Every year, a handful of Berliners make their way to a deserted island in the Swedish archipelago for a weekend of partying.

This is Secret Island Nation.

At least on the surface of it, that’s what it’s all about; load a few boats with decks, lighting rigs, tents and food and head off to No Man’s Land to get wrecked without fear of disturbing the neighbours.

But there’s more to it than that. The settlers on Ulsholmen, 130km north of Gothenburg, have since founded their own micro-nation, Sweutschland, complete with democratic system which allows them to explore concepts of national identity and cross-border tolerance. Whether you go there to learn more about your fellow man or simply to get battered in a non-judgemental environment is entirely up to you. One thing is clear, it’s an unforgettable experience as DJ Jonty Skrufff explains: „Secret Island is unlike any other event, or gig, I’ve played at. Firstly you’re genuinely in the wilderness: they’re are literally no roads, no trees, no permanent infrastructure of any kind so there’s a feeling of being properly away from civilisation.“

„There are also no more than 500 people on the whole island and the vast bulk if those people are artistic, creative, alternative types, almost all of whom seem to drop their guards and Berlin/Stockholm personas for the whole three days, making the general vibe friendly.“

„On the one hand it’s a 72 hour, pretty much non-stop Berlin-style outdoor techno party then it’s also a gorgeous deserted island: kinda like Lost but in the North Sea! You can wander off and find deserted coves to swim in if you want privacy, or sun yourself on the rocks.“

„It’s an adventure, an experience, a step outside reality and an escape. A weekend you’ll never forget. And GREAT fun.“

The festival runs under the banner, „First we found a nation. Then we dance.“ It’s simple…and unmissable. There are still tickets available for this unique summer experience which takes place on Ulmsholmen from 29th July – 1 August.

For more information, to book tickets and to subscribe to the e-newsletter, visit the official Secret Island Nation website at:

www.secret-island.eu

Or join the Facebook group for regular updates at:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000771691646#!/group.php?gid=89671637734&ref=ts

Confirmed artists:

Live:
22ROCKETS (4augenvoegeln, Wilde Renate, Berlin)
ALEX ESSER (HMWL, Malmö)
ANNA STEFFENS (Do or Don’t, Köln)
ANTE THE FOXX (Foxysound, Society, Werkstatt, Göteborg)
ALMEIDA live drumming (TronicYouth, Köln)
D. SNYDER (Bassy, Berlin)
DA BENNI (Schwedenparty, Berlin)
DAVID HASERT (like I e. love I kommune, Köln)
DIRK SID ENO (e. love I kommune, Köln)
DJ BACID aka BEHRANG KIANZADS
DJS WITH BAD HAIRCUTS (Keno Records, Do or Don’t, Schwedenparty, Berlin)
DJUMA SOUNDSYSTEM (Get Physical, Copenhagen)
ERIC D. CLARK (Subcurrent, Firm, Detroitwax, Adaptor, Bigcitybeats)
FIDELITY KASTROW (Flesh, Skrufff, Berlin/London)
FRANCO BIANCO live (Hypercolour, Dilek, Multivitamins, Buenos Aires)
GERMAN LACHS (Feinkost, Fortschritt3000, Rostock)
HYPNOREX (Sportbrigade Sparwasser, Frankfurt/Oder)
JAKE THE RAPPER (Combination, Bar25, Berlin)
JONTY SKRUFFF (Pacha Ibiza, Skrufff.com, London/Berlin)
JOEL ALTER (M_nus, Gigolo, Room With a View, Berlin/ Gothenborg)
KAMELKOLLEKTIVET (Oslo)
LINUS KOCKEN (Society, Göteborg)
LOCUS SOUNDSYSTEM (simply Locus, Göteborg)
MARC LANSLEY (Sub Static, Köln)
MIKAEL STAVÖSTRAND (Sunset Diskos, Kindisch, Adjunct, Lick My Deck, Los Angeles)
NOONCAT aka ALEX MESHKOV (Dilek, Trapez, Triebstoff, Moscow)
OLLE BJERKÅS (Society, Stockholm)
ÖZGÜR CAN (My Disco Preset, Save Me, Blufin, Stockholm)
RAZ OHARA (Get Physical, Shitkatapult, Kitty Yo, Apparat, Berlin)
RED JONES ( pulstar, Köln)
ROTZE VON BROTLAND (Berlin)
SAMUEL L. SESSION (Be as one, Soma, Figure, Göteborg)
SOMEONE ELSE (foundsound, unfoundsound, etc. Philadelphia)
VON FRÖHLING (Köln)

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IAMX: Chris Corner announces the release of his new album ‘Dogmatic Infidel Comedown OK’ comprised of Reworks and Interpretations of IAMX‘ third studio album ‘Kingdom of Welcome Addiction’, by the likes of Combichrist, Terence Fixmer, Alec Empire, Black Light Odyssey and Aesthetic Perfection. Release date 19.03.2010. Coverart and tracklisting revealed. The CD can be pre-ordered now from boutiqueiamx.eu.

Tracklisting: 01 Nature Of Inviting – Black Light Odyssey 02 Tear Garden – UNFALL CHOCOLATEFURWINE 03 You Can Be Happy – Combichrist 04 Kingdom Of Welcome Addiction – Aesthetic Perfection 05 The Great Shipwreck Of Life – Pull Out Kings 06 Tear Garden – UNFALL ART DECO 07 Think Of England – Miss Derringer 08 The Stupid, The Proud – Index 09 My Secret Friend – Omega Man 10 I Am Terrified – Alec Empire 11 An I For An I – UNFALL X-Mess 12 Nature Of Inviting – Terence Fixmer 13 Running – Cook/Kirby

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….

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watch clip and click here

Ever wanted to know the truth about most remix deals which are being done lately? Watch this clip.

EYHO Blog urges all new and upcoming producers to not give into the bullshit. The “foot in the doorstep” will never happen. (same goes for playing commercial festivals by the way)

It is time musicians unite and fight the exploitation which is going on behind closed doors.

We suggest if you like a track that much that you’ll get on your knees to do it then just do a mash up or bootleg remix and put it online.

Basic rule in the download age: If someone makes money with your shit, you should get your fair share.

(Yes, that also goes for any torrent website that has advertising or takes donations. Share your profits and support each other.)

German band Kraftwerk described themselves as ‘music-workers’ (’Musikarbeiter’)…

click here to listen to song

Br?der, zur Sonne, zur Freiheit
Br?der zum Lichte empor!
Hell aus dem dunklen Vergangnen
leuchtet die Zukunft hervor.

Seht, wie der Zug von Millionen
endlos aus N?chtigem quillt,
bis eurer Sehnsucht Verlangen
Himmel und Nacht ?berschwillt!

Br?der, in eins nun die H?nde,
Br?der, das Sterben verlacht!
Ewig, der Sklav’rei ein Ende,
heilig die letzte Schlacht!

UR – it’s time ! click here

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click here to watch

Nic Endo’s “I didn’t exist” was taken from her album “Cold Metal Perfection”, released in 2001 on London’s GEIST Records. The track was an homage to legendary independent film “Carnival of Souls” from 1962. Nic Endo often mentioned the film as an influence in her interviews, because she could identify with the lead character and her ‘alienation of society’. In 2009 a fan felt inspired to edit a music video from the original footage of the film to her music.

Nic is about to release her 3rd album over the coming months.

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while stock lasts… click this link

https://www.shop.the-hellish-vortex.com/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=199

ALEC EMPIRE AND NIC ENDO ARE ON TOUR ! NOW ! PLAYING MATERIAL FROM THE PAST _ PRESENT AND FUTURE! (incl. ATR songs)

06.11.2009 NL-Den Haag, Bazart
07.11.2009 NL-Utrecht, DBs
18.11.2009 GB-Newport, TJs
19.11.2009 GB-London, O2 Academy Islington
20.11.2009 GB-Birmingham, Eddie?s
21.11.2009 GB-Manchester, Club Academy
22.11.2009 GB-Edinburgh (GB), GRV
25.11.2009 CH-Z?rich, Stall 6
26.11.2009 F-Perpignan, CrockMore? NEW!!!
27.11.2009 CH-Vevey, Rocking Chair
28.11.2009 I-Florence (I), Siddharta
07.12.2009 I-Roma, Atlantico

for more info and last tickets go to
http://www.alec-empire.com/

Also check out new Atari Teenage Riot Dubstep remix by The Builder!

Atari Teenage Riot “Digital Hardcore” (2009 Remix by The Builder) by alec_empire

ALEC EMPIRE:” I WANTED TO CAPTURE THAT BUZZ NERO MIGHT HAVE FELT WHEN ROME WAS BURNING DOWN…” Read latest interview with Trashhits

http://www.thrashhits.com/2009/11/interview-alec-empire-i-wanted-to-capture-the-buzz-nero-might-have-felt-when-rome-was-burning-down/

Alec Empire’s 10 tips on how to subvert the music industry on Artrocker!

WIN LAST TICKETS FOR UK TOUR VIA GIGJUNKIE! CLICK HERE!

subscribe to EYHO Blog – it’s free! more than that…

watch exclusive trailer here!

Sonic terrorist, Alec Empire, returns for another blistering series of live dates here in the UK that looks set to blow the roof off every venue it invades across the country.

?1000 Eyes? is the new download only single taken off the animated short film, ?The Golden Foretaste of Heaven?. After the critical acclaim of his mini album, ?Shivers?, earlier this year, Alec channelled his dark energy into creating a brooding, mesmerising soundtrack to the hotly tipped film by Austrian rising star, Richard Wilhelmer.

Fresh off supporting Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails on their European leg of the tour, Alec will bring his awesome live setup to the UK showcasing material from a career spanning almost two decades. Always a knack for spotting new talent, Alec has collaborated with Robbie Furze from The Big Pink on the track, ?If You Live or Die? off his last album and has produced and written Patrick Wolf?s lead single, ?Vultures?.

Wolf also appeared on stage with Empire during his sold out London date at The Underworld earlier this year and looks certain to join up with his partner in crime for the Islington Academy show in London on November 19.

Having recently remixed IAMX, ex Sneaker Pimp, Chris Corner?s new single ?Terrified?, the hardest working Berliner in music?s next project is a team up with Major Lazer and Saul Williams for some new tracks and a remix special with Dillinger Escape Plan later this year.

As a special treat for UK fans, Alec has roped in up & coming alt techno-core outfit, Motor, who are currently on tour with D?p?che Mode as support for his UK dates.

Alec has once again reinvented himself and you can witness the Empire effect first hand this autumn as Nic Endo and him take to a stage near you.

1000 Eyes (Single Version) / Alec Empire by alec_empire
ALEC EMPIRE
The Past – The Present – The Future Tour 2009

15.10.2009 F-la Tronche, La Faiencerie
16.10.2009 B-Antwerp, Petrol
17.10.2009 Hannover, Indiego Glocksee
20.10.2009 Essen, Grend
21.10.2009 K?ln, Underground
22.10.2009 Hamburg, Logo
23.10.2009 Berlin, K17
24.10.2009 Cottbus, Gladhouse
25.10.2009 PL-Gdynia, Ucho
27.10.2009 CZ-Prague, Lucerna Music Bar
28.10.2009 A-Linz, Stadtwerkstatt
29.10.2009 A-Wien, Szene
30.10.2009 Ingolstadt, Paradox
31.10.2009 Leipzig, Lagerhof
06.11.2009 NL-Den Haag, Bazart
07.11.2009 NL-Utrecht, DBs
18.11.2009 GB-Newport, TJs
19.11.2009 GB-London, O2 Academy Islington
20.11.2009 GB-Birmingham, Eddie?s
21.11.2009 GB-Manchester, Club Academy
22.11.2009 GB-Edinburgh (GB), GRV
25.11.2009 CH-Z?rich, Stall 6
26.11.2009 F-Perpignan, CrockMore? NEW!!!
27.11.2009 CH-Vevey, Rocking Chair
28.11.2009 I-Florence (I), Siddharta
07.12.2009 I-Roma, Atlantico
31.07.2010 PL-Bolkow, Castle Party
If You Live Or Die live by alec_empire

for more information visit Alec Empire’s website
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should we think about shooting heroin again???

bells keep reminding us of those dark nights….

click here to watch new video

this makes us feel like this:

click here to get the …

do you remember Flying Saucer Attack? Today is all about lying on the floor, watching clouds pass by…

click to listen & watch

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click here to watch video

2009 might have been Prodigy’s strongest year. They wrote anthems for UK generations over decades. You see, the UK always had this special sound,? a little bit more edgy, a little bit more extreme. Everybody is wondering HOW ARE THEY DOING IT??? Again and again…

Our man Lee reminded us that this clip pretty much sums up how far down capitalism has driven the music scene. Is it possible that maggots love music? What is music? Is music in digital format not just only a simulation?

click here to watch a little bit of truth

WAKE UP : THEY ROB YOU NAKED!

send us your DJ mixes, let’s change the future…right now…right now

MP3’s DON’T CHANGE PEOPLE’S MINDS – BERLIN OVER LONDON….any time….

posted by DJ Wedge

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otherwise the city is deserted……. …..Alec Empire, Nic Endo and T Raumschmiere leave for Macedonian electro fest DE:SONANZ … a lot of news coming soon…

MILCH * KIM * FREITAG * MILCH DJ Set * 23 UHR *

Freitag 2. Oktober 2009

23 Uhr

MILCH DJs Galore – Italo Electricity & Frosty Videos

special guest: Hostel Zwo

KIM, Brunnenstr. 10 (Rosenthaler Platz), 10119 Berlin

http://www.myspace.com/milch

a pretty new awesome online store for Hip Hop is up … http://www.definitivejux.net

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here are some photos from the bad brilliance show in miami for EYHO

and a video revealing bad brilliance and his dog

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

–
-andrew
www.andrewstrasser.com
www.badbrilliance.com

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CLICK HERE TO WATCH

FEEDING TIME

- 4AD – DAZED

& CONFUSED –

PRESENT

THE BIG

PINK – A

BRIEF HISTORY

OF LOVE -

ALBUM

LAUNCH

THURSD

AY 17TH

SEPTEMBER

10PM – 4AM

CHARLOTTE ST

BLUES BAR

74 Charlotte

Street

London,W1T4QH

RSVP:

CLICK HERE

SEND IT ON THE MORE THE MERRIER

ROBBIEXXXX

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GODLY GROOVES

by NEALE LYTOLLIS

Sunday; the Sabbath, the day of rest, the Lord’s day.

Whatever you want to call it, it was on the first Sunday ever that God finally kicked back, brewed up an Ovaltine and took a break from six entire days of slaving away laying the groundwork for the unadulterated shit storm the world would soon turn into. It could be argued that given the way things have turned out, God did a bit of a cack-handed job with the whole creation of the world thing.

For a start, Adam would surely just have spent his days fishing and masturbating in the Garden of Eden if God hadn’t created Eve. And surely the snake was a mistake.

Just my opinion of course; my experiences of world planning are limited to say the least and given that I only have one planet to compare notes against I can hardly lay claim to being an expert. Basically, if we want to lay the blame for the world’s problems at anyone’s door it should be at God’s since he (allegedly!) started the whole show and things seemed to go pear-shaped the minute Eve showed her face. So God and his planet building; nice ideas exectuted in record time but fatally flawed nonetheless.

Anyway, back to Sundays. That grating, dull thud at the back of your head on a Sunday morning is not the effects of too much soda water down the disco or a teenage guilt-niggle forcing your brain out of your nose because you slowdanced with someone else’s girlfriend. That itchy, nauseous, white-noise-in-your-head feeling you’re experiencing is actually your conscience telling you you’ve been much, much worse.

You see, in much the same way the Eve was way back when, you’ve perhaps unwittingly also been seduced by the snake. In a figurative sense of course. That slithering, hypnotic, fork-tongued little cretin has managed to insinuate itself way into your heart, curl up there and is slowly squeezing out any sense of right or wrong when it comes to matters of the dancefloor. It’s made you lazy and convinced you that every time you swill up on cheap beer and hit the club to freak to the latest plastic happiness remix from Kitsune or some other godawful bleepy, scratchy drivel from Ed Banger that you’re having the absolute time of your life. And you fall for it every time Goddamn it! So much so that musicians are even taking the piss out of you. MSTRKRFT dropped one of the least inspiring records ever produced recently; dropped being appropriate because I can’t believe that even they like it. Just open iElectroMusicStar, click in some beats and add Clich?-Glitch-Filter and hey presto; instant second LP.

Simian Mobile Disco did more or less the same. The breathless enthusiasm of their debut album, so fresh and immediate that we all wet ourselves when we heard it, has been replaced this time around by a bunch of fat, flabby, custardy tracks which even the way too obvious celebrity mates shopping list can’t lift out of the ditch it landed in. And by Jove, if I hear one more person giggling and turning to jelly at the thought of an imminent new Klaxons LP, I might just have to start my own religious cult which encourages their ritual slaughter. With spoons. Even Digitalism don’t bother anymore. If I was the promoter of the last gig they DJd at and they turned up in crumpled white t-shirts on my shift, I’d have pulled the plug and horsewhipped them on stage until they went home and got fucking dressed properly.

So we’re in an ever decreasing circle. It’s like an yawning great black hole pulling us ? lazy musicians and undiscerning record buyers alike ? into a seething, inescapable cesspool where all we can do (apart from burn) is pull robotic moves to Pop the Glock and bore each other to death about which Maison compilation was really the best. For ever. It’s not even that we’ve been sold a lie because it was true once; it’s just no one can be bothered to admit it. It takes a bit of time and bravery to confess that the current batch of electronic music is really rather shit. You can be dancing in some club, convulsing like a spastic sat on a pylon and twenty minutes in; epiphany. It’s like the Burning Bush or the parting of the Red Sea when slowly you realise: Hey, I’ve been programmed to like this. It doesn’t speak to me. It doesn’t make me feel anything.

I’m on auto pilot here. I just don’t like this. So what do you do? Go back to Nu Rave? Indie rock? Chiptune? If those were the only choices I’d start hiding pills in my socks and start going to Donk parties.

But there is a light; a distant golden glimmer at the end of this fat, flatulent tunnel of muck. And it’s name, rather appropriately, is Godly Grooves. And my God, if this record had floated down into my room on a cloud followed by all the angels and cherubs of the heavens, I couldn’t like it more. Arok and Scientist are German DJs and have clearly been snorting inspiration because they’ve just released the strongest contender yet for Best Record of 2009. A unique and ultimately screwy mixtape of rare 60s and 70s Christian grooves, originally released on obscure, religious labels and selected, dusted down, scrubbed up and remixed into an hour long compilation. Blessed be, they’ve even put it out on a brand new imprint and limited the run of units to a mere 100. So heavenly, so unusual, you virtually lose your powers of description and can just goggle open-mouthed in wonder at how someone could have come up with a record which on the surface of it sounds monstrous but which in reality is the nearest thing we’ve heard this year to perfection. Religious music is usually whack and about as much fun as a day doing door-to-door with the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

This is different; bizarre, crackly Christian tracks sung in German over lo-fi beat samples, fat basslines and off-kilter registers. It has to be heard to be believed. And believe it you should brother. Refreshing proof that there are musicians work out there who can move the boundaries of what electronic music is all about, incorporate hitherto untouched genres and spark off something new.

So will we all be dancing to obscure Christian grooves in the near future? Unlikely. And admittedly taking it in context it probably isn’t the greatest album ever, but the fact that it’s just about the only original thing I’ve heard this year (barring Health and Robot Koch’s LP) makes it worthy of a special mention. Plus the fact that no one will like it makes it all the more attractive. click here to watch

God speed at the disco my children. Amen.

NEALE LYTOLLIS

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click here

GO ROBBIE GO!!!!!!!

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click here for Patrick Wolf’s “Battle” LIVE

Kiddos, das hier ist WICHTIG! Kommt vorbei wenn ihr Zeit habt. Be loud, be proud, make a statement!!!

Eigk*XX

Liebe Freunde, Bekannte, liebe Presse und Organisationen..

aufgrund des Mordanschlags auf Tel Aviv’s LGTQ-Comunity habe ich f?r morgen eine Demonstration angemeldet…!!
Ich bitte Sie und euch, den Aufruf zu verbreiten, an eure Pressekontakte weiterzuleiten, ?ber eure mailverteiler und sonstwas zu schicken, damit wir morgen ein gro?es Zeichen der Solidarit?t nach Israel senden k?nnen..!!

vielen Dank

Gloria Viagra

GEGEN HOMOPHOBIE ? SOLIDARIT?T MIT DEN OPFERN DES ANSCHLAGS IN TEL AVIV

Mit Entsetzen,Trauer und Wut haben wir von dem Anschlag auf das lesbisch-schwule-transgender (LGTQ)-Zentrum in Tel Aviv erfahren.
Dort hat ein maskierter Mann am Samstag Abend die dortige Jugendgruppe ?berfallen und wahlos mit einem Maschinengewehr auf die Teenager geschossen.
Eine 17j?hrige und ein 24j?hriger starben, 15 weitere wurden z.T. schwer verletzt.
Der Mann konnte unerkannt entkommen. Er versuchte noch in eine weitere Schwulenbar einzudringen, wurde aber vom dortigen Sicherheitspersonal abgewehrt.

Auch wenn noch nicht klar ist, aus welchem Kreis der M?rder kommt, ist eines klar :
Dieser Anschlag ist ein ganz gezielt Hassverbrechen. Ein Verbrechen gegen die LGT-Szene.
Im Gegensatz zum religi?sen Jerusalem ist Tel Aviv als sehr offen-liberale und homofreundliche Metrople bekannt, umso gr??er die Betroffenheit dort.
Aber es kommt nicht von ungef?hr: So wird unter der neuen konservativen Regierung allgemein ein Klima gegen Minderheiten gesch?rt, so gegen Homosexuelle und Fl?chtlinge.
Die ultra-relig?se Schass-Partei hetzt seit Jahren aufs ?belste gegen Homosexuelle, ihr religi?ser F?hrer rief 2005 anl?sslich des CSDs in Jerusalem sogar zum Mord auf; ohne Konsequenzen.

Unser ganzes Mitgef?hl gilt den Betroffenen und Angeh?rigen, unsere Solidarit?t der LGTQ-Szene in Israel !!!!

Zeigt eure Wut und Trauer !!!

SMASH HOMOPHOBIA WORLDWIDE !!!!

Kommt zur Demonstration am Di, 04.08. 2009
um 17:00 am Breitscheidtplatz

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This is a song I did with the Iranian singer, Sussan Deyhim, which will be presented as part of the protest situation – we’re presenting it with United 4 Iran.

The poem is based on a work by the poet Rumi from several centuries ago, but it still resonates with today’s geopolitics – it’s in Farsi, but for English speakers, there will be a translation posted.

In conjunction with United 4 Iran, a group of political activists, artists, writers, and musicians have organized a global protest in conjunction with many other movements. If you have a moment, please check out the material, and organize a local event to support the people of Iran.

Watch the video:

and check out the situation:

http://united4iran.org/

Join this unprecedented wave of global citizen activism for the people of Iran. On July 25, participate in an event in one of more than 50 cities around the world
http://united4iran.org/locations

I’m in a remote area of the planet, but am trying to get word out. We did the video over the last couple of days via remote edting. Already U2 and many other musicians and artists have joined. For example, U2 is projecting the lyrics of the song during their concerts… Please spread word!

in peace,
Paul aka Dj Spooky

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ALEC EMPIRE TAKES A BREAK FROM HIS TOUR WITH NINE INCH NAILS AND TALKS WITH YIP YIP TALK ABOUT , SESAME STREET, MUSIC AND NOISE, INDUSTRY AND MORE…

click here to watch original TV Yip Yips

Alec Empire:

” Many of our readers might not know you guys yet…the two creatures from Sesame Street are quite famous out here. I remember driving my parents crazy by adapting the Yip Yip talking style for days, when I was a kid…they did almost turn me into that kid from The Shining…is that a dumb question that you get asked all the time? Or what’s the story behind the name?”

Brian:

“It’s not a dumb question, because it would seem like we definitely got the name from that. In fact, even I thought Jason got the name from Sesame Street for the first few years of doing Yip-Yip with him, until we had one of our first real interviews and they asked if we got it from that. I said “Yes”, and Jason said “No, I didn’t”. I wish we did get it from that, because it would make the question a lot easier to answer. Even I don’t believe Jason’s answer.”

Jason:

“It’s just a stupid name i thought of. It doesn’t mean anything. We had an even worse name before this one and we knew we had to change it, but we couldn’t come up with anything good. Most band names that mean something end up sounding dumb after a while, so we just wanted a name that didn’t mean anything. Something totally nonsensical.”

Brian: “Calm down, Jason.”

click here for more

Alec Empire:

” I got introduced by Gabe from The Locust years ago, have been
listening to your music ever since. Are you part of a scene in the US?
Let us know where you are coming from…”

Brian:

“When we first started, we were really into that awesome wave of weird music from the late 90’s early 2000’s of The Locust, Lightning Bolt, Melt Banana, Arab On Radar, Crom-Tech, Neon Hunk, etc. I think we were really hoping to become part of that scene, and in a way, surprising to us, we kind of did. We were lucky to meet the people and bands that we did, and we are happy to have made it into a scene at all.”

Jason:

“We seem to not quite fit into any particular scene. I think we’re a little bit too happy or silly for the heavy experimental scene, but we seem to have some sort of foothold there anyways. Maybe we would fit better in the electronic/dance scene, but we see ourselves as more like a band and some of that stuff is more like deejays.”

Brian:

“Yeah, like we feel like we don’t fit in as well with the electronic scene, even though we actually probably fit in better there. But really it’s mostly who we’ve met, and who have met us, played with us, and liked us enough to be our friends and take us out on tour.”

Alec Empire:

” Why we love your stuff is because it sounds great, I mean the sound of the music is serious (as opposed to most of these rather stupid digital joke 8bit 2 piece bands in Europe). I find it very interesting
that there seems to be more cool analogue & weird shit coming from the US. Tell us about why you sound the way you do and if there is a philosophy behind it…you know…”

Brian:

“That’s awesome that you see that our music is serious. Not that we are a very serious band, or we want to be taken very seriously, but yeah, I think a lot of people kind of think of us as more of a joke, and we are lumped with that kind of stuff so much, and we never understand why. We are seriously trying to make really interesting and fun music, and we are seriously trying to be a great band, even though we are hardly know what we are doing. It’s been kind of hard, and it’s taken us a long time to get our stuff to what we are doing now. It’s very rewarding when we finish and we know that we have figured out this music that seems to be pretty original and might possibly break some new ground musically, especially when it feels like almost everything has already been done.”

Jason:

“There’s a fine line between fun music and funny joke music. We are trying to walk a few fine lines. We want to make music that is fun, but not a joke. Music that is challenging, but not not too heady. Noisy music that is more than just noise. I don’t know why there is more weird shit coming from the US. I think a lot of people from the US think it’s the other way around.”

http://soundcloud.com/yip-yip/yip-yip-gender-changers

Alec Empire:

” It looks from the outside like you’re doing everything by yourself…since years. You’re even documenting via Twitter when you are about to post new 7inches… and still you have your music up for
free download. Is that impression true, and what do you think about your way of doing things? Does it work as an example for other bands?
Tell us your view on the “business” side of your music…(mainstream bands get praised as revolutionary innovators while they just copy the ideas from bands in the “underground” who have been doing it since
years)”

Jason:

“Giving away free digital downloads is, I think, absolutely necessary in this day and age.
I don’t really want to have anything to do with the ‘business’ side of music but dealing with the business side is unfortunately a necessary part of it for a band at our level. We can’t afford to pay people to do that stuff for us. Lucky for me, Brian takes care of all of that stuff.”

Brian:

“We haven’t been very good with the “business” side of our band so far, and that’s probably why we’ve hardly made any money, and why we have to work at photo labs and deliver food to pay our bills. My view on the business side of music is I think the more people who hear of your music and hear of your live shows, the more money you make when you tour, and maybe you might even make some money off of albums you put out. So the most important thing to me, at least while we are still mostly unknown, is to get us heard.

Putting a price on every song you put out is not a great way of doing that, so we have put a lot of our stuff up online for people to check out and decide if they want to support us by buying our albums or t-shirts, or by coming to our shows. Maybe that kind of carefree idea of putting up one too many songs to download for free is why we are currently label less and wondering if anyone is going to actually put out this album we’ve been working on.”

Jason:

“As cheesey as it sounds, the more you think about the business side, the less you think about the music side. I’d like to say that it’s all about the music, but I’d also like to think that at some point in our lives this music could support us financially. We are nowhere close to that point right now and I don’t know if we ever will be.”

Alec Empire:

” What are your shows like? In what type of clubs do you guys play? And how is your crowd? (this might sound boring but I think more and more bands are just about pleasing the crowd while you don’t seem that kind of band)”

Jason:

“Since we don’t quite fit into a musical niche, we get to play with all sorts of bands in front of all sorts of audiences at all sorts of venues. Our ideal shows are in well-run, all ages, d.i.y. venues with good sound. Those places are few and far between, so we will play wherever we can. Mostly we just want it to be loud. If it’s loud and we can hear our music the way it should be heard, it is a good show for us. If the audience is having fun it’s definetly a bonus.”

Brian:

“The crowds are different depending on where we are playing, and who we are playing with. We we toured with The Locust, the crowds and shows were all awesome. People at the shows usually seemed to know who we were, and were excited to see us. The sound systems were almost always great and really loud, which also helps a lot. Some shows can be weird, like when the crowd isn’t familiar with us, so they just kid of stand there and stare. We will end our set and go backstage and think that we sucked, but then end up talking to a bunch of people who say they loved the show and buy our crap.”

Alec Empire:

” What is your favorite gear when you create new music? You are recording right now as I understand. A new record? Is this going to be different? How do you approach that process?”

Brian:

“Yes, we just finished writing our new album, “Bone Up”. We are going to start recording it very soon. The biggest thing that’s going to be different than our other albums is that this album is going to have us both doing vocals. This album is way more elaborate than anything we’ve ever done.”

Jason:

“In the beginning, we had more of that digital sound because all of those types of sounds were so accessible. We could get toy keyboards at thrift stores and digitally manipulate them with Sound Forge or some other software. But that got kind of boring and digital stuff always sounded sort of hokey to me. It was probably a year before I got my first serious synthesizer and since then I’ve liked analog over digital. Analog synths a lot more fun to play, there’s no programming and everything happens immediately.

And no matter how well you know your synths, there’s always a certain level of sonic unpredictability and slight variation. There are always graduations in digital knobs so you can hear the steps when you turn them. Analog knobs are just a clean sweep. Analog synths are more visually appealing, too. Lately, I’ve become more open to digital stuff. You can get so many sounds out of way smaller devices with digital.

We’ve been using this thing Simmons made called a Multi-Mallet a lot on the songs we’re writing now. It’s like a 90’s yamaha fm synthesis keyboard but with a xylophone-like controller. It has some interesting sounds, and looks cool. We use it on almost all of our new songs.”

Brian:

“Yeah, we like to think that we are using the best of both worlds. Jason uses all older analog synths, I use a mix of old and new analog and digital sounds from all sorts of different things we find, and I use them for the drums and backing sounds. I also use samplers to run everything live, and without that new stuff, we wouldn’t be able to perform this stuff we’re writing live.

Oh, and my favorite gear right now is my Moogerfooger trio (Freqbox, Ring Mod, & MURF), the Simmons Multimallet Jason already mentioned, my Casio CZ-101, and the Alesis D4 drum module.”

Alec Empire:

” What are 5 favorite records? And why?”

Brian:

“Devo – Oh No, It’s Devo – This was the first Devo record that I got, so I think that’s the best way I can pick a favorite Devo album. Devo is the band that got me into synthesizers. If I never got this record and got so into Devo, I probably would have never been so interested electronic music, or started this kind of band with Jason. Devo rules!

watch Devo here

Cardiacs – On Land And In The Sea – This is probably my favorite Cardiacs album because I love every song on the album. It basically has everything that I would ever look for in music in one album. Organs, synthesizers, horns, weird rhythms and rhythm/tempo changes, lots of percussion, a great vocalist, and amazing song writing.

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Doc At The Radar Station – The drumming on this album is insane. A lot of the time when I listen to it I try to only listen to the drums, and I try to think of how I could do anything at all like that with our rhythms. I also love how heavy it sounds without having anything really that heavy going on. The two guitarists are sick on this album. The horn, mellotron, marimba, and gong seal the deal for me. What a perfect combination of sounds. I wish there were more bands like this!

click here for BBC documentary on Beefheart

Nirvana – In Utero – I used to love Nirvana when I was a kid, and then I got back into it even more in the past few years. We started listening to it a lot on one of our tours and decided to try to do our first cover song when we got home. We wanted to do the song “Very Ape” because we thought it sounded strangely like some of the stuff we were writing. Doing that cover first as an instrumental made me appreciate the songwriting so much and helped me understand some better ways of approaching how we wrote our songs. Then a year later when we re-recorded the cover with vocals, that being my first real attempt at vocals in Yip-Yip, it made me see how great his vocals and lyrics are. But yeah, the whole rest of In Utero is awesome too, and has been a huge recent influence on us.

The Beatles – Abbey Road – Believe it or not, I never really listened to this whole album until this year. With almost any Beatles album, you’ve basically heard every song somewhere before, but I never listened to the whole albums before. There are so many different kinds of songs on the album, and a lot of them are short and to the point. Every songs has this “thing” that happens that just totally makes the song. There’s a lot of great sounds and effects, and the recording is kind of perfect. The vocals are also really great, and with us trying to do vocals now, it’s interesting to listen to stuff with such great vocals and great vocal effects and harmonies, and try to some how apply it to the weird stuff we are doing.”

click here for Beatles – Abbey Road (all DHR records from 1994-2000 were mastered there by the way)

Jason:

“Emerson, Lake, and Palmer – Tarkus – The first side of this record kills. There’s a lot of crazy synth sounds and prog shredding.
Sergio Mendes and Brasil ‘66 – Equinox – Mostly I like this record because i bought it at a thrift store without hearing it. I bought it because it has an attractive cover with attractive people on it. The record is great and I wasn’t expecting that. I like the girls’ voices and the music is pretty. Accidently finding a great record is one of the best things in life.

click here for Sergio Mendes and Brasil ‘66

Roger Miller – Dang Me – Simple, silly music. Most of the songs on this album are less than 2 minutes and none are longer than 2:30. They are all funny, silly, and/or endearing.
Devo – Duty Now for the Future – Devo is one of the best bands on the planet. I think this is my favorite album of theirs. I can’t say why, but i like it more than Q: Are We Not Men? A: We are Devo.? Like Brian, the first Devo album i purchased was Oh No, It’s Devo and that one will always be special to me because that’s how i got into them. But Duty Now has more interesting time signatures and real drums. They sound more like a punk rock band.
Todd Rundgren – A Wizard, a True Star – Great songwriting, great sounds. Todd Rundgren is a wizard.”

click here for Todd

Alec Empire:

” How do you see the future of music? I mean musically, not the “industry” -no one seems to think about the music anymore, everybody is just about how and why the industry is in a crisis. But what about the music itself though?”

Brian:

“I think there will be less and less full bands as people figure out neat ways of using electronics, samplers, or computers with what they are doing live as a band with just a couple of people. Not that a full band who is great is a ever bad thing, but it will be easier for kids to start bands and keep them going because they won’t have to work with so many people.

I don’t know how some of the full bands we know do it, everything would be so much harder if there were more people in our band. Musically, I think right now it seems like there is a huge merging of all music in popular music and a lot of indie music too. It’s all kind of coming together, which can be neat sometimes, but sometimes just bad.”

Jason:

“I think it’s about time for a musical revolution. With the physical and sonic limitations shrinking to almost nothing, it’s going to be more about songwriting and how people use the crazy sounds that can now be created so easily. Once people start to figure out how easy it is to start a band, there’s going to be a glut of mediocre bands. The next few years are going to be interesting. I think it’s starting already.”

Brian: “Calm down, Jason.”

Alec Empire:

” Who is responsible for your artwork, design?…everything also looks really cool. Is that an important part for you? When I talk to graphic designers or artists, they miss that challenge to make
something visual which represents the music.”

Jason:

“Brian does all of the illustrations, I do all of the digitizing and digital work on them. We design everything together. We come up with ideas for how things should look and I make them look that way.
Brian: Yeah, the art side has always been a big part of what we are doing. Before we started the band, I wanted to be an artist, but after we started the band, I realized that doing it with the band would be a better way to get my art out there anyways. We like bands who do their own artwork, it’s like an added bonus. Sometimes, like this past year, the art part calms down while we try to push the music stuff to a new level, but we always get back to it eventually, like when we finish recording. I’m sure we will start messing with art for the album, new music videos and maybe a zine/single thing. We are already working on new costumes for our next live shows.”

Alec Empire:

” What have you got coming up in the future? Tours? Different plans?”

Brian:

” We are about to start recording this album we’ve been working on, it will probably take us a couple months to finish that, and hopefully by then we will find a label to put it out. By the time we are done recording, we will be ready to start playing live again because we will have learned all the parts from recording it. We were hoping to do a tour in the fall. Maybe we will get to go back overseas like we did last year. I think a lot of this stuff will start coming up once we get this new stuff out there a little bit. We can’t wait to go on tour again!”

Jason:

” I’m ready to start playing shows again soon. I’m excited about bringing this new stuff out on the road. We still have a lot of writing, tweaking, practicing to do before we’re ready for a tour. We’ve been working on this set of songs for over a year now and it is leaps and bounds beyond anything we’ve written before. I want it to get out there as soon as possible, but i want it to be perfect when it does. We really need to bone up if we want to finish it this year.”

Brian:

“Nice call back.”

click here for cool underground live clip

check out YIP YIP on myspace for links, music, tourdates and more

but more important: the YIP YIP website !

subscribe to EYHO Blog – it’s free!

3 Audio-Titel by EYHO_Blog

ALEC EMPIRE WILL APPEAR AT BERLIN HARD-CORE GAY CLUB “SEARCH & DESTROY” FRIDAY! TODAY!

Email us for to win tickets! A R E Y O U H A R D E N O U G H ?

click here for weblink

ALSO WATCH NEW VIDEO OF MOTOR ” DEATH RAVE” !!!!
click here!

MONDAY JULY 20TH! ALEC EMPIRE DOES A ONE AND ONLY “THE DESTROYER” PERFORMANCE AT NINE INCH NAILS SHOW IN ATHENS! By request! (yes, Janes Addiction also play this show…a must!)

and yes, latest tourdates up on www.alec-empire.com (more UK dates, more European dates. It just doesn’t stop)

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TIME TO STOP QUOTING AND START CREATING!

by Alec Empire

Let me introduce myself; I am Alec Empire and I was born in West Berlin. I believe that I am the only ?true? Berliner in the current music scene. As far as I can tell, all the others claiming Berlin as their home, moved there to boost (or kill?), their careers. To be honest, I don?t think it matters that much… or shouldn?t in our age. I find myself talking to people from other continents more than those belonging to the so called local scene (I?m not really sure there is one and even if there is I?m not sure it?s what people would like to believe it is). Whatever, I suppose we all gain from the myth that comes with Berlin. Reality follows our imagination… Let?s hope so.

But it?s not about local scenes or absorbing something intangible from the air in Berlin. If you want to know your future you have to erase your past.
click here for ABC clip

Please excuse my English. I have been touring recently and my crew and band are from France & USA. Somehow we all speak this weird mixture of languages. It?s hard to switch back to normal you know?

I am used to change. Dramatic changes in the case of my country. When I was a child I always sensed that post-World War II vibe – even decades later. Everybody has seen it in a film or read a book; but there are aspects Berliners have never really talked about in public. For example: how many women were raped at the end of the War? We can barely imagine that deep pain and its consequences on society. Then there?s the GDR and the Wall finally coming down. On the surface Berlin looks cool; parties, clubs like nowhere else in the world but to me it always feels like children celebrating themselves, dancing on a mass grave, not knowing, innocent… The beginning of Lord of the Flies.
click here for deleted scene clip

Where I come from, the majority is a potential threat to the individual. The silent majority can decide over life and death of real people, just because they ignore political news on that day of the football match.
watch clip
watch next clip here

Change… Some feel threatened by change and others actually fear it and would become ?ber-active just to stop it from happening. It makes them so nervous. I associate change with new opportunities and taking chances.

But I believe things are really changing. Right now! For the past nine years the music scene has reminded me of a dying dog, bleeding to death, bleeding dry and trying to bite its attackers who stand just out of reach, watching…

Hopefully by now, the majority of people have understood that doing nothing is the most powerful and damaging action they can take these days. Not buying a car, not buying music, not voting. Years ago I went on what most would call a ?date? and the girl didn?t know anything, she looked good, but that night I realized I was bored with that shiny surface of everything in our society. When I first heard John Coltrane I knew instantly that there was so much more than I could understand on the first listen. Music can store information and emotions that words and images fail to describe.
watch John Coltrane here

With most music that came out during the ?Bush Era? you could dig and dig and discover absolutely nothing. The past nine years have been a black hole – we can admit it now that this era is coming to an end. Musicians were scared, scared of not selling, of not being ?accepted?. The social networks reflect that perfectly. Become popular at all costs. Lie, fake your profile (I am not talking about making it look the best it can be, but pretending you are someone else), use bots to get that snowball rolling, survive the download madness. If you are reading this and don?t know what I am talking about, compare the past few years with the 40?s or 50?s.

The music scene has been doing the same as the financial world; the exact same. Investing in non-existent capital, trying to create ?value? out of thin air. And most people have been busy making sure that they are on the ?right? side of things, where most people gather, than listening to their inner voice. Because being alone or out of step seemed to be the worst thing that could happen.

It was safer to quote others. Just don?t take the risk to be the first to try something that you might regret later. That is the worst environment for true creativity.

It has become obvious that capitalism has not brought us what it promised. Short term thinking, maximizing profits only works for a little while and then the whole system collapses.

I am fascinated how the game industry tricked kids into buying Guitar Hero. Do you want to play the guitar? Press this button. Pop Idol (American Idol) – it?s the same thing. Get to the top without skills and do it fast. The real pleasure of playing an instrument is the learning process, and then applying it. To then face your judge: the mob, the audience, the crowd.
click here for free Guitar Hero excitement in the real world

I learned everything I know about music in the ?underground? scene. This is where people helped each other. If there is a great musician, who is so innovative that non musicians fail to see it, then everyone helps pushing, giving credits until it is understood (The Crystal Castles hypocritical slogan on the NME cover last year ?we get sounds that nobody else gets? while stealing them without crediting couldn?t describe better what I am trying to say here).
click here for copyright private investigators

In the past, major record labels couldn?t live without the Indies, because they were unable to discover the new talent which had the potential to shape the future of music. It strikes me they have learned to love each other. Shrinking sales have made majors adapt marketing techniques which were first explored by the Indies, and the lines have been blurred so much sometimes it?s difficult to tell them apart. It?s like a boxing match where both contesters are just hugging each other. Boring to watch. No tension.

This is about to end now. I love how blogs challenge the traditional music press. The information is going up so fast, you are forced to think! Is that really true? Is that some bullshit hype? Who paid for that???

New music pops up here and there and by the time the machinery wants to grab it to package it and sell its tiny little soul, it?s already gone.

Philosopher Gilles Deleuze comes to mind… Imagine a tree with Red Hot Chilli Peppers sitting on top, Metallica and all the other mega bands just below. In the past every band wanted to climb that tree and take their place, like the monkey chief. In the future there won?t be any trees, friends, there will be only grass. And a lot of it. Fifteen minutes of fame reduced further to the length of a mouse click. In a globalised world, pop music like we used to define it, has no future.

What an exciting opportunity this holds!

www.eyho-blog.com

A Day in the Death by Andrew Strasser (Bad Brilliance!)

nothing beats Destroy All Monsters on a Sunday evening….

click here to watch

propaganda makes us feel good

click here to watch

as your habbit grows….it’s going to happen…

we are so blog fatigued…it’s summer and hot in Berlin-West…why work…on anything….did you get the new update for the iPhone? Make sure to catch Patrick Wolf at Melt Festival (go there, watch him, then leave because the rest is the horror, the horror, spend the weekend in Berlin, wayyyy better)

see you next week at the shows!

*** love,

Alec Empire

www.eyho-blog.com

+++Breaking News:
ALEC EMPIRE joins NINE INCH NAILS on European dates!+++

+++Legendary band FAUST asks Alec to come out and rock the electronics at KLANGBAD FESTIVAL! (August 8th, alongside Dalek, Unit M?bius, Cluster, Harmonia and more!)+++

+++In case you have missed it:

Check out link for Alec Empire’s remix for Patrick Wolf single “Hard Times”
click here!

Alec Empire and Nic Endo did an exclusive performance at Artrocker Festival:
click here to listen to audio +++

After the exciting start in May “Past – Present -Future Tour 2009!” we announce new dates!

(Did you miss any of the May shows? Read review of London show here, Patrick Wolf came on stage during the set and Nic Alec went to play “Vultures” and ATR’s “Revolution Action” )

23 Jun 2009 Nine Inch Nails/ Alec Empire @ Malta // Poznan (PL)
24 Jun 2009 Nine Inch Nails/ Alec Empire @ O2 // Prague (CZ)
26 Jun 2009 Alec Empire @ Fusion Festival! // L?rz (D)
20 Jul 2009 Nine Inch Nails/ Alec Empire @ Vrahon Theatre // Athens (GR)
24 Jul 2009 Nine Inch Nails/ Alec Empire @ Syma Sport and Event Centr // Budapest (HUN)
28 Jul 2009 Nine Inch Nails/ Alec Empire @ Nimes Festival France // Nimes (F)
30 Jul 2009 Nine Inch Nails/ Alec Empire @ La Riviera // Madrid (ES)
31 Jul 2009 Alec Empire live @ BT 59 // Bordeaux (F)
08 Aug 2009 Special ALEC EMPIRE DJ performance @ Faust?s “Klangbad Festival”! // Scheer (D)
27 Aug 2009 Alec Empire DJ @ IKRA // Moscow (RUS)
10 Sep 2009 Alec Empire solo live @ GOGBOT and ATOMPUNK Festival // Enschede (NL)
26 Sep 2009 Alec Empire live @ Ososphere Festival // Strasbourg (F)
02 Oct 2009 Alec Empire solo live @ De:sonanz Festival // Skopje (EJRM)
15 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ La Faiencerie // la Tronche (F)
16 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Petrol // Antwerp (B)
17 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Indiego Glocksee // Hannover (D)
20 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Grend // Essen (D)
21 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Underground // Cologne (D) Tickets available at TICKET 69
22 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Logo // Hamburg (D) Tickets available at TICKET 69
23 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ K17 // Berlin (D)
24 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Gladhouse // Cottbus (D) Tickets availbale at EVENTIM
27 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Lucerna Music Bar // Prague (CZ)
28 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Stadtwerkstatt // Linz (A)
29 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Szene // Vienna (A)
30 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Paradox // Ingolstadt Tickets available at TICKET 69
31 Oct 2009 Alec Empire live @ Lagerhof // Leipzig Tickets available at TICKET 69

+++After getting really exciting reviews Alec Empire’s “Shivers” is out since a few weeks. (there are too many out there to link, but check NME, click here )

note: digital version on iTunes includes bonus concert release “Live At ?bel Gef?hrlich Club 2007, feat. Robbie Furze/The Big Pink on guitars”
Beatport version has all instrumentals for all DJs.

+++Click here for Hellish Vortex link to purchase limited edition physical copy :

+++Check out lead track “Control Drug” on Big Stereo

+++The Hellish Vortex in the studio right now:

Massive collaboration Nic Endo / Alec Empire and CX KIDTRONIK (DJ of Saul Williams and Kanye West!!!) http://www.myspace.com/cxkidtronik

+++Alec Empire collaborates with MOTOR!

http://www.myspace.com/motor66!

+++more news soon!+++

Visit EYHO all over the net for updates, audio files, pictures and videos:

EAT YOUR HEART OUT BLOG
FOLLOW ALEC EMPIRE ON TWITTER
ALEC EMPIRE
EAT YOUR HEART OUT website
NIC ENDO
MYSPACE
YOUTUBE
LAST.FM
DAILYMOTION
ATARI TEENAGE RIOT

make sure you subscribe to EYHO Blog! it’s free!

Alec Empire interviews new New York based producer Bad Brilliance!

click here for QUACKHEAD

Alec Empire:

“Bad Brilliance – you are from New York, Brooklyn. Were you born there ?
tell us about the city. How is it these days? Is the energy back? Story over
here in Berlin goes that New York and L.A. are the cities of the next decade
(while London and Berlin will be crossed of the map)….”

Bad Brilliance:

“I was born in Brazil, raised in Rio de Janeiro until I was 9. Now I live as a full time artist in New York, i hate offices and jobs.
New York has a lot of energy, it just isn’t where you would expect to find it.? In the summer it’s kind of explosive, but it’s also important to ask a cab driver where he likes to party and not just rely on whatever activities are targeted at young people.

As far as the cities of the next decade i think they already are facebook, twitter, pitchfork, you tube.

People are not living in a physical location anymore, they are living on the internet.? Someone in New York would have gone out to an event on a tuesday night ten years ago, but this year they have the option of sitting at home on the internet and working on their fame.? It’s somewhat dark.”

Bad Brilliance with Sophia Lamar

Alec:

“Is there a genre definition for your sound? Is that Hip Hop? Do you even
care about genre definitions these days?”

Bad Brilliance:

“According to me the genre of my music is Rap – more of the fast and dirty version of hip-hop.? Whenever you hear someone say that they are interested in HIP HOP over Rap because it has more integrity, that is the opposite of what I am going for.? I am interested in that sound accompanied with the least integrity.? Just the pure syrup.

I am also fascinated by Hyphy and other variations of rap/hip hop.? I think that genre’s have a place in the discussion of music because all of these obsessions have to be organized.? People have to be funneled into their obsessions with certain sounds.? It’s intense how there are extreme reactions for or against certain genres.? To me it’s like saying that you hate dinosaurs because they are too trendy.? It’s just a specie or creature with certain properties based on a previous creature.

At the same time, i think that the genre of POP is the most powerful and it’s intense how it changes and also amazing the effect that subgenres have on it.”

Alec:

“The image many Europeans get from the US is that all genres are very
divided and don’t really cross. Many wouldn’t never believe that a guy like
Andrew WK would appear on a track like “Quackhead”. Please describe your
scene.”

Bad Brilliance:

“The thing that everyone has to understand is that people are more complex than you would imagine.? I’m obsessed with rap, but when I hear Brazilian music from my childhood it makes me want to cry with joy and love.? If you feel like you have Andrew W.K. figured out based on his product then you would never know how excited he is about Baby Birdman, or Gucci Mane.? Genres are only divided in Middle Schools where music is an intense reality for the inexperienced.? That might also be the best time in someone’s life to enjoy music.? The strange thing about Hip Hop or Rap is that it has transcended it’s own genre by being a complete lifestyle, clothing, speech, if you are African American it’s impossible to avoid it.

click here for BB on YouTube
My scene… is me in the shower blasting HOT 97 every day before i get started with my work – I am often photographing fashion shoots and album artwork, that is how Andrew W.K. met me. You can roughly see my work at www.andrewstrasser.com .? It’s very heavy on the lighting.

There are also other artists that I work with, I do album art for Girl Talk, he is also obsessed with rap/hip hop, and when I go on tour with him to do stage visuals the tour bus is always blaring rap and hip hop.? Essentially it’s white people who are jealous of rap.”

Alec:

“Santos Party House – a new club…how is it? Are you playing there as
well? Andrew posted us the link….what do you think of the New York club
scene?”

Bad Brilliance:

“Santos Party House for me is a club and also a home. ? I can land form a flight and immediately head to Santos.? If it’s a friday night things can get very intense, I have seen P Diddy and Ciara there before, and my sister saw Busta’ Rhymes and LL Cool J.? Also you can totally run into Bjork or Thurston Moore on a Tuesday.? I designed the website for Santos, so it’s pretty easy for me to walk to the front of an extremely long line and get in.? Also in costume I have great success getting into the most exclusive clubs in New York – there might be someone in a suit begging to pay 10,000 G’s for bottle service and they will let Bad Brilliance float through the door.

The New York club scene is very exciting if you are visiting.? Otherwise it’s all about specific weeklies etc. There is an entire economy around weekly events in the gay world, I call it the Gay Economy, and I have sent you a design for that term that I created”

Alec:

“You mentioned to me via Twitter that one of your first shows was with
Digital Hardcore underdogs Ec8or years back. How was that? What did you
think of this sound back then?”

Bad Brilliance:

“I was obsessed with DHR in high school, I wanted to be on <20, and I made little songs here and there.? My favorite was Bomb 20.? I remember there were other people floating around that had a similar style, this one guy TRS-80 had? a website and the shit he did was amazing,? prank phone calls.? Anyone who tried to contact him got a very cruel treatment from him. He was not interested in scenes.? Also there was another guy Combat Drug.

There were many people that were circling around the DHR style and vibe, and it was one of the more intense times in my life, and it was all on the internet.? I remember installing a red light bulb in my room so i could live in a DHR music video that I had seen on AMP on mtv at 3 AM and my mother came crying and screaming to take it down.

When I was in Cleveland going to Art School, I found out that I could open for Ec8or at a strange place called Speak In Tongues, sort of a bombed out hole in the wall.? This was amazing news for me, it was like opening for the Smashing Pumpkins in my mind.? The other band that played was Black Dice, they saw my show.? It was just a fat little boy sitting behind a computer playing music that sounded like this http://www.imeem.com/badbrilliance/music/zWlJ-rjj/andriu-ill-never-forget-cherry-cherry-island/
It was a combination fo DHR and being completely bored in the American suburbs.? I was living in Poughkeepsie, NY at the time. It is a totally fucked place, very trailer park oriented.? The mall is a way of life, with coffee and grease stains on everything.”
click to watch pioneer duo Ec8or

Alec:

“How do you record your music? Is that a bedroom thing or what is going on?”

Bad Brilliance:

“I record most of my music on my laptop on my stomach laying in bed.? My goal is to have the most portable set up. I want to have an entire studio in a bag.? All I need is my laptop, soundcard and microphone and I can make radio hits if needed.? The only thing stopping me is my mind. “

click for BAD BANK

Alec:

“What’s the idea behind Bad Brilliance? On your website there are many
pictures showing you in your outfit harrassing people at the New York
Fashion week haha…Do you perform in these clothes? Do you walk around in
the street of Brooklyn like that? Do you ever get in trouble?”

Bad Brilliance:

” Bad Brilliance began as a reaction to my work in the field of New York society photography.? I was an underpaid worker labeling names on the photos of New York society people for a website, so that magazines could pick them up.? It was a wonderful time but at the same time I learned a lot about the business, it was a big McDonalds to me.? So I created a conceptual society person.? He has his name on his face so you know who he is.? That is the Bad Brilliance of it.

As soon as I began photographing myself I was flown out to Amsterdam, that’s when I knew I had created the ultimate socialite.? An evolution.? I was invited to fashion week once, but was not allowed to wear my costume. I was invited as Bad Brilliance and received a call to attend in normal clothing.? It was a Diesel runway show, I brought Andrew W.K. along to that and it was quite wonderful.? I get dragged about, one time I witnessed a porno shoot in my costume.? I took my little red wind up toy car and let it drive under the bed where people were boning.? Also I attend different society events. I am greeted with love and hate, some people are so excited and I am asked to take a photograph with someone every 30 seconds, otherwise someone comes up to me and whispers something very dark and hurtful into my costume.
I never get in trouble, but often I am escorted out of an event by the PR people and their goons.”

Alec:

“What are your next plans?”

Bad Brilliance:

“My next plans are to get the music rolling along.? I need to start recording seriously on microphone.? I have an EP planned out with Andrew W.K.’s Skyscraper Music Maker, and with his partnership with Cargo Records.? It will be 6 songs and the goal is get every moment of it to sound as heavy as possible.? I’m very excited to be working with Andrew, he is one of the most amazing people you will meet.

Aside from that I am working on doing a residency in Miami as Bad Brilliance.? Miami is a great place for my costume.? All the rappers live there or have summer homes there, and also the women are beautiful and I relate to any city that reminds me of Rio in it’s superficiality and beach culture.”

red carpet to nowhere is his upcoming ep on andrew wk’s record label

GET IT!

check out Bad Brilliance on Myspace!

official website! click here!

www.eyho-blog.com

]]> http://www.eyho-blog.com/2009/06/09/alec-empire-of-atari-teenage-riot-interviews-upcoming-new-york-producer-bad-brilliance/feed/ 8 http://www.eyho-blog.com/2009/05/28/revolution-patrick-wolfs-new-video-hardtimes-is-out/ http://www.eyho-blog.com/2009/05/28/revolution-patrick-wolfs-new-video-hardtimes-is-out/#comments Thu, 28 May 2009 11:03:27 +0000 phenomenonRZ22 http://www.eyho-blog.com/?p=2141 PATRICK WOLF’S NEW VIDEO “HARDTIMES” !

click here to watch

Patrick Wolf shot this one in New York just a couple of weeks ago. Very much influenced by cult movie Liquid Sky.

Liquid Sky Trailer click here to watch

This film has probably influenced more music for the past decade than any other film. From DJ Hell to Nic Endo. Samples turned up on many dance tracks. You can tell if someone doesn’t know this film, has not studied it…it separates the wolves from the sheep.

if flash player doesn’t show click here to watch

It’s great that Patrick just doesn’t go retro with his style (like most the others who wave the Liquid Sky flag), he reinvents it, creates completely new music… well done.

2009 is the year to bring back lyrics about issues like “revolution”. (while payments for corporate managers keep rising and musicians and workers lose their jobs)

support mp3 blogs like Big Stereo instead of Pirate Bay.

also make sure you check out new website of the Wolf

http://patrickwolf.com/

make sure you describe to EYHO Blog – it’s free

CLICK HERE ! ! ! !

check out live footage when Alec Empire & Nic Endo brought Patrick Wolf on stage for their London show May 1st! click here to watch
AND THEN THEY EVEN PLAY ATARI TEENAGE RIOT classic 1st time after 10 years!!! together!

click here & see Alec do the New World Order Jesus Christ Pose Crowd Surf::::: click here

www.eyho-blog.com

CLICK HERE FOR EXCLUSIVE PERFORMANCE!!!!!!

VAGABONDO 2009

Over 4 virtual stages will run a program on the magazine’s website www.artrocker.tv from May 25.

Artrocker magazine invited a selection of bands to a studio to create original recordings for the festival.

The sessions can be streamed or downloaded for one week. Ambient, Spoken Word, Noise and Experimental pieces are performed by participants like

New York’s Suicide, Alec Empire & Nic Endo, The Aliens , Art Brut, The Dandy Warhols, Everything Everything, Violet Violet, Televised Crimewave and others.

Artrocker Magazine is really pushing boundaries with this projects, forcing the artists to leave their comfort zones and express themselves in ways they’d normally not do!

MAKE SURE YOU TUNE IN!

www.eyho-blog.com

Dear Ufonauts,

The new UFO Hawaii Show is here.

Enjoy

?Greener Pastures?

?

download & listen here:

http://www.lalavoxbox.com/treuland/mp3/ufo_hawaii_37.mp3

cover artwork:

http://www.lalavoxbox.com/treuland/mp3/ufo_hawaii_37_cover.jpg

playlist:

http://kunstlertreu.blogspot.com/

Ufo Hawaii #37 will be online until june 1st.

yours

k?nstler treu

www.eyho-blog.com

WICKED – 22nd of May, Friday Night at Suicide Circus
WICKED BOOKS
Gastgeber: WICKED – Every 3rd Friday Night at Suicide Circus
Art: Party

Beginn: Freitag, 22. Mai 2009 um 23:00
Ort: Suicide Circus
Stra?e: Revaler Str.99
Stadt/Ort: Berlin-Friedrichshain, Germany

E-Mail: info@wicked-berlin.com

Homepage: www.berlin-wicked.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/wickeddance

WICKED | Friday it?s gonna be WICKED! There is no better place to celebrate a brand new event than in a brand new venue. Wicked@Suicide Circus: Straight next to Warschauer Stra?e in Berlin-Friedrichshain. One big dancefloor inside and fortunately, summer is knocking on the door, so an outdoor area is also provided for all night long partying.

WICKED BOOKS | The party line-up for the 1st night: With a live club set NACHLADER will be battling with his companion SHOKKABOY. Their concept: Electro-Indie coming along with some hard beats.
To bring us a bit closer to the English cultural heritage, the band GoodBooks is sending us their man on the Keys JP Duncan alias JOCKS over the canal directly to Berlin. Lovies like Crystal Castles, lo-fi-fnk and The Teenagers discovered their music long time ago. So their remixes say more than hundred words. Proudly we can announce that JOCKS will present you the hottest tracks and some favourites from London.
Best Freshpop and Discorock you can expect from our charming resident ladies GAMINE and DIANA. They are not only just looking gorgeous. Actually, they come first concerning ?new hot shit? to dance and rock to.
Come around and discover good books, words, music and drinks…
See ya!

Zugang ?ber die neue Treppe von der Warschauer Stra?e oder ?bers Revaler Gel?nde, rechts am Astra vorbei.
_______________________________________________

Entrance via the stairs from Warschauer Stra?e or via Revaler Gel?nde, pass by Astra right hand side.

WICKED | Freitag wird es WICKED! Und wo l?sst sich so ein neuer Event besser feiern als in einer neuen Location? Wicked@Suicide Circus: Direkt an der Warschauer Stra?e in Berlin-Friedrichshain. Wie es sich geh?rt ein gro?er Dancefloor drinnen und damit wir den Sommer auch kraftvoll durchfeiern k?nnen, gibt es auch eine Outdoor Area.

WICKED BOOKS | Durch die erste Nacht begleiten uns: NACHLADER mit seinem Live-Klub-Set im Battle mit SHOKKABOY. Ihr Rezept: Elektro-Indie mit ein paar h?rteren Beats unterlegt.
Um uns das englische Kulturgut n?her zu bringen, schickt die Band GoodBooks ihren Keyboarder JP Duncan alias JOCKS ?ber den Kanal nach Berlin. Lieblinge wie z.B. Crystal Castles, lo-fi-fnk und The Teenagers haben ihre Musik schon lange f?r sich entdeckt. Ihre Remixe sagen da wohl mehr als viele Worte. Wir sind stolz zu verk?nden, dass JOCKS euch Neuheiten und Bestseller aus London pr?sentieren wird.
Besten Freshpop und Diskorock gibt es dann noch von unseren beiden charmanten Resident-Ladys GAMINE und DIANA auf die Ohren. Die sehen nicht nur hinrei?end aus, sondern sind auch im Bereich “neuer hei?er Schei? zum tanzen & rocken” Top of the Pops.
Kommt vorbei und entdeckt good books, words, music and drinks?
See ya!
__________________________________________________

www.eyho-blog.com

click to watch men

Dead Lazers
click to watch Kap Bambino

Major Lazer

Wave Machines – I Go I Go I Go
click here for wave machines

http://www.myspace.com/cxkidtronik

Krak!

ps: Alec says that new tourdates are up on www.alec-empire.com

www.eyho-blog.com

VAGABONDO 2009

Over 4 virtual stages will run a program on the magazine’s website www.artrocker.tv from May 25.

Artrocker magazine invited a selection of bands to a studio to create original recordings for the festival.

The sessions can be streamed or downloaded for one week. Ambient, Spoken Word, Noise and Experimental pieces are performed by participants like

New York’s Suicide, Alec Empire & Nic Endo, The Aliens and others.

Artrocker Magazine is really pushing boundaries with this projects, forcing the artists to leave their comfort zones and express themselves in ways they’d normally not do!

MAKE SURE YOU TUNE IN!

www.eyho-blog.com