DIVA SUICIDE

Interview with - 'Diva Suicide', 22 Nov '10
Dedicated to 'Siobhan Clarke', my sweet 'Squidgey Goth'. Thanks honey for looking after me SAT !!! xx Plus also love to 'Sharon', my sweet girl, Carol and Michael as well. Thanks for making me feel like family.

From your BIO, it says you first emerged in early '09, after various line up changes. What can you remember from these first days, were you always called 'Diva Suicide'. When would you say you became, what we now know ?

DAV - No we started longer ago as 'Jasmine Cruel' and then changed to 'Diva Suicide,' although no one can remember cause there's no survivor from that line up... Stefano started a cat shelter in Italy, Maxim is now a porn actor and try to keep up with Belle, Benzi is into boxing...maximum weight

-XS- Yes, and Dav got manic depression and borderline and destroyed all his music equipment, he's now into video games and cooking...

Barry - The band constantly mutated throughout '08-'09, the concept started then but it wasn't until the end of '09 that 'Diva Suicide' had formed a stable lineup, and a focus that was shared by each member.

Who chose the name 'Diva Suicide', does it have any specific meaning to you. Or more a case of summing you up in one ?

-XS- The name was chosen by Dav after seeing a photo session I got done, with some white dress stained in blood... one of the pictures became the cover of their first demo, before I joined the band.

How long was it before you got the adopted sound that you required, was it an easy journey.Were there any releases, such as demos prior too the debut, and how did the differ ?

-XS- Yes, there was a demo before releasing the mini album, on the same line as this last. However, it is now that the band is really evolving and adopting a defined personality on the new tunes we are working on.

Barry – There's also that other earlier demo -XS- mentioned before that is likely circulating the underground and the sound does differ in that initially the style was more a goth industrial rock direction and of course with a different vocalist, by the time recording for the debut CD came the sound had become a lot more guitar driven with more punchy.

OK, as a new band please introduce yourselves to the masses. Who's who. Who's the genius and who's the insane ?

-XS- Dav is def the most insane...! Just drives us crazy... but we've learnt to live with it!

How would you best describe your approach and sound to new-comers, like my-self ?

-XS- Raunchy guitars and catchy choruses that will make you jump!

April '10, you release you debut to the world. 'Scars', please us me more, how was it's creation, and what secrets and tales does it hide ?

-XS- It was really exciting. We had to record lots of new tunes, decide which artwork were we going to use, etc, and we did not have much time so we were meeting every single day so we learnt to work together under pressure. It was nice to finally see our little baby being finished and released. Anyway, I think Scars is a more studio approach of the band that has changed after months playing together. The style has evolved into a more energetic live sound reflected on the new tunes.

Would you say your lyrical themes, are based around life itself, or more around particular set themes and set concepts ?

-XS- some of them are based on own experiences that can happen to anyone and some are more based on general life concepts.

Looking at your advertising, which is just so powerful. Some great imagery, especially the savaged dolls. Is something you enjoy on a rainy 'Bank Holiday', Ooh F*ck thets mutilate Barbie ?

-XS- We were looking for some band-defining images so we had this shooting done. It was real fun and there was cake and cranberries as well, we always love mixing blood and sugar!

Doe's this whole 'Punkish', carry across with your live performances. like an element of Theatre, the visual almost being as important as the music, feeding the crowd ?

-XS- Yeah, live performances are very important cause there's where you really show what you are. If there's a place to do it, that's the one!

Barry - We like to see it as a whole package, music and image comes all together. The fans want to be entertained not only sonically but visually to and putting on a good show is important to us.

So far how has the feedback been on 'Scars', are you 101% happy with it. Would you make any changes in approach for the next releases ?

Barry - The feedback has been great from the reviews received from magazines and it has helped to create a buzz about the band, we are more than happy about that.

-XS- Yeah, we have received very good feedback and indeed very happy about that! However, I believe there's always things to be improved and the personality of the band is not totally reflected in the album as it will be in the new tunes.

So far I see that the track 'She cries Lullabies', has become something of a cult track amongst the masses. What the story behind it lyrics, and what tale doe's it tell ?

Dav - Did it really, I am surprised! again don t know... go ask

Dav... I think he wrote it one night he could not sleep...

-XS- It's about a very very naughty innocent Lil girl!

Can you remember your first life performance, and how was the first reactions. How do you feel you music translates to a live environment ?

Dav - no one can...we weren't there...

-XS- Actually, yeah, Dav was the only one there... the rest weren't part of the band yet...!

I remember one of the first gigs the current line-up played, tho, and it was just great. We had a very cool crowd singing along and had loads of fun. Live music is the best thing ever, either being onstage or in the crowd!

Lastly Thanks for your time guy's and Gall's. Will be seeing you shortly in 'Dec'. Any last words ?

-XS- Thanks Edd, see you in Dec! x

Barry – Don't miss our next gig!

Out now the killer debut 'Scars'...

http://divasuicide.bigcartel.com/

For more info and contact, for this new bouncy class act:

http://www.myspace.com/divasuicide

http://www.billboard.com/#/album/diva-suicide/scars/1455762

http://www.reverbnation.com/divasuicide

http://www.last.fm/music/Diva%20Suicide

http://vampirefreaks.com/divasuicide

HELALYN FLOWERS

Interview with 'Max', of 'Helalyn Flowers', 09 Nov 2010

Dedicated to my sweet girl, 'Sharon', my blue eyed angel.

Photo by 'Mirko Rotondi'... © HF 2009

When did you first actually form, and who chose the name 'Helalyn Flowers', and does the name itself have any distinct meaning ?

(Max) We began as ‘The Claw’, which was formed back in 2003. Its style was more Goth-Rock-driven and the line-up was the typical 4-pieces band. Noemi and I felt that it wasn’t the rightest thing to express our creative needs, so we splitt the band in 2004 and started to write new stuff as a duo with the help of sequencers and electronics. That was the very first embryo of Helalyn Flowers. This name came to my mind like a blaze and both we agreed with using it as the band’s own’s.

‘Helalyn’ is an English Archaic term which stands for something like ‘subconscious’, ‘hidden’, ‘formless’ and so on. The idea of flowers (as symbol of life) growing up from an arid ground exactly reflects us as individuals and as a band. It’s freedom, shouting yourself for what you truly are. Nothing is impossible.

To Business, as a newcomer to your sounds, please introduce yourselves. Who plays what, and who’s behind the creative lyrical side ?

(Max) Officially, Helalyn Flowers always has been, is and will be a duo consisting of N0emi Aurora and me. At live shows, Ernst is our live-member behind drums and percussion's. All music, lyrics, imagery and everything else is ideated, done and approved by N0emi Aurora and me. Mainly, N0emi Aurora is responsible of all lyrics, visual, imagery and art, while I am more into production, music and instruments. But these are mainly ‘official’ roles. Actually, we are incessantly exchanging and comparing ideas on ideas.

The first few days, weeks what can you remember of them. Did you have an agenda, master plan. Were you surprised by what followed, and what were the first reactions like?

(Max) It can sound a bit odd, but we wern’t much surprised by what followed our first Mcd. I’d say that we were so happy with how things were going. This because we always used to project the main idea and image of Helalyn Flowers as a non-stop fluid led by our mental energy. The first reactions were wow, also including someone who scorned us!

Well, it’s N0emi Aurora who uses to write down all kind of events, but what she writes only her knows.

What was the first song you ever wrote as a functioning band, and is it still prominent today ?

(Max) “Acid Love Code” was the very first song we wrote as Helalyn Flowers and now we’re going to give it a live visibility. But “Alienate Me” is the song that really was able to increase our popularity immediately after the release of the debut Mcd. And we never stopped to play it live.

2005’s “Disconnection” MCD was your first official release, I believe after six months of being formed. What can you remember of its creation, were these easy times, or as a new band did you struggle at first. Do you think it aided as a building block, for future release's ?

(Max) Those were really joyful days that we’ll always remember. We got no expectations, just had fun and passion in doing it. We entered the studio only after a few months we started and we didn’t care about being in line with specific musical styles; we just wanted to make it our own sound. What I can remember is endless nights with tons of riffs, choruses, synthlines in the air…

Even though its differences with following stuff, of course it’s a super building block, especially for “Stitches Of Eden”. I think our next LP will have resonances and reverbs from it.

It’s an extremely important step for us, so we decided to perform 4/5 of it during our upcoming London show (on 11th December at Electrowerkz) as celebrating our first 5 years of life.

After it's initial release, how did you find the initial feedback. Plus did you find interest outside of Italy, and further afield. How long was it before you began to noticed?

(Max) Everyday I see lots of bands struggling to emerge from the deepest underground with very poor results. That wasn’t our case. We planned a massive promotion of “Disconnection” almost like a true label would. Simply we sent Cd’s to everyone: mags, radios, promoters, DJ's, websites… We self-managed site, myspace and every kind of promo tricks. We got warm responses from a lot of people, especially in the US and in the UK. We drove all this with determination and involvement, so when “E-Race Generation” was released we felt like a bomb was triggered and each step was a strong resonance.

E-Race Generation, was released. The following year, a huge change in sound feel and tempo. Stripping away the older 'gothic rock' elements. Bolder, louder and hints of modern industrial. Why such a drastic jump. Was it more a case of breaking the mould, and not just being a 'Goth Rock' band ?

(Max) Actually, we never cared of really being a Goth Rock act. What you hear is exactly what comes out from our minds and manufactured for Helalyn Flowers. Of course, we were aware of this strong diversity, but we think that one must consider “Disconnection” as a complete work, in despite of its length-time. There was no reason to enlarge it to a further Mini, single or Lp. It was perfect in its form. “E-Race Generation” marks our entry into more electronic fields. We wanted it faster, futuristic and frantic. And so it is.

Who would you say are you strongest influences. Do your lyrics and releases follow any set patterns or themes. Such as a particular concept?

(Max) As for the music, each release of ours reflects in some way influences from artists we really enjoy and make’ em our own influences in that specific moment. For example, in “Stitches Of Eden” you can hear references to Killing Joke, Gary Numan, Duran Duran, Orgy, Talk Talk, Marilyn Manson, Siouxsie… but we don’t consider them as sum points. Contrary, we like to play with them and let’ em be filtered by the Helalyn Flowers machine.

How long was it before you were approached by the 'Alfa Matrix' Label, and how have you found them since. To me, they hold certainly some of the most prolific and interesting, Industrial artists in the world. You now being one of them ?

(Max) We were contacted by the AM guys back in early 2007, thanks to our ever more increasing popularity among the Vampirefreaks network. They listened to our “E-Race Generation” that we submitted for the “Fxxk The Mainstream Vol. 1” and they offered a contract-deal after a couple of days. To be honest, we heard of them but never we imagined us as a band of their roster. We are not the biggest listeners of EBM so we expected to sign to a more metal/rock-oriented label. They strongly showed to believe in us and they have a very large distribution channel, so we accepted and signed to them in February 2007. They have great acts like Front 242 and Leather Strip, even though it’s not what I listen to every day.

Now being signed to a great label, with proper promotion and backing. Did you find you had to change your approach, or were you allowed 100% creative freedom. ?

(Max) We would not have sign to any label without having our total control on our product. Fortunately, Alfa Matrix is a label that doesn’t force its own acts to play in a specific way. Otherwise we would have fuck off.

June 2007 EP “Plaestik”, your debut EP, is released to the world. Now with backing and promotion, from a great Label. How did it fare, and did you feel it bought you the attention that you deserved at the time ?

(Max) Actually, I think it added what we missed as an unsigned act. They created a big ‘boom’ in the scene with our debut and this brought us at a major exposure. It went good.

The release of the debut-album, “A Voluntary Coincidence” in November 2007, shortly followed. Do you think this was the major turning point, and put you on the Worldwide map?

(Max) I think it really launched out our name even where there wasn’t possible as unsigned act. We had a lot of support from the main press, particularly from Rock Sound UK (as best newcomer), Flash (which featured us on the front-cover) and Orkus (act of the month).

What can you remember of its initial construction, was it an easy album to put together. Now being a settled band did you find things more fluid and relaxed?

(Max) Not really. “A Voluntary Coincidence” was difficult, controversial, critical even in its working of. You can hear it from the harsher moments like “Eye For A Day” to the sweetest like “Tide Line”. Even the most pop-driven tunes were contaminated with a growing sense of anger.

With each major release, comes a 'Special Edition CD', with exclusive Re-Mix material. Out of everything so far, is there any, that really stand out to you, and make you go wow, any you think is better than your original creation. I’m partial to 'Hybrid Moments (Xelius Project - Remix)' ?

(Max) I really love the 'Xelius RMX' as well as the ones by Andy (ex-Bluvertigo) and Neurobash. I think they have the power of going beyond the remix-thing. They are felt interpretations of our songs we really enjoy and yes… make us go wow.

Those ‘special editions’ are within the label’s politics, so it’s something we wouldn’t go to do if not ‘forced’ by Alfa Matrix. I’m not puking on it, be it clear, but we’re much more focused on our own music and see the remix as an extra that could be ok for just a bunch of songs, not necessarily for a full-length Cd set.

One thing also prominent of course, is you artwork on all releases. And also your overall visual look. Is this something you like to pride yourself on ?

(Max) Everything bound to our imagery (from pictures to artwork and symbolisms) isn’t made just for fashion or to join this-or-that trend. It’s how we really feel. We don’t do things people can expect. I’d rather stop doing all this. We came from a quite dark album like “A Voluntary Coincidence” and we’re here now with white backgrounds, Cyclops Flowers, Pop/Wave-like aesthetics and with a different sound. Exactly what people didn’t expect. Even we didn’t. In 2007 never we imagined to do an LP like “Stitches Of Eden”. To me, it’s one of the greatest aspects of being an ‘artist’. I find it exciting.

'Space Floor Romance', and the second stunning 'Stitches of Eden' soon followed. Do you think each release have brought about certain evolvements, and change in approach. Looking back at the older material, with your new skills and experience would you change anything ?

(Max) Of course, I’d change a lot of things but I think that it’d be stupid. We’ve always been sincere in what we do and each song reflects our truest mood and feelings.

Must ask about 'Hybrid Moments', my favourite. What its story, and hidden meanings ?

(Max) Musically, it started two days before we officially began the recordings for “Stitches Of Eden”. Suddenly we felt it was going to be one of our best songs ever so we were much motivated in finishing it and including it in the Lp. Very fast songwriting I’d say. Probably it was growing inside ourselves and we’re glad of having had faith in us. Lyrics are about us living different moments in our lives as bipolar stages.

Shortly you hit British, shore's, what can we expect to see at a live show. How do you think your sound translates into the live environment?

(Max) Well I can tell you that you won’t hear songs as they actually play on record. They’re more electro- crushing and entertaining. As usual, tons of sweat, draining make-ups and booming power. No pretentious stuff!

Thanks for your time, see you on the road shortly. Any last words to the masses ?

(Max) Looking forward to meet you in London at Dark Souls Fest!

Let’s say that it’d be a dream come true to see people becoming individuals living their own lives not being surrogate of outer will and power. Do what do you want and don’t lie to yourselves.

Thanks to you Edd for this pleasant talk...


For further info and contact:

http://www.helalynflowers.com

http://www.myspace.com/helalynflowers
http://www.facebook.com/helalynflowers

LIVE '10 - '11

SHIV-R

Interview with 'Shiv-R', 01 Nov 2010.
Photo - Mathew Burgess...

Naturally please tell me a little about your selves. When did you first form,and have you both been in any other bands prior ?

Lee Bulig: We have both had projects before and both contributed to each other’s projects in one way or another for almost the past 10 years. In hindsight, it seems kind of ridiculous that we never really did a full collaboration together until now. That said, it is really a plus that we didn’t fully collaborate until now. I think within electronic music it is especially easy to slip in to writing generic rubbish. Everyone uses the same gear, software, production tricks all pulled from the same websites and magazines. It is surprising that a lot of top acts hide how they do things like ninja secrets, because they sure as fuck ain’t doing it the way you read it on gearslutz.com

When I have seen Pete in action in his studio, I’m usually pretty bewildered by how he goes about business, and I daresay he feels the same about how I work in my studio. Put the two bewilderments together, and you get the sweet, sweet sugar known as Shiv-r.

In the first weeks and months, did you have a set first set goal, on visual attitude, and the whole initial sound of the music itself. How long was it before you were overall 100% happy ?

Lee Bulig: The project really just wrote itself out of necessity. It went through a lot of stages in the mechanics writing music between two countries on opposite sides of the globe, but that development is not the kind of thing we ever consciously discussed or tweaked. As the venerable Homer said “it’s just a bunch of stuff that happened”.

I think the thing to remember is that being an active musician is as pragmatic as it is artistic. There are plenty of great artists out there who just never seem to be able to finish a song, let alone an album. Then, if you are lucky enough to find someone to release your music, your life is full of deadlines and other commitments. Shiv-r getting to where it is today has had just as much to do with both Pete and I being able to deliver the goods in a timely manner. That might be an artistic sin to say, but it is the reality and the reason so many greater artists than us will go unrecognized.

So, to actually answer the question, from my perspective, there was never much of a goal, other than just getting things done. I don’t think either of us are 100% happy with any of the work we have done for Shiv-r, but if it weren’t for those deadlines and commitments, whether self imposed or slapped there by pimping record label folks with their fur coats and feathers in their caps, there wouldn’t be much of a project.

Please tell me about 'Parasite', your début MCD, I believe, or is there any material pre-dating its release, such as demo's etc. ?

Lee Bulig: We are far too frugal to be throwing out finished tunes. If we write a tune that turns out like shit we just release it under a different name. Why don’t you take a wild guess at what that project’s name is? Go on, take your pick, think of the shittiest faceless industrial act you know…

With 'Parasite', how was the first feedback, and are you 100% still happy with it. Do you think the press has treated you well ?

Lee Bulig: Parasite was never really intended to be a public release, or at least that was the plan when we wrote it. It was a sampler to give out to labels and the like. If you listen to the tunes on the disc you can hear that it is all over the place stylistically. The plan was to throw it out there and see what would happen. We considered making “Fractured Light” the title track, seeing as we didn’t know what kind of sound we wanted to present ourselves as. If we had found ourselves on a label that was pushing for more of the “Fractured Light” kind of sound, Shiv-r might have become a very different kind of project. I’m just too Zen and easily swayed by label folk, what with their fine jewelry and fur coats.

Pete Crane: Parasite was enough to get the interest of Infacted Recordings’ label-boss Torben Schmidt. I handed him a copy at a festival and a week later I got an e-mail from him saying he was interested in us. This was amazing because we had set our sights specifically on signing to Infacted. So our Parasite EP got the absolute ideal result for us! It also got some good feedback from the press in general, but the most important result was Infacted’s interest.

How would you best describe, your lyrical approach, do you tend to favour a particular concept, for each release. Or do you find observation and experiences, and the current climate, more leaning to your way of thinking ?

Pete Crane: With Hold My Hand and Parasite, it was entirely internal and a lot of the lyrics were stream-of-consciousness. These were written while I was living in London, which is a city which really forces you to put up a wall around yourself. There’s such an absurd level of belligerent indifference, especially in the poorer areas and it’s confronting to live on a day-to-day basis. So the lyrics are very claustrophobic and internalised, based on how I felt at the time. The lyrics for our new material are turning out a lot more externally influenced, taking in existential and activist tones. So the lyrics are constantly evolving.

Modern times and Society always labels, where do you find yourself genre wise. Industrial, is of course the obvious ! . Then there's,Metal, Industrial Percussion, Industrial Rock, IDM, Martial Industrial, New Wave ? Aggrotech, Ambient Industrial, EBM, Electro-Industrial, Industrial ?

Lee Bulig: You know there are children in Africa with no genres at all? And here we are with a gluttonous gloopity gloop of genres going to waste. Perhaps we could give them a genre we don’t actually like or need, like New-Age Ambient-Dub. If you feel like giving Shiv-r a genre, I ask you to do this… throw the some appropriate words into a hat and pull out a few at random and then put them in a logical order ending in the words “dark electro” or “industrial” . Use the following possible descriptors as examples:

Fuzzy-Noize-Bunny-Dark-Electro Diddles - Your-Skittle-Dark-Eelectro

Ninja-Secrets-Guarded-by-Mysterious-Ronin-Dark-Electro

Uber-Elite-Dark-Side-Jedi-Synth-Master-Dark-Electro

The-World-Needs-More-Noise-Oscillators-Dark-Electro

If-More-People-Liked-This-Genre-I-Wouldn’t-Need-a-Day-Job-Dark-Electro

You-Could-Substitute-“Dark-Electro”-with-“Industrial”-It-Doesn’t-Make-Much-Difference-Dark-Electro

[At last a man with a sense of humour - Editor]

Your début full length, 'Hold My Hand', well tell me more, how was its creation. Is there a set theme running through it, be it a set concept ?

Pete Crane: Hold My Hand, as an album and a concept, is an invitation. As most of the lyrics are very internal and the atmospheres of the music are very suffocating, the intention was to get under the listener’s skin.

The video, 'The End', left me intrigued. Seeing a young lady, being converted from, plain 'Jane', to 'Hot Rubberised Fetish Babe' !. When referring to 'The End', what's your initial meaning, be it the end of her life, or her way of life ?

Pete Crane: It is the story of one girl who “accepted our invitation”, to come into our world. The girl was drawn to “The End” despite warnings along her path and the transformation is what happens when she arrives. Of course, a lot of people made the comment that they thought she was being “raped” in the filmclip. Well, it’s worth mentioning that her attraction to the world she finds herself in is of her own volition, and that in any major city in the world you can find an underground scene where you can find these torturous activities being acted out on willing participants. Flaying, bloodletting and whipping are done willingly all the time and it’s this kind of dark attraction that is the theme of our filmclip. Sometimes it’s overwhelming to let go…

Your whole feeling is very dark, almost an 'Occult' feel, maybe, is this something that interests you, and who would you say are you major influences ?

Pete Crane: I haven’t been interested in the occult since I was a teenager. With Shiv-r, we can actualise the darkest and most esoteric concepts in our music and live it in a real and visceral way. We can create a monster and wear it like a skin – so we have no need to escape into a world of mysticism.

Lee Bulig: Russian folk music, Jewish folk music and cute Anime trance. You think I’m joking?

Can you remember your first live show, what was the first reactions like?

Lee Bulig: I played trumpet at a primary school war memorial thing. It was followed by post-gig wild prepubescent sex and throwing TVs out hotel windows. I just want to see if you will let “wild prepubescent sex” go on your zine…

Pete Crane: With Shiv-r, our first gig was only last year in 2009. But of course we’ve been touring for years in our other projects, and have both been playing concerts since we were in school, in jazz ensembles and metal bands for as long as I can remember…

What can we come to expect, in the coming months, any new material in the pipeline, or live shows planned ?

Pete Crane: We have a new EP entitled “Incision” which will be released in December 2010 and is now available for pre-order from www.deathwatchasia.com. This follows the tradition of our “Parasite” EP and includes Virul3nt and Kong mixes of the title track, done by us individually. The EP will also include a collaboration with Preemptive Strike 0.1 on a track called “Zeitgeist” and an all-new Director’s Cut of our filmclip as a data-track. Our next live shows include an Australian tour with Combichrist in December 2010, and a European tour in August/September 2011.

Thanks guys... any last words to the masses ?

Pete Crane: Keep your eyes level with god… --

Sites:
www.shiv-r.com www.plaguesequence.com
www.thecrystallineeffect.com

Myspace:
www.myspace.com/shiverindustrial
www.myspace.com/plaguesequence
www.myspace.com/thecrystallineeffect

Skype: Virul3nt