how did you come to create converter?

i had been wanting to start a more rhythmic, noise-oriented project for some time, but never had the time while i was busy writing pain station material. when i first heard some ant-zen bands i was inspired to start as soon as possible on converter. so after i finished recording my second pain station album, disjointed, i got started writing converter material immediately.

your other project pain station, is more "traditionally" electro. why did you choose to explore these two radically different universes?

i felt too limited by the electro structures. i wanted to branch out and concentrate more on rhythms and noises. i found pain station was growing in this direction anyway, working with more varied rhythms and textures, but i didn't feel it was appropriate to remove pain station from the electro genre entirely, so i started converter.

the kind of music that you played with converter seems to be pretty uncommon in usa. are your references more american or more european? why did you choose a deutsch label?

i'm definitely more a fan of european music and i have been for years. it's because of this that i think my music has reflected that european sound. i chose ant-zen because it was ant-zen who i felt was ultimately the responsible label for the direction of converter and the label itself forced me to look at music in a different way than i had before. it seemed only natural to approach ant-zen.

the packaging of shock front is amazing! is it your wish or s.alt's idea? do you think it reflects your music?

the metal plates were completely s.alt's idea. all i did was approve it. i'd have to say that, yes, i do think it reflects the music to a certain extent. much of the converter material is very cold, rigid and a bit heavy like the metal plates.

you release a cd and an lp at the same moment. why?

that was s.alt's decision. why, i'm really not sure. it was cool for me, though, because i'd never had anything on vinyl before the coma lp.

of all the bands signed on ant-zen, converter is easily the most brutal. are these brutality and sonic aggression important for you?

hmm... well, i suppose it is important, although it's more of something that just comes naturally than something i try to do. as you know, not all of the converter material is completely brutal and aggressive, as i do sometimes stray into more melodic or ambient realms as well. but yes, i'm generally an angry person, so the majority of my music will reflect this.

what's your opinion about this renewal of industrial music and this crossing with techno that ant-zen & its bands seems to symbolize?

i think it's wonderful. i think it's exactly what this genre needs to survive and grow. it's like taking two steps back and one step forward at the same time. um... or something like that. but yes, i think this is necessary for the evolution of the music.

do you plan to play live with converter?

plan to? no, but will i? possibly. i am actually in the process of getting gear together to prepare for live shows. whether i will play any remains to be seen. i'm not opposed to it, though, and i'd have to say a part of me is a bit eager to get back up on stage in front of an audience and make some noise.

what are your projects?

my projects are converter and pain station. at the moment, i'm basically just doing remix work with converter. i just finished a converter remix for the new pain station album, cold, and coming up i will probably be doing a remix for the french band mlada fronta. as for compilation appearances, upcoming include exoskeleton 2, bodystyler mag comp (jul/aug 99), biomechanik vol.2, industrial frequencies vol. 2, flatline compilation vol. 2 and base asylum mag (issue 2). from there i will probably do more remixes and new tracks and then who knows

elegy contact: elegy@practique.fr