IMATEM

Ladies and Gentlemen. Boys & Girls. Let me introduce to you the musical genius that is Peter Spilles.

Between Project Pitchfork and Santa Hates You, you've put out a great deal of music we've all come to love. What drove you to create IMATEM and how did you come up with the name IMATEM? Who are the current members of the band?
- "I think it's simply that I am kind of a creative person and I've got a lot to share with the listeners of my music. Besides, there are many styles I love in electronic music and I really enjoy embracing them all. IMATEM is a fusion of the two German words "Im" and "Atem", and means in a poetic way: "to stand (or live) within the breath of life." The only member of IMATEM is me, the guest singers are my guests and they write their own lyrics and then send me their recorded voices, so I can finish the song I had sent them before as a demo version. The featured artists on the album 'Journey' are Sven Friedrich (Zeraphine), Ronan Harris (VNV Nation), Jay Smith (Deviant UK), Stefan Großmann (Absurd Minds), Jinxy (Santa Hates You) Jan Revolution Nick (Legacy of Music) and Sara Noxx."

When was IMATEM formed?
- "The idea came up in late 2006 and it took me until February 2007 to make this project happen with the debut CD 'Home'."

Tell us about your unique style of music and who or what are your major influences?
- "Thank you for the compliment. I guess all styles of electronic music inspired me already in my childhood. As an artist, everyone searches an own direction to form a contrast to other musicians and artists. Writing songs is a lot like meditation because one has to find ideas and directions from the inner source. It is also a quite playful process, and it's not very linear. It's not as simple as going from A to B, it's much more complex than that."

What sort of equipment do you use in the making of your music?
- "I use a Mac. Cubase is the program I use as a sequencer and for the audio recording. Also, I own a good selection of hardware synthesizers, samplers and plug-in tools. But I will not tell exactly which ones, because everyone should have his/her own way to cook the soup."

Does IMATEM play live? If so what are your favourite venues? If not then do you plan to do so in the future?
- "As the main concept of IMATEM lies within the variety of the different guest singers, it won't be that easy to organize a live show. You can imagine how extremely difficult it is to gather all the participants in the same place at the same time. That's why a whole IMATEM tour will be technically impossible to realize, but perhaps we'll be able to play some very rare and unique gigs at selected festivals, if it happens that some (or hopefully many) of us are already going to be attending those festivals with our main bands.?"

What has been your biggest challenge with IMATEM thus far?
- "IMATEM itself IS already the biggest challenge. Because of the different time schedules every artist has, it is not easy to bring to life a project like this one."

What are some of the highlights of IMATEM and what are your goals for the future... such as where do you hope to be with IMATEM five years from now?
- "The whole concept of IMATEM is a highlight. I mean, look at the guests on the two CDs. I don't plan goals for the future; neither do I hope. I do create."

What can you tell us about your latest release, 'Journey'? What was the vision behind this album?
- "The vision is to connect with singers and musicians I admire and respect, and whose voices are suitable for the music I write. Also, as life is like a journey, it is a good way to connect the different parts of it on one album, and to offer the listener the possibility to travel through views and ideas of different artists of the scene."

What are your views on the current Electronica/Alternative scenes?
- "I love that big baby!"

What are your views on collaborations and do you have any collaborations coming up?
- "I guess my next collaborations will come up as soon as I'll start writing the next IMATEM album, but that's going to take a while, since the latest CD has just been released. My views on collaborations are that every musician should be able to do whatever he/she wants. I'm very open minded about that."

How long have you been in the music industry and how has it changed over time?
- "I've never seen myself as a part of an industry. Of course creativity is used to give many people a job and a little income, but it just doesn't feel like an industry. It's more like a big party. I am part of the dark scene since 1984 and I released my first album in 1991."

Where do you typically get your inspiration for songs?
- "From my inner source, triggered by nature, love and life in general."

If there were one thing you could change about the music industry today what would it be?
- "I don't care about the industry. I care about the scene and wish that it won't stop creating new ideas, and that it will never start copying the ideals of old major companies."

How do you feel about the issue of people downloading music and sharing music on the internet?
- "I did that with tapes.., so what? As long as everyone still goes to concerts and buys now and then a CD he/she likes, it's perfect. The internet offers the possibility to connect worldwide, that's a good move forward."

How is IMATEM being received by the public? Has the response been good?
- "So far, I really can't complain."

Have you ever played or do you have any plans to play the U.S.?
- "I toured the U.S. with Project Pitchfork back in 1998 and it was a great experience. Unfortunately the U.S. government made it very difficult and too expensive for Europeans to tour in your country. As we don't earn millions of dollars with a tour and we also don't want to cheat and end up in prison, there is no legal way payable for a band like Project Pitchfork. Perhaps when the U.S. stops locking itself up like Fort Knox there will be a chance in the future, it's in your hands."

Is there anyone special you would like to acknowledge, and anything you'd like to add?
- "I love American people but I dislike your politics today. Change something, please. Pretty please with sugar on top."

Peter, I'd like to thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview with me. It is much appreciated and I hope to speak with you again soon.
- "It was my pleasure. Take care."