PSYMMETRIX Interview – Gaian Mind Summer Festival 2006
1. Can you introduce the members of PSYMMETRIX and give us your history and musical roots?
Psymmetrix are Al & Richie, two freaks from the dancefloor whose musical tastes span punk & funk, jazz, acid house,electronica, drum & bass, indie grunge, 60s & 70s rock (including the krautrock of that time), and general psychedelia.
2. Please describe the Psytrance scene in the UK. What has been your involvement in the scene? Has the scene been on the rise or decline?
With 3 new psy-trance labels coming from the underground in the last year the UK scene is definately growing. Some killer tracks coming from UK artists recently, but underground partying is getting more difficult. There is always a squat party to go to in London (which is the scene we know) at the weekends, summer brings with it the joy of outdoor partying, but with the Criminal Justice Act making unlicensed events illegal (licensed events are not allowed all night music) it's also a game of cat & mouse with "The Old Bill". Our involvement in the UK scene spans from having it on the dancefloor, to performing live, to DJing, to organising parties, to running websites to back to more having it on the dancefloor!
3. What does your studio consist of? What is your primary sequencing program? Mac or PC? Hardware or softsynths?
At the moment our studio consists of : overflowing ashtrays, old audio mags, a bed and a big bag of ch**** Amongst all this sits a dual processor PC running Cubase and a bunch of plugins, we also source a lot of sounds from a nord lead 2x and run it all through and RME Fireface 800 & Dynaudio Speakers. Oh and theres a Portuguese guy named "Pedro" on the sofa!!!
4. Describe the creative process of composing a PSYMMETRIX track.
When we had a separate studio we would operate a "Day & Night" shift... Al is an early bird and Richie a night owl... Essentially we start with a nice cup of tea, then the kick and bass will usually be the first thing created. Then we build up a loop, and once it's rocking and pretty full, we work on arrangement, so that the track builds up to that point... then it's a matter of seeing where our imagination takes us. Playing with soft synths, EQing like your using a digital chisel, twisting up the nord, and going crazy with audio editing in Cubase can get us lost for hours!!! When working together we both have to like what's being added to the track for it to stay in, and neither gets too offended if something we added when working alone gets a thumbs down.
5. What is your current release schedule? When will we see a PSYMMETRIX full-length release or individual tracks on compilations? What labels are you affiliated with?
Our first track release is with Phar Psyde Records (www.phar-psyde.co.uk) and is out now! Also we have one track coming on the next Wild Things Records compilation, Alpha Rhythms (www.wildthingsrecords.co.uk) See our website for up to date details (www.psymmetrix.com) We are also closely affiliated with the soon to arrive Bom Shanka Music (www.bomshanka.com). As for an album... keep and eye on the website!
6. Where have you played in the past and where will you be playing later this year? Is this your first US appearance? What was your most memorable gig? Largest?
Today we got back from Russia for Shanti Sound System's "White Night Experience." Wow! Last week we were in Spain for Freaky Dragons Festival, and earlier this year various in & out door parties in the UK. We head out to Ruigoord near Amsterdam just before the Gaian Mind, then we are in France, Spain again, Scotland and Brighton, UK. We keep our website fully up-to-date with our gig schedule, so have a look there! This will be our first US appearance and we are really excited to be coming over to play. And we got excellent reports about Gaian Mind from an American friend here, so we are doubly excited! Our most memorable and biggest gig so far was headlining on Saturday night at last years Glade Festival to an overflowing Liquid Stage.
7. What do you think of the recent wave of Psytrance? Where do you predict the trend will lead or evolve into?
Too much boring trance, but production standards are rising... Generally there is too much far-too-light stuff, and way too terrorising dark stuff. We are trying to evolve it somewhere slightly to the right of center with a healthy dose of humour, if fluff was on the left and evil on the right, as for the rest, who knows, but it better be good!
8. Any final words for the North American audience?
Listen out for good advice from President Nixon during our set! We hope you "have it" and have fun! Bom Shanka.
June 7, 2006