Evil Empire

Interview with Alec Empire

by D J Collacott

Digital Hardcore pioneer, ATR member and high priest of punk and electronica Alec Empire took time out from touring disco synth edged new album 'The Golden Foretaste of Heaven' to speak to Liberation Frequency about the new songs, new musical directions, touring, DJing, lyrical metaphors and reading about his own death!

Liberation Frequency: Your new album has a much more 80s electronica and disco feel to it than previous material, what made you go down this route?

Alec Empire: I just wanted to show another side of me. I started in the dance scene when I put my first records out. So it's a bigger part of what I do than many people think. I am a DJ...and for me it's an important part of how I make music or better ...test ideas before I record them. I created digital hardcore in the 90ties when I sped up hip hop records and mixed them with punk seven inches. And then we recorded this type of sound with my band Atari Teenage Riot. I really make music when I spin, so some people are very surprised when they see me as part of a club night, because they probably thought that I am the musician kind when it comes to DJing...like I play some records and people want my name on the bill...but it is much much more than that. I moved back to Berlin about one and a half years ago. And I was excited about club music again. People are really ready to take in new ideas in a dancefloor situation. It's great. I wish we could say the same about daytime radio... So for my new album I went back to my roots but combined them with my vision of the future. For many people this came as a big surprise because the result seems to sound like nothing else out there right now.

LF: How did your new production team and touring band The Hellish Vortex, change the music you make?

AE: I think it was more the approach , rather than the music itself. Because I create this sound all by myself. But I feel good in the company of such great musicians. It's a real dialogue and I love that. Everybody has ideas. We would go out and then the next morning have new ideas for sounds and stuff. I think everybody is very free to do their own thing but when it's necessary can vibe of each other...it's a new time - we all feel different now. Nic Endo has always been an important part to my music. She brings the whole thing to another level. She is also responsible for the artwork concept and the style of Eat Your Heart Out Records.

LF: Do you think the Golden Fortaste of Heaven is the most accessible material you have written yet? Do you think the new album will widen your audience?

AE: I think I can't manipulate this. I only make the music I like at that moment in the studio. So if it's accessable or so is down to the people. But I see a different crowd at the shows and we get all this great feedback. Some people tell me they hated my previous records and now they're totally obsessed. It's weird...but I love that change. The press is reacting very positive too...the whole thing is growing...I couldn't be in a better situation right now...

LF: Your solo work is much more personal and less political than ATR, does the new album best represent your life, feelings and experiences?

AE: I wouldn't say that. I mean ATR had this dogma, every song had to be political, every sond had to support that idea. But I have done very political records as well. "Intelligence And Sacrifice" is a strong statement which describes what is happening in Iraq for example.

LF: You have been described as the German Trent Reznor, do you find any truth or pride in that statement?

AE: I guess when people say such a thing they see that as a compliment. I think Trent does completely different music than I do. His music is much much more mainstream, he was never a part of an underground movement. And I don't mean that in a negative way. When one looks closer, one realizes that the comparision doesn't work. We share some of the same fans though. This whole thing came up when Trent cut his hair short and I had a big record with ATR , so we were in the press at the same time and we looked alike somehow. But the truth is that I could have never written "The Fragile" and he could have never written "The Golden Foretaste of Heaven". Humans always group things to understand them better, but it would be as crazy to compare 50 Cent and Kayne West.

LF: Are you planning anything special for the live shows, in regards to presenting/playing the new material?

AE: It is all about the live show. we have a special light show for this year. we keep changing the line up. If you have seen us last year, there is no chance to see that line up again.We were a quartett, now we are a trio. Nic Endo and Robbie Furze are playing with me. Last year it was Nic and Zan Lyons and David Fisher. This works really great and playing the shows is intense. because it's always fresh and everyone is using different sounds and has a new approach on the songs. Nic Endo changed her whole electronic set up for this year.

LF: Does the song 'Robot Love' refer to an actual relationship in your life?

AE: Yes, it does...I like using metaphores. Every song on the album is about a relationship I had in the past. Sometimes personalities like that can have a certain appeal for a short time...when a girl is so pre-programmed and has no real character and everything was taken from somewhere else, it gives me that Alien 1 feeling...you know what I mean?

LF: What is your favourite track off the new album and why?

AE: I think it is probably "1000 Eyes". It is a very personal song for me and I think I captured that in the recording. It is a song about a destructive relationship... and how it felt after the break up. we recorded the song in an empty warehouse space, set up all the instruments and microphones and went for it. This is why it stands out so much from the rest.

LF: Do you feel the internet has allowed people to question politics, and the way their country run more?

AE: Yes, it has given people a better choice. There is no excuse anymore. People can access alternative information. There are always more sides to a story, and it's great that people are starting to understand this. My parents generation had too much respect for this big newspapers and the news of TV. Now this is changing. Many of the problems we have in our society right now go back to people not caring enough about what they do and what is going on. When more people understand that life is not destiny, it is about how you shape it, things can only improve... (interview continues below)

LF: What was the most difficult lyrics to write for the new songs and what song has the greatest story behind it?

AE: No track was difficult really...it all went smooth...I knew exactly what I wanted to do and how I would achieve that. I only went out partying during the recording...then I went to the studio and put the songs down...Berlin didn't feel like coming home, it felt like a new city with elements of the past in it...

LF: What is your biggest regret and career high point?

AE: My biggest regret was that I didn't finish the recording session with Simian from the Silver Apples back in 1998. I was working on the ATR album "60 Second Wipe Out" and just couldn't get into it. Right now I still have the unfinished songs and they are great. I lost his email though...so I don't know...My career high point ? haha maybe when I sat down with Ice Cube in LA...and we listened to "Destroy 2000 years of culture" by ATR...his face expression when the energy hit through those speakers was a personal peak moment for me... I knew that I achieved everything I always wanted...haha...so cool...

LF: What is the most ridiculous thing you have read about yourself that isn't true?

AE: That I died...I couldn't believe that. I went to Turkey for a show and a journalist showed me a piece in a music magazine there. When my friend and band member Carl Crack died, the journalists got it wrong and thought I died...Or they thought they get more attention by running the story with me in it. I felt it was very disrespectful to my friend...

LF: What do you think of the current UK and German music scenes?

AE: Simple answer...UK scene is walking backwards into the future...when you walk like that, you can't run, you can't really find ways around obsticles...you might hit something...The German scene and I can only mention the Berlin scene as it is so dominant that no other city really matters at this point, so the German scene is all about avantgarde. It is an economy thing...the British and the Americans have closed themselves off from the rest of the world...when it comes to letting other influences enter their market. This is wrong because music works like language. If there is no interaction of some point we all reach a still stand...I can only speak for myself here but I want new ideas in music right now. And the UK doesn't offer enough of that. But I know that there will be better times again in the future...This always goes in waves.

LF: Who are your musical influences and heroes?

AE: I guess, I have too many...I always listened to a real wide range of music styles. I have each hero for a different reason...

The 'Golden Foretaste of Heaven is available now read the Liberation Frequency review here To listen to Alec visit here

Tour dates:
05-Mar-08 Wednesday London - Dingwalls UK
06-Mar-08 Thursday Exeter - Cavern UK
07-Mar-08 Friday  Manchester - Academy 3 UK
08-Mar-08   Utrecht - Holland // Rumor Festival
(Alec Empire solo electronic show!)