Eric Powell is the vocalist, programmer, and mainman behind the aggressive electronic rock band 16 Volt, who through the course of 4 albums have established themselves as leaders in the crossover "industrial-rock" genre. His initial work, which helped to jump-start the fledgeling Re-Constriction label, married hard electronic beat sounds to crunching guitarwork. Powell has continued refining and adapting his sound, and the resultant "Supercoolnothing" (his latest work on the Slipdisc label) is a potent and cohesive melding of modern electronic and heavy rock sounds.

This interview was conducted in January, 1999.

GS: Todd Zachritz for GODSEND ONLINE

EP: Eric Powell of 16 VOLT

GS-First, describe your initial interest in electronic music...

EP-when I discovered it for the first time, I was in reno nevada, I was living and going to high school (barely) in lake tahoe. I was in a punk band at the time, I met this guy in reno who owned a record store, he gave me a pankow promo record and I took it home and listened. I went back the next day and he gave me a revco promo, a nitzer ebb promo and ministry cold life. I was instantly hooked. I went out the next week and traded my les paul guitar for a keyboard, I loved punk but I wanted to do something different, I was only like 17 I think and I really didnt know what the hell I was doing but I just started dicking around with the keyboard trying to make punk songs with it. from there it just blew up, I had that guy giving me promos for months.

GS-16 volt has been based all over the country in the last 6+ years, from Las Vegas to Portland to Chicago to L.A. Any particular reason for this?

EP-well I must correct you, it was lake tahoe to L.A. to Portland to L.A. the only reasons are for personal ones, just moving around. the location of the band was always somewhat secondary. this last move back to L.A. was to get the hell out of Portland, and my wife had a job offer at a record label, so we just packed up and bailed.

GS-Any plans to re-release your "Imitation" demo in some form? I know there is a demand for this...

EP-I would like to, but it costs money. I don't know we'll have to see, I would be fun. a song from that demo "hate rivet" will actually make an appearance this summer on the last re-con comp. as I am sure you know re-con is closing it's doors, chase is putting out a comp of re-con demo stuff. should be funny.

GS- The sound of 16 Volt has evolved into a more "live band" mode, although you manage to keep the electronic sounds intact through all of your work. No doubt this is a result of all the touring you've done? Any thoughts on touring?

EP- well, it is a little because of touring, I just love the rock elements, guitars have always played a major role in 16VOLT, but it is more prominent now, it was weird with "wisdom" because we went to tour the record and people we're shocked at the amount of loud guitars. touring is a great payoff for making a record, I love touring, there really is nothing like interacting with the fans of our music, that's the reward. words don't really describe.

GS- You've been lucky to work with some excellent producers through the course of your albums, including Rave, Fluffy, Critter, Bill Kennedy, etc. Have you considered producing other bands?

EP- I have, it would be a lot of fun, I have had a few oppurtunities but time and such we're a conflict, maybe someday.

GS- Thoughts on remixing, as I know you've done a number of mixes for other bands (Hate Dept, Unit 187, 3D House of Beef, etc).

EP- well most of the time with these smaller labels there is NO budget to do anything of real quality, I usually get the dat tapes from the bands and dump everything into my sampler, from there it's just programming, I don't have the budget from these labels to go into a real studio and do a real mix on it, so it's just done here in my little studio, bouncing to dat and back. but I think most of the time, I can get away with a reasonably good remix this way. with 3d house of beef, we did go into a studio, it was a lot of fun, we only had like 3 days I think, but it turned out cool. when I did the dandy warhols remix, I did that in a good studio also but they were so short on budget that I only had like 5 hours. pretty silly.

GS- "Supercoolnothing" is maybe your strongest work yet, combining ferocious but melodic rock with electronics. Do you see yourself continuing in this vein?

EP- I think so, with 16VOLT I don't try to predetermine the direction, it sorta just goes where it goes, I would assume though that we will continue in this direction.

GS- What would one find on Eric Powell's stereo at home these days?

EP- failure-fantastic planet meat beat - anything and everything

GS-How did you get Chris Vrenna to drum for your new album?

EP- I paid him.

GS- On side projects...was the HELLBENT album something you had a large part in, or was it mostly something Bryan Black (HALOBLACK) put together? Any thoughts on this project and it's recent reissue?

EP- I had a very large part in it. the new hellbent re-issue I had nothing to do with. I had a great time doing hellbent, it would be cool to do another one for real sometime.

GS- When you decided to go with Slipdisc, there were undoubtably other labels that were interested in 16 Volt...did Slipdisc offer you the most freedom?

EP- completely, thats why we signed with them. the future of this situation is questionable. slipdisc is a great group of people, but the situations there are currently a little shakey. it will all work out one way or another.

GS- I know that you ARE 16 Volt, but how much input do Krayge Tyler and Mike Peoples have over the music? Does 16 Volt compose in a live "band"-type setting, or do you write most of the stuff yourself, then flesh the sound out with their contributions?

EP- in the past I was 16VOLT. that has changed. I am the founder of this band and I can't be fired but this band is a band now. mike and krayge are a very integral part of 16VOLT's success and future. they have had a major role in this band for a while now and writing for "supercoolnothing" also. I wouldnt say however that we write in a band setting. it's all written on computer using logic audio and samplers, we don't sit in a rehearsal studio making up riffs and drinking beers, we each individually record things and bring them together at random times. it's a really cool way to work because I have a hard time writing songs with people sitting there, and so does mike and krayge so it works good.

GS- You have always played a major role in the management of the 16Volt website, unlike many musicians who leave it to others. You seem to have reached your level of success purely by hard work and a commitment to your craft which seems rare these days. Any comments on this?

EP- I think thats true, I always had this philosophy, "if no one else will do it right, I better just get busy". it might be because I am a control freak or whatever but this is my baby and I am the one who changed it's diapers and got pee'd on when it was young. I am all for independant music, I think major labels suck. unfortunately, it's become increasingly more difficult to do everything at once, and 16VOLT has a lot of ideas and visions that cost a lot of money which indies have a difficult time financing, I think the good thing about where 16VOLT has gone is that we just can't really be fucked with, we have our own system, and if a major wants to join the party they kinda have to compromise. and in cases where we have worked with majors, mercury/polygram being the issue in this conversation, we have worked out things well.

GS- Your thoughts on the current electronic music scene(s)...

EP- honestly....yawn. it's time to shake things up. it's stagnant. the scenes in towns across america are dying and morphing, I am all for it. I like diversity and I don't have a problem with goths and industrials and metals and alt.losers coming to our shows. I think everything is changing and for the good. fuck categories and cliquey scenes, thats anti-fun and anti-music.

GS- Future plans or releases in the works (singles, remixes, etc.)...

EP- not right now, we are in a total holding pattern. this year will prove interesting for us, I can't really say whats happening around here (lawyers, you know) but I think it's gonna be a good experiment in social wonder.

Thanx to Eric Powell for his time in presenting this interview.

For more information on 16 Volt, visit the website below.