Interview with Ext!ze

Ext!ze Logo

Can you give a brief introduction to Ext!ze?

Cyb3rella: EXT!ZE began 2007 as one man project with Cyb3rella, one year later came Cyb3rSlut at the drums, Cyb3rc0re for the sampling and Ionic Matrix at the keyboards. Our sound is a mix between several styles like industrial, trance and hellectro. Our influences and inspiration are principally taken from the night life around us but at once from our lifes full of decadence. EXT!ZE is a pill which allows you to penetrate in our world of grotesque and neon lights!!!

You started Ext!ze as one man project in 2007, what do you remember about those days and why did you bring the other members aboard?

Cyb3rella: Owww, it was very boring when I was alone… I wanted to create my first electro project; I was before in the metal scene… I was composing the music, and I realized that you cannot create entertainment music alone! It’s like having a party, you cannot have fun alone… Aside from that, the EXT!ZE sound and the emotions in our music cannot be really reflected through just one person, EXT!ZE has many faces…that’s why I hold help !

Who are the other members of Ext!ze? Are they full band members or only for live concerts?

Cyb3rella: Cyb3rSlut is our hyperactive drummer from France, Cyb3rC0re our crazy live DJ from Germany and Ionic Matrix makes our keyboards screaming! They all full members, and an entire part of EXT!ZE!

What influence did adding extra members have on the sound of Ext!ze, how would you describe the music?

Cyb3rella: We make CYB3R TR4NC3 !NDUSTR!4L with H3LL3KTR0 influences! I don’t really know what are our influences, but I can tell you my favorites bands: Mind In A Box, Autoaggression, Tiga, John Murphy, Modulate, Prodigy, Silke Bischoff…

Ext!ze

For what does Ext!ze stand, you have a very strong visual look, use nicknames and so?

Cyb3rella: EXT!ZE is EXT!ZE !!! We are gothics, Technomen, Rockers, Metallers, Ravers, Posers, Hellektrostars, Sound chirurgians… Our looks reflect our personality, it belongs to our sound and it’s not a question of mode. We are what we are (I already heard that…)

Ext!ze is featured on several compilation albums, did it help you to spread the name, what good did it do for you?

Cyb3rella: Of course!!! “Poser” was the first EXT!ZE song on a compilation, one month after the release was this track on many playlists from German and French clubs. Then was “Hellektrostar” one a sampler and it had the same effect, these two tracks were played on after parties of Wave Gotik Treffen, Mera Luna and Amphi Festival… It was a real kick for EXT!ZE.

You just released the Hellektrostar ep, how did the recordings go?

Cyb3rella: We had a lot of fun by recording; it was a real pleasure to record our first EP. Jan from X-Fusion/Noisuf-X made the final mastering of the EP, he’s a great guy !

The album has some great remixes by Reaper, Studio-X and Nachtmahr, how did you get in contact with them and how were these remixes realized?

Cyb3rella: The gothic scene is small, all the musician in the scene know each other. We are friends of Nachtmahr and Reaper and we love their sound, that’s why we asked them for remixes. This teamwork was a great experience!

What do you expect of this ep, why did you release is instead of a full length album?

Cyb3rella: Patience! The Hellektrostar EP is just a teaser; it’s a warm up for the album…

Ext!ze

Is this also the reason that people can order it as a package together with a t shirt, make it more appealing and more teasing?

Cyb3rella: Yes it could be one the reasons, but the first reason of the package is that our fans love our shirts (glow in the dark, UV active…) and we wanted to offer a collector shirt to our fans… But be fast, it’s a limited edition!!!

Hellektrostar became a hit in the underground scene, how do you feel about that?

Cyb3rella: Better than a blowjob!!!

Aren’t you afraid it gives very high expectations for the full length album, did it give extra pressure and how do you deal with that?

Cyb3rella: No, I’m absolutely not afraid of that! I make music because I love it, Music is my life: I work in the musicbusiness, I love consuming music…blablabla… I don’t care about pressure or about expectations, I just walk my way. Some people love it, some people hate it, but the most important thing is that we have fun by creating music!

You have recently signed to Trisol, how did you get in contact with them and did you ever expect to sign to such a quality label?

Cyb3rella: Quite simply, one day I got mail, two weeks later a recording contract! I have always said, either a great label or I would create my own label just for EXT!ZE!

You are currently working on your debut full length called “Fallout Nation”, how are the recordings doing so far?

Cyb3rella: The recording is complete!

How did the recordings go? Are there all new songs on the album, what can you tell us about the album?

Cyb3rella: The recording was long and difficult, but we had a lot of fun!
Fall0ut nation is our first LP, with 12 tracks and 3 bonus tracks (FabrikC RMX, The Ladder RMX, EXT!ZE feat. Nexus Nemesis…). It will be available as digipack Gatefold, with a big booklet with a crazy and exclusive design…

The Album is a travel between many music styles like industrial, trance, hellektro, techno and synthpop… It’s a mix between dancefloor songs, tracks which you have to see live, and tracks which make you feel in an other world…

Ext!ze

What can people expect of this album?

Cyb3rella: Power, Noise, Hits, Dance floor Killers and Emotions!!! Fall0ut Nation will be full of surprises…

Your lyrics are in English, German and French? Why use these different languages? How important are the lyrics for Ext!ze? Can we see them as an instrument because the lyrics aren’t really deep?

Cyb3rella: If I could sing in other languages I would do it! I speak French, German and English and I want to give satisfaction to the most of people of that planet! I’m happy when I can hear a great song in my native language…The lyrics are such important as the instrumental, if you cannot say it with words, say it with sounds! I wouldn’t say that the lyrics are not deep, what is deep? Love, Death, existence? No, no, no…All kind of theme can be “deep”, Fall0ut Nation deals with subcultures, fraternity, future, excess, sex, psychic…

What’s next for Ext!ze?

Cyb3rella: Fall0ut Nation is on the top of the list, lives across Europe (I hope in the Netherlands too), and work on the next EP “G***** ****Y EP” but pschiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttt! It’s a secret…

Any last words for the readers?

Cyb3rella: ST4Y FUCKIN’ X-TR3M !!!!