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Lateral Tension
Last Edit/Update
13 June, 1998
Interview With
AJ Razor
Of
Lateral Tension
Email Interview conducted by
Kim Alexander and
Mike Santarpia
Spring 1998.
Razor: I really haven't seen a good movie in a long time. Dead Ringers comes to mind as something that I watched more than once. These days, movies seem to be selling themselves short. Like pop records, they lack deep emotion and true feeling. Movies like Independence Day are bad, really bad. If I had that budget and special effects, I would make that movie realistic. Instead these types of movies try to appeal to everyone from age 5 to 75 and end up insulting the intelligence of a lot of people in between those ages. This is a huge problem in the movie industry today.
Kim: I noticed in your release, Pressure Device, that you used samples quite heavily, what films did you sample? More specifically, where did you get the samples on track # 8, "Fear Killer"?
Razor: I ended up really liking the one-liners in two movies and they seemed to fit the themes well, so I stuck with it. I like to let the listener guess where the samples come from, otherwise it spoils the fun.
Kim: How about literature? Do you read much? If so, what type of things are you fond of reading about?
Razor: I like to read about psychology and the processes of the mind. I am fascinated with behavior and the causes of disorders. It is amazing how many disorders exist, and how people can become so messed up so fast. It also seems that everyone I know is somewhat insane, but they say if it seems like everyone around you is insane...then it is you who are insane.
Kim: If you could work with any artist you wanted to for a month in the studio, who would that be and why?
Razor: I am not really sure. I like a lot of music, but you never know the personality of an artist until you meet them. Working with someone that I clicked with well would be important.
Kim: Your music is quite original. What bands do you listen to currently? Do they influence your sound/music at all?
Razor: I do think that music coming out from industrial artists these days is origional. I recently encounterd someone who was ranting and raving about how everything was "post-industrial" as if it were second or third generation, therefore, not worth listening too. I think people who are stuck on early industrial bands and think they are the "only" good bands because their sound came first need to dust off there cd collections. But then again, there are those who like bands for the entire cult image that was created around them, and not the actual quality of the music.
Kim: How did you treat your voice on this release, what machines did you use?
Razor: I use a friend named ART.
Kim: How would you describe your music?
Razor: Emotional, strong, passionate, vivid, deep, dark...extreme. It is a ride into the turmoil's of life. If you like to get out your aggressions and pain in music, you will enjoy the Pressure Device experience.
Last Sigh: How do you
feel about MP3's being encoded without the artists permission and sent all around the net
to be burnt on cds?
Razor: This type of illegal copying of music is something that
technology is going to have to combat very soon. It cheats musicians and endangers their
capability to continue being musicians. Often, cd sales are the only source of income for
the artist. I feel it is a moral question someone has to ask themselves when pirating
another's music. When you don't support the artist, you are actually stealing from him. If
the majority of people don't care, they better cherish what they are stealing because the
artist may be too broke to produce anything for them again.
Last Sigh: What bands did you like growing up?
Razor: I always liked synthesized sounds in music. My first
influences include some well known bands such as Cabaret Voltaire, Front 242, Sisters of
Mercy, Front Line Assembly, Bauhaus, Depeche Mode, Skinny Puppy, Revolting Cocks,
Ministry....
Last Sigh: What bands do you like now? Any bands/music
you dislike?
Razor: I still listen to a lot of the same music that I used to
when I was younger. The bands have continued to produce great projects. My most recent
likes include KMFDM's Nihil and their latest release. There are a lot of new bands coming
out that I wish would get more exposure. Michael Welch's Cyberbabies and Veronica
Kirchoff's The Glory of Destruction V.1 (released by Catastrophe Records) include some
newer bands that exhibit great talent. I can say that other than Industrial and
Electronic, nothing much appeals to me.
Last Sigh: Did you go to College? What was your major?
Razor: I graduated from a university with a degree in Psychology.
Last Sigh: What were your influences to want to make music?
Razor: I do music for emotional release. I have owned a Juno106
sythesizer since I was 14 and I learned it inside and out. In my spare time I sat around
making sequences on it. I suppose I didn't start thinking about music as a serious venture
until I graduated from university and saw that I was about to be shackled into a suit and
a 9-5 job. I felt that letting go of the gift of music would be unforgivable.
Last Sigh: What instruments do you play if you play any? Which
ones? Which is your favorite?
Razor: I can play anything with keys on it. I grew up playing
classical piano then moved onto synthesizers.
Last Sigh: What, if any messages are you trying to relay
through your music?
Razor: I am not trying to relay any messages or preach. If someone
identifies with what I am saying then that is great. If not, then maybe they can enjoy the
beats and sounds of the music.
Last Sigh: What type of process, if any, do you go through to
compose?
Razor: Malochi and I spent a couple of months basically living in
the studio. I had been working on some sequences but had not had time to composed anything
solid. When we both started putting our time and effort into composing, things started to
roll. We used some of the sequences I had composed as well as some new ones that he
composed. He added most of the percussive beats that drive the songs. I would smooth out
any rough edges and cut or add sounds. When the songs started to take on a feeling, I
would put down the lyrics.
Last Sigh: What other interests do you have besides music?
Razor: I like to explore the psychology of humans. I sit around and
read text books on theories of personality, deviant behavior, abnormal psychology ...some
fascinating shit out there. Maybe I should get out more often. I also like to freak myself
out unnecessarily.
Last Sigh: Do you like any other aspects of the music industry
(engineering, producing)?
Razor: I liked producing Lateral Tension. Other then that, I really
don't have the time or finances for other projects right now. As far as engineering goes,
I leave that to the experts.
Last Sigh: Is there anything you would like to accomplish in
the music industry that you haven't yet?
Razor: Yes, getting signed or getting some distribution deals. We
are selling cd's off of the Lateral Tension web site, but I would like to get more
distribution. I am getting our press kit out to labels this month. Hopefully someone will
bite. I would also like to set up a tour.
Last Sigh: Have you played with any bands previous to this one?
Razor: I was in a band with Jon and Ken of the Posies prior to them
forming the Posies (we didn't do anything that resembled the music of the Posies). We did
a little industrial project called Sense Insurrection. I still have the songs recorded.
Unfortunately, I doubt they will ever be released. I have trouble getting a hold of Jon or
Ken since they're big stardom.
Last Sigh: How did the band meet? And where?
Razor: I have been friends with Malochi since high school. We both
live in Bellingham, Washington, which is located directly between Seattle and Vancouver
B.C. It's actually a great place to record albums because there is absolutely nothing to
do here. I think if we both had lived in Seattle or Vancouver, we may have never been
bored enough to start getting creative. We use to get intoxicated and jam all night long.
He would pound on drums, I would play keyboards, and the neighbors would try to kill us. I
met Lankhaar in high school also, but we didn't hang out until recently. He just appeared
at my door one day after hearing about the Lateral Tension project. The rest is history.
Last Sigh: Why did you choose your name? What does it mean? Did
you have any other names in mind before choosing this one?
Razor: Lateral Tension is all about the tension between people that
is often unnecessary and inaccurate. How many times have you thought someone was an
asshole, only to later realize that they were not an asshole at all and you were basing
your belief on some minor stereotype or story that was incorrect or false? The reverse
also applies. It defines the tension as something that is often based on
mis-understandings that can burn out of control. I was going to call the band Channel
Zero, but that was a bit too techno and didn't stick. It also didn't say anything about
the music. Then, Nerve Net came to mind. I really liked it at first, but I think Brian Eno
or someone had an album called that. Lateral Tension came to me out of nowhere. I can't
remember where I was or what I was doing, it just appeared and I put meaning to it.
Last Sigh: Do you have any other albums that were releases
on other releases or is the one your first?
Razor: This is our first release.
Last Sigh: How long did it take to record the album?
Razor: It took about 5 months. We still have some unreleased songs
as well.
Last Sigh: Which is your favorite song on the album? Why?
Razor: The song that holds the most meaning to me is
"Cohorts". Musically, each song is unique. I like them all equally.
Last Sigh: Is that also your favorite song to perform live?
Razor: "Pressure Device" is my favorite song to perform
live because it is the first song of our set and I am totally amped when I hit the stage.
Last Sigh: Is your band on any sound tracks or compilations? If
so, which ones?
Razor: We are on the Cyberbabies compilation, released by Michael
Welch: The Glory of Destruction V.2, released by Catastrophe Records; and Industrial
Anarchy, released by Suisonic Records. All three are still in the making.
Last Sigh: Have you made any videos?
Razor: We will be making some videos of our live shows in the near
future. I plan on making videos for the songs when I have more financing.
Last Sigh: What is your favorite city to play? Favorite Venue?
Razor: So far, we have mostly played in Seattle. Right now, I
really like The Fenix.
Last Sigh: What bands have you toured with?
Razor: We haven't toured yet.
Last Sigh: Which was your favorite band to tour with?
Razor: That remains to be seen. A Front Line Assembly tour would be
nice. I had a few long conversations with Bill Leeb when he worked at this clothing store
called The Black Market in downtown Vancouver, many years ago. I think he would be
surprised to see what I ended up doing (of course he probably wouldn't remember me from
any other punk off the street).
Last Sigh: What is in the future for your band?
Razor: I hope to get signed, get distribution and go on tour. Currently,
we are getting distribution through Catastrophe Records and Delinquent Records.
Last Sigh: When can we expect to see another album?
Razor: We have a lot of material worked out that we didn't put on
the cd. It still neded some final touches and the cd contained 11 songs already. I am not
sure when we will be able to release those songs. It all depends on a lot of variables.
Last Sigh: What do you think about industrial music in general?
Razor: In general, I don't really know what to classify anything
anymore. I think industrial has mutated into a beast with many tentacles. Each tentacle,
some off-shoot from what was coming out 10 or more years ago. I think each tentacle has
the ability to form its own beast. Its all about evolving.
Last Sigh: Do you feel industrial music is dead?
Razor: It's mutating and evolving.
Last Sigh: Do you see a future for industrial music?
Razor: New beasts emerging.
Last Sigh: Do you see it becoming more popular?
Razor: I think it will become more popular in its various forms.
Some forms more then others.
Last Sigh: Do you feel industrial music as a whole is
recognized by the music industry?
Razor: It is recognized by certain parts of the music industry
right now. Will it become the big cash cow? Who knows, look at Marilyn Manson and NIN.
Last Sigh: What do you think about the "mainstream"
bands like NIN, Marilyn Manson, Filter, Gravity Kills and Stabbing Westward?
Razor: I think they all worked hard and got what they deserved. I
like The Downward Spiral and Antichrist Superstar quite a bit. I have no problems with
mainstream industrial that is good. I think people like certain groups because they can
make their own personal identification with the artist and music; however, when everyone
(including grandma) owns a copy of what was once your music to escape into, it tends to
make you want to throw it out the window and escape into something else (the double
standard of popularity).
Last Sigh: What do you think about MTV and the music award
shows?
Razor: I don't.
Last Sigh: What equipment do you use?
Razor: I hate listing equipment. It always reminds me of someone
trying to talk About how big there biceps are.
Last Sigh: What equipment do you use live?
Razor: We use keyboards, guitars, a drum set, and a microphone.
Last Sigh: Is there anything you would like to add to any of
your fans or future fans who might be reading this?
Razor: When wicked grows life, as cold as ice, strap yourself into
the Pressure Device!
