A Q&A with Kollaps

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kollaps interview wade

From Australia, based in Switzerland, here’s Wade Black from industrial outfit, Kollaps…

What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
I settled on the title ‘Until The Day I Die’. Actually I had another title in mind that was too savage to use and so I had to use this one; nonetheless I like this because it shares an idea of commitment. Considering that the album is quite negative thematically I find the sentiment amusing; the noble commitment to a kamikaze like self-abuse.

What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
The goal of this release for me personally was to learn how to become completely self sufficient as a musician and as a producer. So the learning curve for me was substantial, from learning how to physically record the instrument, figure out ways to best do that as a musician and then I also had to learn how to mix and use the software… It was all quite arduous but I’m glad to have come out the other end with what I know now.

What do enjoy most about producing your own material?
I would say the most positive aspect of this was being able to retain complete control and spend as much time on a given thing as I desired. Avoiding burn out out was difficult and it required a lot of self-discipline in terms of taking it seriously and recording and mixing every day until it was completely. I rarely took breaks and had to work and study a lot in order to get the record to a stage where it was ready for mastering.

What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
I would like it to resonate with people feeling badly about themselves and their life. I hope that it would be understood by those who find themselves at odds with the world – I’ve always said that this music is for outsiders. The fabric of this world is sewn together with chaos. Love, life and acts of heinous cruelty exist simultaneously in repetitive moments for endless millennia and we find ourselves in the needle-eye of one epoch, falling hopelessly into the next more nonsensical moment all the while slowly deteriorating through the human lifespan. At some point, in one of these desperate moments in life, one may come across this record and find it to be a repugnant yet small and honest piece of truth told by someone who struggles through this world of perpetual, unbridled madness just as they do and for a moment it may be possible that this just happens to truly mean something significant.

How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?|
I usually feel miserable before I do anything creative; once I have recovered and feel capable again I begin tinkering around in the studio trying to make sense of these emotional experiences and turn it into a story, whether that be through lyrical means, a musical idea or simply experimenting with sound design. Once there is nucleus for an idea I will work on this and chip away at it until it tells an emotional narrative. I tend to prioritise emotions and feeling over technical ideas of any kind. My knowledge in music theory is improving but still quite basic, and the only time I rely on this or any technical sound knowledge is to overcome a problems that I encounter during the creative process – they’re not often places where I begin.

What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
SWANS, VAST, SPK, Ze’v, Keiji Haino, Pharmakon, Townes Van Zandt. I’m not sure a big music fan, it just seems to be the most constructive medium for me in which to express artistic ideas and feelings .

What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
I’d like to tour in Japan. SuperDeluxe in Tokyo would be of interest. I saw Phew and Keiji Haino there a long time ago. The Teapot Inn (also in Tokyo) would also be amusing because of its legendary status in terms of hosting experimental acts.

kollaps interview

If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
‘I Believe In The Closed Fist’; it’s an over 8 minute length descent into hell.

What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
We will tour more and release more records.

Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
Life is a cu*t and then you get shingles.

For more info visit: instagram.com/kollapsmusic

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