Who is Sin?
Me…and the many things that means
Why the nickname and does this mean that you are a different person in personal life than as an artist? In what way does it differ?
It’s my name. I am no different in my personal life than as an artist.
What drives you in making music?
Life and the many tortures it displays…of course all the beauty it reveals also. My art is my therapy…I need this…I dread to think what would happen if I did not have it.
What does music mean to you?
Everything..it has always been such a HUGE part of my life.
How do you create the music of Imprint?
There are no set rules, there can’t be. I just let it happen. It’s about expression…feelings…scars…memories..moments…desire…knowledge…the continuing cycle of all those things.
What are the lyrics about? Do you have to be in a certain mood to write lyrics?
The lyrics are always written in one go…freely…an outpour. More like an explanation than a song I guess…they come to me when they need to
I try not to explain my lyrics from the album, as I’m always really interested to hear how others have interpreted it
You had a few setbacks in your personal life last year, how does this influence your music and in what way does music have an influence on you?
Yes… I haven’t had time to deal with a lot of it. I’ve touched upon some of it in the album. Some of it is ongoing..some days I fold and hide..some days I kick and scream. It can influence my music in both positive and negative ways..when I’ve really had enough of everything I just go into the studio and sing until I can’t sing anymore, that always makes me feel better. Music influences me in every way, it has the power to calm and soothe, to excite and anger, to invoke lust, passion, to enthrall and desolate. Music is an incredible thing!
You just released the first album, what can you tell us about it? How did the recordings go?
It was the most intense thing I’ve ever put myself through. I’d ignored so much of what had happened..didn’t want to face it and I was forcing myself to do so in this album. Hence the title…I had no idea where to start ,where it was going to go or how I was going to deal with it..all I did know was that it was going to be traumatic. I was right about that. There really were times I didn’t think I could finish it. The meaning of those songs may not be obvious to many people but..it’s a desolate and fucked up place in there for me.
Can you explain the album title “The wisdom out of the wound”?
Hmm..well I thought I would gain a lot of insight by confronting head on many issues within me and around me… truth is, there is no wisdom out of those wounds, I still have a long way to go. My journey has only just begun.
Why are their silent tracks on the album, what is the reason behind this?
A few reasons…There is so much in silence that words cannot convey…and after all I had just spewed out I felt I needed some time to breathe…a lot of time….space. I also felt that after I’d reached that point of finishing the album I was utterly lost. During planning it I wanted to put Let Me Go on, with the vocals..but no matter how I tried I just couldn’t make it fit, it seemed too big a statement to make. So instead this no vox version began to form, but it was so important to hold the feeling of what the song was originally about…when I’d finished it…I knew it needed its own room..
The album is released on your own label Feral Intuition Records, why did you start your own label and do you have plans to release other acts as well?
I started my own label simply because I wanted to self release my first album properly! And I wanted to do it by myself. It’s really very complicated. Do I plan to release other acts…of course I’d love to..but I hardly have time to do my own thing as it is.
The album is limited to a 100 handnumbered copies, all specially packed, what made you decide to have it strictly numbered and specially packed?
What I do is art…so it needs to be presented that way. I didn’t want to have it shoved in a jewel case by some machine. I wanted to hand make each one..hand write them to each person that bought one…to connect. What I do is so personal and it’s important to me to keep it that way right to the end.
How do you find a balance between the art side of Imprint and the commercial aspects, there is a duality in it. Every artist wants their music to be heard?
It’s tricky…I accept that just by “selling” my album I am buying into the commercial side of things, but I cannot avoid that. You wouldn’t get someone to come and fix something in your house and then refuse to pay them. Art in all its forms needs to be available to all, but that does not mean that we as artists should be working our arses off for free, that is grossly unfair. Many people have told me I should make my album available for download…I refuse…just as I refuse to put it in a jewel case..my album is there if you want it…but it’s real..not a click! It’s something to be looked at and touched and even smells good ;) Of course I want my music to heard…but not at the expense of buying into something I don’t wish to be a part of…and yes I know…someone…somewhere has probably already stuck The Wisdom Out Of The Wound up on some filesharing site…that’s their choice..but I bet they wouldn’t like it if people randomly used their house…their bank details…etc etc….sighs..it’s a hard time for everyone who makes music at the moment I think…especially if like me you are a walking contradiction
You have already done some shows in the USA and there are several new ones announced, what can people expect of an Imprint show?
Well…I’ve never seen one ;) but I give it my all when I am up there. I tend not to think about the audience…really I do it for me. It’s my chance to get up and get it all out. It’s very intense for me I can tell you that..my own little world for that little bit of time that I have, where I don’t have to pretend that I’m ok and everything is fine. Up there is my time and I can immerse myself in all the darkness I want to in a safe environment.
Everything opens up but no-one is allowed in.
Do you have any rituals before going onstage?
Yes…but none I’m willing to share :). Of course lately I now dance before I sing onstage…this helps me suss out the audience a bit and grounds me a little before I open up.
On your myspace a cover version of Joy Division’s “love will tear us apart” can be heard, what made you decide to record this song and was Joy Division a source of inspiration for you? Also Peter Hook gave his compliments on your version, what does this mean for you?
Joy Division have been a huge part of my life musically…there is an haunting intensity to them that I haven’t found with any other band since. I always wanted to cover one of their songs…funnily enough I NEVER wanted to cover that song…NEVER! T came about after I hadn’t slept for a few days..and then it just hit me to do it and I tried REALLY hard to ignore it, trust me I really tried to, but it wouldn’t go away. So in a fragile state I wrote it in a matter of about 15 minutes I think. What did it mean to get Peter Hook’s compliments…I was stunned…if I had a tail I would have wagged it until it fell off.
What will be next for Imprint?
There is so much planned…many collaborations are underway as I type..and many more dates being planned….USA, Russia, Canada, More across Europe. I’m hoping to get out to play some more festivals. There will be a Let Me Go EP at some point next year, and there is also talk of a documentary J I’m just letting everything happen as it’s supposed to and of course always wanting more ;)
Any last words for the readers?
Thank you to everyone for your wonderful support and I hope to see you out there.
www.myspace.com/imprintuk
http://imprintme.co.uk