| Mortiis: The Enigma |
by John Mincemoyer
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| Never has there been a more misunderstood or maligned underground music personality. There may have been more controversial and more outlandish personalities, but no one has faced the outright ridicule like the man known as Mortiis. |
After toiling for years in relative obscurity, Mortiis, through Earache Records, emerged from the dismal, ambient shadows into an ignorant world unprepared to look him straight in the face—imagine being the “new” main attraction at the traveling freak show. Here was a man living his “art” and being mocked for it.
To paraphrase a cliché, time heals wounds and with his newest effort ‘The Grudge,’ Mortiis shatters all previous misconceptions about his music and his persona with a clenched fist right into those previously mocking faces.
Let us look behind the mask… |
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Although ‘The Grudge’ is not out yet, you have had some time to absorb it. What are your thoughts on the outcome?
Mortiis: It is out [in the UK/Europe], and I still like it. It basically encompasses who I am and also who I no longer am.
How has the press treated you this time around? Do you care at this point?
Mortiis: Yes I care. It’s been pretty good treatment this time. They’ve pretty much been forced into realizing that my music is to be reckoned with… Besides, you can only crack the same joke twice.
‘The Grudge’ sounds extremely confident. Do you feel most comfortable within this type of “sound?” Why not a straight-forward rock band?
Mortiis: Because how boring would that be? I like mixing up organic music with electronics.
You entered the UK Singles charts with the song ‘The Grudge.’ How did that make you feel? Do you feel that “legitimized” what you are doing or trying to accomplish (In essence spitting in the faces of your critics)?
Mortiis: I never really bothered that much… I thought it was cool when I received the call that we were in the charts, but it did not really impress me to be honest… My first thought was ‘Yeah. Okay, it’s the UK, we have a presence there already, make this happen in the US, Germany or Japan and I’ll be impressed…’
Is programming difficult? What did you learn during Mortiis: Eras 1 & 2 that helped you with Mortiis: Era 3?”
Mortiis: I find it difficult at times, because I always try to come up with new interesting things. Dance club stuff doesn’t keep me interested for too long, even though it may sound hard and cool for a while, it’s just all the same. I try to find inspiration in various places. So it’s an effort to figure out how various things are done. Era 1 taught me nothing, in retrospect I feel it was waste of time that I didn’t start programming earlier. I wasted a lot of time playing shit music in Era 1. Era 2 taught me the basics, and Era 3 taught me to try out various things—be more experimental, and collaborate in a multi- person situation.
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How do you “develop,” or rather create songs? Is writing easy or difficult for you? Does this depend upon your emotional state at the time?
Mortiis: Yeah, I guess… I don’t work well when pissed off or down. I need to be in a fairly positive mood to create music, and songs are mostly created through developing stages, starting points can be anything from a cool theme to a weird sound that may trigger ideas or whatever.
Considering all of the criticism you have faced, is your answer to that criticism reflected in your music?
Mortiis: Not really, none that I am aware of. I tend to not think about the critics when creating music, as I make music first and foremost for myself. |
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Besides the influences that you have previously named on ‘The Smell of Rain’ and in interviews, what are some other influences that may not be as strong as others, but no less important to what you’re doing?
Mortiis: The strong ones are the important ones. Other artists and people I think are cool are John Carpenter, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Chemical Brothers, et cetera.
What exactly drew you towards predominantly electronic-based music…the control?
Mortiis: The fact that I used to be into a lot pure metal and pure electronic music. I like the energy and also the fact that computer-made music is incredibly flexible and open for manipulation.
On ‘The Grudge’ your voice is used almost as a weapon or another instrument. Was this intentional? It was amazing that people reviewing ‘The Smell of Rain’ criticized your vocal style?
Mortiis: I actually wasn’t aware that my vocal was criticized on ‘The Smell of Rain’ with the exception of one or two assholes in the British journalist world that nagged to get to review the album only to butcher it. Whatever, they mean nothing. And at any rate, you just can’t please everyone.
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Considering that rock music is mostly based on fantasy, why do you think it is so difficult for people to accept the persona you have created?
Mortiis: Because people always judge before understanding and once that judgment has been made, you’re marked and that’s the end of it. With each album, I am breaking the curse bit by bit.
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Do you think it will be difficult to sell the idea of Mortiis as a real “band?”
Mortiis: No, so far people seem to find that fascinating.
Would you associate yourself with the Phantom of the Opera or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or neither?
Mortiis: Neither. I associate me with myself. I try not to imagine myself as fictional characters. I prefer to stay rooted in reality these days.
Tell me about the video for “The Grudge.”
Mortiis: Dark, fast-paced, disturbing in a subtle way. I love the work Charlie Deaux did and hope to work with him again later too.
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Where was it filmed?
Mortiis: New York
Was this your first video? If so, what was that experience like?
Mortiis: No, more like the third. Good experience—the best one so far—fast and effective. Everyone worked hard for 12 hours or so, and that’s it.
What is the story-line behind the video?
Mortiis: Desperation and schizophrenia.
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Are there plans to do further videos from ‘The Grudge?’
Mortiis: Yes, we are talking about doing ‘Decadent and Desperate’ after this tour.
‘The Grudge’ is going to be released in four different formats. What drove this?
Mortiis: Just different ideas, and also finally getting the plastic booklet version. It is finished and it looks great (The plastic booklet version of ‘The Grudge’ is only available through the Earache.com webstore). Germany wanted a special version so they got their version with a couple of remixes on as bonus, which came from the single.
So, it appears that you will indeed be touring in the U.S. to support ‘The Grudge.’ Are you excited, anxious?
Mortiis: I am touring Europe right now and we want to get to the States ASAP [sic]. It will be early next year.
You once wrote a book of poetry, and maybe prose (I have never seen it) detailing Mortiis: Era I. With your transformation since that time do you think you might write another book?
Mortiis: It was a collection of lyrics, not really poetry (which I really can’t stand to be honest). I don’t think I’ll write another book.
If you could do things over again, would you? What would you change?
Mortiis: I would get into programming the same day I bought my first keyboard… Get a computer real early on and get into sequencing and things like that. Also I would have tried to understand studios better earlier.
What can we expect from Mortiis in the future?
Mortiis: More touring, another single and another video after this tour. |
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