NOTE: This interview was conducted shortly after I received 16 Volt's 'Imitation' demotape, and prior to their signing to Re-Constriction Records. Shortly after the interview was completed, I received word from reputable sources that the band had split, and subsequently this very early interview was never published. Now, after a decade, 16 Volt have become a respected name in the heavy electronic-rock realm. The 'Imitation' demo spoken of below has, after many years, at last become available again (on the 16 Volt 'Demography' CD for the Cleopatra label). Set the way-back machine to 1991, and read on...
THE BEGINNING..
Portland, Oregon-based 16 VOLT, consisting of Eric Powell and Dave Raridon, have released one demotape ('Imitation') to numerous accolades and good reviews with their harsh, ultra-aggressive electronic beat music. Their demo's sound is reminiscent of prime MINISTRY and even better in places. GODSEND highly recommends any aggro-techno fans check out 16 VOLT, as they are talented musicians making some exciting new music. 16 VOLT's Eric and Dave were interviewed by Todd Zachritz in late September 1991.
(ERIC): I started playing guitar when I was about seven. I didn't take any lessons or anything. I just kinda beat it up with my GI Joe doll. My mom was a pianist at that time so I kinda learned some stuff on the piano. From there, I just kept slowly picking things up, when there was a guitar I played that, drum kit laying around (my brother used to play drums), I played that, etc.
I started my first band in 85. It was a punk band, kinda like a shitty version of MINOR THREAT. very un-original. Soon after that I got my first keyboard, I started mixing combinations of sounds and smashing it to pieces...what a waste of time! ...what a waste period!
INITIAL INFLUENCES OF 16 VOLT (ERIC): When I started I wasn't aware of being influenced. It took me a while to analyse what was influencing me. I'm basically influenced by everything, good and bad. There is so much bad shit going on around us. People are destroying our surroundings. I get in this rut and I can't help but be overwhelmed by it. The only way I can shed the sludge of it is to release it on my music...that's just my way of doing it. It's all sounds and rhythms and these can provoke thoughts, visions, and emotions. It's a hard question because things change and I'm always influenced by different things. It kind of feeds itself.
SINCE THE 'IMITATION' DEMO THERE'S BEEN SOME LINEUP CHANGES. HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE SOUND? Well, the sound always changes to some degree, but it won't necessarily affect the sound now. The 'Imitation' demo and everything else I've done and will do under 16 VOLT is MY sound. I think I'm getting a more refined sound now...the new material has a slightly more aggressive style, with more guitar work, a lot of guitar sampling but it definitely retains the 16 VOLT sound.
PRESS AND RADIO... Press has been exceptionally good, radio is kind of weird. I don't talk to them that much except Chase at KCR in San Diego--he has been a lot of help. I know that there are stations around the country that are playing 16 VOLT, but it's not my main concern at the moment. I'm not really sure what the public is thinking. I've sold 'Imitation' only by mail, so I don't get a real glimpse of it. I get some club play, so I guess people are jumping around somewhere. We've received mail as far away as Australia so I hope people are hearing it. Oh yeah...we're on the charts in Las Vegas. WOW--things are better than they seem, or are they?
DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A BUILT-IN FAN BASE BECAUSE OF THE POPULARITY OF BANDS LIKE MINISTRY, ETC.? I don't like to think if it on those terms because I think every band and every musician, programmer, producer, etc. should be respected on their own ground. I don't see it as bands paving the way for me, I see it as different people who like the same kind of music. But in a lot of ways I think it's different. The pioneers of 'industrial' / 'techno' are still doing it, some of the 'fan base' turns into a critic base, and you end up with 'oh, this band sounds like that band' or 'that band sounds like this band'. It's all pretty irrelevant to me. I'm doing this because I want to. I love this kind of music, I don't listen to any other kind, alternative or metal or anything...just 'industrial' 'techno' blah blah blah...I'm positive there are tons of other people who feel the same way, and don't become the 'critic base'.......
(DAVE): I would hope people will listen to us for who we are, what we play, not for what someone else has done.
'INDUSTRIAL MUSIC'... I think the current state of 'industrial' is somewhat confusing, there's a lot going on right now. I think it's great to see bands making a living doing their music, but I see some possibility of it getting bigger. I don't really know where it's going. I wouldn't want to see it go corporate. It would make me sick. I think there's some old MILLI VANILLI execs greasing up their hands, if they think they can make money on it. I've seen a few TV commercials lately, they're starting to use machine, drill, etc.-type sounds. I hate that. It's not that they're my sounds or original ideas, but those people are interested in money only. I'm probably over-exaggerating, but it's something to think about.
LIVE... Well, 16 VOLT has not played live yet. There's been a lot of complications with that side of it. There's been a LOT of planning...we have a lighting person, sound person, and a huge support group for it, but things haven't fallen in place yet. By the time you read this, we will have started playing. We will be playing quite often. The only thing we have planned for a tour--we're playing in Vancouver, BC pretty soon. Seattle-San Francisco-Sacramento...
COLLABORATION...WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH? Trent Reznor. I'd like to do a song with him. There are a lot of side-projects right now. There are three bands here that have unified as a support group..16 VOLT, SUSPIRIA, and FACTOR RED, mainly to support each other with shows, recording, and production, etc. It's really an amazing thing to see how much more you can do with that, it's called 'Unisect'.
FEELING/MOOD IN THE MUSIC OF 16 VOLT... (DAVE): I would like to have the listeners recognize their own moods and feelings and act on them as they listen to the music and lyrics. Our music and lyrics are not aggressive or violent in the physical sense. It's what comes out of us. It elicits a reaction to think about something and do what you can to change or better it.
(ERIC): I would like a very positive feeling associated with it. That's what I'm trying to do. I would like people to be civil to each other. I would like people to recognize the possibilities around them. It's aggressive music, but the last thing I want is people beating each other up because it's fast and hard.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH 16 VOLT? It's going in the direction I want it to. As long as 16 VOLT has control of 16 VOLT, we'll be here.
CLOSING COMMENTS... (DAVE): My comment is to listen carefully to everything. Know the difference. Don't let anyone tell you it's not going to work out. Just because it's not working out for them, that does not mean it's not going to work out for you. You are an individual, you have the power to choose your own destinations. Don't let anyone choose them for you. Let that person choose their own fucken destiny. Obviously, if that person is telling you what to do with your life, and they're not being positive--the person does not know what the fuck they're talking about. 'Maybe I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about'.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON 16 VOLT, visit these websites:
