nTTx

Gord:  Oh, I have been writing as NTT forever, since high-school. I just didn’t do much with it. Some of those songs became AtomZero songs. When I left AtomZero, I added the “x” to update the name. I set a few limits on making nTTx's sound. Limits on the number of instruments in a song and some more technical limits too, but no limits on genre or style...What comes out comes out. Might be robot pop or might be gothy or might be rivethead EBM...Whatever goes. In some ways it is easier, no compromising, no delays but in other ways it is harder. Like if I'm stuck for an idea of let's say a lead line or change or something, I don't have somebody else to grab the reins.
Gord:  Since it was released as a completely independent single, no label or otherwise backing it. I was very happy to see it got the traction it did. Undoubtedly it was partially due to some groundwork laid from the AtomZero work, but I would be completely lost without all the hard efforts of my wife, Anju. She runs my management and business side of things and she is like a ninja and Sharon Osbourne all in one. 


Gord:  Depeche Mode came along way after my roots were set in. My brother was a popular DJ in the late 70's to 80's and he got me into Kraftwerk, Gary Numan, YAZ, MiSex and also the deep theatrical content of Peter Gabriel and Genesis and Pink Floyd. I was also into skater punk stuff too which then the  blending them all led me to EBM; DAF, Nitzer Ebb, Front242. I found the aggression and the technology pairing to a perfect storm. As far as influences from albums, I would have to break it down to Kraftwerk's Neon Lights/Das Model 12” single, Genesis Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, and DAF's Alles Ist Gut.
Gord:  I was approached by a few labels after Falls Beautiful was released. They all were promising and great in different ways. I went with WTII because I had already worked with them and some of their artists previously and since they gave me a chance, I gave them a chance. Plus, WaxTrax was a go-to label for me growing up. Just to be associated to that history is a blast. WTII has been excellent and personal with me so far, not treated like a product and being respected as a person goes a long way.
Gord:  It is a bit nerve wracking to set out a project that is "all me"; every bit on that album was sweated over with no one to share the load, with no one else so intimately tied into every part. I can always listen and pick apart things in a song's mix or arrangement or performance, but then someone will say something praising the bit I think needs to be fixed and it all goes away. Of course the opposite is true when someone is critical about something and for the life of me, I can't figure out what they mean. I think once a bit of work is released out to the world, you have to cut some ties to it. It no longer becomes yours and it takes on a new life, bigger and broader than what I have with it. My part in it, becomes tiny and I'm fine with that. I play my cards close for my meanings in the songs; very rare I let them be known.


Gord:  I could see it being a romance song. A poisoned but yearning one I guess. Artists get asked “what inspired” questions a lot, for me I honestly have no idea where most of my songs come from. It is almost like I have a phantom radio tuned to a frequency in my head, and I walk along into some area of coverage and songs just stream in. I mean complete songs, I hear the drums and basslines and lyrical components. I never try to force lyrics to conform to some concept and I never pre-write lyrics then write music around them. They all need to evolve together.
Gord:  WTII is great as they allow me to deal with my creativity how I see fit and don't try to push an agenda or "in house" artists on me. I love Caustic's energy and aggression balanced by his great sense of humour. Stars Crusader's have a fun sense of story and imagery that I adore. With Kiss Is Kill, I first heard them when I co-hosted a show on Coma Music Magazine's Oontzcast, and I loved it and James and I instantly hit it off. I knew I wanted him inside my music!
Gord:  It was kind of a coincidence that they came about at the same time and the election just spotlighted the ongoing problems of bigotry and ignorance I refer to in the song and video. The video has three distinct lines. The builder creating the nTTx device, the influence of media pumping fears and agitation, and my head being split and divided by all the ripping apart and segregation we seem to be moving towards instead of coming together as people.


I've seen nothing but positive comments so far for Objective, which is always good. But with the good comes the bad. Have you heard anything negative about the EP so far? And what are your thoughts on review from the media? Does it ever really get to you?
Gord:  It would be nice if everyone loved it and such, but that is unrealistic. Even my favourite album by my favourite artist has a song or two I don't care for. I don't really care as much about reviews because of just that. Sometimes I get a kick out of comments when they are so totally off reality making assumptions and such but I don't usually respond. Sometimes the narrative is more fun than the reality.
Gord:  My initial thought was that a string of EPs allows for a constant pressure of new things for people to gawk at and DJs a constant stream of new finds. Where on an album some songs might get overlooked. Plus, I really like remixes and an EP provides a balance of original and remixes. 
Gord:  I've just put together the live staging of nTTx, featuring myself (of course) and Norm Jolin on guitar, Lance Pilon on synth and bass, and Mike Kozak on E-drums. The annual Canadian Music Week is beginning in May in Toronto and I will be playing on the 6th and another Toronto show is being planned. No thoughts on an international nTTx mission yet, it would make more sense after the second release, but I would love to spread my blood and sweat around the world!
Gord:  Thank you for the opportunity and thank you for supporting all the music! There is no Dana, only Zuul.

nTTx's debut EP is still available for order from WTII Records HERE. Grab it while you can!