DK: Why do squirrels feature so prominently in your personal mythology?

[sic]: I’m partial to all creatures that are small and strong.
I love the way squirrels move; they’re so unpredictable and can eat while hanging off trees upside down. When I’m feeling dejected, I instantaneously come alive when I see a squirrel.
They’re cute, ferocious, amusing, and whip smart.

If I were an animal I’m sure I’d be some kind of
Rodent that one would want to get rid of, so I can relate to them.

It would be my dream to live in the woods and run a squirrel rehab center. People beat them up you know! Squirrels are so clever that they themselves spread rumors that they are riddled with disease so that nasty ass humans will leave them alone.

I have a link list that I’ll post on my site soon. People should learn more about them. Never feed a salty nut to a squirrel, you are fucking with their nervous system and then blaming them for attacking small children!

DK: As a general rule, it’s better to keep away from squirrels, as they are known to carry disease and have very sharp teeth; who can really tell where a squirrel has been before you offer it a salt-free snack - it may have just been fed beer nuts by some well meaning yet unaware simpleton.

Getting back to the music bit - your music seems to incorporate
aspects of IDM, noise, and movie soundtrack structuring.
What inspires you to compose, and what do you base your song structures on?

[sic]: I just sit down and write a song.
The structure is just whatever comes out. I record 99% of my tracks live.
If I don’t shed tears about how horrible it is; I possibly will release it.
Films inspire me to compose. A barrage of images, lighting, editing, and sound.

DK: The artwork on your CD (...and rabbits named Friday) cover is quite phenomenal, who is responsible for it, and are in you involved in any other projects with this artist?

[sic]: His name is Luca Tripaldi. luca@squirrelgirl.com
He’s an all around talent. There’s nothing he can’t do.
I just told him exactly what I wanted on the cover and he drew it. I laid it out and voila.

We’ll be working together eternally. Last April we had an art exhibit/album release. Luca painted one bunny painting for each song ’...And Rabbits Named Friday’ and vice versa. I’ll have photos of his paintings on my site soon (I promise)

His imagery is in tune with my music and I’ll always embrace that.
Even though I am a painter, I see no real use to paint as long as Luca is
willing to work with me.

We’ve been talking about many projects for the future
and I hope to involve him in video/filmmaking as well.

I contributed photographs for his book of short stories (to be released)
and sound for a performance he did that involved text projected on the wall and the sound of his bathtub.

DK: What is your take on the current state of live performance?
Do you think many electronic music artists use laptops because it’s the only way they can "compete" with DJs in terms of live flow (meaning that if they were to use hardware instruments, they would have to take pauses in between songs to make adjustments)?

[sic]:
About the laptop thing, it’s just another handy way to do things I suppose. How else can one get across the border and play in another country without dealing with all the paperwork? It’s plug and play. Laptop use is not for me because I don’t use computers to compose.
Producing is a whole different ballgame from deejaying.
I like flow, but favor short and sweet with mood swings. I really love hearing people make mistakes when they play live, it’s engaging.
Live sets should not be perfect, sometimes i feel that laptop sets lack
that element of human error.

Unless it’s Guitar Wolf jumping around on stage or there are interesting visuals involved, I honestly don’t really feel all that entertained when i go see live shows. Laptop or not. I’m short and i can never see over the crowd.

Some shows I LOVED recently were Da Bloody Gashes with
the Black Hand, Acid mother’s Temple, Knurl, Hanged up, etc.

DK: Do you think there is too much electronic music out there?

[sic]: As long as I can sift through and find some diamonds in the rough, I don’t care. There is a ton of crap out there period, not just in electronic music. There is too much of everything out there, thats why we are all insane.

DK: When you are alone at home, what do you listen to?

[sic]: More often than not...the sounds of my 100 year old apartment.
I also listen to a lot of country (I’m talking Cash, Hazlewood etc), metal,
electronic, motown, noise, punk rock, oh and some classical music. I enjoy strings.

DK: Do you read? If so, who do you read?

[sic]: Fortunately, I do read.
I’m reading textbooks, I do that once in a while.
At the moment it’s ’Abnormal Psychology’ & various others psych & documentary film books.

DK: Would you ever make music for film?

[sic]: I just did and will hopefully continue to do so.
I’d be interested in doing some foley work as well.
Ultimately I’d like to do a full soundtrack for myself or with directors I respect.

DK: Who’s your favorite director?

[sic]: That’s a REALLY hard one, I have WAY too many favorites.
If I had to choose one it would be David Lynch. He’s got a knack for setting a tone and is to be able to maintain a sense of humor. The soundtrack work is always great, good ol’ Angelo Badalamenti !

DK: How important are visuals to your live sets, and why are they important?

[sic]: I’d say they make up 60 percent of my live performance.
I started out in the visual arts. I love making films and videos, painting and the like. If I can’t project visuals I won’t play.
I am telling a story when I play live. Visuals help lead the audience in.
And also helps divert people’s eyes toward the screen. I have awful stage fright.

DK: How would you feel if someone sampled your work?

[sic]: People have, I don’t care. At least they asked.

DK: What’s your take on the mp3 issue?
Do you believe they are beneficial to independent artists?

[sic]: I’m not sure they benefit the independent artists, but i do hope that most people who up and download actually purchase CDs as well. I don’t agree with people uploading entire albums before they are released, they are betraying artists.
Normally, independent artists are working hard to release a CD
or paying out of their own pockets, sometimes having a few songs available for people to listen to should benefit sales.

DK: You seem to have a very good sense of humor, have
you ever played a prank on someone, if not, would you ever consider doing so?

[sic]: I’m a total pain in the ass.
I pull pranks all of the time, I’ve recently gone old school
and put whoopee cushions under my couch when friends come to visit.

Sometimes my pranks backfire, like the time my ex brought me to a
fancy-shmancy restaurant for my birthday. It was very romantic.
I thought it would be funny to stick a pea in my nose and then sneeze.
I used to do that as a kid with green M&Ms. It’s just dumb, i was young and dumb.

Unfortunately, the waiter just kept disturbing us and asking if everything was ok. My pea came out at the wrong moment and my ex didn’t think it was very sexy. I responded to his revulsion with ’Yeah SEXY is hauling your drunk 6’5" ass home every night...’

DK: I’m glad that wasn’t me; sounds like a very early sign of demonic possession.

[sic]: Pure hooliganism

DK: hehehhe... Hooliganism!
Why do you choose to live in Montreal?

[sic]: As a Canadian I have few choices, I’d love to live somewhere warm.
I feel fortunate to live in a somewhat peaceful open-minded society.
Montreal has many benefits; I love my friends here, i love the summer and the architecture, but it can feel like a one-horse town with silly laws that make you want to move.

DK: That said, what’s your take on the current hype surrounding Montreal’s electronic music scene and its artists?

[sic]: I know tons of artists who are doing well. I’m very delighted for them. I’m not really part any scene, so I can’t really answer fully.
From my standpoint, the scene here has not changed at all, it’s always been a thriving city. But yes, Montreal is now on the musical map which is helping artists find success on an international level.

DK: I wish you all the best!

[sic]: Thanks, you too!

special note :

DAVID KRISTIAN live set in Montreal
The official launch for Something Wikkid This Way Drums http://www.wikkidrecords.com/
will take place Thursday April 24th, 2003 at the SAT in Montreal.
The evening will also feature live performances by Black Market and Pivot, and DJ Sets from Capital J and RCola.
In honor of the compilation, David will be presenting a live Drum n’ Bass set - his first since he began exploring the genre in 1995.
for more information about David Kristian, please go to http://www.davidkristian.com/

cheers,
aiden

FRIDAY MAY 30th, 2003

at STUDIO 2109 boul st-laurent

5pm -free entry

Montag http://www.montag.ca
Ototo
Pierre Crube http://www.neverprint.com/natacha/artistes_pie.htm
[SIC] http://groovylab.com/sundays/index005.html
Sixtoo http://www.13stars.org http://presstube.com

MUTEK 2003
4th Edition - Montréal, Canada
May 28 to June 1st

the detailed program is available online at http://www.mutek.ca
click on ’festival’ then ’program’

cheers

aiden

friday june 6th, doors 9pm

THE BELL ORCHESTRE

(french horn, double bass, violin, trumpet, drums, bells)

KALMUNITY CREW
(members of Ark of Infinity, Veranova)
5$

saturday june 14th, doors 9pm

CIAN ETHRIE

GRINGO PLAZA

DES CAILLOUX ET DU CARBONE

$5

saturday june 21st, doors 9pm

ALEXANDRE ST-ONGE

JAMES SCHIDLOWSKY

JACQUES GRAVEL

$5

http://www.radamontreal.com/

rad’a
841 rue Gilford
(corner St-André, métro Laurier)

514.522.4323

New additions to the compilation releases for [sic]

Danza De La Muerte/R. I. P. Syntactic -VARIOUS ARTISTS

A two CD set celebrating 10 years of work for
Syntactic and Klanggalerie. (austria)

http://www.klanggalerie.com/

CD1

Legion - Tunnelvision (Full Version)
Muslimgauze vs Ah Cama-Sotz: Untitled 3
Thought Universe - Swing Ting
Ted Milton vs Omenya - Postcard (Dub Mix)
Scanner - Underwater (Pari Passu Mix)
Susanne Brokesch vs Vromb - Untitled
Asmus Tietchens vs Gal - P.I.G. 5 (C.S.A.G.)
Pacific 231 vs Der Blutharsch - Heuristic Occlusions (Armoured Assault/Vino Nobile Mix)
Binary vs Hypercube - Untitled
Rapoon vs Xingu Hill - Fallen Gods
Statik vs Play The Tracks Of -Statik Ecstatic (It´s the music)
Novy Svet - Opio II

CD2

Pablo`s Eyes vs Monohm - They Had No Alternative But To Destroy Her
Black Faction vs The Haters - Polywelle Tykit
[SIC] - Lonparee
Lecanoscope - Aurafold Gate
Konstruktivist vs Das Fax Mattinger - Sweet Sex Subliminal
Nadya - Instant Pleasure
Fred Bigot - Mono
Nocturnal Emissions vs Vidna Obmana - Zeneca
Werner Moebius vs Roedelius - Techno Attraction
Fennesz produced by Intens - 5
The Altai Chamber Orchestra feat. Aube vs Rapoon - Sound
Vivenza - Mecanismes Et Industries Part 2
Aube - The Silent Light (New Version)

GREAT news for out friends at klanggalerie:

In August, Klanggalerie will open its own book and music store in Vienna
check their site for details!

MUTEK festival third CD compilation, 2003
The MUTEK_Rec CD03 compilation accompanies the
4th edition of MUTEK, held in Montreal from May 28 – June 1, 2003.

1. Clinker - Iceman (MUTEK edit)
http://www.clinkersound.com

2. Montag - Nicht Weit
http://www.montag.ca/

3. Jeff Milligan - Eight
http://www.techno.ca/revolver

4. Egg - De sang froid

5. Matthew Dear - We Came by Train
http://www.ghostly.com/1.0/dear/

6. Mambotur - Doble mambo
http://www.multicolor-recordings.de/mambotur/

7. Timothy D. Hecker - Enyanni
http://www.mille-plateaux.net/mp/

8. [sic] - Only for

9. Samiland - Capteur de brume
http://www.rien.qc.ca/bio.f/samiland_.html

10. Deadbeat - Portable Memory (MUTEK edit-ears only)
http://www.techno.ca/deadbeat/

11. David Kristian - Irk
http://www.davidkristian.com/

12. Coil - The Test
http://www.brainwashed.com/coil/main.html

13. T. Raumschmiere - Monstertruckdriver (Dabrye’s Big Truck rmx)
http://www.shitkatapult.com

14. Kontakt der Jünglinge - Antwerpen Bootleg October 2002
http://www.koener.de/
http://www.tietchens.de

15. Marina Rosenfeld - Topographik
http://www.creativetime.org/sonicgarden/a_rosenfeld.html

The disc can be purchased online via http://electrocd.com/doc.e/index.html

cheers.
aiden

a few highlights from this months Exclaim!

Synth Punks and Super Freaks
By Lorraine Carpenter
&
Synth Force Five
A fistful of Quebec’s other electro stylists
http://exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid1=1677

mutek review
By Joshua Ostroff and Lorraine Carpenter
http://exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid1=1719

[sic] live at Les Digitales in Lausanne, Switzerland

Les Digitales de Mon Repos (Lausanne, parc de Mon Repos) Jeudi 28 juin 2007 de 16h à 22h avec

Iria Flavia

Collectif I+

Effedege

Radon

Tokoloten

Bacalao

[sic]

Consor

Larytta

POL

À faire se retourner Edison dans sa tombe, voici en première mondiale le pivophone, dont la performance sera retransmise en direct sur plus de 20 radios publiques européennes, dans le cadre du Art’s Birthday organisé à Lausanne par Espace 2 au Cinema Bellevaux.

Tournant dans la tête de Jen Morris depuis des lustres et réalisée avec Micheal Egger, cette nouvelle machine pourrait s’inscrire comme la cerise sur le gâteau d’une histoire des machines à bruits. Des Intonarumori futuristes aux tubes robotiques des frères Decoster, c’est toute une généalogie glorifiant la virilité agressive, la force, le pouvoir, l’industrie et la guerre que révèle le pivophone. Le pivophone met en doute ce qui jusqu’à son arrivée faisait autorité dans les arts du son. Alors, s’agit-il d’écouter des pives comme John Cage désirait entendre l’âme des cendriers ? Non, mais on se rapproche. Et oui il faut se rapprocher. On est dans l’art de la miniature. Miniature d’un gros show télévisé où les pop stars sont des pives. Miniature d’une scène faite miroir. Miniature d’une patinoire d’Holidays on Ice, où les danseurs-hockeyeuses sont finalement grandeur nature. Alors déjà assité à un ballet de pives majestueuses sous speed ? Déjà écouté le fracas d’une pive contre une autre ?

Jen Morris est une artiste sonore de performances électroniques, radicales et troublantes. De renommée internationale sous le pseudo [sic], Morris communique rarement avec l’espèce humaine. Mais lorsqu’elle le fait, à travers, aussi, la vidéo, l’installation, la bande son de films et son label Squirrelgirl, c’est frontal et désarçonnant.
http://squirrelgirl.com/releases/SIC/

Michael Egger est un artiste vidéo, bricoleur-inventeur, programmeur, musicien et pédagogue.
anyma.ch/about/michael_egger/

Et aussi au programme de la soirée:

Thomas Tilly, Abstral Compost, Louis Schild et Antoine Läng, Raphaël Raccuia.