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[wpaudio url=”https://www.outside-the-skin.com/tots/audio/tots_on_EG_UNCUT_2006.mp3″ text=”t.o.t.s. Interview on WNYE 91.5 FM, NYC.”]
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Category Archives: interviews
Ectomag, interview (2005)
Publication: Ectomag
t.o.t.s. Interview w/Ectomag (Oct. 2005)
by; Sameerah
Ecto/Sameerah: Fucks sake, It’s been another shit day at my day job and once again I am running late. These days it seems like the story of my life. Tonight it isn’t a rush to get home and feed the cat or a potty emergency that sends me driving like a bat out of hell through the streets of Los Angeles. Tonight I’m going to sit down with Things Outside the Skin, the dark industrial trio from NYC who won my ears with their blend of insane sounds and kick as lyrics. I soon found out that this group of guys does much more than make awesome music. They are all brilliant artists that work on projects ranging from music production to television and everything in between. They are perhaps the coolest group of guys I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Now that I have settled in with a cocktail I begin my journey into the minds of Tim, Chvad and Blight, the demented minds that make up Things outside the Skin. Continue reading Ectomag, interview (2005)
Space Junkies Magazine, interview (2005)
Publication: Space Junkies Magazine
t.o.t.s. Interview w/Space Junkies Magazine (Oct. 2005)
by; Hare Mengele
[Hare]: How would you describe Things Outside The Skin?
Chvad SB [Chvad]: Like Godzilla a load of simplified messages in the guise of over the top, overly loud, and ultimately cheesy monster movie. At least that’s my take on the whole thing.
Blight Productions [Blight]: One part insane, one part funky, one part synthetic, and three parts rock!
The 1-2-3-4 [Tim]: The Charlie Brown of industrial rock.
Hare: What are some of your influences?
Chvad: The major catalyst to make me get up off of my ass, and start making music was, without a doubt, the single for Ministry’s “Jesus Built My Hotrod.” Prior to that, I grew up listening to DEVO (In particular, their “New Traditionalists” album, which shielded me from a religious upbringing. Thanks DEVO!), Men Without Hats, Camouflage, Alphaville, Peter Schilling, Falco, TSOL, The Dickies, The Damned, The Ramones, and stuff like that – mostly a combination of punk, and early synth-pop. What I had exposure to was somewhat limited as we (Blight and myself) grew up in a swamp. Later influences include artists like Frank Black, Michael Patton, Godflesh and The Residents.
Blight: One would assume growing up together, Chvad and I would have the same influences. Well, that’s just not true. While we do have some crossovers like the Residents, DEVO, Ministry, and the Ramones, I tend to drift more towards the likes of Primus, Bootsy Collins, P-Funk, Tom Waits, and Faith No More. Other artists such as Edward Gory, The Brothers Quay, Bill Plimpton, and Tony Oursler also inspire me.
Chvad: It’s funny, even though I do a lot of visual arts related stuff, I don’t think I’ve ever been inspired by a visual artist – wacky.
Tim: Budweiser and Pabst Blue Ribbon.
Dark Heart Magazin, interview (2005)
Publication: Dark Heart Magazin
t.o.t.s. Interview w/Dark Heart Magazin (2005)
by; Andreas
DH: First, tell us something about your development as musicians. How long has Things Outside The Skin existed and when and how did you meet? How did you get the idea for the name of the group?
Chvad SB: I started playing music regularly in 91′. Prior to that I had noodled around with it but never with any solid commitment. THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN has been around since 1997. Initially it was a solo project for me that has expanded to include more players. Current band members include my brother Blight on bass guitar and Tim Durland on drums. In regards to the name “things outside the skin”, that came about a few years prior to the actual start of the project. I wanted a name that could project an endless canvass of ideas. Some name that could embody any thing and any idea beyond the scope of my own person. A name that would allow me to constantly re-envision the product without changing the core identity of the band itself.
DH: Which roots in a musical sense do you have? Are you an electro or an industrial band?
Chvad SB: My influential roots are pretty heavily rooted in early synthpop, new wave, punk rock and rap. Whether or not we’re an electro or industrial band… I don’t know. The answer seems to change depending upon whom you ask. With as many inane genres and sub-genres that exist today I’m sure we fit in somewhere but in the event we don’t, it’s safe to say we’re just a rock band with a conscience. Continue reading Dark Heart Magazin, interview (2005)
ChainDLK, interview (2005)
Publication: ChainDLK
t.o.t.s. Interview w/ChainDLK (Dec. 2005)
by; Shaun Phelps
Chain D.L.K.: First, can you tell a little about Things Outside the Skin? Your mission statement, maybe?
Things Outside The Skin: THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN has been around since 1997. The idea for the name had been around longer, but there was no immediate outlet for it. I don’t know if there’s a particular “mission statement” for T.O.T.S., per se. I can’t speak for the rest of the band because in the end we all have different ideologies. There’s no set “group” agenda.
Chain D.L.K.: Judging by your discography you guys have been around for a while. How do you feel your sound has changed over the years?
Things Outside The Skin: Has our sound changed? I think production-wise it definitely has. In terms of the songs having changed in nature or not… that’s tough. I don’t really know. I’ve never been far enough away from my own material to really determine that or not. The line-up has changed significantly over the years for any number of reasons; though right now I feel like there’s a pretty functional unit going on with the current line-up. I like change, though. It’s exciting. New people bring new ideas and open up possibilities I would have never come up with on my own. Continue reading ChainDLK, interview (2005)