| Beautifully Violent - the
title of the band's first demo, and the perfect way to describe this driving
electro act from Columbus, Ohio. Complete with the euphoric combination of
operatic female vocals along-side harsh, distorted male lyrical thrashings,
Flesh Field unleashes a violent frontal digital assault on it's listener's
senses. Two people's emotions filtered through a machine, technology colliding
with purity, creating a synthetic reflection of a core feeling, an aural
onslaught of machine-like rhythms beautifully contrasting with distant strings
and flowing synths. A collage of noise, amidst haunting vocals and intelligent
structures.
Simply put, a futuristic delusion that one can't help but be completely drawn
into. We were lucky enough to chat with them about their previous albums, as
well as what digital chaos they have in store for us next.
Dem: How would you describe your music to someone who's never heard it
before?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): Most of the time I describe it in the simplest way I can by
referring to it as "aggressive electronic music". That usually
satisfies most people, but if they want more, I'll throw in words like
"cinematic", or "symphonic". But usually that only confuses
them.
Flipps: How old were you both when Viral Extinction was released? I remember
you mentioning that each of you were in school at the time, and it's extremely
unique to see a band within the Industrial genre gain such a large success at a
young age.
IAN (FLESH FIELD): I think I was 20, or 21. Rian was about the same age. Rian
has since graduated from college, but I'm still working on it.
Dem: How does your writing process flow from beginning to end?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): I usually start by making sounds, percussion loops, and just
experimenting with things. Once I get a groove that I like, I start to fill
things out. Back in the days of the first and second album, I'd usually finish
the music for a track within a day. These days it's taking a lot longer.
Usually one to two weeks. Vocals are added much later usually, unless I come up
with something that I was to record immediately before I forget what it was I
had.
Flipps: Who are your biggest musical influences? So far I've gathered a lot
of elements from older Leaether Strip, 242, and NiN within some of your music
thus far, but is there anyone else whom you could state as being influencial
within the process of your song-writing?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): You've got my original influences. These days the thing
that's been influencing me the most is symphony, and movie scores. Hans Zimmer
and Trevor Rabin are two of my favorites.
Dem: Do you prefer being in the studio, or playing live?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): I would rather be in the studio than onstage. Not only am I
terrified of performing live, I just don't like doing the whole
"band" thing, and the things that come with it. (photos, merch,
playing live, etc.) I'd much rather simply write music.
Flipps: Also somewhat relating to the last question, what 3 bands could we
find in each of your cd players right now?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): Zeromancer's "Eurotrash", Hans Zimmer's score to
"Crimson Tide", and Numb's "Blood Meridian".
Dem: I had never really given much thought to your band name until reading
just now on your website that "Flesh Field" is an unofficial type of
psychological defense mechanism, specifically relating to the rape of a
girlfriend of yours, and to how you felt about the project in it's earlier
stages. What were you defending yourself against, and how did your music
accomplish this? Has the motivation behind your music changed as time has
passed?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): During that period, I was defending myself against the
anger, pain, and frustration that came with dealing with that type of
situation. I tried to get out all of my feelings in music. The motivation
behind the music has changed somewhat these days, but it still essentially
comes down to self therapy. It's a release for me. More recently it's become
something to take my mind off of certain issues, and a way to challenge myself
to improve.
 Flipps: What topics do you enjoy brushing upon within your
lyrics? I found that Viral Extinction focused largely on such elements as god,
organized religion, and the human condition (ie, such songs as Heretic, Plague,
and Cyberchrist). However, although the lyrics on Belief Control still
possessed those same themes, such topics as politics, depression, and suicide
also played a dominant role within the evolving lyrical messages (such lines as
"I'm all I've come to despise" taken from Serene Image, or the lyrics
on Allegiance for example). Is there anything we can expect to hear about on
the new album? Any favourite things you both like to write about and speak out
against?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): Lyrically, the newer material is a little more personal in
nature than most of the things I've written about before. I've been through
some extremely tough times recently, and it's coming out in the lyrics a bit.
I'm not a fan of writing lyrics in general, as I'm really not very good at it,
so I don't really have a favorite topic. People are being fed
"messages" constantly these days, from every angle. And every band
has their own "message" that they love shoving down peoples' throats.
Our only message recently has been "Don't listen to all the fucking
'messages'. Figure things out for yourself instead of being told what to
believe". Although I can't think of a more contradictory or ironic
"message" than that.
Dem: Tell us about your latest album "Inferior" in terms of
sound, style and differences from previous albums. Why the focus on the song
"Inferior?" Was is important to have the remixes on it? Which track
do you think is going to get the most club play?
 IAN
(FLESH FIELD): Well, "Inferior" isn't really an album. It's one of
two MCD's spawned from our second full length, with several remixes of the
title track, a few others from Belief Control, and 4 new tracks. The second MCD
will follow the same format, with the title track being "Conquer Me".
The reason we wanted the remixes were probably more due to our interest in
hearing different interpretations of the tracks than anything else. The new
tracks on Inferior and Conquer Me aren't really a radical change from our
sound, but I think certain things have improved. I'm much happier with the
symphony work on the new material than I was with it on Belief Control. The
tracks are a bit more aggressive than BC as well. Personally, I think the SIM
mix of Inferior will get the most club play, although we aren't really a
popular band in the clubs. The Icon of Coil mix of Disillusion may be one that
does well in the clubs.
Flipps: Musically, what should we expect from the new album? I noticed such
unique additions as guitar parts on the clips taken from Inferior (available at
http://www.inception-records.com/fleshfield/). Will this serve as more of a
dominant instrument on the full length? Furthermore, can you tell us a little
bit about the hardware and software you use during the song-writing process,
and if you've been toying with anything new and exciting as of late?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): There is definitely more guitar work on both the
"Inferior" and "Conquer Me" material than anything we've
ever done before. Between the two MCDs, there are eight new tracks, so I'm
almost treating the sum of the new tracks as a new album. I'm not sure what the
next real album will be like. I haven't started working on it yet. I doubt the
guitar will be a dominant instrument, if it's even there at all. I'm
experimenting with it now, but I don't expect it to last that long. It may be a
small element in tracks, but not a dominant one. I don't use much in terms of
equipment or software. In terms of instruments, I use an ASR-10 sampler, an
Access Virus B, an Emu Virtuoso, a crappy Squier guitar, and an Alesis
Nanobass. The only software I use is Sonar and Sound Forge.
Dem: What other bands would you like to work or tour with?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): The one's I would most like to work with are well out of our
league. But then again, I never seem to work too well with others when it comes
to music anyway. There are a lot of acts I'd like to tour with, but again, many
are out of our league. The first one that comes to mind that would be a
possibility is Individual Totem. I'd love to tour with Imperative Reaction, as
we had a lot of fun together with them. Gridlock, of course. Bands that I've
been friends with for years like A23 and Dubok as well, since the entire tour
would be one big drunken party.
Flipps: What direction do you each personally feel that the sound of the
Industrial Genre as a whole is heading towards at the moment? More harsh
electro? Could coldwave possibly be re-inventing itself?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): I wish I knew. I don't think I have my finger on the pulse
of "the scene" anymore, so I may not be able to answer this question
very well. Things in the underground genre work the same way things in the
mainstream do. Things come and go, then come back again. The whole
"Futurepop" thing won't last forever. "Power Noise" seems
to have faded away. It's hard to predict what will happen next. Coldwave could
come back. Who knows?
Dem: How important of a role has the internet played in the success of Flesh
Field?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): A huge one. I met the people who were instrumental in
getting me started on the net. Our label contacted us due to MP3 samples they
heard on our website. If there were no internet, there would be no Flesh Field.
Flipps: What's going on with Inception these days?? I know the label was
experiencing some difficulties earlier last year, but it looks like it's back
on, full-force. After releasing so many amazing albums, I can only hope that
they continue to sign and promote all the fucking kick-ass electro acts that
they've exoposed the scene to thus far!
IAN (FLESH FIELD): They've got things back up and running. Our two MCDs and new
material from Individual Totem are on the way. They've signed another band
called Ambre Red. A few things are still being worked out, but they're doing
well.
Dem: Your upcoming East Coast Tour spans nine cities in eleven days
(comparable to your Europen Tour in 2001 where you played 15 cities in 16
days). How grueling is this going to be for you, and how do you and Rian deal
with this hectic schedule?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): It's going to be tough on me. The last few shows of the
European tour, I had to be carried offstage and iced down. I was in a lot of
pain. Usually after a single show I can't even hold my own head up, and to do
15 in a row…I was exhausted and in a lot of pain. Rian likes
to stay busy, so the business aspects of the US tour are mostly on her
shoulders. (And Hellraver's) I'm just along for the ride.
Flipps: Is it true that Ian actually proposed to Rian at a live performace
with Assemblage 23 last year?? We're all dying to know about this one, and I'd
just like to take this opportunity to congratulate you both :).
IAN (FLESH FIELD): Thanks! Yep, that's true. That was a year ago this month. It
was at a show in our hometown as well, so most of our friends and family were
even there to see it.
Dem: From what I read on your website, you've never played in Toronto
before. This will change on April 28th when you play at the Reverb with DJ
Hellraver and Pulse Plant. It's always great to have internationally known
bands such as yourself come to our city, though it is getting more rare. How
did we get so lucky? What can we expect from your live show on April 28th at
the Reverb? Will you be selling any merchandise?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): Our shows usually consist of a lot of stomping and pounding,
which, depending on the sound system can sometimes even be heard above the
music. We will be doing 3 new tracks on the tour. (Two from the Inferior MCD,
and one from the Conquer Me MCD.) We will have both full lengths on sale as
well as T-shirts, and I think we'll have stickers to hand out as well.
Unfortunately the Inferior MCD won't be ready in time for the tour, but it
should be out very soon afterwards.
Flipps: Is Taco Bell still your favourite place to eat out, or have you
found another favoured haunt these days?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): Rian was the Taco Bell fanatic. Mostly due to the fact that
we were poor college students, and that's all we could afford. We've since
upgraded to Wendy's.
Flipps: Do you still post to RMI? I miss that god damn newsgroup, and
believe it or not, it was actually the first place where i heard about you
kids, way back when i was 16 :).
IAN (FLESH FIELD): I used to post there, but haven't really been interested in
it in the past few years. I drop in from time to time. I rarely ever post
anything, though.
Flipps: As two American citizens, what's your opinion on the war in Iraq?
Furthermore, do you have any plans to write about it in any upcoming releases?
Allegiance was a beautifully crafted piece of resistance against conformity and
oppression, and we're hoping to hear more of the radical punk kid in each of
you come out and speak it's mind :p.
IAN (FLESH FIELD): I'm very interested in politics, foreign relations, and
things like that, so this whole thing fascinates me. I don't want to end up
writing an essay or book here, so suffice to say I'm against it. I don't think
it will be a major topic in any of the lyrics of future releases, but it may be
mentioned as a reference, like the death penalty was in "Allegiance".
Just a way to support a conclusion, or point. I'm sure there will be plenty of
bands who will be releasing new material about the war, complete with dialog
samples from CNN, or some speech by Bush.
Flipps: Any advice for electronic artists out there starting their own
projects?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): Don't be afraid to try new things. Never do something a
certain way because everyone else does it way, or simply because that's
"how it's supposed to be done". Make sure you're prepared for
criticism and negative feedback. Grow thick skin. It takes a lot of balls to
release something you put your heart into to the public for all to hear and
scrutinize.
Dem: Anything else you'd like to mention?
IAN (FLESH FIELD): Thanks for the interview! Some of the most in
depth-questions we've answered in a long time! Oh, and Squid. Squiddy squiddy
squid squiddy squid.
interview by Dem and
Flipps, april
2003
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