Kaotik System Lebanon interviews DRUMCORPS

[KaotikCrew Profile Website]

1- On behalf of Kaotik System and your Lebanese fans, we are honored to have you here for the second time in Lebanon. Your first performance here was back in 2004; have you had any lingering memories from your first Lebanese experience?

Thank you very much for inviting me to your country, it's an honor
to play for you again. My memories from the last show are
friendly, dedicated, intense people, and the best shawarma on the
planet...



2- The Lebanese Breakcore/Metal scene isn't as developed as most countries within Europe. Have you performed in similar circumstances, and what are your expectations for your second Lebanese performance?

Lebanese fans are open and eager, which is awesome, but I try not
to go into shows with any expectations. You just meet the people
halfway and build from there. I've played in cities where the
scene isn't as developed and it can be one of most fun and
rewarding experiences, whether Dnipropetrovsk or Taipei or Iowa
City. You are helping people, and it really matters.



3- In previous interviews you have stated that Breakcore is the new punk and that there are several political and ethical messages that come with your music. Do you see any resonance between these messages and the Lebanese political and electronic music scene?

I am not an expert on the Lebanese electronic music or political
situations, but I do know that everywhere, people need a few basic
things. We all need social equality, health, clean food, family,
love, peace as in no violence, but also peace of mind. The
specifics change, and the superficial stuff is used to keep us
divided.... but people all over the world have more in common with
each other than they think. As musicians and culture makers, it's
our job to keep the pressure on. Punk is all about pointing out
cracks in the system, then finding common ground between people and
trying to make things better. Whatever the music sounds like,
those ideals continue.



4- Passionate is one of the few words that have been used to describe you. Can you give us an insight on where your passion comes from and how it is interpreted into your music?

My passion comes from growing up in a place that systematically
destroys beautiful things. If you don't want to play the game,
your option is to live minimally, enjoy the simple things, and live
by example. The fire comes from that struggle to carve out a
little beauty and meaning in an industrialized world that seems
bent on eating itself, dividing us from each other, and selling out
the planet's long-term future for momentary gains for a few.



5- Your rise within the electronic scene has been a bottom up approach; basically you started with no support and built your reputation and musical portfolio from the ground up. After your move to Berlin, have there been any moments or obstacles that have made your musical journey a lot harder and how did you overcome them?

The biggest obstacle is the struggle to stay true to inspiration in
the face of overwhelming distraction. Starting out is hard but
clear, it's you against the world, no problem, work hard and go.
But once you have a little success, the confusion starts. People
start tugging on you. They may have the best of intentions, but
some ideas just don't make sense on an artistic level, and you need
the strength to say no. It's hard because these people are your
friends, and the hardest offers to refuse are the ones that meet
you with a smile. Your artistic integrity is very easy to kill -
protect it with your everything... don't listen to the whispers.
It's hard.

Stopping the Aaron Spectre project was difficult. From the outside
it seems stupid - the shows are the biggest and best yet, and I'm
turning them down?!? But creatively it was not 100% where I want
to go, and I need to keep the fire intact. I love jungle &
dubstep, I'm extremely grateful for my time playing in that scene,
for the amazing dedication its people have shown me, and will
always look on those days fondly -- but there's more to do. Making
the new Drumcorps album is the hardest thing right now, but the
most rewarding creatively, so far. I'm doing many things that are
new to me, and it's a push, like climbing a mountain. But it feels
right, I'm where I need to be creatively, which is an awesome feeling.



6- Would you like to share any advice to Lebanese DJs/producers that are trying to promote electronic music that does not fit within the "hype/fashion-conscious" electronic scene?

Stay honest and true to yourself. Make what moves you and sort out
the details later. This will be extremely difficult when you're
starting out, as people are always trying to impose a lot of
imaginary rules, which masquerade as helpful advice ... Take it all
in and absorb, but sort it out. The world is big, culture is
global, and there are other people like you out there. Just do it!



7- Seeing that making music has become more user friendly, do you like the general direction in which the Breakcore genre is heading?

I've been a little out of touch with the way Breakcore has been
going lately.... but user-friendly gear is a very good thing, and
we need more of it, it gets rid of the elitism that always seemed
so silly. Now that laptops are not exotic, that everyone can get
Garage band and plug-ins, where does that leave electronic music? We
can relax and get back to basics. It's about music and life, not
an intellectual contest of who can wrangle the most arcane
software. Pushing the boundaries of sound design is awesome and
will always continue, but I also welcome the everyman aspect of the
new gear and how it enables people from all walks to contribute.



8 - Your music has found quite some success with metal fans. Was that your general intention in the first place?

I don't have any intent other than making the music I've been
hearing in my head since age 14. If metal fans love it, that's
awesome, but I'm not going for any crowd in particular. Let people
find what they like...



9- You have been called a legend by some. How do you feel about such a title?

It's flattering, but i'm a little uncomfortable with that title.
James Brown, he's a legend. He was born in a shack, raised in a
brothel, released hundreds of albums, stopped rioters from burning
down American cities after the Martin Luther King assassination,
and completely changed modern music in ways that are so ubiquitous
you don't even notice them. All of hiphop and funk is James Brown,
all rock and roll, jungle is James Brown very literally via the
sampled drum breaks. So me, legend, no way. Working on it. Come
back in 20 years and we'll see if i'm 1% of the way there.



10- Grist was a sick album. Are there any new albums in the works under your DrumCorps alias?

I'm hard at work on the new Drumcorps album now, which could be out
in early 2010 if work goes well.



11- Any final thoughts you’d like to share with your Lebanese fans?

Again, thank you very much for inviting me to your country! I’m
looking forward to rocking out w/ you guys. I also want to thank
Kaotik System for putting this all together. Art & culture is fragile,
you have to support it or it dies. A lot of infrastructure needs
to be in place to even start thinking about hosting international
events, and when it's not, things become very difficult. I greatly
applaud Kaotik System for organizing events in Beirut, I can't imagine
what they've gone through to pull this off. Organizing shows is a
thankless task even in the best of times, but it's absolutely
essential. Thanks again, see you at the show, front row.


Host: www.kaotiksystem.com

[producer_snafu Profile Website]

thanks for sharing

[Draegg Profile]

sweet as fuck! Thnx alot!

[kosmonavt Profile Website]

Yeah! new album early 2010!

[hiry Profile]

uargggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!uuuuuuuuuuuuuu
extreme musik for extreme people!!!!!!!!!!!!
seeya!!