Interview to Cumsleg Borenail (2024)

Cumsleg Borenail is an experimental, IDM, Noise, vaporwave artist from UK. 

Also he is the founder of Borenail Records.

https://cumslegborenail.bandcamp.com/

https://borenailrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://linktr.ee/cumslegborenail

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Lkq6hB2nbtf3G4Bbg7R3A

https://archive.org/details/@borenail_entertainment

https://whatjoyisthereinliving.bandcamp.com/

https://frishprence.bandcamp.com/

- What is the meaning and the concept behind the name of your music project?

Hey, the original name was Ploist Drencrom, but it just didn't sound right to me. Drencrom from Clockwork Orange?? I think? It lacked that punch I was looking for. I came up with Cumsleg Borenail and I think it has a better flow. I had a remix track on BBC Radio 6, they couldn’t bring themselves to say the word ‘Cumsleg’ so settled on ‘Seesleg”. Plus, Borenail; kind of reminds me of Withnail from that classic British film Withnail & I;. You know, the eccentric and alcoholic actor? It gives the name a bit of that same kind of quirky, unpredictable vibe. Most tracks I wrote jump from genre to merging with another genre.

- What equipment do you use for create music?

Gear4music Fretless bass, Eagleton electric bass, Akai MPC One, Elevation acoustics guitar, Violin, Serum vst, reaper, Tx16wx, mooer harmonic square, korg kaoscilltor, Donner electric guitar, Saxophone

Yamaha PSR-340 as midi keyboard. All of the above are sampled, chopped up, repitched into something new. The running theme of cheap hardware, the MPC an exception, runs through Cumsleg Borenail.

Cheap, British, Pay as you go, nasty.

- Tell us a little biography about your project, when you started to make music?

I began with classical piano training from the age of seven to eleven. I eventually became obsessed with the electric guitar, from exposure to Nirvana and Guns ‘n’ Roses. Even though I was raised on Godley & Creme. Then finding myself in the derivative world of metal bands for the next decade. This period,while partly fulfilling, followed a secret history of 15 years, culminating in the birth of Cumsleg Borenail around 2022. I’m nearly old.

Initially, I experimented with popular genres like Vaporwave and Ambient, but found my attempts consistently sounding nowhere near the confines of these established styles. My work, though attempting unique, struggled to find its place within these existing frameworks. I couldn’t stay ambient for more than a single track and in vaporwave hated going through 80s city pop samples. 

Kept plugging away, I embraced a more balanced approach, seamlessly blending samples, analog and digital equipment, and even incorporating AI-generated sound effects. This layered approach allows me to explore uncharted sonic territories and cultivate a fairly distinctive sound. Not ambient!

- Who are your main music and artistic influences?

Throbbing Gristle (The use of imagery and sound are inspirational and I always have an album on in the mix of everything else I consume. Albums like Mission Of Dead Souls are perfect. It is something I plan to do when playing live. All original and improvised), Coil (A Throbbing Gristle offshoot never fail to reach a new level with every release, even post mortem. I do think about the look of their corpses, not sure if they were cremated), Van Der Graaf Generator (mostly their 70’s output but the reform in the 2000’s was even more complex. Recently saw them in Bath forum. My back ached in the seats.), Nine Inch Nails (Only the downward spiral and broken. The rest is just nostalgia to those albums), Psychic Tv (First two albums are superb, the acid house and beyond not so much so), Giacinto Scelsi (The structure and space of all compositions are masterpieces).

- What underground artists from the netlabel scene do you like?

So pretty much anything off Irregular Patterns ( https://irregularpatterns.bandcamp.com/ ), just started getting into Mortality Tables (https://mortalitytables.bandcamp.com/) and Third Kind records (https://thirdkindrecords.bandcamp.com/ ) and finally Adventurous Music (https://adventurousmusic.bandcamp.com/ ) who don’t have a bad release. Underground work has waymore heart. More perceived meaning and context.

- Do you have some influence from your country in your music?

The grey British skies crush my soul in a temporary body and I am fine with that until I am reborn in a future genealogical slant. An equivalent to Adonai operates a frequency that holds our body parts together. Hobbs leviathan provides me a system of worship and taxation.

- What is your favorite album/ep composed by yours? And why?

“An Occidental Felo-De-Se” due to the leaps in my confidence in vocals, production and the general “quality” of the work. Which, from my home studio, seems great to me. Granted me an assurance overall that I could produce a piece listenable to my ears if not anyone else’s. The earlier work on 60th listen seems a great task. Tiring. 

Occidental : “Is an adjective that means "of, relating to, or characteristic of the Occident or its natives and inhabitants"; The Occident refers to the western part of the world, especially the countries of Europe and America. The term occidental is often used in contrast to oriental, which refers to the eastern part of the world.”

I am here, raised here, stuck here.

Felo-De-Se: “Is an obsolete legal term derived from Latin, meaning "felon of oneself"; It referred to a person who had committed suicide. Under English common law, suicide was considered a felony and was punished by forfeiture of property and an ignominious burial. The concept of felo-de-se was abolished in England and Wales in 1961 with the passage of the Suicide Act 1961. However, the term is still sometimes used colloquially to refer to suicide.”

Humorous that post mortem your punishment still stands. That’s very British.

- What are your preferred music platforms/websites? Why?

All the music platforms and streaming sites bring someone from somewhere.

- Any news for 2025?

One definite live gig and my usual album a month.

LATEST RELEASE: "Birds With Vertigo"(with Sammy J Matthews):

https://cumslegborenail.bandcamp.com/album/birds-with-vertigo

Interview to Cosmic Disruption Orchestra (2024)

 

CDO (Cosmic Diruption Orchestra) is an experimental, dark noise, industrial, lovecraftian 

ritual dark ambient artist from UK. 

https://cosmicdisruptionorchestra.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/CDOritual/

- What is the meaning and the concept behind the name of your music project?

CDO (Cosmic Disruption Orchestra) started out as a response to my interest in the fiction of H. P. Lovecraft. This changed into a Noise project (more of this in the next answer): the interaction between different noise elements such as rhythm and/or texture. Now it is about a more ‘traditional’ approach looking at different styles like Metal and Jungle. But next year may be different as I feel I’ve covered what I can so far this year.

- What equipment do you use for create music?

I started using Adobe Audition but it was limited (by bad programming) regarding the plugins it was able to accept which was limited. Since the start of this year, I have been using Tracktion Waveform. I am able to record with a couple of digital interfaces but that has been limited so far.

- Tell us a little biography about your project, when  you started to make music?

In 2016 I recorded my first EP experimenting with something close to Cold Wave and Minimal Electronica. A second EP followed in the next year showing that I had advanced my creativity (listening to it now feels strange but refreshing). A longer release ‘Awakening Through Dream’ appeared in 2018, where I start using glitch techniques as an integral part of the music creation process along with longer track times. ‘Unnameable Vistas’ was released in the same year showing an affinity for surrealism. ‘From The Stars’ in 2019 is unmistakably  (both visually and in music) a nod to Lovecraft and film soundtracks (including the use of lower frequencies) on top of the surrealist tone. Also in the same year, I released ‘The Longed For Journey’ continuing on from the previous album. And in 2020 before the hiatus ‘Beyond Dreams And Wastelands’ was released where noise was used as something to be imposed on the listener where frequencies clash amongst each other. In late 2023 ‘Caressed By Angel Wings’ appeared marking a new interest in making music by myself and the last album on which I would use Adobe Audition. In 2024 there were the albums ‘House of Curiosities’, ‘Aion’, ‘ Fall of the Digital Empire’ and ‘Ramshackle, misfits and malarkey’ (the last here being a collection of unused ideas and tracks which didn’t seem to fit). Closing the year was a compilation of remixes/interpretations ‘Shadows and Like Grains of Sand REMIXES’ where 2 tunes from ’Ramshackle..’ were used and abused.

- Who are your main music and artistic influences?

In no particular order: Aphex Twin/AFX/Polygon Window/The Tuss, Nurse With Wound, Nine Inch Nails, Rock/Metal, Autechre, Kryztof Penderecki, early Jungle, there are many others.

- What underground artists from the netlabel scene do you like?

I listen to artists whenever I can although there’s nothing specific as I have either wanted to create music like that which I’ve heard or I’m amazed by the creativity of these artists and I feel that I could improve what I’m creating.

- Do you have some influence from your country in your music?

Yes, as I mentioned earlier, there’s the music but also the social and political landscape which doesn’t look so stable as it should to me: I’ve never been a fan of authority figures who shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near positions where they can negatively affect the majority.

- What is your favorite album/ep composed by you? And why?

That’s a difficult question to answer as each release has paved the way for where I am at the current time.

- What are your preferred music platforms/websites? Why?

Bandcamp as it offers a free service but also a paid version. Also, they appear to like promoting artists who are less well known and they are not taking alot of money for themselves when it should go to the artists instead.

- Do you play live? How was the experience?

I had been in groups that played live before but even though it was fun and exciting I always felt like the songwriting process didn’t let ideas move the group forward. I prefer CDO as a studio only project.

- Any news for 2025?

I’m starting production on a new album trying to use a different approach but I’m not sure how it will turn out (I don’t work to a plan as such, just create what I feel at the time and it can be a very spontaneous way of making music or any type of art). 

I would like to make an actual collaboration album where ideas are exchanged and both or all musicians turn the others ideas into something away from the original idea. That would provide a different creative environment for me in that it would be a challenge and provoke a new and exciting way to work.

Interview to Paco Moreno (2024)

Paco Moreno is a vaporwave artist from US. Founder of PMP Label.-

https://pac0m0ren0.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PAC0M0REN0

- What is the meaning and the concept behind the name of your music project?

That is a funny story really. Back in the day I was invoved with a woman and online, particularly on Facebook I used my real name, and so, I would get a lot of messages in my DMs from...women of the past. It got me in trouble a few times so I decided to change my name. The first thing that came to mind was Paco Moreno, a character from a 1983 movie called Bad Boys with Sean Penn and Esai Morales (Paco). I always loved that movie and the Paco character so I changed my name to Paco Moreno. Years later.

When I decided to make vaporwave, I simply adapted that name because that is how I was known in the vaporwave forums. That was in 2019. Before that I made electronic "Death Noise" under the name Dying Face begining in 1994. That project can be found on ReverbNation.

- What equipment do you use for create music?

Oh that has varied over the years from a variety of guitars and keyboards in the beginning to my trusty  ENY dv6 laptop that I use now in which I have two of them.

- Tell us a little biography about your project, when you started to make music?

I am a creator, not a musician, let's start there.  I have been making mix tapes , field recordings and albums scince I was 8 years old in 1984. My frind and I

would throw a tape in the boombox and record ourselves, we would do skits as if we were a radio station. We would perform songs, act out commercials and do radio spots.

I was also big on field recordings as a kid . I always had a tape recording in the back of the room at get togthers and just randomly recorded sounds. I still have some of those tapes.

Fastforward to 1994 another friend and I recorded a noise album called Tunnel of Insanity and from that session I used left over bits to make my first solo noise album,

Divine Empire of Evil: Forever We Rot under the name Dying Face in '95. I continued with Dying Face into the 2000's . I released a song on Youtube under the name S.O.94

around 2015. (Summer of '94) Then in 2019 I made my first vaporwave album under the name HiBias Casstte. The album was called Good Vibes and it really made no waves at all.

in 2020 I made another vaporwave album,"No Problemo" under the name Paco Moreno and let my friend Dos Pinos of TVVIN PINEZ M4LL hear it. He offered to releas it on his label The Bogus Collective.

That was a big break for me into Vaporwave.

- Who are your main music and artistic influences?

My main musical influence throughout my life has without a doubt been BLACK SABBATH, Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne being the most influentual.

I have such a wide and diverse taste in music I could go on and on from genre to genre naming names that have influenced me...for example just to name a few...

Cannibal Corpse, Poison Clan, Hank Williams,NIN, Johnny Cash, King Diamond... and on and on as I love all genres of music from rap to country heavy metal, black metal, death metal

and so on.

As far as vaporwave is concerned by far my main influence has been TVVIN PINEZ M4LL.

- What underground artists from the netlabel scene do you like?

being an owner of a Netlabel I have many favorites that I have listened to and worked with. After all vaporwave as a whole is really underground and most of us are on netlabels.

I enjoy, and I am gonna try to diversify this a bit, again TVVIN PINEZ M4LL (vaporwave) From Tokyo to Honolulu (chillwave) Humanfobia (witch house) Tony Fawkin Heal (future funk) CT57 (signalwave) and I could go on and on.

- Do you have some influence from your country in your music?

Again i'd have to say TVVIN PINEZ M4LL has been the most influential on my vaporwave career. I should mention though my early career in extreme noise was predominantly

influenced by Italian artist Marco Corbelli of Atrax Morgue.

- What is your favorite album/ep composed by you? And why?

That is a tough one becuase there are a few that I really love such as Miami Weather Report , Tom Selleck and Forever.EXE . All for different reasons. I'd say the one I listen to the most

is All Night Long , originally released as 밤​새​도​록 by 오후, because this album is so funky and just has an excellent vibe. I'd say the albums that I am most proud of would be my work with Itallian artist Tele+1 on the albums Fresco & Analog Ghost. These albums are incredibly tight and really showcase our craft.

- What are your preferred music platforms/websites? Why?

For me it is BandCamp for sure. I like the control I have there. I really dont venture outside of BC very much besides YouTube. Plus I have an extensive physichal collection that stems back

to the very first tape I ever owned which is David Lee Roth's Crazy from the Heat. So at least at home I have a huge library of music to listen to without the internet.

- Any funny anecdote in the composition of a track or an album?

There are many. Lot's of funny things happen while making music. One thing I do is hide things in my albums, I have put my voice, the voice of my kids and small samples of those early

field recordings I mentioned earlier all throughout my music. My most recent album, which is unreleased as I say this but will be out real soon is a mallsoft album called

Christmas Mallsoft Medley of Melodies and I recorded all of the mall ambience while on a family outing to a local mall and so you can hear me and my family all troughout the recording.

- Do you play live? How was the experience?

I dont play live. I traveled throughout the south east for a decade with bands, filming and promoting shows in my early days and honestly I have no desire to play live.

- Any news for 2025?

2025 will be a big year for PMP. I have so many great acts lined up and much to share with you all. Stay Tuned...

- Do you want to say anything else to your listeners?

Thank you my friends.

I love you all.

Paco Moreno.

LATEST RELEASE: "Christmas Mallsoft Medley of Melodies":

https://pac0m0ren0.bandcamp.com/album/christmas-mallsoft-medley-of-melodies

Interview to Berg Stresser (Kosmische Clutharachán)(2024)

 

Kosmische Clutharachán / Bergstresser / Secluded Interval is multi genre composer. Mainly  Ambient, Post-Rock, Experimental, Indie, Postmodern Jazz, Avant Garde, Dub, Electronic, Noise & Improvisation genres. From California, US.

- What is the meaning and the concept behind the name of your music project?

Thank you for inviting me to do this interview. I really appreciate it.

Currently, I have 3 projects: Kosmische Clutharachán (aka: Kosmik Leprechaun), Bergstresser and Secluded Interval. 

Since 1995, Kosmische Clutharachán has been the project I've worked with the most and it also has the most releases (43 albums as of the date of this interview). I'd somewhat loosly describe the sound as "experimental, psychedelic, electronic, indie, noise". The project's previous name (Kosmik Leprechaun) was inspired by the unofficial mid 1970's German krautrock supergroup, The Cosmic Jokers.

In 2021, I changed the name to Kosmische Clutharachán, intending to reflect a more mature side of the project, and with more thought put into the composition and production standards. I chose the German spelling of "kosmische" over "kosmik". And, the old English-Irish word "clutharachán" was chosen to distinguish it from the better-known word "leprechaun". Clutharacháns and leprechauns are similar, but not exactly the same. I relate more to the former, rather than the latter.

Kosmische Clutharachán / Kosmik Leprechaun (Bandcamp): 

https://kosmikleprechaun.bandcamp.com/

The 2nd project I have is a raw, lo-fi, heavy, guitar-driven, instrumental noise-metal thing called Bergstresser. I started that in 2022, and I've recorded 3 EP's available under that name. 

Officially, the word Bergstresser is an Americanized form of the German word "Bergsträsser", which is a topographic name for "someone who lives by a mountain road". But, for me, Bergstresser means something akin to "breaking a pathway through miles of solid bed rock, mountains and icebergs". The name also has an unintended psychologial edge to it that I enjoy, with "stresser" being part of the word. 

You might think that with all these German names and words that I, myself, am German! But, no. I'm not. I was born in the United States. I have no known German ancestry that I can account for. Nothing in my DNA shows anything specifically from that region of Europe. I just simply love Krautrock and Stockhausen, man. Both of those things are very very German!

Bergstresser (Bandcamp): 

https://bergstresser.bandcamp.com/

The 3rd project I have is a somewhat melancholy, instrumental, electronic pop-oriented thing called Secluded Interval, which I started in 2023, and I have 3 releases out under that name (all of which can be found at the Kosmische Clutharachán / Kosmik Leprechaun Bandcamp page). To me, the name Secluded Interval simply means "music made in isolation", which is essentially what it is, really.

Secluded Interval (Bandcamp): 

https://kosmikleprechaun.bandcamp.com/

Other than those 3 projects, I've also been involved with tons of other projects. I can't mention everything I've done in this interview, because it would go on for days. But, much of that material has been released, independently. But, a lot of it, especially my really early stuff, has been lost to time and will probably never be heard again, unless the unlikely happens and someone finds the actual cassettes and CD-r's that I released from 1993 to 2005 and gives them to me to re-release. I just don't have them anymore.

- What equipment do you use for create music?

My chief instruments are guitars, bass, drums, synthesizers, keyboards and computers. I used to sing. But, I don't do that anymore. I typically record using a Tascam DP-01 FX digital 8-track machine. And, I program and edit everything using Ableton Live on my laptop. For effects, I use a single multi-effect guitar pedal and whatever else is available, via software. For mastering, I use Audacity. For instrument amplification and studio monitering, I use a large JVC HX-GX7 stereo system with built-in subwoofers to get the job done. If it's late at night and I'm creating music, I use headphones.

- Tell us a little biography about your project, when you started to make music?

Started playing music in 1984 when my parents gave me an acoustic guitar for my 8th birthday. In 1985, they gave me a synthesizer. I didn't know how to play my instruments back then, so I just made noise, which drove my mother crazy. My grandmother gave me my first electric guitar and I started recording my earliest solo stuff on a couple of boomboxes in 1988. In 1989, I formed my first grindcore band while in middle school. Later, in high school, I released my first home-dubbed cassettes through my label Hot Damn! Tapes (which later became known as Completely Gone Recordings). In 1994, I got my first 4-track cassette recorder, prompting me to start taking my music a bit more seriously.

Completely Gone Recordings (Bandcamp): 

https://completelygonerecordings.bandcamp.com/

- Who are your main music and artistic influences?

The list has changed over the years. As of today, I can say I am still influenced by Arnold Schoenberg, early Ash Ra Tempel, Can, early Blue Cheer, Cocteau Twins, David Axelrod, EPMD, Eric B. & Rakim, Erik Satie, Flying Saucer Attack, Frédéric Chopin, God, Godflesh, Gong, György Ligeti, Herbie Hancock, Iannis Xenakis, Jesu, John Coltrane, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Klaus Schulze, Kraftwerk, Men I Trust, Merzbow, Meshuggah, Miles Davis, My Bloody Valentine, early Napalm Death, early Public Image Ltd., Rocketship, Slowdive, Slug, early Soft Machine, Stereolab, Sun Ra, early Swans, Syd Barrett, early Tangerine Dream, Techno Animal, The Velvet Underground, Third Eye Foundation, early WuTang Clan and stuff like that.

- What underground artists from the netlabel scene do you like?

There's a lot of them. Off the top of my head, I can definitely say that I like Anthony Osborne, Antoine Trauma, Antonella Eye Porcelluzzi, Barbara Brogi, Copperhead, Devin Sarno, EISENLAGER, Fernando Bocadillos, Filmy Ghost, Hell Seb, Humanfobia, I,Eternal, I.v. Martinez, Jaime Munárriz, James Hoehl, Kontrolled Demolition, Lefterna, LR Friberg, Martin MarK, Mean Flow, M.NOMIZED, Night Mode, nordBeck, Quint Baker, RDKPL, Sean Derrick Cooper Marquardt, Secant Prime, Sound_00, Thomas Park, V, Vulnerlogocentrism, WHΛLT THISИEY, Wilfried Hanrath, Yaka╧anima and etc.

- Do you have some influence from your country in your music?

You know, if I'm honest, not too much. While I love a lot of the music from the 1950's until the mid 2000's, most of the current music from my country doesn't excite me. It seems like nearly all of the music I like comes from everywhere but the United States (except for jazz, which I still love). I don't know if it's because I've lived here my whole life, and therefore I've become jaded to music from my own country. But, for whatever reason, I just can't get into many artists from the states these days. I don't find a lot of the current culture in my country to be very interesting, sadly.

 - What is your favorite album/ep composed by you? And why?

That's a good question. I don't know. I guess I would probably say my most recent material is usually my favourite. Some of what I've written over the years is exactly the kind of music I've always wanted to listen to. So, it's a success in that regard. But, there's some stuff I've recorded which is just dreadful for me to listen to, and I hesitate to even mention those albums. Lol.

- What are your preferred music platforms/websites? Why?

When I first began uploading my music online, I did it via the Internet Archive, where artist's can't really make any money for their work. After 10 years of doing that, someone suggested I release everything on Bandcamp. He was right. Bandcamp actually pays the artist's who earn via their platform a proper sum of money, while protecting their copyrights and dealing with shenanagans. There's nothing quite like Bandcamp at the moment. As for promotion, I just post links to my releases on Facebook. I also publish music videos on Completely Gone Recordings' YouTube site.

Completely Gone Recordings (YouTube):

https://www.youtube.com/@completelygonerecordings

- Any funny anecdote in the composition of a track or an album?

I know for a fact that many utterly ridiculous things have happened over the years, with regards to my music and label. One recent example I can share... A few months ago, I released an album on Completely Gone Recordings by an artist that I like who shall go unnamed in this interview. On his album was an unlicenced sample of a Carl Crack vocal from an Atari Teenage Riot track. Assuming the sample was cleared, I didn't think much about it at the time of releasing the album. But, maybe a month, or so after the album's release, Alec Empire (Atari Teenage Riot's mainman) himself emailed me, inquiring how the artist and label was granted permission to use Carl Crack's vocal sample. After realizing what had happened, I ended up apologizing to Alec Empire and the track with the sample was scrubbed from the album. Luckily, Alec was a gentleman, and he let it go without another word. It could've been a disaster, though. I gotta' watch it. I mean, the last person I wish to irk is Alec Empire!!

- Do you play live? How was the experience?

I've played gigs since 1994. Most of my experiences performing live has been generally positive. I would love to perform some gigs with a group right now. But, it's become quite unfeasible to play live music nowadays. Just the cost of setting up a simple 3 hour time slot for a band to run through their set a couple of times at a local rehearsal studio is so overpriced, many of the studios I used to frequent have closed down because few musicians can afford it anymore.

- Any news for 2025?

Just going to keep moving forward one day at a time and hopefully release some genuinely rad sounds along the way. That's the goal.

- Do you want to say anything else to your listeners?

Yeah, definitely. I want to say thank you for interviewing me. Thanks to everyone for checking out my music, really. Thanks for listening and showing all the support. Thanks to my friends, family, collaborators and everyone I've worked with in the past. And, obviously, thanks to the people for buying my music. You know? Really appreciated. 

Lastly, keep an open mind about everything. Don't be too hard on yourself. Be creative, if the spirit moves you. And, if you don't already know... be kind to animals and to vulnerable people in society, man. That's all I have to say. Peace.

LATEST RELEASE: "Moonrise":

https://musiquemoleculaire.bandcamp.com/album/moonrise

Interview to Mig Inc (2024)

 

Mig Inc is a french experimental, post-industrial, noise

composer. Owner of L'Abeille Cool label.

https://miginc.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063522939803&ref=bookmarks

https://www.youtube.com/@labeillecool363

Other projects of the same artist:

Saishō 最小 (lo-fi, synth drone, dreamwave):

https://saisho.bandcamp.com/

Ｔ０Ｐ_ＢＵＤＧ€Ｔ™  (vaporwave, chopped & screwed, eccojams):

https://t0pbudg3t.bandcamp.com/

- What is the meaning and the concept behind the name of your music project?

Mig Inc is short for Migraine Inc, which was the name I started under in 2007, before shortening it in 2013. I am a big migraine sufferer. Especially at that time, I had extremely painful and frequent attacks. Making industrial noise was the way I found to express those very intense body sensations when I lacked words. It was partly intentional, but also unconscious. Looking back, listening to old recordings, I find the expression of very specific body states, evolving over time. This is still the case today, even if my ability to manage pain has evolved, Mig Inc remains a bodily and sensory project. I express states of the body in the broad sense, not just pain and illness. I put a lot of joy, pleasure and love in my music.

- What equipment do you use for create music?

Well I started over 17 years ago (fucking shit!) so I have had a lot of different setups. I use synths, acoustic instruments, vocals, extremely various recordings I take everywhere I can. But the central nervous system of this migraine machine is my laptop. This is where I regroup and arrange all these sounds, where I manipulate them and create beats, when there are beats. I often play live with just my computer + knobs midi controler.

- Tell us a little biography about your project, when  you started to make music?

Regarding Mig Inc I have already answered this question, so I can go back a little to tell you about my beginnings in music, which was an accident. I didn't want to make music. I had a glimpse of music theory and it seemed really boring and not fun. I was more interested in writing and visual arts. I must have been 13 or 14 when some friends who were starting a punk rock band asked me to write them some lyrics, which I happily did. One day, the bass player was not here and I was asked to replace him by playing bass on a keyboard. Then when the bass player came back, I stayed behind the keyboard. I didn't know how to play, it was really crap, but discovering that music wasn't just a place where you have to work and follow rules, but was something emancipating and joyful, did me a lot of good. It was exactly what I needed at that time. Today I still write but I've abandoned the visual arts. At least in appearance, because I think I make music more like a visual artist than like a musician. But I am self-taught in all these areas. School has never been an exciting place for me.

- Who are your main music and artistic influences?

I can name some artists and bands that literally changed my life. like Bérurier Noir, John Zorn, John Cage, Throbbing Gristle, The Residents... I think their music doesn't sound like mine because their influence was indirect. Listening to them changed my body, then my body changed my music. I’m really not good at imitating.

- What underground artists from the netlabel scene do you like?

So many ! If I stick to the industrial / noise / dark ambient scene, I listen a lot to Morbid Beauty these times. I also love the noise walls from This is what I hear when you talk. Also Rojinski and Sonnov (this last one is not dark, but minimalist and delighful ambient).

I like vaporwave, lofi and subgenres as well. I’m fascinated by b e g o t t e n 自杀 or Voyage Futur, for example.

- Do you have some influence from your country in your music?

Every experience I have influences my music, so yes, inevitably, I have influences from my country, especially since I don't travel very much. Talking about music with other artists, getting sick, getting over it, having a memorable party, having a new girlfriend or boyfriend, breaking up with them, taking drugs, stopping this or that drug, a police check in the street, a racist speech from a minister, a friend who tells me that she is being sexually harassed at work... all of this influences my music, and in my case, it happens in France.

https://miginc.bandcamp.com/album/b12

 - What is your favorite album/ep composed by you? And why?

Hehe, it depends on the day. I’m pretty satisfied with my last album « B12 ». It’s pretty hard to say why in a short answer, it’s such a non-verbal sensory experience. When I listen to an average recording of mine, I say « ok, that’s what I just played ». But when I listen to a good recording of mine, I’m more like « is that really me who just played that dope sound ?! ». B12 belongs to this second category.

- What are your preferred music platforms/websites? Why?

Definitely Bandcamp, even if there is much to criticize, starting with the fact that they were bought by the multinational Epic, which is not a detail. I like it because there’s no advertising and it is possible to make your music accessible to everyone, with the possibility for listeners to make donations. Also the streaming quality is better than some other platforms, like YouTube for example. The ideal platform would be entirely run by the artists themselves and funded by the public, without capitalist parasites to take money from us and decide how it works for us. All businesses should work like that, if you ask me.

- Any funny anecdote in the composition of a track or an album?

In spring 2023, I recorded a live improvised session using samples taken from protests and riots which were taking place at that time in France, while Macron’s government was passing its reform to raise the retirement age. It was one of the biggest social movements of the last fifty years, and between the ferocious police violence and the popular determination, it was a very intense period, and I needed to express myself on it. 

Listening back to it, I found this recording really ugly and confusing. I wanted to delete it at first, but then I thought that all this ugliness and confusion reflected my feelings about what was going on. So I made an ugly cover and released it on my Bandcamp page, as a short-lived release to cover the news, with the idea of deleting it after a few weeks. But it seems that listeners perceived it differently, since it is to date one of my most downloaded releases. So I didn’t delete it. The album is called "Bordélisation" which can be roughly translated as « disorderization ».

Ok, it’s not that funny, but it’s an anecdote. The thing is I’m alone working as Mig Inc, I think funny anecdotes happen more often with bands. 

- Do you play live? How was the experience?

Yes ! Well, the experience is each time a new one, so it depends. My last gigs were awesome moments shared with great artists and a lovely audience. In recent years I have played little live to focus on other things, like writing (short stories, novels, poetry). But this year I got back into it and it feels so good !

- Any news for 2025?

Hopefully more gigs ! I’ll be still releasing new recorded stuff, but there should be more splits and collab projects. I don't have a very specific schedule, but between my different solo projects, the bands I play in, and my label (l'Abeille Cool) 2025 will be a very, very productive year.

- Do you want to say anything else to your listeners?

Thanks for being curious and supporting the underground scene. Make noise, create a band, a label, a fanzine, a webradio, whatever. Do it yourself, without transforming your work into merchandise, and without seeking recognition from merchants. Do as little as possible for your boss. Go vegan. Fuck the police. Reject any hierarchy. Love yourself.

Thank you for the interview !

Interview to Coppergear (2024)

 

Coppergear is an experimental, post-industrial artist from Québec, Canada.

Owner of Steampunk Alien records.-

https://coppergear.bandcamp.com/

https://coppergear.weebly.com/

https://steampunkalienrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@SteampunkALIEN

- What is the meaning and the concept behind the name of your music project?

Oh ! I used to use the name "Coppergear" when I played video games online... I still do !

I tought it sounded nice and well it's pretty hard to find a name for a music project that hasn't been used a hundred times. So when you find one : keep it !

- What equipment do you use for create music?

ANYTHING ! 

Literally ! I have a lot of musical instruments (most of them I made myself, like my 6 electric guitars...) But I also use VSTi and samples I make walking around in my home or outside with my Zoom recorder !!

Any sound can make music !

- Tell us a little biography about your project, when you started to make music?

In 1988, Mathieu Lachance (a.k.a. Coppergear) purchased a rather dubious synthesizer and immediately began making experimental music with different bands (Eugène, Gâce Brulé, etc.). At the same time, he started learning acoustic guitar. Rather than pursing the typical path of a musician, he fell in love with composing. He eventually bought an electric bass and joined the band "L'Ombre de l'Erreur", which developed a cult following in the Quebec City alternative scene. Mathieu Lachance went on to perform and collaborate with several other groups and began classical academic training to develop his knowledge of music. He then opted to leave the bass behind to focus on the electric guitar and founded the band "L'Heure du Crime", a punkish group which embraced experimental sounds. The group played few shows, but produced an album entitled "Catharsis", some of its tracks made it on to the charts of university and community radio stations in Quebec City and Montreal.

A few years later, Mathieu started the alternative-electronic band Quai M-83. At this point, he returned to synthesizers, while continuing to play electric guitar as part of the project. The band played several shows in different cities. When the group broke up, he stopped making music temporarily. Still, Mathieu Lachance (Coppergear) remained creative, painting and creating steampunk jewelry. But music was never far away, so he took part in a few underground projects, such as "La Shed" (a cover band that reimagined well-known songs in a highly original way) and "Lips and Light Shade" (a post-punk solo project). It became clear that Mathieu was made to create music on his own.

Unaware of what the future would bring, Mathieu began inventing, creating and modifying musical instruments such as electric guitars, several "noise boxes", a bass featuring giant springs instead of strings and a small acoustic guitar modified with a "flat bridge" and multiple springs inside, giving it a unique but slightly sitar-like sound.

In early 2023, Coppergear (Mathieu Lachance), well into his new project, composed the EP "001" and the album "Hiver Magnétique". Several albums have since followed, as well as compilations and collaborations.

 

- Who are your main music and artistic influences?

Again, I have to say : Anything. 

Or better : Anyone.

I listened to post-punk, electro, techno, but also classical music... 

I can also find inspiration in a book or an abstract painting for music. The wires in my brain tend to work in a peculiar way...

- What underground artists from the netlabel scene do you like?

I really like some of the artists on my label: Steampunk ALIEN Records. Recently I listen to James Ghost, a very talented composer.

- Do you have some influence from your country in your music?

In Canada they are some great composers in various underground scenes, like : Godspeed You Black Emperor or Tim Hecker

 - What is your favorite album/ep composed by you? And why?

I don't know yet... I've made too many albums or not enough... 

But I really like my latest publication "RELAX" and I'm working on a very long album that will be called "29" It should come out in early 2025

https://steampunkalienrecords.bandcamp.com/album/relax

- What are your preferred music platforms/websites? Why?

Bandcamp, for sure. Because you pay only when you sell something. Also YouTube is still one of (if not) the biggest platform for music

- Any funny anecdote in the composition of a track or an album?

Recently I composed a very complex piece of music that took me a long time to make. Completely at the end of the track there was an echo with noises and remains of what was the music before. I said to myself : "This noise is better than the WHOLE track that I made. So I just kept the noise at the end and scraped the rest !

- Do you play live? How was the experience?

I played live. I play live. And I will continue to play live in the future ! I just love it too much. Especially now that I make everything by myself : I can't always be at home making music like a hermit, I NEED to see who is out there...

- Any news for 2025?

Yes ! A LOT of things ! But it's all still in the vault for now... (meaning : TOP SECRET)

- Do you want to say anything else to your listeners?

If you are used to listening to mostly one style of music. Give something else a try... You might find something you like !

Interview to One Infinite Loop (2024)

https://oneinfinitenoise.bandcamp.com/

https://oneinfiniteloop.bandcamp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@One_Infinite_Loop

https://soundcloud.com/one_infinite_loop/tracks

https://archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22One+Infinite+Loop%22

One infinite Loop is an experimental, IDM, glitch, vapornoise, electronic artist from US.

- What is the meaning and the concept behind the name of your music project?

In computer programming, an infinite loop is a type of glitch that repeats forever. I decided to name the project after that.

- What equipment do you use for create music?

It started with a laptop and whatever software I could find. This has extended to FL Studio, Pure Data, VCV Rack, Sunvox among others. As far as hardware goes I was pretty lucky to work for Buchla so a lot of my works contain the 200e and Music Easel. I’m also a big fan of Monome instruments, in specific the Aleph and Norns systems. I also enjoy lsdj for the Nintendo Gameboy.

- Tell us a little biography about your project, when  you started to make music?

When my brother and I was little (around 10 or so) we would record random audio on the radio, cut the tapes apart, rearrange pieces and then re-record the material. I consider that a fun beginning. I started One Infinite Loop around 2003 as an experimental outlet for noise, glitch and similar experimental genres. Another component is chaos magic. A lot of my earlier works are also composed of audio sigils and it became kind of a magical playground too. 

- Who are your main music and artistic influences?

A lot of early inspiration from high school would be Nine Inch Nails and Skinny Puppy. Around that time I was also listening to Aphex Twin, Merzbow, Coil, and stuff like that. Eventually I discovered the music projects associated with the magical organization called Temple Ov Psychick Youth. A lot of those artists inspired me, such as Morpheus Project, Instagon, and all others. 

- What underground artists from the netlabel scene do you like?

Ive always enjoyed the music from those Ive collaborated with, such as Humanfobia, Morpheus Project, Professor Sonic, tamiX among many others. Its really cool how quick a collaboration can start in the underground scene and I love it. I really love the artists that revolve around the Internet Daemon ex- Cian Orbe netlabel as well as Norcal Noisefest artists. Im excited about the new netlabel Dawn of Darkness.

- Do you have some influence from your country in your music?

Im influenced by some artists in North America, but mostly from artists around the world. There is so much!

 - What is your favorite album/ep composed by you? And why?

Each release is so varied, its hard to say. I had a lot of fun moments with ‘Katamari 23’ and ‘riseE ov thEE atlas moth’. 

- What are your preferred music platforms/websites? Why?

Internet archive is my favorite right now and I hope it can maintain with all the hacking going on. Its not all about money on that platform. My music has never been about making money and its not really even a brand. I love it when I see other artists that make music for the passion of it. Other platforms are very monetary and it just doest fit my style. I do enjoy listening on YouTube for visual elements and even Spotify sometimes though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7zPaB4Nj0A&ab_channel=NorcalNoisefest

- Do you play live? How was the experience?

I've played live quite a bit. Art musuems to dive bars. Its always a fun experience. My favorite shows so far has been the Norcal Noisefest shows and Audio Waffle. Noise shows bring all sorts of people and everytime I have found other great artists just doing their thing. 

- Any news for 2025?

Ive been slowly getting back into the grind of making more music. This next year I hope to have some custom noisemakers Im working on finished. I may start selling custom synthesizers next year too, but dont want to spoil too much about that yet ;)

- Do you want to say anything else to your listeners?

Thanks to everyone that has been supportive! Look forward to more soon!

LATEST ONE INIFINITE LOOP RELEASE (11 NOVEMBER 2024):

"χ​ά​ο​ς"

https://oneinfinitenoise.bandcamp.com/album/--3