Virus Electro band Interview

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I N T E R V I E W
June 2004
Virus Electro

Band email (2) MDKTherepy@aol.com
Band email (3) NPTHBurn@aol.com
Band contact number: (805)526-3243

RCN: Hello, we are here with Virus Electro a local band from
Ventura County,CA and they're wrapping up recording and gearing up for shows , so we're going to find out a little
more about what makes them tick. . .

1. RCN: What type of band are you? (descriptive)

Aggressive electronic in the industrial vein with tinges of metal and drum & bass.

2. RCN: Tell us the brief history of your band.

I started this project in 2001 under the name MDK Therepy and through the years the music grew to the point were I felt I should change it to Virus Electro, as I didn't want the newer music to be associated with the original EBM, dancey styled stuff.
I feel that Virus Electro is a good evolution of the origianl music and the stage show has grown much as well. We play mostly show cases and one off type shows, with a revolving live cast, most recently in Hollywood at the Echo.

3. RCN: Who are your musical and non-musical influences?

My musical influences are mostly old metal with some other odder stuff like Sunny Day Real Estate and Haujobb. Non musical influences are mostly good artwork and great films. Films are good inspirations.

4. RCN: What are your dreams and goals?

I'd like to expand the stage show and studio more and reach a wider audience. Mostly through better promotion.

5. RCN: Who writes the songs, what are they about?

I write the songs with help from others occasionally throwing in ideas. They've mostly been a lot about the town I live, some politics, and the occasional song about insomnia.

6. RCN: What's your opinion of George Bush?

I try to stay out of the Bush debate, but I do think the guy is no good. A modern day Hitler if you will.

7. RCN: How do you promote your band and shows?

Internet, flyers, try to get the word out about the shows. I sell CD's on a sliding scale to be fair to people, but I try to give as many as I can free.

8. RCN: Describe your show, visual and musically

The shows are usually a lot more aggressive than the CDs, with lots of movement, a minimal of gear and some type of props if theres time.

9. RCN: What do you think about downloading music online?

I think singles and live stuff or OK, but people that download entire albums everyday and don't think twice should be shot. Besides, why would you wanna steal music from me anyway?If you want a CD that bad I'll just give you one.

10. RCN: What's your outlook on the record industry today?

I feel bad for the industry because the MP3 is killing CD's. The industry seems pretty dismal at the moment, I hope it improves. Good bands need to get bck in the limelight.

11. RCN: What's your claim to fame? (What's unique about your band)

Mostly getting known as the band that keeps getting shut off during shows for various reasons. We work with some good people. We do have an original sound and will play anywhere as long as long as the rider has been met, unless other wise noted. We're mostly know as the band the got thrown out of Club Microwave for not playing micromusic and being to loud, or atleast thats what I was told.

12. RCN: Tell us a story about a day in your life.

I usually wake up and work on music everyday. I'm producing one band right now called Cardiac Arrest, playing guitar for the old goth band Voodoo Church and a new incarnation of the LA band Evilution, we're now call Vicious Injustice by the way.
When I get the time I usually work all night on Virus Electro stuff, right now I'm working on a 2nd cd under the 'Virus' moniker.

13. RCN: What inspires you to do what you do?

The fact the I hate so much of the music I hear. Everytime I hear As I Lay Dying or The White Stripes I want to jump infront of a bus. I just like to make music I wanna hear and I love when people actually learn something from it too.

14. RCN: What advice would you give to fellow bands?

Keep working and never stop, but have fun. Promote well, and don't trust promoters, just make your deal so everyone is happy. That and don't try to be like another band, if you are yourself then you've got nothing to worry about.

15. RCN: What are some of your pet peeves?

Crook promoters and lame unoriginal bands. I also hate going to see local shows and seeing those 15 year old ninja kids trying to "mosh", if you can call it that.

16. RCN: How does music affect you and the world around you?

I love music, it drives me throught the day. I think it's the same for a lot of people. In the same way, I hate music. I need a vacation.

17. RCN: What's new in the recording of your music?

The Korg Triton has greatly inprove acoustic emulated sounds. We're just trying to get a cleaner sound all the time. Especially for the cd's we're working on right now. No idea when it'll be done though. Maybe winter. I hope to get more recording of our live drummer, Alyx.

18. RCN: What are the biggest obstacles for bands?

Getting shows sometimes is a bitch. Selling CD's to people new to the music. Opening peoples minds is definetly a big obsticle.

19. RCN: What's the best and worst thing about playing clubs?

The best thing is when there's great sound and a good crown obviously. The worst is when there's not enough power on stage for our keyboards. Bad monitors on stage make a difference sometimes too. Mostly just with vocals. I hate crooked club owners though. The kind that skimp your pay or mess your food up. Free drinks is always nice though.

20. RCN: Tell us about your next shows and why we should be there.

We're currently working on doing some shows with a good band from Chicago called Y-LUK-O on their upcoming tour. Can't say details yet, but we're are working on a small tour after the Cardiac Arrest cd is wrapped up in summer since Danny from Cardiac Arrest is my keyboardist. We just want to have space to breath after the CD is done and make the Virus Electro shows the best they can be. We're looking into projections and extra lighting. That and hopefully Alyx will have time to do some shows with us. We're shooting for July or August for the first shows after recording is wrapped.

RCN: Thank you for your insight and time. We'll look forward to
hearing your music and seeing your next live show . . . Later gator.

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