Who is Angi?
I would describe myself as hopelessly analytical, and stubborn. A girly-tomboy. A bookworm. A true nerd I suppose ;)
What role did music play in your life when you were a kid?
It was a natural element in my home, and a natural coping mechanism. My parents let me know the world could be an ugly place, but music could be a beautiful way to transform that perception. I was always in chorus and band ( I played the clarinet! ) throughout my school age years. I struggled like any teenager to fit in somewhere in the world, and when that always failed, music was there to make me feel like I belonged.
Does music still have the function for you or did it change over the years?
It has certainly improved as I’ve become more descriptive and personal with lyrics, including songs about real breakups. It’s changed a little though because now it is a business. With that comes intenese stress, but it is stress that I’ll take any day!
Your dad was a bluegrass musician, you started an industrial act, was this out of rebellion? Why such complete other music?
My brother and I come from a line of musicians starting generations ago, which I am very thankful for. My family made us excited about music, but country wasn’t the only music played in the house! My mom was a huge fan of electronic music…tons of disco and 80’s. I chose Industrial because it provides me everything I need for what I want to say. It allows me melody AND aggression.
Is Man and Machines your first band?
Man and Machines is my first official band.
You play in the band with your brother Ricki, was it always a dream for the both of you to have a band together?
Ricki started doing Industrial music before I barely knew anything about it. I was 16 at the time, and was starting to scrape the surface of electronic music, and he introduced me to industrial. He is somewhat of a hero to me for that. We have always been best friends, so it was just natural to do music together. It was never really planned though…
What inspires you in writing lyrics?
Everything that gives me joy and pisses me off…All anyone has to do is turn on a TV, walk outside, go to work, etc … Ignorance and intrigue are everywhere you are.
How do you work on your lyrics, do you have to sit down for it or do they pop up spontaneously? Is it hard to transform the
things you see into lyrics?
I consider myself a true writer, in the sense that I feel an uncontrolable need to write everything. I keep a journal, and I write poetry and short stories constantly. Often, song lyrics are written when Ricki has worked on a song and I get a vibe from it. Sometimes, Ricki tells me he wants a song to be about something specific.
Man and Machines was our newcomer act of the month about a year ago, seems a lot has happened in a year, what are important things that happened for you?
We have a new live lineup, and a new stageshow. Getting help from DSBP and Dead Scarlett Records… The past year has been non-stop work getting the album finished.
How do you prepare for a show, any rituals or something?
I usually spend the time before a show being frantic about whether or not me or Rick’s mic is going to feedback, doing sound check in hair rollers, and making sure everything is going according to schedule. I usually like to just joke around and primp.
You signed a deal with DSBP Records, how did you get in contact with them?
We first sent a 5 song demo. They had been playing us on the Cyberage Radio for a while, and let us know the feedback from the plays. We continued to give them music they believed in, so it just progressed from there.
Your album “Analog hearts, Digital Minds” is released now, can you explain the title?
It’s the principle of how our culture is today and the road in which we’ve traveled to get there. Our hearts as humans will always remain capable of happiness with a simple non-materialistic, non-gluttonous life, but our minds have been trained to “need” more out of life, which only leads to life constantly running on a hamster wheel, never really reaching a finish line.
Do you think that life puts a high pressure on people, after all we need to achieve more and more, we want the newest gimmicks and items?
Throughout human history, people have always been about status and who had the most gold and jewels…I doubt this need will ever change; only the things we decide give us status.
You started a new project with your boyfriend, what can you tell me about this and why start a new project?
Mike Twisted of Orlando Psychobilly band “Twisted in Graves” has brought back my interest in my roots…country and blues. I felt I needed to take advantage of such an amazing guitar player! ;) I guess it’s a habit of mine to do music with those I care about most. I guess it’s an intense interest of seeing what I’m capable of, and a secret fetish of possibly getting to wear rhinestone cowboy hats and cowboy boots…?
Any last words for the readers?
I want to say thank you to those that have stuck with us through everything and that have supported us, and music in general. I’m proud of “Analog hearts, Digital Minds”, and if you haven’t heard it yet, buy it already! Keep your eyes and ears open because we’ll probably be invading your town soon!