COLLIDE

The name Collide was chosen to best describe the melding of their various styles to create one powerful unit, the collision of two different entities. Those entities being Statik, responsible for electronic wizardry and synthetic delvings (also a well sought after programmer/producer that has spun his magic for such bands as Prince, Tool, Machines of Loving Grace, Love and Rockets, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Frontline Assembly and Powerman 5000 ) and kaRIN whos beautiful multi faceted voice ( also heard on Cevin Key's, Plateau albums and on Frontline Assembly remixes ) and lyrical writing talents can bring on intensitys and moods from waves of ethereal bliss to twisted shards of darkest angst. The two met at an Los Angeles Industrial club, discovered common interests, and in 1993 the wonder that is Collide, was conceived. I yakked a bit with kaRIN & Statik about the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but........

Can you give us a quick run down on how Collide came together?
kaRIN: We literally smashed into each other at a club.
Statik: Drinks in the air, tequila in the hair, awkward stare.

What have you been up to lately? Recordings? Releases?
kaRIN: We are busy in the studio trying to get work done on our next CD.
Statik: We really are slow. We record for a while and then kind of think where we are and listen before continuing. We don't set a date to finish by, so it's just our own fault. I wish I had a chocolate malt.

Any gigs lately? Any live performances in the planning?
kaRIN: No, we are not really a live band, it's all manipulated computer stuff, the same thing that makes it sound different makes it very difficult for us to play live. Survival and the studio takes up so much of our time that creating new music is always our priority because it takes so long,
at some point we'd like to explore playing live, until then we will do more video's.
Statik: When we are working on music we just choose to put our energy into creating rather than re-creating. We keep saying that we might do it sometime, but there is always something in the studio to work on. Or maybe mow the lawn. Suddenly the year is gone.

Has your sound developed further or adapted itself much since the projects formation?
kaRIN: I would say it developed more, in the past we could be a wall of layered sounds, now it's slightly more exotic and slightly more sorted out.
Statik: Now I sort of think to myself...have we done anything like this before? I don't want to re-do what we have already done. I also don't want to do what other people have done. So for us it's a matter of trying to always do something new in some respect. That's the goal anyway.

Do you have an album that stands out from all your other efforts?
kaRIN: I hope that they all stand out for different reasons.
Statik: I like them all, but it's always good to listen to Beneath the Skin. It's where we first came in.

Are you happy with the current lineup/sound?
kaRIN: No, I wish they were much more brilliant and had a lot more time to work on music.
Statik: kaRIN is the only one I can stand. The rest of the lineup is pretty lame.

Were any of you in any past projects or bands?
kaRIN: I have done other side projects, nothing that really came into being.
Statik: My first record was a 4 song EP, called Statik-Machines. It was on vinyl, and I did the singing. It was a long time ago, though.

Have you found the listeners responses to be so far positive or negative?
kaRIN: Extremely positive, which is a great and inspirational thing, we could not ask for a better response.
Statik: We are really glad that the internet came along for us. We wouldn't really know how things are. More and more it helps us reach more people, get feedback instantly, keep fans up to date. It's been really positive for us. Where would we be without the internet? I wouldn't want to bet.

Have you come up against any barriers so far?
kaRIN: Just our own limitations.
Statik: Yea, those lame band members slacking. We should probably send them packing.

If you had to put a label on your sound...How would you describe it?
kaRIN: It changes all the time, now I would say it's moody, exotic, electronic.
Statik: electronicy? Is that a word you've heard?

How do you think your countries music scene could be improved? ( that is if
it needs improving)
kaRIN: Allow space for new music, so many radio stations and clubs think they have to appeal to the masses and do not allow for new things, they are busy catering to sheep who don't care. I have to appreciate the whole underground scene for trying to break that and play new music.
Statik: Where couldn't it be improved? There just seems like there is less and less that I like to listen to. I don't know if it's that less good music is actually being made, or just harder to find. I don't know why, but it seemed like good music just used to find me. I guess it's just the way it
used to be..

What are your views on the old Mp3/Napster/free music situation?
kaRIN: As a relatively unknown band, it's great to help get exposure. It used to be better as far as helping to support the artist, unfortunately, as all good things come to an end, they (Mp3) have changed a lot of their policies.
Statik: As long as people who download music think of it like trying it out, I think it's great. If you download a song, hopefully it'll make someone go out and actually buy the cd, or go see you in concert...or help you somewhere down the road. Maybe they'll even send you a toad.

Do you utilize the internet much?
kaRIN: Without the internet, I don't think we'd know that we existed as a band. We are VERY active online.
Statik: We get very upset if we can't access our email for even a day, and it's great to buy gear on Ebay.

Are there any bands or artists out there who have been a major or vague influence on your musical style?
kaRIN: Yes, I would say Kate Bush and David Bowie are two artists that I respect a great deal. They manage to capture me on so many levels, cross so many barriers and pass the test of time.
Statik: A lot of varied styles, but yes...Ministry, Queen, NIN, Cocteau Twins, Portishead ...Dead Can Dance.

Have you tried gaining recognition out of your country yet? If so how has that been?
kaRIN: Our first CD was signed to a German label, Offbeat. At the time they had just started a new division and I don't think they knew what to do with us, so it did not go very far. We do get a lot of underground DJ"s and magazines in all different areas of the world, but it still is on such a small scale.
Statik: We try to get our music out to as many people as we can. It's been a slow, but good
experience. I think we get very good word of mouth, so it just keeps on creeping out. I'm happy with our route.

Where do you see yourselves in say five years?
kaRIN: Doing the same, trying to make the best music that we can.
Statik: As long as we're happy with the music we're making, we'll keep doing it. Bit by bit.

Any crazy dreams of breaking out into the mainstream world or are you happy with life in the underground?
kaRIN: I am happy as long as I get to do what I want to do and I am able to exist. I think it would be a nightmare to be on some big label where you became a product and they started to control you. We like to have all the control which is why we started our own label. It is ultimately tons of work but a lot more satisfying to us.
Statik: As long as we feel like we're in control, I wouldn't mind being in the mainstream. I'm sure it would mean more record sales. By that time we could even buy our own whales.

Who would you most like to support live?
kaRIN: David Bowie.
Statik: Massive Attack possibly, I haven't actually seen them live.

Personal comments?
kaRIN: It's your life, you make the decisions.
Statik: Thanks.

 

 

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