Dem: Tell us about your first experience as a DJ
at a club, and what motivated you to become a DJ.
Flipps: My first experience as a DJ was believe it or not, with you
kids at TG @ Area 51. Myself and Steven started a Goth / Aggro Industrial night
there, but management at the time was geared towards holding more Rave-based
events, so shit sotra fell apart :(.
As far as persuing DJing goes, it was something that really just came naturally
to me. I've always been disturbingly and inexplicably obsessed with Industrial
Music on a high level, and I just found that mixing it together was a LOT of
fun. However, the more I spun, the more the craving to dj became overwhelming.
It was like a drug - I needed to do it again, over and over. I just started
spinning at clubs, and eventually I met other people who dug the music as much
as I did, and I just naturally gravitated towards the music more and more. It's
all I talk about, all I do, all I think about, fuck, the majority of my dreams
even consist of Industrial Music. And yes, I'm aware that this isn't
healthy...
Dem: What regular nights are you currently
involved with?
Flipps: Right now I do a monthly All Ages gig at Savage Garden on the
last Thursday of the month. Other than that, I'm also involved in the TiK events that
happen around town. Although the DJs are in constant rotation, we all try to do
our fair share of promo and what not (most of the time at least ;-).
Dem: Your night at Savage is the only regular all
ages event. Why is it important to have these?
Flipps: Well, like it or not, I came into this scene as a very lost and
confused kid. I didn't really like a lot of the people at school, and I didn't
really fit in anywhere. I didn't get along with my parents at all, and life
generally just sucked ass. But getting into the scene, it was like for the
first time ever, I saw a whole community full of people who not only listened
to same music as me, but who actually THOUGHT the same way I did. People on
exactly the same level as I was - a group of anger, bitter, sadistic, morbid,
and chaotic fuckers just like me. I knew I was home. And throughout the years,
like it or not, every single person in this scene has become family to me.
Sure, I may dislike some of you, sure, I may even wish that you a die horrible,
slow, painful death, but I still love you :).
I learned about life at
Savage
Garden. And I learned that life isn't pretty. But regardless, there are
people in that club who raised me, who almost did what my parents never could.
There are people at Savage whom are like brothers and sisters to me, fuck,
there are even people who've been like a mom and dad to me. You all taught me
something. If Savage ever had a kid, it would be me - a goth, no doubt...
So simply put, when someone's my age, they often look for things around them
that they can relate to. Thus, when one finds that their surroundings have
suddenly ceased to offer any such things, it's simply natural for a person to
feel alone and isolated. I know first hand that it's pretty shitty being a kid
and having all the crap to deal with, plus the added social problems of not
fitting in at school and having few friends. When people interact with others
who share distinct similarities not only in appearance but in their state of
thinking as a whole, it can make a world of difference. If I had never found
the scene, honestly, i would have been lost to no end. It seems the only people
i can truely relate with on an amazing level are those whom i met through the
scene, and being able to interact with people like yourself is vital to one's
emotional well-being.
Dem: How do you feel the musical tastes of the
"eldergoths" and "babygoths" differ?
Flipps: I hate to say it, but "eldergoths" (hehe), generally
like light-ass synth-pop shit. read my covenant review
here
and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. When a person grows older, it's
simply natural for their tastes to lean towards a lighter, more
"mature" and "easy-listening" sort of sound (unless you're
Squid). Such elements can be found in various acts as Apoptygma Berzerk, VNV
Nation, and of course, Covenant. When you're all grown up, have a real job, 0.5
children, and have likely traded in your 20 hole docs for a pair of fucking
teva sandals, you're just not as angry and confused as you were say five years
ago, and thus crave a softer, more clear and mellow type of sound. Rather than
the harsh, abrasive industrial beats which reflect the emotions of anger and
sadness, the older one is, the more they've either gotten over their "teen
angst", or have chosen to repress it. Thus, the happy prozac-friendly
notes of say, Apoptygma Berzerk's "Harmonizer" (I fucking hate that
album, god damn it) actually start to sound really good to them.
Going off on a slight tangent, this is yet another reason why All Ages events
are of utmost importance. On less of a personal level and more of a broad
spectrum, Industrial Music as a whole seems to be losing it's edge, due to the
above facts. Underground record labels such as Metro simply aren't willing to
push the harder industrial coming out, since their target audience simply isn't
what it used to be. Labels generally strive to target the older goths whom of
which make up most of the Industrial Community these days in almost every given
city, and are therefore leaning towards singing acts with a more lighter, poppy
sound to them.
So why aren't there more younger kids involved in the scene as there used to
be? Simply because unlike 10 odd years ago, Industrial does NOT exist in
mainstream media at all anymore, at any time of the day, nor in any sort of
medium. it's completely hidden inside the clubs, and if kids don't know about
it and can't develop an affinity for it, there's no way they'll ever support
the scene. it would be impossible. Rather, most "kinder-goths" are
drawn to the nu metal image the media has created as a saturated substitute for
all angsty, angry, and confused adolescents in today's western society.
Therefore, once Generation X has reached their 40s, if All Ages Events aren't
given much attention, there won't be a demographic to replace the
"elder-goths" (who likely got into the scene by such mainstream acts
as The Cure and NIN), and the scene will simply die off, or blend itself into
another Community, such as the Rave or Metal scenes.
Dem: What one off events or regular nights have
you done in the past?
Flipps: I used to do Wednesdays at the Vatikan about 2
years ago. Played lots of goth, generally a pretty nice vibe. It's funny how
time flies. After that, I've been heavily involved with TiK ever since, doing
the weekly Thursdays at the Garden. In between, I played quite a bit with
Maurizio at Savage back when Fridays were good, and generally every gig I've
had since has been either with TiK or at Savage. This coming March (the 1st), I
will be spinning all that is Industrial with the TiK crew and friends in The
Kathedral. doncha dare miss it!
Dem: Name your personal top 5 bands and tell us
why you like them.
Flipps:
1. THE SHIZIT - If there's one song you should download this year, it's
"The Shizit - Audio Jihad II". 200bpm guitary Industrial Digital
Violence straight up from Seattle. Offensive and shocking yet provocative
lyrics such as:
"When you look down on me
You keep your eyes to the ground
That's exactly where
You'll find your fucking lungs ripped out",
"You'll find your body rotting in a gutter motherfucker",
"Pissed off is the matra of my generation
We're used, confused, facing annihilation",
and
"I pledge resistance to the flag
That bears the blood of the world's oppression",
are an indication as to how unafraid these guys are to break the rules and the
boundaries of modern electronic music. don't take what they have to say
literally, but realize that someone out there is once again "ripping the
system" as to quote KMFDM, taking music to the extreme. good angsty
guitary industrial with an anarchist punk edge, straight up, the way it should
be. two words - no nonsense. perfect for a kid like me :). (www.shizit.net)
2. Suicide Commando - "Acid Bath" was a love song, "Better off
Dead" are words to live by, "Ignorance" was definitive Belgian
Industrial, and "Raise your God" is the best club track ever, period.
These guys were doing noiz back in '92 (just download "Murder" off
Stored Images) (www.suicidecommando.be)
3. Feindflug - They're not nazis. Really. (www.feindflug.net)
4. Switchblade Symphony - this is where i pussy out :(. they rule. (website no
longer in existance - previously www.night-sky.com/switch)
5. Die Form - pleasure through misery, beauty in sadness, purgation through
pain. infect the sickness, cleanse the wound. (www.dieform.net)
Dem: What bands do people most request?
Flipps: VNV. always fucking VNV. "Can you play VNV??" Nothing
but god damn VNV. Enough with the VNV people.
Dem: What bands do you wish people would request
more?
Flipps: Anything but VNV :)
Dem: In your opinion, what are the best and the
worst parts of being a DJ?
Flipps: The best part is the free drugs. Aside from that, the fact that
I get to express myself artistcially not only through the music I play, but
through the flyers I make for promotion as well is pretty cool in itself. I
love shocking people. It's my one true source of satisfaction in life, because
when you shock someone, you get their attention. Don't take me seriously, but
listen to what I have to say.
The worst part is when you do too much of the free drugs, like i did... :(
Dem: Do you still see yourself doing this in 5
years?
Flipps: Absolutely. you can't just stop. Asking me to stop DJing would
be like asking someone to not breathe, or asking a heroin addict to trade in
their syringe for a shiney new nickel. Maybe I don't see myself spinning at
clubs in 5 years, but as long as Industrial Music's coming out, I'll be fucking
around with it at home. And if it stops coming out, I'll either make it myself,
or die, which ever's easier i suppose...
Dem: How do you feel about the current state of
the scene in Toronto, and where do you see it going?
Flipps: Well, it's blending itself with the mainstream more and more
everyday. But that's just the way it goes, I'm not saying that's a bad thing.
It's more alive than it ever has been. We just have to remember one thing -
never lose our identity. We can invite other people to party with us, but we
still have to remember who we are. I don't agree with dresscodes, I don't agree
with selective clientel, I agree with being one's self. Whether that be a
Raver, a Goth, a Rivet-head, or whatever, we're all unique in our own ways, and
sharing our interests and music with each other is absolutely kick-ass. All in
all, I love this scene. I love Savage, I love Darkrave, I love it all. I just
never want to see it disappear, and for that reason, I remind you all,
"If you don't remember who you are, you haven't a clue as to where
you're going."
Dem: Anything else you'd like to add?
Flipps: I think everyone should stick their finger in their bum, and
poke their head out the window and yell 'I have my fucking finger up my bum,
for fuck's sake!' and then the world would be such a beautiful place."
interview by Dem on
February 20th 2003
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