Kim Alexander:  Could you tell us about Cop International Records, where are you located and how long has the label been in business?

KimX: COP started in 1991 with its original office based in Frankfurt, Germany which is run by my partner Christian Petke. The US office was opened a few months later in Oakland, California. Our first release was the California Cyber Crash Compilation.

Kim Alexander:  What do you do specifically with Cop International and how long have been working with them in that capacity?

KimX: I basically created the US office and have managed it ever since its inception.

Kim Alexander:  You are one of the few women working as a "Label Mistress" in this music. Are there any specific challenges for you in working with Cop or in the music business as a woman?

KimX: The challenges and tribulations to run a small independent record label are already so numerous that one's gender doesn't add more difficulties, at least on a business point of view. As far as the sexual politics of the music industry it is quite obvious that they are completely incorrect and often degrading. But being the highly domineering, strong-headed and obstinate person that I am, I haven't personally encountered any major obstacles.

Kim Alexander:  Who was the most interesting person you have met in the business to date and why?

KimX: They are too many for me to mention, but I must say that the most interesting people I have met were mostly women... Actually, you are definitely on my list of one of the most amazing women!

Kim Alexander:  How did you come about to work with Cop International?

KimX: Fate! My partner Christian was visiting the US with the idea of starting a record label, but he had no experience and no connection in America. I happened to have both, plus a small home recording studio in my living-room. So I was basically set up to start a record label!

Kim Alexander:  Any memorable experiences with bands or shows in the past you would like to share with us?

KimX: A DIVE show in East Germany in a small village next to Leipzig. Dirk Ivens was incredible and the setting was the most spectacular one you could ever imagine. The show was part of a Dark-wave Festival and took place inside a magnificent XII century castle. It was a very poetic and surreal experience!

Kim Alexander:  You have put out the Diva X Machina compilations in the past. Is there a Diva X Machina III coming out soon?

KimX: The Diva X Machina 3 will come out next spring [2000].

Kim Alexander:  What is the philosophy behind these releases? Why all women? Why the awards?

KimX: Well, I have made it part of my personal crusade to champion Female creativity on the scene and the Diva X Machina compilation series, along with the Annual Female Industrial Goth Award have both become my strongest weapons of action. I believe that change comes through example and I want to promote positive role models for future generation of post-modern women. BTW, we are proud to announce that COP just signed an act that is the sole effort of one remarkable woman: Emileigh Rohn. She is about to become one of the premiere female artist on the new Power-Electro School!

Kim Alexander:  What is DDT at Cop International? When did this come about?

KimX: DDT ( DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION DIVSION TASKFORCE) is the direct result of a our conceptual campain "Strength In Unity". We wanted to illustrate our motto with concrete action. We wanted to show a unified front on the scene and we decided that we should help other German labels to find better distribution in the States. We are currently distributing: Hands Records, Flatline, Zoth Ommog, ProNoize, Galakthorrö, Black Channel... It has been a very successful and exciting collaboration so far. Yes, Idealism is not dead!

Kim Alexander:  The label seems to be growing with new acts over the past year and with DDT/distribution of European releases. Do you see a continued growth in these areas at Cop? What can we look forward to in the future with these bands/labels at Cop?

KimX: We are looking to increase the growth and expansion of the label even further. Our goals of diversification will be implemented on different levels:  stylistically, we want to expand the genre of the music represented on COP, we are thinking of creating a COP / RED LABEL that will feature more hybrid projects that will appeal to a more alternatibe market without loosing edge and originality - Visibility: we have a new German distributor: Rough Trade that will give us more impact - Bands: we will continue do do Artist development and take risk on unknown bands, but we are also working with more established acts: DIVE, BIRMGHAM 6, SONAR, WILL, CASSANDRA COMPLEX... - my new personal crusade will focus on a greater ethnic diversity. I was so appalled when I was in Germany by the strong racism underlying on the Electro scene. BTW, a lot of COP artists have a very diversify ethnic background (including myself)

Kim Alexander:  What is Deathline International up to these days?

KimX: Working on their very anticipated 4th album which will feature a new collaboration between Count Zero and Maurice Jackson (NERVE FACTOR). The album is scheduled for release next summer and promises to be pretty awsome from what I can judge from the 5 songs already written!

Kim Alexander:  Is Cop signing any new acts, taking any demos?

KimX: Absolutely! We are ALWAYS looking for new talent. Please send demos!

Kim Alexander:  What do you listen to in your own time outside of Cop music?

KimX: Lots of demos! I do receive a demo a day... that does keep me very busy!

Kim Alexander:  Do you have a mailing list people can subscribe to for news at the label? If so, how can they get on it?

KimX:Anybody interested in receiving our COP newsletter can send me a request at: COP (at) DNAI.com

Kim Alexander:  Does Cop web site support MP3s of the bands? Do you have any comments or feelings about MP3 technology in the music business in terms of being useful or a hinder to bands/labels or copyright?

KimX: The legality and financial implications are still a very grey area to be explored, but at the point in time, I believe that it is a fantastic technological break-through. I am sure that it will completely change the distribution of the future and might make record stores and maybe record labels obsolete!

Kim Alexander:  Thanks for taking the time to work with us at Last Sigh. It's always a pleasure to hear the music off Cop. Do you have any closing comments for our readers? Any advice or words of wisdom?

KimX: Remember that music is only the messenger, not the message!

Thank you for sharing the fight and the passion!