American dark pop music band The New Division didn’t start out in the typical “let’s gather a few friends and jam along in the garage at someone’s parents house” kind of way. The whole project was originally a college dorm room project for songwriter John Kunkel back in 2005. After moving from Uruguay (where he resided for 18 years) to Southern California, Kunkel began experimenting with synthesizers after being heavily influenced by the sounds of Joy Division, New Order and Depeche Mode. After some time the one man project gradually developed into an actual band. Currently, The New Division is John Kunkel (vocals), Brock Woolsey (guitars), Janzie (synths) and Mark Michaslki (synths).
A while ago The New Division released their second album “Together We Shine” and Release Magazine got a chance to have a few words with John Kunkel, maestro himself.
Release Magazine’s Mikael Kahrle interviewed Frank M Spinath, frontman of German electronic music duo Seabound – and a professor of psychology at the Saarland University. He talks about his unique position as a professor-musician hybrid. Nowadays, his 2 personae are in fact one and he even records at his office, he confesses. Obviously, Spinath has a unique and endless source of inspiration for his lyrics. “I have a strong personal interest in people who stray from the straight and narrow paths of life”, he says.
The critically acclaimed band started almost 2 decades ago but came to a halt when second member Martin Vorbrodt started a new life in USA. He is an experienced lawyer specialized in IT and media law, intellectual property and licensing. Vorbrodt joined his firm on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles in 2007. In recent years, Frank M Spinath has released records with Edge of Dawn and Ghost & Writer. But now Seabound is back and has just delivered their first album in 7 years: “Speak in Storms” on Dependent Records (Europe) and Metropolis Records (North America).
Elektron – from the inSIDe
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Gothenburg based synthesizer manufacturer Elektron popped up in 1998 with the release of the Sidstation. Elektron have quite a few Release related artist among their users, e.g.; Nine Inch Nails, M83, The Knife, Skinny Puppy, Hot Chip, Orbital, Jean Michel Jarre, Autechre, New Order, Chemical Brothers and Air. Things have certainly developed from being a C64 cult item. Today this company have a range of different electronic instruments.
A new Covenant – interviewed
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Covenant has been around for a long while and has also been through a couple of member changes. After the last album “Modern Ruin” the recent member Daniel Myer jumped ship to focus on his own projects such as Haujobb and Architect among others. For the new album “Leaving Babylon” founding member Joakim Montelius decided to only be involved in the studio, not on tour, and 2 new members joined, in the form of Daniel Jonasson and Andreas Catjar. We interviewed Joakim to find out who the new members are, what’s on the horizon, and we also got a very personal response as to why he’s not playing live anymore.
Read extensive track-by-track comments on “Leaving Babylon” by Joakim Montelius, Eskil Simonsson and Daniel Jonasson. It’s a unique closer look at an album from the artist’s perspective. [more...]
Electronic Summer took place August 29-31 in Gothenburg with bands like DAF, Tyske Ludder, Apoptygma Berzerk, S.P.O.C.K and Spark! on stage. Most bands exceeded the expectations and the festival as a whole a great success. As a media partner for Electronic Summer, we asked co-organiser Sebastian Hess a few questions afterwards. We also give you some live pics from our photographers. [more...]
Last week Release was interviewed by Electronic Summer co-organizer Henrik Wittgren and now it’s our turn to take a closer look at this week’s festival on August 29-31. DAF, Page, Tyske Ludder, Apoptygma Berzerk, Spark, Vanligt Folk, S.P.O.C.K, Mr Jones Machine, Julian & Marina, Alison and Machinista will perform alongside numerous DJ:s. Read some wise words about the current state of the Swedish “synth” scene and learn a little bit about how a festival organizers think. [more...]
Bill Leeb and his band Front Line Assembly have been around since 1986, showing an impressive longevity and innovation in a somewhat stale genre. Last year we got the soundtrack “Airmech”, where their sound was infused with the sound of today, and this burst of creativity continued into “Echogenetic”, the latest album. I called up Bill himself in his Vancouver home to talk about the making of it.
Swedish musician, producer, mixer and programmer Christoffer Berg, 31, had already made a name for himself on the electronic music scene because of his involvement with The Knife and Fever Ray. The rumour about his skills finally reached the Depeche Mode management and, all of a sudden, Daniel Miller was on the phone… Peter Marchione talked to Mr Berg in Gothenburg – his and Release’s hometown – and Fredrik “Schlatta” Svensson took some photos in Svenska Grammofonstudion.
The year of Mesh
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Mesh has been on a roll this year, with the fantastic album “Automation Baby” which is already on my “Best of 2013” list. Coupled with a successful tour, it’s quite clear that Mesh is one of the biggest acts in the scene today. It was about time we caught up with them again, and so I called up Richard Silverthorn at his Bristol home and had a little chat.