INTERVIEW WITH INTERLOCK

Can you tell me a little bit of the history of the band?

We've been going (from the first track written as Interlock) since late 1995, we've had a few years of searching for other members that would be suitable. There have been a few releases from us over the years; Demo '97, still Interlock but with a 4 track, still, it sounded bloody good for that; Rest (one song on No Holy Additives 2 compilation) our first track with Emmeline; Submerged our last 'proper' release and Seventh Harmonic Vs. Interlock, our collaboration with Ethereal darkwave band Seventh Harmonic, which mainly consists of remixes we did of them and a couple of tracks that aren't available elsewhere.

What can you tell me about the MCD "Submerged?

Our first release with Emmeline as a full time member. It was essentially a mixture of all the different styles and contrasts we're about. Death metal, Industrial, Dance (Trance, Drum n' Bass, House), Trip Hop, Nu metal, Doom... loads of stuff really. It's been brilliantly recieved, though I think some people are slightly unsure of how to take us.

How is the story of your participation in a Napalm Death cover version competition?

Haha, well, It was the Napalm 'do a cover version' competition they ran with the release of 'Inside the Torn Apart'. We just decided to do something that no-one else would do and sort of re-mix/cover 'Cursed to Crawl'. It ended up sounding like some bizarre drum n' bass chaos. We didn't win of course, that was the honour of some German act that just blasted out some note perfect carbon copy of something from 'From Enlavement...'

What are you searching in the vocal duets between Matt and Emmeline (or any of the female singers)? Are you trying to have more vocal range, more contrast, more textures?

Mmmm. Well Matt is no longer with us, we just found new singer, Hal, in the last couple of months... but things are going well so far. As for all of the vocals and experimentation within, I think Interlock strives for extreme within the contrast of the vocals. One reason for having two singers in the first place. The vocals allways need to be emotiotive for the listener. Be it a soulful duet that's soft and beautiful or a screaming slathering beastlike interplay between them.

How different are the vocals of the four female singers that you had through the history of the band: Anja, Sian, Pixie and Emmeline?

Pretty different really, Anja, didn't really stay around long enough to make that huge an impact in our sound. Sian, who sang on our first demo was doing it as a favor towards us... her style was VERY airy, and ethereal. I heard when she got the demo she was really dissapointed and wanted to know what I had 'done' to her vocals! hahaha... That's how she sounds! Pixie was our first 'proper' singer, though we never recorded anything for release with her. She had a firmer way of singing. Then there's Emmeline, who has been in the band for about 2 years now. She's really taken what Interlock sounds like and made it her own. It's just how she sounds... we never forced her to change or anything. her sound is slightly punky, really raw and emotional... it's cool.

Which is the evolution that you see between your first and your second demo?

Better production, having full time singers and therefore proper female vocal lines. The first demo's cool but not 100% what we're about. The material is still industrial and metal but there's a weakness to the production that lets it down in my opinion.

How important is experimentation in Interlock? How do you approach it?

Extremely important. We never ever reject an idea just because its hip hop or something slightly different to what we've done before. the point of Interlock is to experiment and keep it listenable and interesting.

How are Interlock Songs composed? Is the role of Lauren´s keyboards becoming more important?

Lauren isn't that bigger part of Interlock at the moment. She has other commitments. The majority of Interlock tracks are written by me, sitting at a computer with a guitar. Though the others are involved in the direction and style of what's going on and riff writing. After the musics almost finalise d, I'll give a track to whoever is writing the lyrics. It used to be only Matt, but now he's gone Emmeline and Hal look like they are writing a bit together.

What can you tell me about Cruciferous?

Cruciferous was a band I was in before Interlock, basically a Death Thrash outfit. We played one gig with them in feb 98.

Are the main influences of the band coming grom gothic music or are any other styles that have influenced you more?

I personally don't like goth that much, so as I'm the main songwriter, I find it amusing that people say our music is heavily influenced by goth! Maybe it's the way we look or something? I myself am much more into metal and dance. Hal's very metal and Emmeline's more goth and 80's... God alone knows all the stuff Syan listens to.

Which is the meaning of Interlock´s lyrics?

The lyrics tend to be fairly personal. No dungeons & Dragons or 'the world is being taken over by robots!' stuff.

Are you composing new material ? Will this be a full length release? How is the material compared to your other releases?

Indeed we are. We have a few tracks being written at the moment which are sounding cool. I doubt it will be a full release. It will be another ep/demo thing that we'll send to labels and the like, see what they make of them and if we don't get any responce then we'll put it out ourselves. This stuff could well be slightly heavier than before what with the live drums and Hal joining. Of course that doesn't mean that's all we'll be doing. We allready have a kinda hip-hop thing in the pipeline and lord only knows what else will happen in the next couple of months.

Something more to add?

Thanks for the interview. We hope to play wherever you are are when we're famous and rich! ; ) Check out our web site at www.interlock.freeserve.co.uk

 

INTERLOCK - DISCOGRAPHY

Demo 97 - demo (1997)

No Holy Additives 2 - compilation, Song: Rest

Submerged- CD

Seventh Harmonic Vs. Interlock - CD remixes

ACTUAL LINEUP

Matt -vocals

Emmeline May - vocals

John - programmer, composition

Syan - bass