By Leasia Korbel
Q: On your most recent release “Shadow.” You said initially, “The track exploits the phenomenon of “Shadow” personality traits- the side of us that rarely gets shown to the world.” Can you give fans an idea of the deeper concept behind “Shadow?”
A: Most of us, if not ALL of us, have a side to us that gets repressed. Maybe its because you feel your boss wont allow it, or your friends will mock you, or your parents wont accept you, or you are embarrassed to be yourself. The unfortunate part of all of this, is that this hidden side to us tends to be the most creative and interesting side. So really the world is being robbed of originality the more we suppress this and conform to social standards.
Q: Can you give us insight into the emotions or experiences you hope listeners will connect with “Shadow?” Do we all need to embrace the dark side?
A: This song, as well as my entire musical career IS my shadow side. Every lyric written, song produced, graphic design element, is the side I tend to suppress from the public. My goal with the song is for the listener to feel heard and seen.
Q: Your latest songs seem to incorporate deep exploration into the human psyche and psychology. Is there a reason behind that?
A: The older I become, the more I become aware of how much life is simply a game. No one knows what they are doing, we are all pretending and acting, and in the end no one makes it out alive. Just do what makes you feel alive now because that chance wont be here for long.
Q: Can you give us a time frame for your next album? Do you have any surprises in store?
A: VOLTAGE should be out in full by the start of Fall this year. It is not entirely finished yet, so maybe there will be some unexpected surprises to close it out.
Q: On a scale from “Shy Shower Singer” to “Rock God on a Dragon,” how pumped are you for this album’s release?
A: Haha, well I am extremely shy and introverted, so I’d go with the shy shower singer for this one.
Q: If your new album was a metaphor for a concept or idea, what would it symbolize, and why?
(e.g., “Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the album represents resilience and rebirth.” Or do we need to “Embrace the dark side of the Force”)
A: The album title is VOLTAGE, which represents speed and power in the case of the inspiration behind the album. Faster songs, more sonics, bigger, more electronics, bigger guitars, higher vocals.
Q: In the past, and in several interviews you’ve stated you enjoyed movies like Tron and Bladerunner. (Which honestly is a great fit here at FiXT) Would you say your more recent work continues to embrace that?
A: When those movies came out, the genre was not over saturated. Now you can find 100’s of movies and series on streaming platforms that all look the same, too much CGI, over the top with the Sci-Fi etc, so I just became immune and bored with it. My overarching inspiration, even beyond Bladerunner is Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. The colors, costumes, mood, set design is beyond anything I have ever seen.
Q: Favorite Summer Plans?
A: I hate Summer – can’t wear my favorite clothes.
Q: Pineapple on pizza? Yes or no?
A: Yes with jalapenos!
Q: In a previous interview you said you were “always on the verge of going entirely electronic.” Is that still happening?
A: It is literally always on my mind. I think the next album will very likely be this way.
Q: In the past you’ve stated you prefer working alone, but on a few of your recent singles you’ve worked with Julien-K, most recently “CRAWL” and you have your other project INTRELOCK. What’s different here?
A: I usually like to work alone because I work fast and intense. I do not like the process of making a song, then stopping to send it to someone else, and waiting for their input. It halts and disrupts the creative process for me. Amir from Julien-K understands this when working with me so he is able to get something back to me usually in the same day! That is not his usual style, but for me he bends his own rules and always delivers incredible parts that I would not have, and could not have created on my own. I am interested in more collabs, but it has to be with something that is doing something I can’t do on my own.
Q: I’ve read from previous interviews that music is only a small part of The Anix. What inspires The Anix as a whole concept from music to aesthetics?
A: I have always been very inspired by lifestyle related elements more than music. Architecture, style, sneakers, art and design. There is a huge amount of inspiration from 1960’s American design, such as Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard’s pattern making for Herman Miller, Fender’s Jaguar and Jazzmasters of the 60’s, NASA. In the end, its all art, and art inspires art regardless of what genre you create in.
Q: I am now contractually obligated to ask in every interview: Which would you rather fight: one horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses? And why?
A: I think I would take the horse-sized duck, in the hopes that its size slows it down from an agility stand point, allowing me to be quicker to make my move.