They are Sascha Konietzko (vocals, percussion, programming, bass), En Esch (vocals, guitar, percussion), Gunter Schulz (guitar, bass), Mark Durantula (guitar, steel guitar) and Raymond Watts (vocals, bass) and they are definitely doing something right. They pride themselves upon the inability of their friends and critics to label their creations. It's kind of dance, kind of industrial, kind of heavy metal, sort of hard rock with maybe some alternative tendencies. You have to hear them to even attempt to figure out what the hell they are made of.
Their latest album, Nihil, gives fans every ounce of what the last record, Angst, forgot to. Last Friday, Sascha had the chance to chat with the Inferno. He talked about his feelings on the new release, "I love Nihil, of course. I like it better than Angst for sure," Sascha said.
That will probably be the case with most people who listen to both of the discs, each is brilliant in its own way, still, Nihil goes further and deeper into the masterminds of KMFDM and spits out substances that leave listeners begging for more.
Just now have KMFDM begun to enter the realm of the corporate created "alternaworld." Just now is their music being recognized as it full well should. Sascha explains, thouroughly, that this increased popularity is "not a concern of ours. We're not shooting for the big times success, a la Nine Inch Nails. We don't want to be part of this music industry circus." They aren't the first to claim they don't care about fame, fortune and the big bucks and certainly they aren't the last. Still, for some reason you want to believe them. Look at their loyalty to Wax Trax records, for instance.
"We stayed with Wax Trax throughout the whole bankruptcy. You just value your work, you get reluctant about easily compromising yourself for the mighty dollar." Sascha said.
He has a way of convincing you that KMFDM is genuinely in this biz to make good music and not necessarily to make big bucks. An attitude which is ever so rare these days.
Nihil isn't the only project that KMFDM has been working on. Sascha has helped other up and coming bands with endeavors, giving them the benefit of his seasoned technological genius. He aided both the Young Gods and Dink on their last efforts. Sascha has also been associated with bands such as Front 242, White Zombie, Megadeth, Living Colour, Die Warzau, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Sister Machine Gun and many others.
So what is the criteria for sharing the genius with other bands? "When people approach me to do mixes, I go by my gut feeling," Sascha said. " If I hate the stuff and they offer me a lot of money, I still won't do it. I'd rather not, again, it's the mighty dollar." Sascha said. The band can also be found on the soundtrack for "Hideaway". They agreed to appear before they really had a chance to check the flick out. Sascha had a slight problem with the film, though. "What fucking shit that ["Hideaway"] is. Had I known that before, we certainly would not have done it. Apparently that's not our audience, so we don't even care."
Chicago is where Sascha has just relocated to, from Seattle. He did this because Seattle just wasn't cutting it from him. "I couldn't stand it in Seattle, it was too boring. I need a creative community thing happening," Sascha said "[In Chicago] You can call someone up, brainstorm and meet in half an hour. There was one studio in the city [Seattle] I could use. In Chicago I have a choice. This was just not happening out there."
KMFDM doesn't need to worry about becoming obsolete, they have a pretty decent following, to put it lightly. "We have a dedicated, loyal, broadminded, educated following and that's something I'm happy about," Sascha said. "It's more than just brain moshers. We really value our support." The fans should really check out Nihil, so should the daring and open minded. If you want some information on KMFDM you can write to KMFDM Inc. P.O. Box 470199, Chicago IL. 60647-0199. If you send a self addressed, stamped envelope they will send you a free catalog and put you on a mailing list.
KMFDM will be playing at Q101 Jamboree later in May.
Back to the KMFDM Interview Page
Glenn K! ( c 5 1 0 2 9 2 @ c c l a b s . m i s s o u r i . e d u )