Hi Yugao, thank you for doing this interview. How are you doing?
Hi, guys of Cyberangels.I am pretty fine, thank you so much.I am really honoured of being featured in your interviews section. Hope things are going smooth in the other side of the vast ocean.
Can you give a brief introduction to Anamadim?
Anamadim started in 2004 as a personal electronic music project. I have been in lots of ways involved in music since a teenager, playing guitar(and, by 2001-2002,some synth) in several bands(mostly metal bands), nothing professional but constantly attracted to play and composing.
I decided to start Anamadim in mid 2004 because I have been in love with EBM-Industrial music for more than 10 years; i wanted to explore the horizons and the process of making this kind of music.
Of course it wasn´t easy.The first EP "Dymphne Sanctis" took almost 6 years of evolution, i must admit. My musical background is extreme metal/gothic and alternative rock, so i was somewhat "distant" from the instruments and the composing tools used in Electronic music. With years, i got more and more experience, and then i finally realized the project got the proper "quality" to be considered something serious, something with roots and background.
Did you have any projects prior to Anamadim, what was the reason for you to start with Anamadim?
In early 2000´s i was playing guitar with some friends and acquaintances in several metal bands. Garage bands, of course. I am the kind of person who is always exploring new stuff, i can´t stick to one thing for too much long, so it just come the time i decided to quit from the band to focus in my electronic project. And i have been composing for Ana´s for more than 6 years.
What were your original dreams and ideas when you started with Anamadim, have they changed over the years?
The original idea of "Anamadim" was to explore the concept of beauty in a dark/obscure context. So, i wanted to combine dance music with synth melodies and ambient elements. In a way, Anamadim has never intended to feature vocals, nor a singer. It is not a band at all, but a musical project. The changes came with time,when i made this 2008 song "Respond my call" with Ralph Neuhaus, of Stahlnebel, and got lots of positive feedbacks, sort of "what about adding a front man and playing shows?" stuff like that.
Through 2008 i continued doing remixes(intending to add the "vocals" to music) and by 2009 i met Fredrik,from Project Rotten. We got good communication, a similar approach to EBM and we decided to write music together. "Dymphne Sanctis" tracks got completed between 2009 and 2010.
Naturally if Anamadim could have a singer, Fredrik would be the guy on the microphone, since i am not a singer at all.
Anamadim is the goddess of Anorexia, why did you chose this name and why is it the perfect name for your music?
Anamadim reflects the spirit (or zeitgeist, if i may use the word) of our days. An era of emptiness, unhappyness, self-hatred, a restless search of perfection, beauty, no matter about the means to achieve it. Anorexia is the reflection of this anti-values. And then, isolation and selfishness... The pursuing of a non-existent ideal that it is nowhere. Living and breathing solely for achieving it.
We live in an era of dolls, that make ourselves feel horrible, non-worthy beings. Did you know almost all girl-pictures featured in fashion magazines are photoshop retouched?
My idea is to reflect this horrible things through an aesthetical approach.
You added Otomo to your artistname as a tribute to Katsuhiro Otomo. Can you describe his influence on you and your music. How do manga movies have an influence on the music?
Well, i grew up in the 90`s. The dystopian aesthetics in the style of Terry Gilliam´s film "12 monkeys" really blew my mind. I also got seduced by the "Akira" story, written by Katsuhiro Otomo. Besides music, my main interest is art and visuals. And of course, the dystopian universes have been majorly explored in several anime films, like "Ghost in the Shell" or "Spriggan". Cyberpunk and Sci-Fi genres are also important influences for Ana´s.
By the way, i hope you like the artwork of the EP. I got great time sketching it and painting it.
Speaking frankly i think i will get rid of this "Yugao Otomo" artist name, sounds too pretentious. You can call me "Yugao" or Javier, my real name. It is the same.
Over the years you did collaborations and remixes with / for several people, how do you look back on those, was it a good experience? Was it important to do to put the name Anamadim on the electromap?
Of course it was a good experience. And the best thing about it: one makes friends. I would dare to say almost 99% of people i had collaborated with, have become good friends. Another good thing about it, one gets experience, learning from mistakes. I try to take note and keep an eye on comments, trying to get things better for the next time.
And about the thing of "putting the name on the map"...Of course the attitude/image of a band counts a lot, and playing shows and stuff, but since Anamadim is a studio-project...i don´t worry too much about everything. I Just keep things go.
At this moment, i am pretty happy/satisfied with the EP release.
How would you describe the musicstyle of Anamadim, what are the typical things that make a track an Anamadim track?
If you hear "An hymn to Dymphne"(an old 2004 track, something between Future Pop and Trance) you would notice there have been major changes in the style. In the middle era(2006) one listens to "Momentos de Nostalgia"a track with trance elements and EBM basis.
At this moment, i think Anamadim is Harsh EBM music, with melodic elements influenced/inspired in Trance and New Wave.
Of course, i try to explore other genres like in "Mutation",a Future pop track where Fredrik features clean vocals. Some people thinks it is the best track of the EP.
I love Future Pop, since i have been a long time fan of VNV Nation.
How do you compose the music for Anamadim, do you always follow the same path in songwriting?
The first thing is to be in the right mood for doing it. I always keep in mind that EBM should be danceable, energetic, melodic, yet dark. Usually i feel comfortable in night, and i start to play with sounds and synthesizers styles. I prefer to keep my old hardware synth close, and thus, have complete freedom when writing down certain melodies and parts.
I play some piano and have some classical guitar background, and that counts a lot when it comes to feel "free" with music elements (harmony, melody, time signature,etc.) and such.
The main thing in art is getting the idea in your mind and making it material: a sound or an image...
Perhaps that´s what i love the music of VNV Nation: Powerful and danceable, with a touch of neoclassical elements on harmony progressions, and impressive written arpeggios.
The best thing of producing electronic music in 2011 is the comfort of working solely on a computer. 10-12 years ago, things were more in "hardware"(it is well-known certain hardware synthesizers and drum machines ruled among EBM bands in early 2000´s . That put low-budget bands in a hard disadvantage)
What influences you in songwriting?
The mood. Experiences(good and bad). Musically, I have my roots in Velvet Acid Christ, VNV Nation, Hocico,Dulce Líquido,God Module. Usually, hearing lots of different music inspires me to work in certain ideas in my own perspective. I am open to lot of genres, including world music, latin, shoegaze, alternative rock/metal, and so on. some classical,too.
You are very active for a pretty long time, in all this time several of the people you worked with released albums already and are signed. Do you have any idea why you are not?
I started this for the love of music itself; i didnt had in mind becoming "famous" nor getting a deal with an important company. In fact, i am not really worried about getting signed and stuff; Have to say this are good times for indie bands for gettin` a name in the music scene.
You have just released the freedownloadable ep “Dymphne Sanctis” Why did you choose for this platform to launch it?
Because it was intended to be released in this way. So go now to Ana´s myspace and get it !
How did the recording process of this ep go? Did it turned out to be the album you had in mind?
It turned out really good. I would dare to say each song in the ep has its own character, and was cooked slowly.The EP has received mixed responses. Some people think it sounds too "raw", others say it is just fine.
Fredrik of Project Rotten did the vocals on this album, how did you get in contact with him? Why didn’t you do the vocals yourself?
I get in touch with Fredrik, via a Menschdefekt remix (Slave).We think he could add a lot to the project and we started to write stuff together.
He is great in what he does, and a great friend, indeed.I am really thankful to him.
I am not a singer at all, in the old times i was always "the guy on guitar". So, he had complete freedom in the vox style and the lyrics. He put a lot on this release, actually.
What did Fredrik add to the sound of Anamadim?
We share an extreme metal background, and probably Fredrik was the ad-hoc singer for this release, just the right one i was having in mind. He is probably the fiercest of the fierce Harsh EBM singers out there ;) without a doubt. If you are looking for a destructive album, this one should be checked out.
The album is produced by Geert de Wilde (IC434), how did you get him to do the production, did he have a lot of input on the sound?
I have been fan of Geert´s music since some years ago(actually,i would dare to say he is a living legend, a pioneer of the genre). I got in contact with him some time ago and shared with him a promo CD by 2008. I am really pleased(and thankful to him, certainly)of saying he did the mastering of the EP. As a part of this, he suggested certain slight(technical)changes in the mix levels of the songs(which i had to correct, naturally). And that is how Geert got involved in production. Fredrik recorded his vocals at his studio(in Sweden) and i mixed his vocals and wrote down/produced all music here(Mexico City). Is incredible how internet has deleted distances between people, and english has became the "Esperanto language" of this century.
There is only one remix on the album, which is pretty rare these days when albums are filled with remixes, what made you decide to put just one on the album?
To be honest with you, i was expecting more than 4 remixes, but seems like all fellows from other bands(i will keep confidential their names) were too busy on those days...By the way, if you guys read this, i am still waiting for you to submitting your remixes.
Rüzer of LA-X did a splendid work with his remix. I am really happy he reworked the "Mutation" theme.
Where can people download the album?
Exclusively from the Myspace page,
or for your own pleasure:
http://bit.ly/hpASOQ (click where it says "slow download",since it is free.)
Is Anamadim a studioband or do you have plans to take it the stages as well?
For now, it is just an studio project. Becoming a band...That would depend on many things. A band requires time and commitment, chemistry between the members(i don´t have a person in mind for invite him/her to join as a singer now, though there are a few good frontmans here); time for rehearsal sessions and such. Some finances, too(for equipment,etc)and a place for crashing at rehearses. At this moment, i think it won´t.
What will be next for Anamadim?
Now it is time for learning from the mistakes of the past and preparing the album. 8 or 9 tracks, i guess. lot of musical ideas from the last 8 years, awaiting to be concluded.
Any last words for the readers?
Keep the Harsh EBM loud, and come and take a listen to Myspace.Thanks a lot, and specially thanks to Fredrik for this devastating collaboration.
www.myspace.com