Last Sight, May 1999

After the successful ReBoot world tour, Front 242 proved to everyone that they haven't closed up shop just yet. Their energy hasn't weakened a bit, it's actually more powerful than before! The band is currently entering a busy production year, with a limited amount of live dates planned for Europe and Canada. Keyboardist Patrick Codenys took out some time out to answer questions and share some thoughts.

The 1997/98 ReBoot Tour established the fact that "Front 242" still has the energy and passion to continue on making music and so forth. Currently, the band has 5 or more live dates planned for 1999, and a new album is supposedly going to take effect as soon as the Art & Strategy studios is rebuilt. So far, how is the rebuilding process, and why did you choose to rebuild your studio?

Technology changes but also the approach of making music. We have decided to have more hi-tech equipment based on a DJ way of mixing;  without, of course, losing the electronic art of considering a mix. This means, more flexible gear, "live" options, research and sound design as a priority. The new studio also has a crazy atmosphere and decor that is important for inspiration and feeling comfortable in your creative environment.

Will the side projects of all the members still be active? How is the progress with the "Grisha" project, which involves Daniel and yourself?

Grisha (which might have a name change) is on the run, we have work planned for this summer and some gigs are already booked; so I believe you will know more about the project in a few months.

It was stated that both Daniel and yourself had designed a fashion catwalk for Hugo Boss, which is a huge name is the fashion design realm. Was this ever completed, and if so, was it successful?

The concept was interesting. About 15 days on the road all over Germany, Austria, and Switzerland with a show presenting Drum n' bass artist/DJ's and an excellent sound & light system. A cool decor and fun people coming to party. But for us it was just a distraction. I will also organize a Cyber-event called "The Reactor" in September with debauchery of new technology, different artists, DJ's, giant screens, MIDI sounds and sequences fully synchronized with pictures on screens, etc. I believe it is important to participate to external projects as response to the intimate and closed work in studio.

Once, Front 242 was a name on the roster of the major label Epic/Sony Records, and are now on the independent label, Metropolis. How is the relationship between the band and the label? Are situations a lot calmer now, without the pressures that Epic/Sony was putting on the band?

I would not go so far as to systematically bash majors ... like in most relationships, we had good times and bad times. A major is sometimes slower to understand but with a distance, and I can say that Epic/Sony did their best for us. It doesn't mean that it was necessarily in the direction that we wanted.  Speaking of independents, Metropolis is doing a fine job; but Play it Again Sam (PIAS) for example, our early Belgian label, is an independent that is much worse than any major when it comes to artist contracts. If you try to check your money statements there, you'll find a closed door.  Like people say PIAS is an independent with "major" problems....One can say today that this difference between major and independent labels is less important in 1999 as it was before.

Back in 1992, Art & Strategy went to the US and visited 3 cities to showcase your artwork and visions. Will there be another showcase for this, or will A&S mainly focus on production work now?

No these exhibitions were directly linked with the fact that we developed some primitive forms of computer artwork which was not common at the time. All of the silk-screens were done on a low resolution Amiga system and represented a strong concept that we developed through the Tyranny >For You< album campaign. Some of these silk-screens are still available through our merchandising but we do not plan on new exhibitions. I believe it would be more interesting to show in a few years as a reference to our "first" graph computer tries.

Front 242 has always been a leader in it's own sense, when dealing with presence and public relations. For example, the band never tried to imitate anyone, as many artists do so today. The band never had to worry about appearance, mostly due to the fact that your faces were never showcased that much, and rarely did the band appear on any album covers. It would make one think that the band is out of the loop when it comes to certain aspects such as "style", but by looking at recent press photos and pictures, it shows that the band has kept up with modern times, in terms of appearance and individuality. While most bands were aiming for a certain "look", Front concentrated more on the musical aspect, and did not have to worry what other artists in the comparable genre followed. Any comments on this?

From day one, we were isolated, alone ... no music structure in Belgium, no music industry, nor even musicians. We are a purely self made band that had to built everything from scratch and we became self sufficient. We had to construct our own approach to music production with experiences that had never been proved before. No formula, no guarantee but also on the positive side no stereotypes, no Rock n' Roll background... a freedom of style and form.  That's why sometimes Front 242s model could be closer to nincorporated or a brand than a rock band; more like there is something flexible, hybrid and immortal in the logo "Front 242" ... From that point of view we still are free to go in any direction, anytime.

What is your interest on other artists of right now? For example, how do you feel about Bjork's music?

I listen to all kinds of music, it is the most exciting form of art to me. I always considered Bjork as an artist with a total expressionist attitude; somebody living for her music. Her first album contains the raw feeling of that expression. I'm less excited about her "theater musical" type of approach.

How did Rotor Clothing become the "outfitters" of the band? Many fans look to buy Rotor clothes, but they are difficult to come by. From where did you order your Rotor gear?

Rotor is a company that does not exist anymore, but they are very talented. Designer Mark Van Co is still active in the Cyberworld field. I believe he is working on 3-D animation at the moment.

When you sample, do you take apart the sound systematically, or do you just go crazy with tweaking? How much is method and how much is madness?

All methods are good to achieve what you're looking for. We generally manipulate the sample to fit the spirit of the song; although the original sound is sometimes interesting enough to be kept 'natural'.

What is your take on such topics as your fans? The media? Computers? Sports? Personal interests?

Good question....
- Fans are what every band should respect the most; they are the ones that make your music alive and represent the direct human reaction to what we do... that is why playing "live" is essential for example.
- Media can transform your message, it has to be considered carefully.
- Computers are stupid tools, empty machines with lots of possibilities depending on who operates it.
- Sports are great and important for me (any kind); I play soccer, and just recently discovered scuba diving...a great rush!
- Personal interests? Almost anything about Art, Politics, Ecology, etc. I believe that communication is wide enough in general to make you aware that you're a citizen of the world, a community with its own mind, point of view; analyzing and reacting intelligently to global events and issues. We have no right to be blind, without responsibility we are still an accomplice.

Regarding the 1998 ReBoot Tour, many fans were delighted to see a jolt of energy from the band again, yet some "elitists" chastised the band for going too "techno". Some even stated that they would stop listening to the music of Front until they regain their "industrial" status and attire again, which I find sickening. The tour was a huge success, even with the "elitists" complaining about the band selling out (then again, when do elitists *not* complain). What is your response towards these comments?

I can insure you that Front 242 has always tried to present their optimal view about what electro-industrial music should be; this includes the fact that this kind of music is changing regarding time, technologies and feelings. The attitude remains the same which is a radical approach of synthetic music "Punish your Machine". The form can change; we have the opportunity to present a show based on heavy dance music with sharp sounds and a muscular, energetic stage presence... a representation of industrial beats where the audience is invited to move with the band as one body. This is the power of a concert! Why then should we propose a hermetic type of industrial music? There is enough research and weird stuff on our CD’s to satisfy this approach, so when it comes to playing "live" we prefer to privilege the beat!

Roland Electronics supposedly sponsored the band on the ReBoot tour. How did the band come around to getting a sponsor, and why was it needed?

Roland is sponsoring by letting us use some of their machines and we have a good relation with the people. It’s just a cool deal and some great gear. Besides the sound quality, it is interesting and convenient since they can provide a full service overseas; and traveling is sometimes hard on the equipment.

When you come over to the States for a gig, what do you expect the crowd response to be? Are you surprised in the amount of intensity that occurs down in the floor? The reason why I ask, is because people say that European audiences differ from American audiences when it comes to aggressive and violent actions.

It really depends from place to place... the American audience is more direct, you know from start if they‘re into it or not; whereas some European audiences may react later, sometimes midway through the concert! That's why your role on stage is to never give up the energy and belief in your performance; keep on giving the best of yourself.

Although I may be jumping the gun a bit early here, but does the band plan to tour for the next album? The response was so huge from the ReBoot tour, that a company was going to put up the money again to bring 242 back to the States for a second leg of the tour.

Front 242 members are dreamers and workers, we live for music. All I can tell you is that we’re entering a production year in studio but it is quite early to define what the results will be.

So is the direction that we heard with "ReBoot" going to be the new Front 242 sound, or was that simply a stepping stone as for what's to come? Rumors have been circulating such as the band will continue on with the "ReBoot" sound, and some state that the band will be heading back to previous works with a heavy amount of sampling (No Comment style), mixed in with the technology and sound of today.

As I said earlier, one of our goal is try to create a form of art for each support and time period; which means that a "live" sound-album like ReBoot was made for a Tour in 1998-99 and would have no sense for 2000 for example. Same thing for covers, studio albums, photographs, concepts, etc. You work with your power of the moment to project your ideas in time; aiming for some universal artwork, some masterpiece. There is no room for a "let’s be more this type of electro feeling or this type of industrial feeling" ...there is one music for one time and it is our role to define it regarding the accuracy of our sensitivity about our world.

 

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