Hi Taury, thanx for doing this interview with us. How are you doing?
Taury: It’s my pleasure. Doing well, but always very busy.
You have been making music for quite some time now, what do you remember from the early days, has making music for you changed?
Taury: Well, the early days, for me, wasn’t that long ago (being that I’m only 24), but I started making music about 8 years ago. I would say, the music industry looked hopeful then, but has gotten quite drastic with media being extremely accessible through pirating sites and has put a huge crippling effect on bands of all sizes (especially in the goth/industrial market). I remember when people waited for a CD to show up in their local record store and to hold it in hand, and now it’s all about data storage devices and everybody’s music collection is on their iPods and computers. It’s just not the same.
Several people might know you as being a former member of HexRx, how do you look back on your time in that band, was it a time in which you learned a lot and why did you leave?
Taury: Yes, I am forever known as the original vocalist of HexRx, but I also wrote more than half the music on that album, though many people don’t know it. I did learn a lot, but it was a harsh and rough experience and most of it pertained to the industry and politics that push and anchor what music, in my mind, isn’t even supposed to be about. I was in fact kicked out of HexRx. I tried logging in to our online accounts one day and found out that Roger had changed the passwords. From what I understand now, Roger was already trying to replace me before we even performed our 2nd show. I guess people have their agendas, but I’m much happier with where I am at now, so I can’t complain too much.
You were already working on tracks that you couldn’t use in HexRx, did you already have a concept in mind and were these songs the birth of Dead Hand Projekt?
Taury: I did, in fact, make some of the songs that were used on my self-titled album for DHP when I was still with HexRx, but the truth is I had full intentions to use those songs for HexRx, but I was removed from the band so, naturally, I used them for my own project. As far as concepts go; I think I simply continue to refine and grow with my music. DHP just embodies that growth.
Taury: Dead Hand Projekt is named after a device that was created by the former Soviet Union, and this device was made to send and receive signals from all major cities within its former borders (such as Moscow). If this device stops receiving a signal from any one of these cities, after a couple hours of no signal, it assumes that this city has been successfully nuked, so in turn, this device launches and detonates all nuclear weapons aimed at all other countries. I guess their thought process is, “Well, if we’re dead, then we’re taking you all with us.” The scary thought is, this device is still active…
How would you describe the music of Dead Hand Projekt yourself? Vendetta is talking about progressive old-school industrial? Can old-school be progressive or would it be no old-school anymore when it is progressive?
Taury: You know, I question what genre my music would successfully fit into all the time, but to no avail do I come up with an answer. I’m not even sure as to who came up with the “progressive old-school” description first, but I can assume that people can hear “old-school” rythms and mixtures of bass-lines, but it’s in its own right new sounding and original. I personally think that my music always comes out sounding bold and full. I sometimes have 100+ layers throughout a single song.
The other member of Dead Hand Projekt is Jason Scamara. How did the both of you meet and what is his role in the band?
Taury: He came on as a live drummer during my time as blackcentr, but after problems arose with a certain member of that band, I moved on to making Dead Hand Projekt; taking my music and drummer with me. Jason and I became good friends while performing as blackcentr, so it was only natural to make him a full member in DHP. Jason is currently performing as live drummer for right now, but with my next album and EP, he will be coming up with some pieces for future music.
Do you compose the tracks alone, what are the pro’s and con’s for you in working alone?
Taury: I do make the tracks alone, but as I said before, Jason will be working on parts of the future music from DHP. I would say that it’s all pro’s, with the exception of getting stuck on a certain song here and there, trying to come up with the next direction in it. On the con’s side, I do thrive on working with others and getting outside influences, but all-in-all, I can work my best in both atmospheres.
After my music was sent and received through mail, Vendetta made a call and that was that. I wanted to work with Vendetta and vice-versa. I truly enjoy my business dealings with my record label, and I have full intentions of continuing my business with Vendetta Music for as long as my career can run.
You just released your debut album, how did the recordings go?
Taury: Well, I casually make my music within the comforts of my own home. I have the luxury of making any music whenever I feel like it, and that’s the way it’s been ever since I started making music. The one thing that will always exist is the nagging notion that I can always use more equipment. Although, when I can’t write what I intend to and things don’t come out the exact way I want them to… Let’s just say that some shit was smashed and broken.
One of the strongest points of the album is the diversity of the tracks, was it hard to create a good tracklisting to have this
diversity but still make it a homogenic album instead of a collection of songs?
Taury: Well, I’m glad you think so. I have 1200+ songs archived right now, and not one of them sounds the same. The only way that they can be grouped together is by the timeframe in which I made them. My music is always changing, always growing, but in some way, my songs are always similar to one another. I never really analyze how or why, but I guess you can say that it all comes down to my style.
The album has a really aggressive feel over it. How did you manage to capture this in the studio?
Taury: I always write my music based on what’s on my mind and what I’m pissed off at that very moment. These are not just tracks and some made-up lyrics, these are real emotions and freeze-frames of my life. When I scream, I am really screaming; when I “sing,” I’m letting my vulnerabilities out; when I whisper, I’m letting you know that these are my deepest inner-thoughts. It’s important to me to reflect how I feel in regards to what I’m writing about.
How important is a club-hit for a band like Dead Hand Projekt?
Taury: I guess it’s as important to any band, but I never write music to please anyone in particular. I make what I make to express myself. It seems only coincidence that clubs and DJ’s like playing my songs. I do however, enjoy watching people’s reactions to my music when it is played at clubs, and I do appreciate DJ’s giving it a go.
Taury: Jason Scamara, I believe, is the first person to really push that song, being that he is a DJ in clubs himself (DJ Liquid Sex Drive). People do intend to get excited about a song that has so many sexually hinted lyrics, but I believe that people enjoy the fact that sex is ok, and it’s something that can be talked about. That’s why I believe that it does so well in American clubs, due to the fact that the US has such a sexually repressed culture. It’s nice to let the animal out of the cage every once and a while. But once again, I don’t make the music I do for anyone or any environment in particular.
What inspires you in the lyrics?
Taury: My feelings. Maybe an event that happened in my life, but usually my lyrics are a substitution for a journal. If I don’t get things off my chest, then I’ll pop like a balloon filled with too much air.
Normally a band will do shows to promote their album, is there a tour planned already?
Taury: There are currently two separate tours in-the-works, but I won’t say who or where, due to the fact that they are just that: in-the-works.
What can people expect of a Dead Hand Projekt show?
Taury: Hopefully, lots of mayhem! We always want to put on a real show. There’s nothing more depressing, than going and seeing a band and all that they’re doing is standing behind knobs and a laptop. I’m always up for grabbing people’s attention by throwing myself around and screaming in people’s faces!
Any last words for our readers?
Taury: Yeah, if they haven’t already, our self-titled album is available for order at vendetta-music.com. Check it out and you just might be inclined to break some shit, let alone someone’s face!
www.myspace.com/deadhandprojekt