Have you guys ever been at the Berlin, at case you were-Imagine a late autumn city full of gray colors, a breeze of cold morning winds might wake a dead…This is no doubt a great timing for a good walk-Shall we?!
Put you best buts, wear your finest military jacket, we out of here…
Our journey will lead us to a forsaken Power station (would you like to call it,”Kraftwerk”-German)? A magnificent view of mighty turbines raise up t the sky ,or the roar of electricity, running upon the banded walls-such a power ,such a noise-Speaking buy Noise, The German cult band “XOTOX”- whose late success is far beyond the wards, have agree to share some fought with us.
I have the honor to talk with the guy him self, Ladies and Gentlemen aloud me to present. R Andreas David’s
Read & Enjoy
E = Erik
X = Andreas
E
Hello Andreas. First of all I’d like congratulate you. Very soon XOTOX will celebrate its first decade, since the band originally formed (XOTOX formed in 1998).Any plans for this special accession?
X
Many thanks for your congratulations. Well... nothing special is planned.. there will be my new album called “in den zehn morgen” as a standard-version and a special box (incl. the bonus cd “early recordings 1999-2002) and a tour called “keine ruhe vor dem sturm” which will bring me to really great locations and festivals like the Wave Gotik Treffen and the Kinetik Festival in Montreal, Canada.
E
Your music is described as “industrial for hyperactive people”. According to the official info, your sound should characterize as full of “hard beats, catchy melodies and merciless noise-attacks”, plus once I saw wallpaper with a huge slogan claim your music being “furious”. I wonder what makes you to decide playing such uncompromised music – after all XOTOX is highly professional band. You had always the option to create something “softer”. Why have you choose to play such a harsh music?
X
I have a fable for harder music. Once I discovered the sound of Front 242, The Klinik, Dive and bands like this I became addicted to hard and cold electronic sound – so it was a must for me to create hard music... but I also like softer music – not to create but to listen to.
E
“With the release of "disinhibition" XOTOX started performing live around Germany” (All the quotes are according official XOTOX web site. All rights reserved by the band). Before of that period, you have several releases which increased the interest to your music: The debut-album "stückgut" Small peaces named “epos" and "monolith". Could you please tell about the “first years”, Visions and hard decisions, you made for the name of your music…
X
It is still the same now than it was in the first years... I make my music because I like to... it..s a hobby for me... well.. in the first years I had no idea in which direction my music could lead me and nowadays I have much more experience and goals I want to reach for me personally – and I am more known by many people...
E
The album “silberfieber” and the mini album “nothing" (both released at 2002), were a big change “point” for XOTOX. The Hits played regularly at the German clubs (songs like,” eisenkiller" & “null”)- lead you to get a sign contract with the famous Industrial label “Pronoize”. Compilations such as “"industrial frequencies vol.5" and "industrial highlights vol. 1", have both included by famous German Magazine –“Orkus”.
"lichtlos" (XOTOX album 2003),was first album ,released on “Pronoize”-As long I know it had a huge success at Germany! Andreas…what could you tell us about Industrial culture at Germany for the current day? What are the relationships between labels /bands/bookers and of course the crowd?
X
I have no idea what is happening in the industrial culture in Germany, because there is one big problem I think... everybody is defining “industrial” in another way... for me, personally, “industrial” is like Dive, Haus Arafna, Sonar, Winterkälte and so on... so in my opinion the industrial-culture is very deep into techno and stuff like that.. But sooner or later the whole scene will come back to hard structures and complex rhythms... That’s what industrial is like... in my opinion. I like technoid music in a harder way and I like technoid rhythms but I like the combination of technoid influences and industrial-like rhythms and structures... that’s what call “industrial” - in my way... And that’s what I like to express in my sound and music.
The scene is very small – even here in Germany – so everybody knows everybody and it’s more than a family than different people and bands...
E
I noticed a picture of a flyer of your live performance ,in association with “Noisuf –X”, I have decide to check out your history together- I was really pleased to find they guys from X-fusion/Noisuf-X not only support you as a musical project ,they doing mastering for your albums! Recently I find their “Music production” is growing, widely making mastering version for most of European well known bands. What could you tell about your working relationships?
X
Well... I am supporting Noisuf-X on stage. I know Jan very well and I really appreciate his taste in music and his knowledge about all that technical stuff – in my opinion he is one of the best sound-engineers one can have for mastering and that’s why his list of bands he’s working for is growing and growing.
E
Throgh period of 2003-4 “eisenkiller" ("Lichtlos" Album by XOTOX). Reached place number 1 at “DAC”- the German Alternative Charts. As long I know, there was never such a thing, before-Industrial /EBM projects have never reached such a high position! You even succeed to hold the “royal” place for weeks (respect!) Tell us how did you fill about this small peace of history- You seeing this fact is personal highest achievement, or it’s just a beginning for thing getting bigger?
X
Of course I am really proud of this fact that I am (still) the first who reached position 1 with such a style of music but nevertheless it was never a reason for me to rest on those laurels... this fact innervated my raison d..être in the scene. It was a really big push for me and my music and I am still happy about this.
E
2005 was the greatest year (at least it’s my own subjective opinion) for XOTOX carrier, till now. You have release the “[PSI]” Album, which printed for 2 different issues ((jewel case-edition & digi pack collection which contains 2 videos and remixes done by: [S.I.T.D]: Noisuf-X (all band merchandising available at XOTOX official web site). But the most important fact, is your reaching number 2 of “DAC” , holding a strong position for couple a weeks! I’m not stopping to wonder…XOTOX is quietly “young” project, you playing most definitely “un commercial” music. How are you making to reach and fulfill such a high goals with your music- reveal the secret!
X
I think that the people realize that I am just a normal guy doing his thing – just making music... there’s no casting... no faked status... I am just myself and I think one can hear it in my music.. I am just doing what I like and I am happy that the people like it, too. I think I hit the right nerve and I can give the people that kind of music they like... but in the end just the people decide what they like and what not and I am very happy that they like me and my music...
E
A classic question! What do you know about Israeli Electro / Industrial scene?
X
To be honest... I don’t know the Israeli Scene... I am so sorry about this... but all the readers are now invited to bring the scene closer to me... contact me and send me myspace-links or other links to Israeli bands... I would really like to listen to them...
E
2006 have birth a live album to commemorate your success at 2005! The album title is. "Documentation I: Ton" , it contains several remixes and printed for 1000 copies. What could you tell us about the past year? How really was it, the year of 2006 – as long I know, you perform about as a DJ playing noise and electro?
X
I spent more time in doing remixes or other stuff in the last year. 2005 was such a great year for me with many things to do and gigs to play and music to create... I was powered out in my creativity.. Well... I have a normal job and a little family and so the musical things are always on number 2 in my live... so I needed some time for me... but I discovered my fun in spinning some records and CDs in the clubs and so I tried to act as a DJ.. Just for fun. I was invited by many clubs and so everyone can also book me as a DJ... It’s great to see how the people in the club react on the music I spin... it’s something completely different than playing a gig... I like it!
This year will be really great... a new album, a tour and let’s see what else will happen...
E
Andreas, thank you so much for this amazing interview. I hope we’ll see you soon visiting, us with a “night to remember! Last message for the Israeli fans?
X
I was very surprised being known in Israel – I never expected that... I feel very honoured... many many thanks for that and I hope I can manage to come someday for “a night to remember”.. Thanks for the interview!
For official image / Visual information about “XOTOX” use the links bellow
Official “XOTOX” Web Site: http://xotox.info
Official “XOTOX” My Space: http://www.myspace.com/xotox
Interview by Erik
