwhelmingly positive, I must say, particularly in Europe and the United States. We also get brutally negative responses by those uninitiated to these genres so that tells me that we're doing something right.


9. I have read you have a new album coming out during the beginning of 2019, what can we expect musically once it is released?

Wade: We have new full length LP coming out at the beginning of 2019 entitled Mechanical Christ. You can expect more versatility and a much more complex and aggressive sound. It is harsher in parts however it also has some neo-folk inspired tracks that are aimed towards atmospheric/drone styles of music. Lyrically, the new record has expanded into narratives and deals with the external world as opposed to having such an internal focus featured that the last record had.



10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?


Damian: We all listen to a wide variety of music - predominantly based around early 80s industrial/noise, but we also delve into a lot of modern stuff like Uniform, Pharmakon, Trepaneringsritualen and a lot of power electronics like Genocide Organ.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?


Damian: We all have day jobs at the moment; this takes up most of our spare time. Cooking is a major part of my life, I have a heavy interest in vegan cuisine and have been a chef for the past 20 years, working on and off around my musical endeavours. I also run Trait Records and both of these things keep me extremely busy.

Wade: I’m very interested in English literature and works of historical literature both of which I have studied at university. My interest in history mostly pertains to 20th century political conflict, war crimes and military history.

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