Members of the Brooklyn, NY based band, “THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN” have been reported missing for almost a year now. Their whereabouts have been unknown since Jan. 20th 2009 immediately following their last known performance at Otto’s Shrunken Head in Manhattan. Band members Chvad SB, Blight the Clown, Lars Casteen and Ericah Hagle have, for the past 11 months, been officially declared missing persons according to the NYPD. When questioned about whether or not the members of the band are still being looked for, the NYPD declined to respond. Despite this, there are now flyers circulating throughout NYC declaring that “THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN” are supposedly playing a show on the 22nd of January 2010. A cruel joke? According to fans present at their last performance, maybe not. When interviewed, t.o.t.s. fan Stacy Rocketdrive had this to say, “When they left the last gig… they were exhausted. More so than usual. The show was exceptionally intense and afterwards they just kept mumbling about needing a nap.” She continued to speculate wildly, “I suspect they’ve just been sleeping.” SLEEPING FOR YEARS? Maybe not so absurd. When questioned, Dr. Harry Hinkowitz, a sleep specialist and fan of THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN had this to say when questioned: “Of course, like most other fans, I had rightly assumed alien abduction.  However, when reviewing notes and fan testimonies about how sleepy they were after their last performance, I began to suspect ‘Van Winkle Syndrome.’ In my professional opinion, it is very likely they have simply been asleep.” According to Hinkowitz, Van Winkle Syndrome on the average lasts for a year so that it is in fact very likely the band have scheduled a gig exactly one year later. As the gig takes place at the same venue, for the same event and at the same time, many fans are speculating the possibilities of time travel or a “time warp.” When questioned about this, Father Vincent, birthday boy and organizer for the event at Otto’s this Friday only had this to say: “Outrageous. Time travel is silly. I’m fairly certain they have been sleeping. They might look, smell and play like shit but I am POSITIVE that cupcakes taste yummy.” HAVE THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN RETURNED FROM OBLIVION? Go to Otto’s THIS FRIDAY to find out for sure! Details below:

FATHER VINCENT’S BIRTHDAY BASH!
@ Otto’s Shrunken Head
538 east 14th St. NYC

DJ’S SPAZ, THERMA-NUKE, PARADOX,
THE DUTCHMAN & ONE EYED ROXY

9:15PM BETHANY SAINT SMITH & THE GUN SHOW
10:15PM NOW WE’RE EVEN!
11:15PM THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN
12:15AM VULGARAS

SURPRISE GUEST’S & PERFORMANCES,
VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT, $2 PBR,
$5 BLOOD BATHS & CUP CAKES
BY THE MIGHTY AFRODITE
$1 COVER

www.totsland.com

Enjoy!  ;)

–Ericah

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t.o.t.s. Interview on WNYE 91.5 FM, NYC.

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]]> http://www.outside-the-skin.com/2009/11/03/everything-goes-audio-self-interview-2006/feed/ 1 http://www.outside-the-skin.com/2009/11/01/the-most-appealing-thing-live-rr-nyc-2006/ http://www.outside-the-skin.com/2009/11/01/the-most-appealing-thing-live-rr-nyc-2006/#comments Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:59:12 +0000 Chvad SB http://www.outside-the-skin.com/?p=1567

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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.

Ecto: Hello darling, its Sameerah I’m just getting in from my day job so give me a few moments to collect my thoughts and get a cocktail…

Chvad SB: No sweat! Take your time…. drink up! We’re still waiting on my brother to pop in…. howdy howdy! Blight is here so whenever you’re a liquored up, we’re ready to go.

Blight Productions: hi

Ecto: Hey blight how’s things?

Blight Productions: Cool

Ecto: All right boys lets get this show on the road

Chvad SB: Supercharge activate! GO!

Blight Productions: Tiny Timmy?

Ecto: Timmy are you tiny?

Tim: ahhh only mentally

Ecto: Touché’ Tim

Blight Productions: I just saw a movie about a bunch of birds??????????

Ecto: Huh? Birds?

Blight Productions: March of the penguins, wow

Ecto: Ahhhh I thought it was cute my god kids loved it

Blight Productions: Pretty stupid animals

Chvad SB: They’re giant monsters

Ecto: But they’re oh so cute!

Blight Productions: Extremely cute animals but I think they need to re-think their living arrangements.

Ecto: Lol that’s true

Chvad SB: Before they mutate into kaiju

Ecto: Hashanah! OK. Everyone who has listened to the new disc asks me about Cow Tippin, who’s the vegan? Why do a track on how unnecessary cows are to our existence?

Blight Productions: Chvad is crazy

Chvad SB: That would be me.

Tim: You’re not a vegan Chvad

Chvad SB: Here’s the scoop, I’m not a vegan. I was for about 6 years but had severe “issues” with irritable bowl disease so I had to reconsider my diet. It’s not something I’ve been happy about…

Blight Productions: Milk gives him bathroom issues, he is a little bitter.

Chvad SB: Basically yeah, and the amount of pain I was in daily was close to intolerable. BUT I believe strongly in proper respect for animals, living conditions, diet etc etc. I eat poultry and fish.. no red meat of any kind.

Blight Productions: Chvad says, “The cows are bad”. We must agree, or he will get mad

Ecto: And here I thought I had found someone else who shared my belief in the evil of the dairy industry

Chvad SB: The dairy industry is horribly evil. I agree with you 100% on that. Worse in many ways than the meat industry.

Ecto: Yeah cause the dairy industry relies on the myth that we need calcium to be healthy

Chvad SB: Among a lot of other things. Beef and dairy is not only bad for us to eat but it’s destructive to the environment as well. I am not interested in telling people that they’re bad or wrong for eating milk and dairy. That’s their choice. They should know who and what they are supporting though and what the results of their actions are. Aside from all of that, cows are also.. GIANT MONSTERS! It’s true.

Blight Productions: I hate the industry, but I need my bowl of cereal in the morning

Chvad SB: Use rice milk, milk is bad all the way around really. You’re a bad person.

Ecto: I can’t stand milk myself that shit is horrible! I eat my cereal dry

Blight Productions: Aaaaaahhhhhgggggg

Tim: Haven’t drank milk in years and hasn’t done me any harm

Ecto: I was the only kid in school whose rice crispies didn’t snap crackle pop. And you don’t get the same effect with OJ trust me boys.

Chvad SB: Hee hee hee

Ecto: I think the milk people disapprove of this conversation

Chvad SB: I know I’m a total hypocrite but right now there aren’t really many other options for my ass that worked right. But I support anyone who can be vegan not have their body self-destruct.

Tim: The milkmen under the stairs

Chvad SB: … A new film by Wes Craven

Blight Productions: But what about the cheese?

Ecto: Cheese is filled with some weird addictive narcotic the dairy people refuse to admit exists which explains those weirdoes in Wisconsin

Chvad SB: Cheese is a GIANT MONSTER

Ecto: On to the next question…

Chvad SB: What is the capitol of… THE MOON!?

Ecto: Your cover of Spice Up Your Life is awesome! Actually it’s the only time that song has been good, why cover that song of all things?

Blight Productions: Because it was Chvad’s favorite song when he was a kid. He would sing it in the shower while uncle Louie scrubbed his back

Ecto: Ok remind to bleach that picture out of my brain

Chvad SB: We were asked to participate in a “teen idol” tribute CD. Originally I planned on doing “Hangin’ Tough” by the New Kids on the Block but we were beat to the punch… so… I thought, the Spice Girls… yeah! They rock! History in the making kids… pay attention. Spice Girls…. GIANT MONSTERS… uncle Louie… GIANT MONSTER.

Ecto: Lol, sounds like it! I noticed that there are a lot of remixes on this disc and a lot of different folks working on the mixes including blight, why did you decided to add so many mixes

Chvad SB: I’m a big fan of older vinyl releases… not in terms of it being vinyl but they always came with so much stuff… posters, lyrics, extra 45’s…. tons of bang for the buck so… I like to put a lot of material on the cd’s… the site as well… if you look underneath the cd tray on the cd you’ll find a link with 12 more songs even… and extra artwork. I love Easter eggs and shit, that’s why all the material. Like our site, if someone likes to dig into the bands they like… we have a ton of content. http://www.outside-the-skin.com/tots/YKIAAbonus/ .demo trax, extra remixes.. unreleased stuff…

Ecto: I was talking to a reader the other day that said he didn’t like American industrial cause it wasn’t harsh enough. according to this cat the only industrial that matters is from Europe. what are your thoughts on the scene in the rest of the world?

Chvad SB: interesting

Blight Productions: that makes me sad

Ecto: Yeah me too

Chvad SB: I think it’s dangerous to classify anything based upon geographical location and it’s a rather slanted statement. I like bands from all over the place. US, Europe or otherwise. I love music. Location is irrelevant to me. Scenes are always a tough thing though. I really like to play for everyone. Punk kids, hip hop kids, metal kids, industrial kids, Goth… whatever… so long as they’re enjoying themselves and having a good time together. If you’re reader is convinced there’s no harsh American Industrial then so be it. I’m sure he/she/it misses out on a great deal of cool shit, in music and in life.

Blight Productions: I think there is bound to be something cool no matter where you are, great artists are every where, its just that sometimes they are promotionally retarded, so you may never know they exist unless you dig a little or watch my TV show!!!(plug, plug, plug)www.artorsomethinglikeit.com and www.blightproductions.com (plug, plug, plug)

Ecto: yeah I had a hard time with the idea that US bands aren’t “harsh” enough. harsh is a relative term

Chvad SB: someone told me once we weren’t heavy enough to be included on their industrial comp. I jokingly told him we were contextually heavy… we still weren’t put on the disc. Context means little to people. Most people don’t read the lyrics or listen to the words but for me… the words are always first. That’s what makes bands like DEVO, The Residents, Ministry, Consolidated and Pop Will Eat Itself all great acts… more than just beats and music…. content.

Ecto: you mean it isn’t all about the bling and bitches? Lol p diddy and 50 cent will be crushed!

Chvad SB: HAHAHA!

Blight Productions: what!?

Chvad SB: I missed out on both! Sonofabitch!

Blight Productions: I quit the band…. I was just in it for the chicks anyway, and diamond covered boots

Ecto: when you’re coming to LA?

Chvad SB: LA? Man, I’d LOVE to play the West Coast but we’d need someone to book enough gigs that paid enough to get our broke asses over there.

Ecto: ahhh yes that is always an issue, cause even evil has to eat

Chvad SB: otherwise it’ll have to wait til we move out west… whenever that is…. but if there were an opportunity… we’d do it in a second

Ecto: over the last 3 discs your sound has evolved a lot where do you want to take things from here

Blight Productions: funky..crazy..god like..themed..pretty..soulfully soul less..happy..sad and everything in between. just keepin it real for the people ..you know. I’d like to make video music, not music video but video music.

Ecto: Blight, what’s the difference? What’s the difference between music video and video music?

Blight Productions: I write music with the video, video music is when you compose the music out of video clips and retaining the sound from the actual clips of video to create glitchy types of rhythms.

Chvad SB: Where the music (for t.o.t.s.) is headed is anybody’s guess really. I try to not cover the same ground too much. I try to push the level of production and song writing forward each time we release something. I’d like to shoot writing a CD with a more cohesive theme the next time. I have a lot of ideas… what will end up materializing? I haven’t a clue… lyrics and beats and melodies for a song in most cases are separated by years of their actually inception.

Blight Productions: Word.

Ecto: Sounds cool. Actually what’s really cool is while this may be the longest interview I have ever done it was most definitely one of the most fun! So if you had as much fun reading this crazy shit as I did writing it make sure you get a their new disc “You Knew it All Along” on their web site www.outside-the-skin.com and if you’re on myspace.com ( which who isn’t these days) make sure you add these kids to your friends list you wont be disappointed.

[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.

Hare: Tell me about your new album, “You knew It All Along.”

Chvad: Originally, the title was a bit of a consent from me to everyone that’s, more or less, ridiculed the idea of us making music. Something along the lines of, “OK fine. We’re still broke. We’re still making music that most people have no interest in. We still have no future, and have already lost track of our forgotten past. Fine. You’re right. You knew it all along. Now leave me the fuck alone.” The CD itself was recorded in makeshift studios in Chicago, and then Brooklyn, over the course of roughly four to five years. The life spans of some of the song’s beginnings are a lot longer. That’s more time than I wanted it to take, but that’s how it goes, and ultimately the songs ended up a hell of a lot better as a result of the wait. Many of them were recorded, then re-recorded, then re-recorded again. Someone new would enter the band, and leave, a new idea would pop up, and not work, etc. A large part of it also just comes down to how I like to work on things. I don’t believe in forcing things. If I have an idea for a great track, and my inspiration for it runs out half way through the writing process, I’ll just let it sit – sometimes for years. Usually something hits me out of the blue sometime later and I’ll get excited about the song again, and finish it. Unfortunately, as a result of this, we have a low output of material when compared to a lot of other bands. On the other hand, I really like our songs. I’ve been with them for a long time, and I never get tired of performing them.

Blight: Well, seeing how I have known Chvad all of my life, I have also lived with his songs since their conception. I haven’t always played bass in the band. It took me years to convince Chvad the importance of this magical instrument. Over the years, his song writing has become stronger, and part of that is realizing that a collaboration is a powerful thing. This is the first Things Outside The Skin [T.O.T.S.] album that I have had any creative input on, so therefore it must be the best one yet!

Chvad: Die Blight! Die! I always WANTED to collaborate you bastard! I just didn’t like bass guitars all that much. [Laughs]

Tim: Chvad told me I’d get lots of chicks if I appeared on his record. Well, Chvad, I’m waiting…

Chvad: Chicks are on the way Tim. Be patient or you’ll scare them off, dammit!

Hare: I hear you’re going on tour, in November. Are there any details you can share?

Chvad: Well, we’ll be on the road once again with the awesome Lucky Devil Circus Sideshow. We toured with them back in 2003, along with Chicago’s Sealed in Silence. The mastermind behind the Lucky Devil crew is Tyler Fyre, and aside from him being one of the coolest people on the planet, we’re great friends, and it’ll be fun just getting the chance to hang out for a few weeks, having a great time. We’re still working out the details of a third act at the moment. Hopefully all of that will be cleared up, sooner than later. We intend on hitting most of the East Coast, and Mid-West. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance to pop into Canada again.

Blight: I can’t wait to diddle my bass for the rest of the country!

Tim: It’s gonna be just like Limp Bizkit at Woodstock in 1999! Turn your baseball caps backwards, and get your lighters out dudes!

Hare: Some of your members have some side projects. What can you tell the Space Junkies Magazine [SJM] readers about these projects?

Chvad: Well, currently I’m playing guitar for Tim’s project The 1-2-3-4’s, when he does shows with the project. I’ve got a super secret alter ego and if you look hard enough on the site, you’ll find the happy little fellow. I fancy the idea, I’ll finish a feature length screenplay one-day but until then, I help friends and family with their film endeavors. Blight and I also have another side-project that periodically rears its ugly head called Mutant Yamulkas.

Blight: In addition to playing bass in T.O.T.S., I also play bass in The 1-2-3-4’s, I write music for my own artistic ventures, I illustrate, and paint. I am currently writing, and illustrating a children’s book for adults. I am a video artist, and I am producing a television show about artists – for public television – called “Art or Something Like It!” Go to http://www.blightproductions.com/, and http://www.artorsomethinglikeit.com/ for more information about any of my projects.

Tim: The 1-2-3-4 = closet goth-boy slumming in the world of pop music. Check out the http://www.the1-2-3-4.com/ for more info. And hit me up on MySpace!

Hare: Mutant Yamulkas? Can you tell me more about this?

Chvad: Mutant Yamulkas is a side-project of Blight and myself. It’s a project with very defined rules. Each song is one minute in length. Nothing is ever pre-conceived. All lyrics and music are created as the songs are recorded. If there were ever time, we’d like to take Mutant Yamulkas to the stage.

Hare: While checking out your website, I noticed a link to PETA. How involved are you with the animal rights movement?

Chvad: I love animals, but I’m not a vegetarian. I was for many years, but without going into too many juicy details for your readers, my body couldn’t deal with it. I developed some serious health dilemmas, and had to go on a pretty regimented diet, for awhile, to get things back together. It’s not something I’m a happy about, and I’m pretty strict about what I will, and won’t eat, and stick to limited amounts of poultry, and fish. I do, however, believe strongly in appreciating, and respecting the animals we eat, and supplying them with proper living conditions. It’s hypocritical I know, but not everyone is built the same, and for those that sustain themselves healthfully on a vegan or vegetarian diet that’s great. For those that can’t or won’t, you should be aware of where your food comes from, and appreciate it.

Blight: I love animals.

Tim: Ideally, we should all be required to kill, with our own hands any animals we eat – as it was in olden times. Alas, progress marches on… Anyone want to go to Mickey D’s?

Hare: How would you describe your philosophy on life?

Chvad: Live it – all the time. We have a limited supply of life, and when we’re done, we’re done. Don’t let fear prevent you from experiencing new people, places, and things. If you have goals, then see them through. Don’t wait for some theoretical theology inspired nonsense to bring you happiness. Make what you can of this life ’cause when it’s done, we’re food for the worms.

Blight: Do what makes you happy.

Tim: Hand me another PBR.

Hare: Where do you see yourselves twenty years from now?

Chvad: Twenty? For fuck sake, what happened to the five or ten year question? Twenty? That’ll make me Fifty-two. I hope to have a few businesses established by then that will support me enough to indulge myself more with music, and film or whatever else I’ll feel inclined to create at the time. I intend on opening a haunted attraction/venue, at some point in the next few years, as a starting point. I plan on looking for locations after the tour actually.

Blight: Still making art, and music. Maybe by then, I will have made some money from my work, and I might become a dirty old man, but it still might be too early for that.

Tim: Sailing in the America’s Cup yacht race in the state-of-the-art boat I had custom-built, using the vast fortune I acquired from 10 Platinum-selling records; and my crowd-pleasing performance as The Little Drummer Boy in “T.O.T.S.: the Musical.” Either that or passed out on Chvad’s futon in a pile of beer cans.

Hare: Is there any advice you would give to aspiring musicians?

Chvad: Don’t let anything stop you. You might be a genius or you might be a talentless asshole that brings nothing but misery to everyone who hears you whine. But, it’s your misery, and it’s your genius, and anyone that attempts to keep your ideas, and mouth shut needs to be told to fuck the hell off. Your friends, your family, the government, whatever… Let nothing stand in your way of expression. As each day passes, it gets more, and more difficult to speak your mind. If people are in fact lemmings, then have them follow you, rather than the bloated corrupt-government ruling corporations. Be heard.

Blight: Don’t give up. The only people I know who have failed themselves are the ones that have given up. Keep on truckin’ little campers!

Tim: Abandon all hope ye who enter here.

Hare: Are there any last words, for this interview?

Chvad: Never make wishes for yourself. Help people – sometimes they lose their way. Love animals – we’re in THEIR way; and for fuck sake, use less toilet paper – it’s killing the environment, along with all of your stupid fucking SUV’s. Oh, buy the new CD. Support your local bands, and all that crap. Hare Mengele fucking rocks for interviewing us! Watch TRON again – it’s STILL awesome.

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.

DH: Your music combines electro and industrial. Why did you decide to make such music? Is this something that comes deep from your mind?

Chvad SB: I’ve always loved all kinds of music but when I first heard “Jesus Built My Hotrod” by Ministry, it lit a fire under my ass and inspired me to make music more than anything had before. At that point, I realized the effect music could hold over people… and myself. My decision to make music wasn’t something I sat down to think about… I was compelled to make music. The industrial/electro angle is just one of many elements that have inspired me over the years. I spend a great deal more time on the subject matter of the lyrics than I do with the overall “sound” of the songs. The sounds change pretty drastically from one track to the other and for me, that’s fine. One song might be more rap oriented than another and another more rock and another more electro… none of that is pre-concieved… whatever works best for the lyrics is what happens.

DH: Your new CD is called “You Knew It All Along”. Is this your first release or had there been other releases before? How did you get the deal with your label Facility Records?

Chvad SB: “You Knew It All Along” is our second full length release. It’s our 23rd release including compilations and soundtracks. Facility Records is my own self-produced label. After tons of rejections from most labels I opted to release our first CD myself back in 1999. Since then I have released a couple of compilations on the label in addition to THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN material. I haven’t bothered to send anything off to labels in years. If they have any interest then cool, I’m willing to listen but I’m not gonna chase after them. We write, record, release, tour and fortunately there are people out in the world that want to listen. If a larger label has interest it’s easy enough to contact us. If not, I’m not losing any sleep.

DH: A lot of songs on the CD are very dark and with social criticism. Is this a reflection of your lives and of the society in which you are living? Do you want to provoke with your music?

Chvad SB: Do we want to provoke? Absolutely. That’s a primary focus. Provoke thought…provoke solutions… provoke change… Is t.o.t.s. a reflection? I’d like to think so. If we’re ugly… it’s because we’ve seen something ugly. It’s because ugly happens to fucking much.

DH: THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN seems to me a band that likes to experiment with new sounds and noises. Am I right?

Chvad SB: Absolutely! Rhythmic textures and noises have always had a welcome home in t.o.t.s.land. Never as a substitute to traditional instruments but rather to exist along side them to compliment one another.

DH: Where do you get the ideas for your songs? Are music and lyrics influenced by science fiction or horror movie topics? What do you think about the future of human society?

Chvad SB: The ideas for the songs are almost always inspired by social and political situations or my reactions to them or interpretations of them. Sometimes songs of a more personal nature sneak into the mix but not too often. Not yet anyway. As much as I love both horror and science fiction, they are never inspirational subject-wise. I have no doubt however that the tone of a number of horror and sci-fi films have affected the tone of our songs as I am sure the sound design and scores for them have as well.

DH: My favorite song on your CD is “Cancer Song”. In which circumstances did you record this song? Are there any experiences that influenced you when recording this song?

Chvad SB: Wow… that’s a first. Most people don’t even mention that song. With out a doubt, the most personal song for me on the CD. This song, and the samples contained in it, chronicle an early conversion my father had with his oncologist prior to the treatment for his esophageal cancer. He lived for about 2 years after the meeting. The dialog samples are from the actual conversation with his doctor. I recorded them without their knowledge or consent. I didn’t do this to exploit the situation but I needed to deal with the situation in some fashion and this worked out the best for me. or at least the best that it could. Unless I’m mistaken it’s the last song he ever heard of mine. It doesn’t even begin to capture the horror and the suffering he had to deal with or the loss of those close to him.

DH: If you could change the world, what would you do?

Chvad SB: Get rid of all humans. Every last one, myself included. We’re harmful to this planet and the Earth is better off without us. In the process of killing off most species on the planet, we’re only killing ourselves in the long run… it’s such a horrible waste. IF I could do that it would be a start… but I can’t, so it’s my job to nag the shit out of all of you other humans to treat the planet and it’s inhabitants better. You could argue that if we weren’t here, something or someone equivalent would take our place and be just as bad if not worse. Fine… if that’s the case, I want them gone too.

DH: How important is it for a band like THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN that your songs can be played in a club? Are you making music for the dancefloor?

Chvad SB: It’s not even a consideration. If it happens then that’s cool. If not, se la vie.

DH: Do you have contact with other electro bands? Are you collaborating together? Can you imagine to remix songs of another electro bands? Do you have any favorites?

Chvad SB: We know quite a few other acts and have had the opportunity to work with a number of them quite often. Diverje, UV, Sealed in Silence, Flood Damage, Infinity Interrupt, Hate in the Box, Unto Ashes, CEOXiME, YLUKO and many more great acts. I’ve met a great deal of bands through playing but also through fantastic networking sites like Thirdwave Collective (www.thirdwavecollective.com), Darksonus (www.darksonus.com), Industrial.org, Musick Online and Triptoy.net.

DH: Which further plans do you have with Things Outside The Skin in the near future?

Chvad SB: I’d like to tour again sometime in the next year… probably only North American unless someone can pay for us to travel to our own west coast or even overseas. I’d love to see audiences in another country. Aside from that, I will be starting to write a new CD soon, hopefully for release in late 2006 with new band members and an entirely new sound.

DH: Thank you very much for answering our questions. We wish you good luck and much success. Your final words please:

Chvad SB: Just a huge thanks to you Andreas for taking the time to ask good questions and giving us a chance to speak. It’s magazines like yours that help small bands like us the most. You rock! Check out our site at www.outside-the-skin.com for more info on t.o.t.s.. You can also find us at www.myspace.com/tots and our newest CD “You Knew It All Along” is available at www.cdbaby.com/tots.

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.

Chain D.L.K.: What is your main influence as artists? (Be it music, philosophy, or politics.)

Things Outside The Skin: Early in life bands like DEVO and Men Without Hats were (and continue to be) important to me. Later on, bands like The Ramones, The Damned, TSOL, Public Enemy, Camouflage, and Alphaville affected me a great deal. Even though I noodled with music when I was younger it wasn’t until I heard Ministry’s “Jesus Built My Hotrod” that I felt inspired to write music. The Residents, Michael Patton and Frank Black have also been key influences. Philosophically, The Residents and Consolidated were huge for me. In some fashion, I am sure artists like Chris Burden have had influence over me but to what degree, I’m not sure. More recently I’ve been pretty affected by some amazing comic writers like Joshua Dysart and Warren Ellis.

Chain D.L.K.: What was your motivation behind writing your newest album, You Knew it all Along?

Things Outside The Skin: The album itself was written over a pretty large time period. My primary goal was to release a collection of music that was produced better and was more cohesive as a package than the first T.O.T.S. CD, God in a Box. In some ways I feel like I succeeded and in others, not. The motivation for the title was more specific than the music itself. The name You Knew It All Along came to me just prior to our 2003 North American tour (Turkey Chainsaw Massacre Tour 2003 w/ Sealed in Silence and The Lucky Devil Circus Sideshow). My decision to pursue music wasn’t received well by my friends and family, and although I was humored for awhile, these days I pretty much get scoffed at. They can’t really understand the pursuit of something that has such a small monetary return. I mean, we’re not really filling up the bank with T.O.T.S., it’s always been a financial black-hole. So the name was a bit of a concession to the detractors. “Fine, you’re right. I’m broke, I will continue to be, our fan base is limited, we’re isolated with this endeavor, fine, you’re right… You Knew It All Along. Now leave me the fuck alone.”

Chain D.L.K.: What process, if any, did you use in writing You Knew it all Along?

Things Outside The Skin: For You Knew It All Along and God in a Box I approached each track on a song by song basis, individually working out problems with each track without really considering the rest of the album. There are pros and cons to this. A lot of people have complained that the CD sounded disjointed and that T.O.T.S. is directionless. A lot of people have praised the diverse nature of the material. In the end, you can’t please everyone so I just do what feels right at the time.

Chain D.L.K.: Was there any particular message you were trying to get across? The themes vary from politics to animal cruelty to social commentary.

Things Outside The Skin: I’d like for people to think for themselves and consider all the possible angles of a situation before they commence with their decisions, and in some cases, judgments. Be flexible. Be able to change when needed. Consider things other than yourself. It’s way too easy to forget about people, animals, the environment and situations beyond your own point of reference. All things are not equal. Consume less!

Chain D.L.K.: How long has it been since you released You Knew it all Along, and how has the response been thus far?

Things Outside The Skin: It’s been a few of months now since the release and the responses have been pretty polar. Some reviews praise the hell out of it while others have blasted it to utter bits. It seems in a lot of cases, especially in situations when English isn’t a first language, a lot of the satirical elements in the lyrics are taken verbatim… That’s a problem. It’s not really a problem I can address, but it seems like a lot of stuff isn’t perceived correctly. Hell. Maybe it is and they still don’t like it. Who knows? It’d be great if everyone loved it but if everyone did, I’m probably not writing anything worth listening to.

Chain D.L.K.: Your discography shows the limited tour cover for You Knew it all Along–A picture of Hitler, Bush, and Stalin side by side. This graphic fits well with the title of the album, as well as the first track, “American Way.” What prompted the graphics change and what is the story behind the new graphics?

Things Outside The Skin: (Laughs) The graphics for this CD held the release of the CD back for close to 6 months. There’s actually seven covers that have been designed for this release. Prior to the Bush/Stalin/Hitler cover, there was a Mickey Mouse/Ronald McDonald/Bush cover. That wasn’t printed because every manufacturer outright refused to print the image. They claimed copyright issues, but as it was satire that shouldn’t have applied. While they agreed with me they still refused to print; even with an offer to sign a waiver relinquishing them of any responsibility towards the image. So, to get a quick demo of the CD pressed in time for the tour, I switched the image to show Hitler/Stalin/Bush. It was far more obvious than I wanted, and it lacked the humor of the Mickey/Ronald image, but I was short on time and the disc needed to be pressed. Those sold out and after the tour I continued to work on the rest of the CD. When the time came to do a full press of the finished CD I thought I’d try to get the original idea for the cover printed. No go. No one would touch it. So I went back to the Stalin/Hitler one. No go! Political tension was high and the whole-anti-American thing was still in full swing. No one would print the second cover. Censorship in action kiddoes… pay attention! So even the original cover wasn’t in league with the titles origin, so I thought I’d go back to that. The whole, “You Knew It All Along… now leave me alone,” bit. Nothing seemed to be working. Nothing looked right to me. Then I looked into having other artists do the cover. I’d never done that before and I thought someone else’s approach could bring some new ideas to the table. Still, nothing really vibed well for me. I should also add that the whole time I was also trying to escape the whole “creepy doll” persona I had developed for T.O.T.S. with the God in a Box release. It was seeming redundant to me at the time. Hop in the time machine, we’re now 1 1/2 years after the tour. I’ve re-recorded most of the demo and written a number of new songs for the final release. STILL NO COVER. It’s cold and snowy, a bit of a blizzard in NY. I threw intention to the wind and decided to go for aesthetics. I made a new doll, sat in the snow for 8 hours shooting pictures in a snow storm and now you have have the current cover. “You Knew It All Along.” What I no longer know, but I’m sure someone does. There’s a link (in the tray card of the CD as well!) to see all the covers. You can read the stories about the graphics and hear material that didn’t make it onto the disc! http://www.outside-the-skin.com/tots/YKIAAbonus/

Chain D.L.K.: You Knew it all Along is home to two covers, Devo’s “Going Under,” and The Spice Girls’ “Spice up Your Life.” Quite the contrast. What was your motivation behind covering these two songs?

Things Outside The Skin: Both were originally written for compilation CD’s. One which I produced and released on Facility Records (SpudSuckers! A Tribute to DEVO), and the other was a compilation produced by Kill Switch… Klick/Go-Kustom Records mastermind D.A. Sebasstian (Teen Feeding Frenzy). The DEVO track was from their New Traditionalists release and that album, above all of their work, has had the greatest affect on me. We needed to do a teen track for Teen Feeding Frenzy and while my first few choices for tracks were already taken by other bands I’m happy we went with “Spice Up Your Life” in the end. It came out great.

Chain D.L.K.: Looking at your website I noticed some X-rated uncensored pictures of your show at the New York Goth Rock festival in February–Is this a common stage-show appearance?

Things Outside The Skin: No one believes me when I tell them this, but I had no idea what was happening that night. The right people, the right time and the right music…who knows what’ll happen! I try to bring different elements to shows whenever possible. Great performers have shared the stage with us joining in with T.O.T.S., like Tyler Fyre, Ericah Hagle (former Unto Ashes lead vocalist), Rainbow Blight and Optimus Crime from Hate in the Box, Mortal Angel from Sealed in Silence, and so on. I love to introduce new, sometimes un-rehearsed elements into the live show. It keeps things fresh for us and the audience. So in short, no, that night at the New York Goth Rock fest was neither common nor planned. Things just happen.

Chain D.L.K.: What kind of set-up do you generally try to have at your shows?

Things Outside The Skin: Unless circumstances prevent us from doing what we want, the general show consists of the three main players in the band (myself, my brother Blight on Bass, and Tim Durland playing drums.), accompanied by a heavily sequenced light show to add some visual impact to the performance. We have an assortment of various stage personalities that we rotate through, depending how we feel that night, and always try to do something extra. Things are always changing. Rarely is one show the same as the one preceding it.

Chain D.L.K.: Are you still planning a tour this winter? Can you give a little insight on that?

Things Outside The Skin: I’m working on it. Whether or not it comes to fruition remains to be seen. I’d love for it to flourish as the acts we have lined up this time are amazing performers. Keep checking the site for details on all that stuff.

Chain D.L.K.: What’s next for Things Outside the Skin?

Things Outside The Skin: Continue to promote the snot out of “You Knew It All Along”. If I can get a mid-winter tour together I’d like to shoot for that around March. I’m talking to a few new people that might be joining up with t.o.t.s. in the near future and depending on how that goes I’d like to have a new CD completed and released by the end of 2006. The new CD will be drastically different from our previous releases. Not that I don’t like what we’ve been doing, I love it all. I’d just like to cover some new ground. What it’ll end up sounding like is anyone’s guess but if I’m lucky, people won’t recognize it at all. That’s the goal.

[Mr Drum Machine]: This is probably the worst, most cliched question to start an interview with–but I can’t resist: what’s the story behind the name of your band? “Things Outside The Skin” sounds more emo than industrial–nary an umlaut or a “23″ to be found.

[Chvad]: The name! It goes back a bit actually. During my first band (Recherche’) the guitarist (Raphael/Mortal Angel from Sealed in Silence) and I were in the process of creating a new project (the now defunct “Blood in Vain”) and “THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN” was one of the ideas I had had. I was looking for a name that used simple words that could project larger concepts, a name that could be flexible enough to keep up with constantly changing ideas and identities and I also wanted it to be a bit creepy without be heavy handed. Despite our (Raphael and I) decision to not use the name then in 1996, I wound up releasing a bunch of ambient recordings under the name in 1997 while retaining the name “Recherche’” for the heavier material. In 1998 I dropped “Recherche’” permanently and put everything into T.O.T.S.

[MrDM]: From the pictures on your website, one could assume that you incorporate a lot of theatrics into your live shows. For someone who hasn’t seen a T.O.T.S. show, can you describe what it’s like?

[Chvad]: I like to think it’s, at the very least, an energetic show. We really give the show 200% every time. Energy wise, whatever we have we try to put on the stage. It’s exciting for me to be on a stage and perform and at the very minimum I’d like the audience to feel the same excitement. As far as staged stuff goes…there’s always something new. None of us like to keep the same shtick for long so we’re always bringing something new to the show. Lighting and video has always been important for me. Unfortunately video has taken a back seat for a few years due to budget constraints but the lighting part of the show has really taken off the past couple of years. For me, these elements are every bit as important as the music. It’s a show. It needs to be a show and fun to hear AND watch. I consider lighting even when we’re recording. I’ll change a song if I think it’ll look better with a particular lighting arrangement. We’re restricted with time and budget a lot but I think what we’re bringing to the stage right now is pretty great. I’m hoping to re-integrate video in 2006/2007 but that all depends on whether or not I can get the means to do it.

[MrDM]: Tell us a little bit about the label you are signed to–Facility Records.

[Chvad]: Facility Records is my own little thing. I produced and released a couple of compilations (FESTER: A Tribute to the Residents and SpudSuckers! A Tribute to DEVO) under than name while I was promoting our first CD and working on the most recent. Over the years we’ve had approximately zero interest from any labels, so I decided to save them the hassle of throwing our CD in their garbage can and decided to release it myself. I’d rather not release stuff myself as it really occupies way too much of my time but there were precious few options and sitting on my ass and waiting for someone else to dig what we’re doing wasn’t one of them.

[MrDM]: What’s the deal with logo–a skeletal hand coming out of a toilet?

[Chvad]: Mostly a joke, a play on words. While some artists have great resources and “facilities” with which to record and release material we had shitty equipment and no resources. We had shit to play and produce with…but that was OK. We’ll do it anyway. Thus the okey-dokey skeletal hand. Hell, “You Knew It All Along” was built out of scrap computers I found in New York City garbage. The x-ray is actually my own hand. At the time I came up with the design I was cleaning dog shit for a living at an animal clinic in Chicago and slipped in a shot of my hand into an x-ray machine.

[MrDM]: “Spice Up Your Life” by the Spice Girls. For the love of god, why?

[Chvad]: You can blame d.a. Sebastian (Kill Switch… Klick and Go-Kustom Records) for that. He was producing a compilation called “Teen Feeding Frenzy” and was looking for teen idol cover songs. I originally wanted to record “Hangin’ Tough” by New Kids on the Block due to the obvious cheesy fun waiting to be had but someone else had already done that track. Somehow “Spice Up Your Life” came to mind. I thought it’d be fun to essentially record another acts “theme song.”

[MrDM]: Your promo material does mention a definite Devo influence, although musically that might be a bit hard to detect. Besides the Devo cover on your latest album, how do you find Devo influential to T.O.T.S.?

[Chvad]: I list DEVO as an influence as they’ve influenced my life (and I’ll speak for my brother on this one, his as well) and so to some degree, the music we produce must be affected. I love their satire. They were relentlessly critical and comically aloof with one blow.

[MrDM]: What do you think of all the old school reunions in the world of industrial–namely PWEI, Nitzer Ebb, Skinny Puppy, Leatherstrip, etc. Is there something in the air societally or politically responsible for this, or is it just a wave of nostalgia?

[Chvad]: It’s probably a little bit of everything…and you can’t exclude the inevitable “cash in” factor as well. I don’t say that as a bad thing either. I doubt any of the acts you mentioned got their just “dues” back in their original incarnations. If they can release more stuff now and take advantage of the fact that people actually want to hear them now more than ever…that’s awesome. They deserve it all. I hope that’s the case anyway…I’ve not been peeking into their bankrolls so your guess is as good as mine. Hopefully PWEI will be able to tour the states. I respect the other acts but I’ve never been a huge fan of them. I can never get enough PWEI though!

[MrDM]: You guys certainly seem to be on the songwriter side of the fence rather than being just another EBM clone churning out another generic dancefloor anthem.

[Chvad]: Thanks!

[MrDM]: Songs like “American Way,” “Cow Tippin’” and “Another Dead Comedian” are statement-making songs. How important is social commentary to the T.O.T.S. manifesto?

[Chvad]: How important? It’s THE reason. At this point, if that aspect of the music went by the wayside…t.o.t.s. would have no point existing. I’d have nothing to give it. When I am content with things, which isn’t often, I like to enjoy life. Music is the last thing I’d be doing. That might be a sad thing…I dunno. Maybe one day that’ll change but for right now, it’s the way I deal with the hostile emotions I have with regards to our stupid stupid stupid human race. There’s a small part in me that hopes that someone who hears a song like “Cow Tippin” might think about their world a little more than they usually do…even if just for a fleeting moment. Maybe more. I honestly don’t expect anything like that to happen. People see shit everyday that SHOULD affect them but it doesn’t. For me to believe that a song will get through to them is more than a little stupid but it’s a enough justification for me to at least try. I’m sure there are better ways to get through to people but for the moment, this is my way.

[MrDM]: Your latest disc “You Knew It All Along” explores a lot of different themes–mass consumerism, political apathy, vegetarianism, celebrity…do you feel there is an overall concept that captures the album as a whole?

[Chvad]: Yes…everything being said on the CD is obvious. They are the things that surround us daily. If someone listens to the disc and says to themselves, “I know this. It’s redundant.” that’s a great thing. I’d love to meet them so they can criticize me to my face, then we can put that aside and hang out because I’m pretty sure they’re the people that we need a lot more of.

[MrDM]: You Knew It All Along” is filled to the brim with remixes. What was the goal here–more bang for the buck, providing a showcase for certain remixers, or something else?

[Chvad]: 1) It’s a blast to have friends and colleagues play with your material. 2) I like to support other acts as much as possible. Cross promotion is an important tool and can expose people to great acts that they’d normally not run across on their own. 3) Bang for the buck like ya’ said! It’s fun to get lots of stuff when you buy something! Hell…there’s even more than just remixes…there’s a link somewhere on the CD packaging itself that takes you to another 12 additional tracks and additional artwork with explanations as to why and what was used and not used on the CD!

[MrDM]: And why is it that industrial artists like to constantly remix their tracks?

[Chvad]: I think that most industrial artists and other musicians who deal with a lot of electronics are also pretty fluent in production in general and tend to have greater resources for as much than a lot of other artists usually have…in short, they can so they do.

[MrDM]: Do you guys have any plans to expand T.O.T.S. to a national audience? Any coast-to-coast tours in the near future?

[Chvad]: I’d love to get to as many people as possible and I’m willing to commit the hours to make it happen. Unfortunately an extremely limited budget is always a factor. If we could book enough shows to get from coast to coast and still have gas in the van we’d do it yesterday. The last East Coast affair I tried to arrange in Nov. 2005 fell-through mainly due to a lack of interest in club owners/bookers. I can’t blame them, money is tight all around. Perhaps 2006 will vibe right for us.

[MrDM]: Major label signings? Halftime at the Superbowl?

[Chvad]: Hah! In a SECOND! Either one. :) I’d love to show the world my nipples on national television. They’re some sexy nipples man…seriously.

[MrDM]: What do you envision for the band 5 years down the road?

[Chvad]: That’s always a tough question for me. I usually don’t have the luxury of knowing what’s happening more than a few months from now. What will we be doing? How will we be doing it? Who’ll be listening or watching? I can’t answer any of it…but at the very least I can say that if we’re not dead, t.o.t.s. will be active.

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I got the chance to shoot the shit with Chvad from Things Outside The Skin, and here’s what was said.

Royce Icon: Describe yourself and Things Outside the Skin for those not in the know.

Chvad SB: THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN is a satirical audio and visual creative entity. Sometimes in greater quantities of one than the other. Snooty enough for ya’? It’s really tough for me to quantify it as anything specific and I’m not wanting to come across as pretentious when I say that. A lot of bands will say things like “we’re not industrial, we’re “electro-dark-tech-rock-pop” or “we’re not goth, we’re wacky carbonated bubble snap emo grunge” or whatever. t.o.t.s., probably to our detriment, has no real direction and that’s really my fault. I’m interested in tons of things and like most of us, have a limited amount of time at my disposal for my creative endeavors. My solution was to create a project that could embody all of these creative desires at once. I love visual arts, performance, music, etc etc I love technological and non-technological approaches to things. Most importantly, I love content. Whenever I am approaching a new subject to work on, the tools generally change. The end results are questionable. Some people like it, others don’t. Like anything I guess.

Royce Icon: t.o.t.s. was originally called Recherche. Was there any major reason for the name change, or did you just outgrow it?

Chvad SB: I used the name Recherche’ from 91 to 97. In that time, no one could remember it, pronounce it or spell it correctly. I should have probably changed it sooner but I can be stubborn sometimes. Back when I changed the name I wanted to replace it with an identity that was, at least with what I had what I considered to be, more flexible.

Royce Icon: You’ve been making music for over a decade now. Have you seen much change in the music “scene” since you first started out? If so, do you think it has changed for the worse or for the better?

Chvad SB: In VA, back before the internet/WWW was in everyones homes, things were entirely different. My music selection/exposure was limited to what I could find at the local record shop or what I could order though Metropolis (then just a news-print mail order catalog). When my friends and I wanted to see a show, it meant a car trip to DC or NYC. There was NOTHING in our area… at least that we knew of. Mostly shitty cover bands. I guess what I’m getting at is, that there wasn’t a scene. There was no community. Listening to noise, industrial, gothic, whatever… was an extremely isolating experience for me. Just me and a few friends than could tolerate what I was listening to. I was also (thankfully) totally unaware of the multitudes of sub-genres, which I really find nauseating. To me and my imagination, industrial music seemed to be a type of music that was allowed to get away with anything. When we played shows back then we had an extremely difficult time playing anywhere. To compare those experiences with how things are now is a difficult thing though as my frame of reference keeps changing. Not only time, but where we’ve been living as well. We don’t have any problems booking shows these days… but we’re in a much much bigger city. It’d be nice to say that more people are interested in us but it probably has much more to do with living in a massively crowded city with a ton of people looking for something to do. It’s hard to compare that to a small province in VA. The thing about the internet and music “scenes”…. it’s interesting. On one hand, to find people with similar interests is easier than ever. To find and hear new bands takes almost no effort at all. That’s totally cool. On the other hand… people have massive over exposure to things as well. Everyone has seen and heard everything. Competition for attention has risen well above being better than the local cover band. A massive overload of bands vying for attention. It’s tough on the fans and it’s tough on the bands trying to poke their necks out of the crowd in order to be seen and establish a unique identity for themselves.

Royce Icon: How do you think mp3s are affecting the music industry, and how do you feel about the RIAA?

Chvad SB: MP3’s are a total pro-con thing for me. MP3’s have been a great way to hear new bands, hear rarities from bands you love and great for mass distribution of tracks on an unprecedented level. Those are in my mind, the biggest pros. The biggest con for me then is this: People seem to value things based upon production cost of an item alone.. not by the non-quantifiable effort used in producing a product. When the CD-R became a widely used format, the general “consumer” began to “realize” the cost, their perceived cost at any rate, to manufacture CD’s. They began to ask themselves, “Why am I paying $15.00 to $20.00 for a CD when I can burn one myself for .50. They felt deceived. Combine this perception with the misnomer that all artists never make any money off of CD’s, then begin to mistake true indie artists for “major” artists and the developing idea that people have a “right to own” and you have a massive runaway snow-ball that fucks over a ton of people. I can just imagine how people justify theft, … “I like Madonna. Madonna is rich and doesn’t need my money. The CD is over-priced and hell, she’s not even getting money from this CD sale anyway so what’s it matter? She’s getting screwed, I’m not gonna support this. I’ll just copy my friends or download it.” Apply that same logic to us, and you literally just pulled that afternoons sandwich out of my mouth. I imagine there’s even less thought given to the situation by most. More or less some like, “I want it.”. Done. That’s it. There’s your “right to own” mentality. Getting back to my first point though… the content holds no value for most people. They associate cost of product with value of product. With MP3’s there is no product essentially. It’s intangible data. It’s not an isolated issue either, software manufacturers have had these problems for a long time. People just need to come to the realization that what they’re paying for is the right to enjoy the fruits of the artist’s labor. If they don’t feel like that’s worth paying for, then play music by the millions of artists releasing their material for free. Personally, and I’ll wrap this soon.. I know I’m rambling, when I buy a CD or a DVD… I am buying it to support the artist, or company, or engineer…. so that I might have the good fortune to enjoy another one of their products at a later date.

In regards to the RIAA… honestly, they’ve never affected us directly and so I have no real first hand experience with them. I understand why they exist. It’s not an entirely bad idea… but like most things… The RIAA have become to large and move too slow to keep up with the times.

Royce Icon: I know you’re a big Devo fan. Have you heard A Perfect Circle’s version of Freedom of choice? If so, what’d you think?

Chvad SB: Well, I’ve never liked A Perfect Circle and up until now I haven’t heard their version but I went and bought the track *just* so I could answer this question. What do I think? I still don’t like them. I can’t comment on the band though as I know almost nothing about them.

Royce Icon: Describe your songwriting process.

Chvad SB: I kind of work in sporadic bursts with certain parts of songs, completely independent of one another. Some days I’ll just work on beats and loops. Some days I’ll noodle with various melodies. Some days I’ll have some lyrical ideas and on others I’ll hammer out a nifty riff on a guitar or some other instrument. If I come up with something I like, I’ll record a piece of it to remember later on and toss it into a folder. Usually what happens is, something I am noodling with now, will remind me of something I played around with earlier (sometimes years) and a song will start to take shape. I rarely, if ever, sit down and create a song with ideas from one sitting. It’s a real methodical process for me that I never ever rush. I don’t like to force things into shape. Sometimes I’ll be 3/4 the through a song and can’t figure out what to do with it. If that’s the case, I just let it sit until I have another idea… again, years have gone by with shit like this. The songs themselves are almost always structured around the lyrics and whatever patterns emerge from those. After something is more less “done” in my eyes, I toss the results in front of whomever I am working with at the time and then see what happens. At that point, I’ll usually go back and change things accordingly.

Royce Icon: t.o.t.s. is more or less a solo project, but you play with a band live. Does the live sound differ a lot from the recordings because of this?

Chvad SB: It has been a solo project for a long time for sure, but my brother had a significant influence on the tracks he recorded on the last CD, “You Knew It All Along”. Songs like, “Cow Tippin’” changed drastically. The next CD, I think will be a much greater “band” endeavor. In regards to the live sound, there’s a great energy to the songs performed live that I have yet to capture on CD. Some songs change so much, people are convinced they’re hearing something completely new. I like to change and re-work old material quite a bit… I’m really open to change. That’s whats great about playing with a band live, there’s always a new idea for a song coming from someone… it’s exciting when that happens.

Royce Icon: Are there any other projects that you’re involved in besides t.o.t.s.?

Chvad SB: My brother, Blight and I noodle around with a side-project periodically called “Mutant Yamulkas”. Basically weird “Residents-esque” type stuff. Him and I just getting wacky with no agenda. I work and score for various films on occasion and Blight produces a television show in NYC called “Art or Something Like It”. The two of us are always involved to some degree or another with our friend Elias and his film projects produced under the “BiFF JUGGERNAUT” moniker. Elias has also produced a number of great videos for t.o.t.s. as has Blight and myself. I’ve been tinkering with some screenplay ideas over time as well but most of my energies at this time however, are poured into t.o.t.s..

Royce Icon: Any new albums or tours in the works that we should know about?

Chvad SB: I wanted to tour last summer in ‘05 but had no luck getting that off of the ground. I’m attempting to do a couple of weeks on the road this summer ‘06… well see how that goes! I’ll probably start working on new material this fall. I’d like to release something new early 2007.

Royce Icon: Could you give us a gear list?

Chvad SB:
Synths: Yamaha DX-100, Yamaha TX81z,Yamaha CS1x, Yamaha DTX 2.0, Kawai K5000s, Kawai K-1r, Kawai K-3m, Alesis Ion, Waldorf Microwave XTK, BOSS Dr. 660, Redsound Darkstar, KORG EX-8000, Commodore 64 w/Cynthcart, Atari 2600 w/SynthCart and a Nintendo NES w/MIDINES.

Signal Processors: dbx ProVocal, Joe Meek ThreeQ, dbx DDP, Alesis Bitrman, Boss SE-50, and various plug-ins.

Pedal Effects: (for guitar) Ibanez LA Metal, DOD Metal Maniac, Digitech Grunge, Diditech Digi-delay, Rocktron Big Crush, Rocktron Hush, Rocktron Hypnotic Flange.

Pedal Effects: (for bass): Boss Chorus, Morley Dual Bass Wah, Aphex Punch Factory, Aphex Bass Exciter, ElectroHarmonix Bassballs, Boss Bass Distortion, Pedal Pad board and power supply.

Software: Sony Soundforge 7, Cakewalk Sonar 4, Taureg 2, various plug-ins.

Guitars: Schecter Damien FR, Eastwood Delta 6.

Bass: Traben Phoenix, Ashbory Bass

Amps: SWR 210 combo bass amp, Peavey Studio Chorus 210

Royce Icon: Okay, now for some totally random non-music related questions. First, what is your opinion on the current state of American society?

Chvad SB: We are in a state of media shock. No one knows who or what to believe. Everything is extremist and polarized. As a result, things have fractured a lot. You have people that just shut it all out because it’s nauseating and difficult to deal with and then you have lemmings who just do what they’re told. In the end, the lemmings are the strongest because at the very least, they make the same decisions. Not a good thing. But seriously, people are ALWAYS afraid of change. We never stopped burning witches… we just changed their names.

Royce Icon: From what I gather you’re into animal rights. What do you think of PETA and some of the more extreme Vegans who think that humans who eat meat should be killed?

Chvad SB: First, any extremist action is usually so far to one side or the other that their points become useless. What do I think about vegans who think humans who eat meat should be killed? I think their fucking insane. PETA… a well intentioned organization that doesn’t always do what’s best BUT on the other hand, everyone knows who they are and what they stand for… and so to that affect, they’ve been successful. In regards to animal rights. I’m not going to sit here and tell people to be vegan or vegetarian. That’s not a life style that everyone can live with. Everyone has unique nutritional needs. Everyone has a different body. I can’t digest vegetable proteins well. When I eat them I get incredibly ill. I’m not vegetarian. I do however believe in moderation. I believe in respecting the creatures we live with and consume. I believe in proper living conditions for farm animals. I believe people should understand and respect where our food is derived from. That being said I am entirely against certain products and foods that deviate from respect and moderation. Veal is horrible. Hunting endangered species in reprehensible., In regards to fur clothing, animal testing and such… I am 100% against shit like this. It’s barbaric and unnecessary. It’s greedy selfish crap like that that really gets under my skin.

Royce Icon: If you knew the world was ending in a week, what would you do?

Chvad SB: Say goodbye to my friends and family. Take my dog and girlfriend and go out hiking or something. Watch the dolphins fly away. Re-read The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy or something along those lines. I’d like to say I’d be cool enough with the world ending to just be able to chill out, relax and enjoy what’s left to enjoy. Who knows… maybe I’ll just run around while flapping my hands over my head and scream a lot.

Royce Icon: If you could have one superpower what would it be?

Chvad SB: The ability to allow people to see the repercussions of their actions and understand them. “Repercussion Man”: The world’s most depressing and boring super hero?

Royce Icon: What are some of your favorite movies and books?

Chvad SB: Authors? Anything by Douglas Adams is genius. I love John Wyndham’s stories. Jon Krakauer is amazing. As far as movies go, I love horror movies. Who doesn’t? Favorite movies? Joe vs. The Volcano, The Haunting (original), The Woman in Black, Return of the Living Dead, Dead Alive, Godzilla (The REAL one, not the American piece of shit), Gamera, Ginger Snaps, Dog Soldiers, Suicide Club, Creepshow, The Day the Earth Stood Still, etc etc etc… Lots of stuff. Really.

Royce Icon: How do you feel about LaVeyan Satanism?

Chvad SB: I don’t know much about it. See below.

Royce Icon: How do you feel about Christianity?

Chvad SB: It was one of the biggest mistakes EVER made and when I say that, I mean all of organized religion.. not just Christianity. That’s not to say I’m against being spiritual. I am cool with people believing in what they want to believe in. I’m not cool with large masses of ignorant and fearful people commanding unto others how their lives should be lived. That’s just scary.

Royce Icon: Okay, tell me which of the following things you prefer and why: Bruce Campbell or Christian Bale?

Chvad SB: WOW! That’s tough. Both of these guys are awesome. Total draw. Can’t pick.

Royce Icon: The Smurfs or The Snorks?

Chvad SB: I’ll have to go with The Smurfs I suppose. I never watched The Snorks when I was a kid.

Royce Icon: Toxie or Sgt. Kabukiman?

Chvad SB: Toxie all the way baby. Is their any question? Kabukiman has potential but he’s nowhere near the bad ass kick villain arse machine that Toxie is. Besides… Toxie gets all the babes.

Royce Icon: Zombies or Vampires?

Chvad SB: Zombies… why? I guess a lot of that might have to do with Melinda Clarke in Return of the Living Dead III.

Royce Icon: Midget porn or MILF porn?

Chvad SB: MILF porn! Never got a hard-on while looking at midgets.

Royce Icon: Danzig or Elvis?

Chvad SB: Not a fan of either. Never got a hard-on while looking at these guys either… Danzig IS kind of a midget isn’t he?

Royce Icon: Software or Synths?

Chvad SB: Both. However, the only soft-synths I use are freeware. I’ve yet to come across any that I’ve been interested in enough to pay for. Softsynths are fun but I rely and write on hardware. Maybe it’s a tactile thing.. maybe it’s the sound… maybe it’s the fact my previous DAW was built from junked computers that I pulled out of the garbage on the curbs of NYC… but I don’t feel as inspired with soft stuff. I’ve only recently gotten a computer that can actually handle softsynths with any efficiency… maybe that will change my work flow. We’ll see what happens.

Royce Icon: Okay, that’s all I wanted to ask. Is there any thing else you’d like to say?

Chvad SB: Just thanks to YOU Royce… I know ya’ weren’t into our last release all that much but ya’ still reviewed it anyway and gave us some extra exposure. Again… more exposure with this interview. You totally fucking rock!

That’s about it. To all the people reading…. come out and see us play sometime! If you WANT to see our show, be vocal about it to your local promoters and clubs! Also… check out our site www.outside-the-skin.com. We have TONS of content available for free download. That’s it. Oh yeah, listen to more of The Damned. EVERYONE. Now. … and Snog too. Go buy a copy of Swamp Thing. Yes.. the comic book. It’s being canceled and that’s a damn crime.