Object

Following on from the success of this year's Authentic Dark Electro opus, I tracked down Object's Andreas Malik. Here's what he had to say.


Thank you very much for taking time to speak to us. How are you?
Object: - ''I'm fine, thanks! At the moment I'm busy with re-arranging my studio and I try to learn some new sequencer/recording-techniques. '

"Mechanisms of Faith" seems to have been received very well -
universally, all reviews for it have been highly positive. I played it on
air earlier in the year and the reception was great. How do you feel about the
record now it's been out a while?
Object: - ''I was sceptical as always, when I release a new album 'coz I'm really a perfectionist and I'm always detecting some parts to improve on every new album. That's quite normal, but 6 months after its release I'm feeling really comfortable with 'Mechanisms of Faith'. The complete package is great...i'm really satisfied with the mastering and the artwork. ''


With E.A.R., you have a very powerful marketing team. I'm seeing your
name daily in various places. After four demos and four albums, I could be
forgiven for thinking you might be running out of ideas. What's next in
the plan for Object?
Object: - ''Object is currently taking a break. More details in one of the next questions?"


No doubt Mechanisms of Faith will leave new and old fans after more.
Older releases like 'Self Designed Eden', 'Vacant Galaxies', and 'Case
7204499' would be welcomed among the fanbase. These cassettes seem to be
long lost - is there the possibility of a re-release later?
Object: - ''We've talked about a re-release, but I think it will be very tricky to get these old and really bad sounding stuff to a good and listenable quality 'coz all the masters are on crappy sounding tapes. We will see! There?s a good chance you'llsee my first 2 albums 'Part-Time Paranoia' and 'The Reflecting Skin' remastered and with some bonus-stuff in the future.''


Rumours are afoot that you are involved in a side project. Care to shed
any light on this?
Object: - ''I won't call it a side project. It became my main-project now 'coz I'm to take a break from object after 17 years of making basically the same style and I can't concentrate myself on two different projects. I'm not very good when it comes to multitasking. It's Not that I dislike electro/industrial now - no, it's different: I listen to a lot of other music-styles and just want to experiment a bit more. It's (IMO) difficult to do that under the object-moniker so I will do that under a different name.
The new project is still nameless and the album I'm working on will be fully instrumental. I try to experiment with drone/ambient-influences as well with dub-techno/pop-elements. Maybe there will be some shoegazey guitars as well. It's important for me as an artist to develop from time to time and the time is now right to do that. ''


I'd like to get more technical. 'The Ethane Asylum' was a very detailed
release, and some of the sounds on 'Mechanisms' are really intense. I
wrote a lengthy review and compared the structure, sound and 'story' of
the release to reflect many religious cultures. Please tell us how the
album was written and exactly what went into it.
Object: - ''Well, it was as always a really unspectacular process of songwriting. I never plan how an album will turn out soundwise. I just sit in my studio in front of my synths & samplers and I start to improvise . Improvising is my favourite way of how fragments and patterns are becoming more or less a finished structure later.
I don't spent nights to create my music - no, I just make music when I'm feeling creative and inspired. Sometimes I don't touch my instruments for 1-2 months. That's why my albums needs a bit more time to be released.
On 'Mechanisms of Faith' I also experiment with some new elements like the sampled guitar-stabs in 'Neural Explosions'', the field recordings in 'Empires in Peril' or the female voice in the title track which was sampled from an old and silly trance/dance-sampling cd.
'The Ethane Asylum' was a noisy album which was quite unusual for an Object-album. 'MoF' is more of a back-to-the-roots-album. That wasn't planned, it just developed in that way.''


You're remixed very heavily, and on Disc 2 of 'Mechanisms', there's a
host of remixes, many of which are from upcoming Dark Electro acts. Are
there any of these remixes in particular that have really appealed to you?
Object: - ''I've got to be diplomatic 'coz I really like all the great remixes. They all have something special!''


It's been 16 years since your first demo. What keeps you inspired and
interested in making Dark Electro?
Object: - ''Well, it's the only 'scene' related music I'm still listening to. And it's still funny and inspiring to create something complex, atmospheric and weird. ''


Your label manager Nader Moumneh seems to be a good person for you
to team up with. He has a fanatic knowledge for the scene, and you have
the ability to really push it further. What's it like working with such a
dedicated, opinionated person?
Object: - '"He's doing a fine job in promoting my stuff and he's really passionate about Object and oldschool-electro/industrial in general. Everything works fine!"

If I had to describe 'Mechanisms' in one word, I'd go with 'Visionary'.
This can also describe the ethos of Electro Aggression Records. Do you see
yourselves paired together for a long time?
Object: - ''We will see what future brings. My musical plans are a bit different at the moment and I want to try different ways of distribution for my new project. I think of releasing it 100% digitally on bandcamp or soundcloud. Maybe for free,coz I'm not making music for commercial reasons. When it's time for a new Object-album then EAR is definitely an option."'

This is the final question. We'd like to thank you for taking the time
to answer these questions. Please close this interview by telling us a
random fact about yourself, and leaving a message for your fans.
Object: - ''Thanks a lot for the great interview and your support, Nick! Also, thanks to all Object fans & listeners out there! Oh, a random fact: I'm addicted to gummy bears & espresso.'

"The Mechanisms of Faith" is available via http://www.electroaggressionrecords.com/ and is also reviewed via the side bar to the right of your screen.