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An Evening With

Bat  &   Evoltwin

This chat was conducted by various people on
IRC on December 22, 1997.
Transcribed and designed by Kim Alexander.
C denotes a comment by a guest
Q denotes a question by a guest
<sin-tek2> denotes moderator

*** Xorcist has joined #liveonline

<sin-tek2> Welcome Xorcist!

XORCIST: Hi kids

C: <sin-tek> On behalf of Last Sigh ezine and Liveonline, Welcome to our chat!

Q: hate to sound like a lamer but Who the hell is xorcist :)

XORCIST: I'll guess you're about to find out.

C: Xorcist is Mr. Peter Stone

C: xorcist is bat and evoltwin!

Q: xorcist: is she [Evoltwin] near the computer and going to be in this chat?

XORCIST: She may stop in soon...

Q: hey dont u come on irc xorcist?

XORCIST: Nope. I haven't played with IRC for quite some time - I've popped on once in a while.. like 5 times in the past year.

Q: you have another job other than working in music?

Q: what's the name of the cd-rom project(s) you're currently working on?

XORCIST: Aside from Xorcist, I write music and create sound effects for CD-ROM projects. The latest one is called, "Space Bunnies Must Die". Done by the same crew that did Iron Helix and Bad Mojo.

XORCIST: Space Bunnies is kinda a play on B-movie sci-fi flick stuff...

XORCIST: Space Bunnies should be done hopefully by May/June.

Q: what do u think about industrial bands today involved in CD Rom sountrack like the Wing Commander ? with Das Ich, Cobalt60... is this something that u r interested in?

XORCIST: It's great - Like any music, as long as the music fits the senario. To see industrial music cropping up on CD-ROMs is a good thing, it exposes the music - On the other hand, it's also licensed for cheap and usually done so to expose the artist.

XORCIST: I've been asked to license Xorcist music on CD-ROM's but haven't. Not due to licensing problems, but more to just being too busy or other people getting tracks on by not charging a dime for it.

C: HuG's new cd is one of those cdrom's that has video and music on it

C: yes, they have released a CD compilation with lots of Industrial bands call Wing Commander Sountrack but this is a CD not a CD Rom

C: Yeah, cd-rom is kinda cool for that. There was some good material on Descent II as well.

XORCIST: I think the 'cyber' realm, (CD-ROM's, etc) will be an outlet for this type of music as that's kind of where this music ended up originating either from or around.

XORCIST: Listen to it now at http://www.cyberden.com/xorcist in the releases area.

Q: What do you think about the coming DVD format?

XORCIST: I hear it's impossible to make a VHS dupe of a DVD. So it sucks.

XORCIST: Actually, more power to it - I just like my LaserDisc player personally.

Q: are you still releasing a cd of aeon flux music you did?

XORCIST: I didn't do the music for Aeon Flux. My good friend, Drew Neumann did and yes, he finally cut through all the red tape with MTV awhile ago and has released the soundtrack.

XORCIST: You can find it in the stores - more info at the tone casualties web page (the label that is releasing it).

Q: what gear do you use most?

XORCIST: For the record - I worked on sound effects, sound design, field recordings, etc., with Drew on the various seasons.

XORCIST:  I use an ASR-10 fully loaded for most of the sampling work - Also use a Waldorf Microwave, Korg DSS-1, Yamaha SY-22, Oberheim DPX-1, Kawai K1, Korg 707, Alesis D4, a Korg EX8000 and a Kawai K5-m... (for now)There's a few fx processors in there as well - DSP 128, SPX-90, Pro-verb 200 and Multiverb II.

Q: but.. you ever consider touring with that one *LUXT* band?

[Comment from Luxt who was also in this chat.]

Luxt: We almost did tour with Xorcist, but Anna's work wouldn't let her go.

C: we enjoyed evoltwin's graffitti in The Angel's dressing room in New Orleans. :)

Q: what do you like best, crunchy or smooth peanut butter?

XORCIST: (smooth peanut butter)

Q: you seem to be involved with alot of things. What are you planning to do in the future? Do you plan to focus on one thing?

XORCIST: One thing? No - It's too hard to fucus on just one thing. I have a side project that I'm going to try and release soon called Xenon. More ambient, industrial/trance stuff... There's a couple of tracks on the Digital Wings Comp CD we (CyberDen) just released.

XORCIST: New Orleans was a blast - Yea, that wall was naked. They gave us a marker.

Q: ack new orleans???????

XORCIST: We were looking to try and tour with quite a few bands... at first (a LONG time ago), it was Cassandra Complex and the bleeding stone... that fell through... LUXT would of been another one but timing was off.

Q: Who is Evoltwin?

XORCIST: Evoltwin is my PM (Perfect Mate) and she now performs in the band live and sings on a couple of Xorcist tracks.

XORCIST: You can learn more about her at: http://www.cyberden.com/evoltwin

*** Evoltwin (~Evoltwin (at) istk-port2.jps.net) has joined #liveonline

<sin-tek2> Welcome to #liveonline Evoltwin!!!!!

<Evoltwin> Why thank you :>

Q: member the dreaded mail list??? ever get one up and running?

XORCIST: Someone mentioned they were going to start an Xorcist mailing list - May happen now.

C: That was me...

XORCIST: Ah! Veddy good - Someone recently wanted to start one again.

Q: Bat & Evoltwin: What are your observations about the last Industro-Rave?

XORCIST: ha! Food was better!

XORCIST: It was a fun time but the first one seemed to have a bit more energy.

<Evoltwin> Mailing lists are rather proffesional, no?.... Oh Industro Rave hmmmm, well I thought many things... OH yes the food /was/ better.

Q: was Evoltwin on the last tour with you?

XORCIST: Yes, that one and the small mini tour before to Arizona and back.

XORCIST: I was REALLY tired that last show at the Industro-Rave and did NOT put on the best show I could of... went on way too late...

Q: what was the best venue you played at during the last tour? Worst?

XORCIST: There were a few bests but Boston was pretty cool, Salt Lake City was actually pretty good too... They were all cool - The worst ones are easier to remember...

<Evoltwin> In my opinion the worst was Outta Control... but that's cause Bat had to be the sound guy and play the show? But they did offer us Mcdonalds food <ewwe> So anyhow I am sure it was all bad luck on their part...

Q:Evoltwin: how long have you been into this music? do you do any of the vocals on the new release: soul reflections? if so, what tracks?

<Evoltwin> Umm lets see Yes, I do some vocals on Anima over Bat's vocoder vocals... samples elsewhere... screams and demented things too.

Q: how long were you creating music before you got signed?

Q: how long HAVE you been composing music?

XORCIST: I was writing music for about a year in Los Angeles under the band name BELIEF with another person. Nothing happened with that so we went our own ways and I started Xorcist solo.

XORCIST: Three months of that and I left L.A. to San Francisco at which I soon learned my Xorcist demo tapes were finally getting airplay on L.A. College radio.

XORCIST: When I got to S.F., I also have my tapes out to everyone who claimed to have a label. 6 months later, Don of 21st Circuitry called me saying he found my tape at the bottom of his back-pack (he forgot about it) and said he wanted to put it out as his first release. That release would be Damned Souls.

XORCIST: I've been noodling in music since 7 or 8... I would just sit and play the piano. Got into European music first for their electronics and eventually moved more in that direction personally.

Q: Who influend you in your music?

XORCIST: My biggest influences growing up have been bands such as Tangerine Dream, Yello, Gary Numan, The Residents, Laurie Anderson, Georgio Moroder (his soundtrack stuff, not the cheesy stuff), Eno, Bowie, Paul Schultz...

Q: why is there a quantum loop? isn't it the same as 21st?

XORCIST: Quantum Loop is Don's other label he started for his techno/ambient stuff.

Q: are either of you vegetarians?

<Evoltwin> Yes we are Vegan's finally made the changeover a few months back <gleam>

Q: Evoltwin: any particular reason you went Vegan? Philosophical or ethical?

* xtal has attempted veganism

<Evoltwin> It's easy once you get a stockpile of foods you can eat and viable substitutions.... I thought it would be impossible but it is rather easy... just don't eat out that much at all really- 'cept them healthy places ;)

<sin-tek2> and how about Evoltwin? when did you first get into music?

<Evoltwin> Ummm began with violin when I was young... learned that Viola and Cello... Yummy Cello.... anyhow, then when the other Evol and I met we started doing things for music's sake, experimental possessed sort of stuff- then I met Bat and after we started living together I would peek in and say... hmmm... can I try something? And he left the door open.

Q: When was that? Belief?

XORCIST: Belief... sheesh... that must of been around when that Harmonic Convergence thing happened... 80's? early?

XORCIST: I became a vegan not because of the cruelity to animals but because 99% of all animal related products we injest contain trace poisons, metals, etc... eat too much and you will come down with something you didn't want

C: vegetables are sprayed with chemicals too.

XORCIST: Organic vegatables.

<Evoltwin> Not Organic ;>

XORCIST: But yes, Organic can contain friends!

C: its a shame that organic foods are so expensive

Q: aren't there places to buy meat that from "small farms"?

<Evoltwin> things are only as expensive as you make them-- we were poorish and would just start buying them regardless and things were made up for- I think the universe likes it when you change and allows for change.

XORCIST: You can buy meat from places that 'claim' to be organic as well, but all in all, I've lost the desire for it. I'm no longer in a loincloth having to club or spear animals for my food and years of evolution have changed our bodies to account for that.

<Evoltwin> Yes there are actually hormone free meats, free-range chicken eggs and meat... that sort of thing is available.

XORCIST: While we still retain some teeth for tearing, not hardly what would be considered for 'meat'. Look at a dog's teeth or a cat's and then look at ours.

XORCIST: I don't hate people who do...[eat meat] not at all - It's not a political standpoint for me. It's more just a health one.

C: yeah, friends in food like worms...

XORCIST: Yea, and a worm is considered meat so.... live and live.

<Evoltwin> I don't tend to try and change peoples views... I'd rather set an example through my own life... Cultivate one's own Garden? <grin> I think that's wise.

Q: who were\are your biggest influences?

<Evoltwin> Who What Why How When Where????!

XORCIST: I currently don't listen to a lot of new music more because of the time factor... I did just find the Jerry Goldsmith version of the LEGEND soundtrack. I'm into soundtracks more. XENON, the new side project is more soundtrack oriented.

XORCIST: I've actually been looking to get into more of the Indian film soundtracks... I'm a newbie in that field but have seen some previews of movies that the music was quite excellent in.

Q: indian film? would you recommend one for me?

XORCIST: I wish I could - I just started seeing previews for them on Sundays here on a SF cable channel. (KTSF)

XORCIST: Let's just say after seeing all these film previews (this show just shows previews), I can see where most of the trance/ambient scene get's their ideas from.

C:  if you haven't already, i'd look at a mexican director named Alex Jodorowsky. in my opinion so brilliant, you dont walk away the same person after seeing one of his films

XORCIST: There are quite a few directors that also leave that effect on people... David Lynch, Stanley Kubrick...

Q: did anyone give you any flak for covering "smells like teen spirit"??

XORCIST: No - I wrote smells long before Kurt offed himself and actually people who have heard it and like Nirvana, liked the cover alot.

XORCIST: Ahh Santa Sangre was an excellent film.

<Evoltwin> What about 120 days of Sodom?

XORCIST: Yes, he's pretty good.. more fun though... I do own Videodrome on Laser.

XORCIST: Other favorites... Liquid Sky

Q: what are your views on more "mainstream" electronic artists gaining popularity

<Evoltwin> Anyone oh yes... Holy Mountain very very good

XORCIST: Ahhh so HE did Holy Mountain. Yes, We got a copy of that. Another wild flick. Is yours edited or not?

XORCIST: Any electronic artist well known will be accused of that since it seems electronic music is STILL not considered to be widely popular except Depeche Mode, etc...

C: "you like to fuck babies..better than anything in the world..."

<Evoltwin> Evoltwin breaks out a chainsaw and cuts the leg's off of the spicegirls Oh gee where did that come from? Well otherwise I think the ambient stuff is good... Industrial... I think the focus is a little off on who is rising but that seems typical anyhow.

XORCIST: I think it's great - If they suck, they'll know about it - More power to the exposure. Once enough electronic bands get exposed, perhaps our music will take over the record bins since there's plenty of rock and roll crap out there now littering the bins.

<Evoltwin> As the Residents say... It all changed with MTV...Although the Prodigy video for SlapMyBitchUp was entertaining...

XORCIST: Well, yes, a LOT of original ideas are being ripped by talentless, crappy techno dj wanna be musicians who create something that has no talent... but it has a beat. You can dance to it. And someone probably paid a lot of money to get it on the air.

XORCIST: Even SlapMyBitchUp was still talent-less. Nothing new. More of a media PR stunt.

C: prodigy on the europe mtv music awards: lead singer with the "I am Satan" horned hair came dressed in a suit. oh darn, what aaaabout his image? poor little kiddies must have been disappointed. i think im about to cry. incidentally, that same show featured the sunset strip $20 hookers commonly known as the spice girls, who should, chronologically, be the spice women, and marry the backstreet MEN, then both retire from the music scene and leave us to some

<Evoltwin> Not to mention the countless rap songs that are looped 80's music... Hey isn't that the /waitresses?/

XORCIST: Radio is evil in that you really have to pay to get a song played OR you have to threaten to NOT allow a station to play your catalog UNLESS they play some piece of shit they want broken into the mainstream... so unless you somehow get your shit to a major that will do this.... you get the picture...

<Evoltwin> THat's due to the fact that women activists have gone a little /over/ board with their views- typical- I think the video was funny.

XORCIST: I Know What Boys Like... yes... I cried when I heard that... Talentless stupid fucks.

XORCIST: But their either suck good dick or have big guns.

<Evoltwin> I don't think it [rap] should die, I think mutate a little... Heh heh

<Evoltwin> The idea of rapping is /kewl/ why it came about is kewl *but* it's just kinda not moved since it happened? There are some innovators with people riding the coat tails as per usual... but that's no surprise eh?

XORCIST: But I think we digress...

XORCIST: Or at least I do :-)

XORCIST: In the meantime, our 'scene' will continue what it's doing until someone, somewhere hits some 'exec's chords and maybe something will happen with fear of that person being labeled a 'sell-out'.... it's a double edged sword.

<Evoltwin> Oh can we talk mind control?

C: those yahova's Vitnesseses use mind control

<Evoltwin> So does our friendly neighborhood mindcontrol agents :>

<Evoltwin> Programming? Programming minds? Hmmm I'd have to hear.

C: http://members.aol.com/waxtrax00/index.html for more cool stuff)

Q: i know this has probably been asked already, but are you going to tour again soon?

Q: what are some of your favourite samples sources?

Q: do YOU sample other bands at all?

XORCIST: No - the most I've ever sampled was say, a 1 second guitar riff from The Amazing KAT, slowed down 2 octives and processed. That's about the extent of it. Sampling other bands to me is mostly impossible due to it's no longer really creating per 'se, rather just 'embellishing' which most anyone can do...

<Evoltwin> Bill Leeb is the king o' sampling! Can't touch that!

XORCIST: My favorite sample sources come from things like late night TV, blank (so I thought) video tapes purchased at swap meets and probate sales, radio scanners...

XORCIST: And of course Movies that had a profound effect on me.

XORCIST: My favorite tape that I sampled was one I bought at a probate sale. (Some guy died, sold his tapes) - It was loaded with porn. The owner of the tapes was a priest.

<Evoltwin> Odium: lol...[reference to a nickname here]

<Evoltwin> *blink blink*

Q: those probate tapes where the 'sneeking peeks at my pussy' came from????

C: I LIKE THAT SAMPLE!

XORCIST: Yes, some from there, some from flea markets... I usually run the tapes without watching them as (believe it or not), you get the best 'cheese' samples when your mind is not occupied with watching the video. Since the listener won't be able to see it, you have to not see it as well to really get a feel for how effective a dialog sample works.

XORCIST: Oh yea, since I'm here and there's a bunch of rivit heads on here - My only copy of Gunhead was stolen a while ago - If anyone has a copy, please email me :-)

Q: do you have to get all your samples cleared?

XORCIST: [Sample] Summary: Movies, unknown video tapes, radio scanners, late nite TV (commercials, wierd shit)

XORCIST: That will be the day when I am hated by the people for being rich. In other words - I've not run into that problem yet. Perhaps when I do, it will mean I've hit the 'big time'?

C: laughs yeah then they want in on your money

<Evoltwin> It's odd when you sample- movies are no longer movies... infact life is no longer life... you just sit there... ears trained on anything that fits the puzzle. And then when it happens, D'oh! Where's the DAT?

Luxt: Hahah!

XORCIST: Xorcist is still really too small - GROTUS had that problem only when they landed a major record label deal.

C: try not to buy too many gold chains, xorcist, or you might just be mistaken for a rapper.

XORCIST: I'm sure at that point, I'll have to go the way of say, EBN and others and really get clearance... but who knows.

<Evoltwin> Gold Chains? Ya Freak where'd ya get that dope?

Q: So your label doesn't insist that you clear them?

XORCIST: My Label? It's Your label too... Is there something I should know :-)

C: PHEAR ME, XORCIST: ;P

XORCIST: I'm spooked now.

XORCIST: [on using film samples] No, Don hasn't mentioned anything yet... I really don't see that coming except there is a movie that may want to use an Xorcist song, of which if that happens, then yes, it's time to pay the piper.

C: that's when you give the movie studio a sample free track

Q: so you guys use any puter programs to make or edit your music? if so, which ones?

XORCIST: I used to live, sleep and breath OMEGA-II on the Atari ST. I was one of their Beta-testers until they went belly up on the whole Atari-ST thing.

Q: did you use a 1040st?

XORCIST: I eventually had to encorporate digital audio as well and for a time I was locking my Quadra with Deck to the OMEGA with SPP but that wasn't too reliable.

XORCIST: (Yes, a Mega-II quite religiously)

XORCIST: I would of stuck with OMEGA still today but there is a serious bug that locks the machine up that is known by the OMEGA staff but since they stopped supporting it, they won;'t do anything about it.

Q: hmm..is it easy to find cubase for that?

XORCIST: CUBASE was what I first tried on the Atari. I couldn't stand Cubase. Too slow, too klunky, like trying to move through jello. Mouseclicks would take a second to register... OMEGA did more with less mess on the screen and was a LOT faster.

Q: is there an OMEGA version for the PC?

XORCIST: Now on the Macintosh, I'm really into Digital Performer. I've just tried Studio Vision 3.5 but it crashed horribly quite often and it's interface was more of a hack. The overall layout was too minimal in features as well.

XORCIST: OMEGA was only made for the Atari.

XORCIST: I think they may of tried to port TIGER (a graphical editor that OMEGA used) to the PC but TIGER alone isn't as powerful

Q: heh where you using a cracked version of Vision?

C: My client declines comment on the use of warez... ha!

* Evoltwin whistles innocently...oh kitty cat!

XORCIST: No - It's a review copy. A full review will be online The CyberDen's MIDI HELL section soon. I'm also having another person review it so as to give it a proper non-biased review.

XORCIST: Studio Vision apparently works great for those who know it WELL and Drew (Aeon Flux) swears by it. I however, found it lacking some major funtions.

Q: did you ever use Logic for the ST?

XORCIST: Yup - Logic was used for a while - 10 minutes. Nothing, I mean NOTHING had the features of OMEGA... I know it's one sided to say that but it's true.

Q: what do you use to multi-track record?

XORCIST: (well, ok, except digital audio, but then again, you might as well drink drayno and expect to live rather then to work with digital audio and an Atari-ST in any serious manner).

XORCIST: Everything is meticulously mixed down to DAT - Thrown into the MAC with DECK and then 2 more tracks for vocals.

XORCIST: Multi-track... what's that? :-)

XORCIST: I wish - Right now, Xorcist is poorer then others think. No ADAT yet.

XORCIST: When I get a Power Mac (SANTA?), I would love to get lots of gigs and then Deck can work in up to 32 tracks at once. Plus get an ADAT.

Q: Have you checked out Echo's (vaporware) layla card yet?

Q: who is evoltwin?

<Evoltwin> Evoltwin is from faery, here is a little more about it http://www.cyberden.com/evoltwin

Q: do you see the PC catching up to the mac as far as the quality of programs written for it?

XORCIST: cdr? as in just burning one's own CDs?

XORCIST: Yes - The PC is catching up. Video-wise, the PC blew the panty-liners off the Mac about 6 months ago. I'm going digital video on the PC asap.

<Evoltwin> I think there needs to be more grrl bands... I love volunteering random information.

Q: you used some PPG equip. right? do you still use it?

XORCIST: Soundwise, the mac has the advantage of "Studio Standard" which is that almost all studios were fitted with Macs... since the Mac platform works so well today, why fix it if it ain't broke?

<Evoltwin> Yes, that is what Evoltwin is first and foremost... Painter semi-automatic schizophrenia

XORCIST: Hmmmmmmmmmmm... yes, I used to have a PPG 2.3, Waveterm-A, EVU... Now I only have the Microwave which is nice, but I would LOVE to get my hands back on a term and a 2.3

XORCIST: I had to sell it quite a few years ago... strapped for cash.

Q: how long has this Digital Wings cd been out for?

XORCIST: 3 weeks

Q: are you having FUN yet here???

XORCIST: We're having lots of fun sin!

Q: would you like to do another chat like this sometime in 1998?

<Evoltwin> Sure, I love random chaotic functions!

XORCIST: Sure, another chat in 1998 would be fun. (Remember, I'm a cyberpunk at heart)

[Editor's Note: OOOoops! I have yet to get the rest of this chat log from a friend to finish this transcription (that sucks I know...) which wasn't much longer than this...but after a bit more chatting we all said our good byes and logged off IRC for the evening -- when i get the rest of the log, I will post it..sorry about that!  My apologies sincerely!]

Last Edit/Update
Sunday, April 02, 2000