Philip: Hey there! – 29 – Guitar
Jacob: Yo! - 31 - Vocals
How long have you guys been together as a band? Did you knew each other before Dead Instrument come to life? When and under which circumstances did the band form?
Jacob: Emil (drums) and I have been playing together since 2003. I met Philip through a mutual friend shortly after Emil and I started playing and “writing” music together. In 2004 Emil and I broke with the other guys we were playing with at the time, and hooked up with Philip on guitar and a friend named Nikolai on bass. We played together for around 3 or 4 years in a band called Stalk of Death, released a couple of demos, did some gigs and parted with Nikolaj (in 2007/2008?). We then carried on as a three-piece under the name Dead Instrument. Shortly hereafter we teamed up with Sebastian (bass), and formed what is still the line-up today.
As far as I know there aren't many bands playing grindcore in Denmark, what was it that made you go for this sound and what was the reaction of locals when you played your first show?
Philip: I didn’t know a hell of a lot about grindcore, and had heard a couple of records through Jacob, that are still some of my top grindcore records. Prowler in the yard – Inalienable Dreamless among others. I felt almost immediately that playing stuff like that would be great fun!
So far you have released two full-length records, a 7” ep, a split 7” with P.L.F and there are rumors of more new stuff coming out soon. It seems that you don't follow a fixed recipe but you always progress your style with each release making it better and better (to my ears at least!). Is this something you planned on or does it just come out that way? Also I dare to say that I can hear some K-Town hardcore thrown in the mix, is that accurate?
Philip: Thank you very much, we hope to become better with every release! I don’t know that it is specifically k-town inspired. But I do think that we lean on the energy aspect of hardcore in general. Death Token are still one of my favorites though, so who knows?
What is it you see through negative? This title struck a chord in me as I always thought that despite all the shit that's going on around us and all the fucked up things that we experience in our everyday life we can overcome and see a positive aspect of it. Would you agree with that? What motivates you to write the lyrics? Is it a collective effort or just one man's job?
Jacob: The title of that recording is not really meant to signify any personal praxis of the band. I do think that it is a composition of words that stirs up many different associations in the mind. What See Through Negative means to me is (primarily) an encouragement to turn the shit that you?re fed on a daily basis on its head. To try and not succumb to intellectual laziness, and to not take things for granted. These are things that I am personally guilty of more often than I care to recognize. But ultimately people can draw whatever associations and conclusions they want from the words that we throw at them (I know…what a fucking cliche!!!), as long as they don?t assume that we agree with them. It would be hard to argue that most (if not all) events and experiences don’t carry with them some positive aspect. That being said, I do feel that the horrific aspects of the human experience often times outweighs the good. By this I mean (and I apologize for possibly entering banal territory here) that although a given atrocity may have a silver lining, this silver lining does not negate, and seldom outweighs, the atrocious aspects of said atrocity. I suppose that you could think up/of instances where the opposite may be the case. My perspective is obviously limited by time and space (not to mention intellect). Who the fuck ultimately knows!? Maybe it doesn?t even make sense to use terms like “positive” and “negative”, when discussing earthly existence (I am NOT saying that this is the case, I am merely re-regurgitating shit that has gotten stuck in my head down the line)…anyway this theme (of seeing the positive in the negative) didn?t really play in my head, when writing the lyrics and title for the recording. Lots of things motivate me to write (e.g. the bare necessity of having something to scream about, along with the music), but if pressed to put it all under one headline, I?d say that the folly of Man is probably a fitting one. We?re a ridiculous and senseless bunch I feel. We allow ourselves to be controlled by arbitrary nonsense and ego. To be caught up in a fucking game that fills us with anxiety and hatred. I still have a lot of love for humanity, but I see why others might not.
Is there anything wrong going on in Denmark? Most people have this dreamy image of a perfect place to live and grow up. A greek prime minister from a few years back once promised to turn Greece into “the Denmark of south europe”, why is it that Scandinavian countries work as role models for the rest of the world?
Jacob: Wherever you cluster people together in social organizations (i.e. societies), you?re going to run into problems. Denmark is no exception!!! That being said, we are extremely privileged compared to many other societies. This is due to the relatively even distribution of material wealth amongst the citizens of Denmark, and the lower levels of social malaise (with regards to crime, health, mutual trust etc.) that accompany such higher levels of equality. This being said, the economic structure of Danish society is still (and has always been) one of exploitation, and as the general neo-liberal undermining of the globe continues, so does the neo-liberal undermining of Denmark (recently exemplified in the “social democratic” government?s steps towards dismantling the (very social democratic) welfare system, hereby punishing those unfit for exploitation).
While we're at it, does Dead Instrument have a political/social agenda to push for or you think it more like a medium for self-expression? Is grind a protest or just another music genre for insecure fuckheads to leech on?
Jacob: I think that grind can be all of the things listed (a medium for self expression, protest, badge of honor for fuck heads), I also think that these things aren?t mutually exclusive. With regards to DxIx and politics, I ultimately think that acceptance of a certain reality (the reality of contemporary societal structures (economical, political and ideological)) leaves little room for apolitical actions. By this I mean that any agent acting within these structures, is a political agent whether it wants to or not. From this perspective apolitical bands are impossible (I do not equate “band” with “music”. I believe that music “in itself” transcends said reality (and therefore also politics), but also that music remains dependent on social agents (human beings) for executional purposes. The question is then whether speaking of music “in itself”, that is, as extracted from the social world, makes any sense on this plane of existence?). However I wouldn’t say that DxIx has a political agenda. I am sure that my own inclinations bleed into the lyrics, and if they resonate with people then great (I also think that it goes without saying that people have to experience the world through interaction, reading and thinking rather than rely on people in grindcore bands to enlighten them)! But we don?t have any collectively defined mission statement, other than putting together music that will hopefully (when played loud enough) make you want to start fires and go nuts! I think that any band seeking to affect real social change with their music (especially if their music is as unappealing to the “general” public as ours) is probably going to find their energy better spent on other forms of activism. What political messages in music most often do (that is, if they?re not ignored completely) is strengthen already held convictions of the listener. This is not a bad thing. I think that there is something to be said for preaching to the choir. But new hearts and minds are seldom won by grindcore.
Back to the music now, this past spring you toured Europe with P.L.F, how was that? Did you get to play any cool/unusual places? Any funny/embarassing moments you'd like to share?
Jacob: It`s all a fucking blur haha. No, that tour was fucking awesome! Those guys are, besides being an amazing band, just some of the coolest cats ever! The entire experience of travelling almost the entire continent, meeting and playing for appreciative people and seeing amazing shows (Whoresnation, Chiens, Teething, Brutal Blues, Petrifie, Swarm…) was just plain fucking awesome! Also, going off on stage every night is one of the most liberating feelings in the world. I highly recommend it. As far as funny/embarrassing moments, I think we?ll keep them to ourselves…
I know some of you used to play in some other awesome bands in the past, care to share a list of past and present bands/projects you're affiliated with for the “ex-members of...” geeks?
Philip: I used to play in a hardcore band called Love Potion, in which we were all retards. Coincidently, if everything goes according to planned. LP will be playing a one-off reunion show at Sebastian’s (and another good friend’s) birthday party next week. It is bound to be retarded. Weak will also be playing! Weak rules!
I now play and sing in a hardcore-ish band called Dogmatist.
Jacob: We all (+ 1) used to play together in a doom/sludge band called Torchlight. This is now defunct, but Jesper (the + 1 of Torchlight) and I play together in a band called Weak alongside Nikolaj of Bottom Feeder (Sebastians old band) and Hjertestop fame. There is quite a bit of inbreeding going on.
Do you have any other activities besides music? Have you ever felt worn out in your personal life as an outcome of your music activity? Would you ever consider to stop playing music?
Philip: I study literature and hope to be finished with that fairly soon. In regards to your other two questions: no, music has been a constant that helps me maintain my sanity, and it keeps me going as well, so I can’t imagine quitting music all together.
Jacob: I do my best to keep laziness and other weaknesses at bay. I don?t see myself ever giving up music. It?s been a constant obsession of mine, for as long as I can remember. Inseparable from my personal life.
Let's talk about Raw Birth records, you seem to have a very good relationship going on since they have released most of your material. How did this fruitful love affair started?
Jacob: Well, Nikolaj and Victor (Raw Birth masterminds) put out our Violent Death record, after it just sitting on the shelf for two years straight. So that, and them being long time friends of ours, kind of sealed the deal. That label is fucking awesome. I truly feel that some of the best contemporary DxIxYx shit is being put out by them.
In case you had to evacuate your house immediately and you're only given the chance to pick three records, which would they be and why?
Philip: The three favorite three albums question! My favorite albums tend to be the ones that I listen to at the moment, and all-encompassing favorites reach far beyond just three. I would probably just run out of my apartment and get some new records later on. At the moment I am being blown away by the “Vultures are our future” 10” by Chiens. Also, I have been listening a lot to Earl Sweatshirt and Coil lately. Very much looking forward to the new Meth Drinker record!”
Jacob: Haha, it`s tough to say man. I am going to have to disappoint as well, and merely list some personal favorites in random order. As far as the classic, noisy, fast and slow stuff goes I?d say Hellnation, Dystopia, Noothgrush, Grief, Discordance Axis, old Pig Destroyer, The Kill, Yacopsae, Flesh Parade. With regards to newer stuff I?d have to go with Meth Drinker, Chiens, Whoresnation, Teething and so on and so on…Other than this I listen to a lot of 90?s east coast rap music, Butthole Surfers, Nick Cave, Swans, Tindersticks…all types of shit…always fucking ZEPPELIN and SABBATH dude!!!
Well, that's it. I'm out of questions, last words are yours. Hope to see you again soon! Take care, have fun and grind on!
Philip: Thank you very much for the questions. We hope to play Greece within the near future!
Jacob: Thank you very much for your interest, and for putting time into the questions! Hope to see you soon man! Take care!!!
