Hello Des and Mike, thank you for doing this interview, how are you doing?
Hi Ed, a pleasure to meet you my friend, we are doing good thanks.
In what bands did you play prior to Stiltwalkers?
Prior to Stiltwalkers, both of us came from different musical backgrounds. I came from a strictly punk sort of upbringing with waves of dark bands from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s (hope this makes sence?) I performed in a band called “Stage B” who were pretty successful. Back in those days they did’nt really have a name for gothic bands. We played with Siouxsie and the Banshees and also Toya a few times at the Ulster Hall in Belfast. Mike played in a post punk band called “Deja-Vu” and came from a more elctronic background and I think it reflects a lot in the sound we as Stiltwalkers produce.
How did the both of you meet and how did this lead to the start of Stiltwalkers?
Well after the fall and break up of ” Stage B”, myself and the singer (as I played guitar) were looking to try to get into a more electronic sounding set up. I met Mike through mutual musical friends and we gelled rite away! We then worked through various other projects, (“Heavenly Bodies”, “The Killing Fields”, and “The Rose Garden”) with other musicians, before Stiltwalkers were created and the rest is history.
Stiltwalkers is an unusual name for a goth / industrial band, why does it make the perfect bandname for you?
The name Stiltwalkers comes from an old aboriginal death walk that the shamen would perform when their loved ones had died. This is carried forward and hence the image we use on stage as our backdrop. The name just seemed to strike a chord in are psyche and it stuck.
What are sources of inspiration for the both of you and how would you link them to the sound of Stiltwalkers?
The inspiration for our music, comes mostly from old school styles, but with that dark element that we both like. We also don’t really like to pigeonhole are sound or style. It’s pretty much a case of whatever comes out we write and preform. One thing we always do is keep an open mind, and if we think it is good enough we will perform it or record it!
How would you describe the evolution your music has made, what progress have you made over the years?
Well we have “ a few” years under our belts now and our music has evolved greatly from the earlier days and a lot of that evolution has been down to technology (bless her!) During those “earlier days” we nearly always performed as a more conventional set up, ie live drummer, bass, guitars, keys and vocal. Due to the fact that we can depend and rely on each other 110%, we decided to embrace and use techology so we would not have to run the gauntlet of someone not turning up at practice or worse a gig! We would some day like to return to that “more conventional “set up, but it is always difficult to have 4 or 5 members who are all “singing of the same hymn sheet” so to speak. Having said that we would still use the technology within this set up to give us the sound we like. We like to use various soundscapes to create our own atmosphere and would never want to loose that and this is where you need to embrace that technology and use it to your own advantage.
How is the music of Stiltwalkers composed, do you always work the same way? Does everybody has specific parts in songwriting?
Our song writing is governed by one rule only, No Rules! We always keep open minds and are always prepered to try new approaches and methods. Pretty much nothing should be ruled out. We don’t employ any set way of working. We both come up with ideas, although I would deal mostly with the lyrics and Mike mostly with the music, then we try those ideas together and hey presto!
What is the chemistry between the both of you?
Bloody Good, we go back a long way. There are always plenty of good vibes and lots of inspiration. As I said earlier we gelled rite away and we know we can depend on each other.
You have released two albums “Ice Baby” and the new one “Lets play Jesus”. How are the comments on it so far?
Any reviews so far have been very positive and encouraging. We don’t kid ourselves that it will be everyones cup of tea, but we don’t shape our sound to try to appeal to the masses, it’s just what we do. We believe however that our music needs to be listened to a couple of times before it starts to get under the skin and if that’s where it goes then it is job done.
Can you explain the album title, it sounds abit blasphemous? Is religion an important subject for Stiltwalkers? If so, why is this?
Blasphemy is irreverence towards believed holy personages, religious customs and beliefs, Stiltwalkers are none of these “ Lets Play Jesus , Lets Play Jesus, Lets Play Jesus, yea Lets Play Jesus”.
If I had to describe the sound it would be modern day electronics with old school gothrock vocals, are you trying to combine both styles and transform them into your own style?
I guess we are what we are. We don’t deliberately try to be anything that we are not. I have the low dark voice and Mike likes his electronics. I think we do have our own style and sound . It’s not a bad description and we don’t get beaten up about the way anyone describes us, we just enjoy our sound and our style.
Having such a unique style can either make things easier or harder in terms of being picked up by a larger audience, what are your thoughts on this?
A sell out at the “O2 Arena” would be nice but we need to be realistic about things. I think there is always a place for something unique, even more so now when the pressure is on for just about everyone to comply with the man! Yes we realise that trying to appeal to the larger audience can be hampered by having something unique, but that is also what makes life enjoyable.
You already have done some live shows, is it hard to transform the music of the albums to a live setting? How do you do this, do you make certain alterations?
No, with Stiltwalkers, you get what you hear on are Album. We have always been very much a “live” act and to convey the album to the live arena is not that difficult. As I said earlier we have embraced and used technology to our gain. We rely on getting the sound rite (I kow every other act out there is the same) but because of the layering of the sounds in our music it is essential for us.
How did the audience respond to the liveshows?
All we could ask for, great audience participation, atmosphere and live vibe. Job done.
How is the scene overthere these days, are there some good clubs and bands?
Belfast, what can I say? It really hasn’t moved on from the punk explosion of early 1977. It’s such a pity as there are great venues to play in Belfast One club in particular is Cornucopia in Belfast’s Queens University Student’s Union, run by DisMistress Tracey, a very cool lady DJ, passionate about her music. Definately one of the places to be seen in Belfast. (Big Plug!) ..Facebook..
How can people purchase the albums?
Itunes would be the place to go.
www.reverbnation.com/stiltwalkers
www.wix.com/stiltwalkers/stilltwalkers
What will be next for Stiltwalkers?
Spontaneous Human Combustion is always a possibility! Working on a new album for release later in the year, entitled “This Beautiful Darkness” and a possible ep coming soon “Remix 12 More Hours Of The Dead”.
Any last words for the readers?
Every man and every women is a star.
www.reverbnation.com