2011-01-24 | Katarzyna NINa Górnisiewicz | e-mail interview

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NINa: What were the origins of Obszön Geschöpf?

Remzi Kelleci: Actually, I used to go to EBM/Electro-Industrial parties in the North of France and Belgium since 1995. I had begun to really like this kind of music, even if it meant that I hang on to it as much as I had with the metal scene for years. In 1997 I had the idea to create a musical project that exemplified the EBM style, but with metal guitars grinding through it. First, I underwent a period of training on how to use the machines etc. Then I recorded “Day of Suffering” as the first demo in 1999. Obszön Geschöpf was born.

NINa: What made you decide to express yourself through music and become a leader of a band?

Remzi: As I said above, I was a fan of the Metal-EBM-Industrial musical style. I wanted to know if I was capable of creating something in this style when all the people I know create Metal (Death Metal, Black Metal, Grindcore). Becoming the leader of the group was natural because nobody during this period wanted to do this kind of music in my little town of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Besides, nobody listened electro-industrial in my corner of the world . In hindsight, I am very glad things were as they were, because it allowed me to focus on the music without wasting any time. If what you desire is something new and extraordinary there is nobody more qualified to create it than yourself.

NINa: What do you find most compelling when you record while mixing metal and industrial styles?

Remzi: To mix Metal and Industrial is something natural for me. It is a mixture of the styles that I like the most. I don't like the sound of the German styles of Industrial Metal, Gothic, and dark elements of Electronica very much. I really prefer the sound of bands from the U.S.A. or U.K. Such as Fear Factory, White Zombie, 16Volt, Diatribe, Ministry, Skrew, Pitchshifter, Die Krupps, KMFDM, Bile or European bands like Misery Loves Co., Clawfinger, Think About Mutation, Steril and Flugschadel. I think since my last two albums I have begun to make the music I wanted to create for Obszön Geschöpf since the very beginning.

NINa: Are there any musical ideas that you feel you need to utilize in the future to fill in an area of artistic expression you have not yet explored?

Remzi: I am in the process of creating a new project which will be called Dead Teenagers. I am working with producer Andy Classen as well as my wife who will be doing the female vocals in the songs. I have never done this for Obszön Geschöpf. Dead Teenagers will be more classifiable as Electro-Techno-Rock, done in styles that echo between KMFDM, LadyTron, Lords Of Acid, Junkie XL, Prodigy, Pitchshifter etc. Softer than Obszön Geschöpf, but with a lot of energy!!!

NINa: You have a profile on Facebook, but you continue advertising your band using Myspace instead. Is this because of high traffic and a solid fan base on MySpace that remains helpful? What is your opinion of social networks when applied to the music industry?

Remzi: This is simply because I have worked like crazy over the past 5 years doing promotions on Myspace (we have more than 100,000 friends), so I am obliged to continue to promote on the MySpace social network platform. However, considering the shit that MySpace has done over the last month, I think we will have to find another medium for promotion. Facebook is nice, but it's more to dredge :) Once you start to push up the demand for friends, you're suddenly banned for several days. With this sort of obstacle embedded into Facebook, it makes the format almost completely useless for bands and artist.

NINa: You have done a lot of shows in Europe, and seems it's time to conquer America next. I've noticed you have decided to play in LA, San Francisco and Seattle while on the West Coast of the United States. Why did you choose the West Coast for your American tour?

Remzi: Simply because the promoter that had proposed the first show date was there.
After that was decided I started looking for more dates to make a mini tour. Also, a friend of mine who lives in Los Angeles will be at the machines for this tour. To play in the United States has always been a dream of mine. Many of my fans live in the United States and most of the bands I like are American as well. I think there is no future for Industrial Metal in Europe, except for bands like Rammstein or Oomph and the like. These styles are in stark contrast to the sound of Obszön Geschöpf.

NINa: The new album sounds extreme. Twilight has been doing a good job promoting it, but how about the fans? What response have you received so far? Do you find it difficult currently to receive support through internet friends or fans due to the format of social networks?

Remzi: Yes, Twilight Vertrieb has done excellent job on promotions. At this time we have received a lot of good reviews from everywhere around the world. About the O.G. fans, the “hardcore fans” still like the new material because there is still the signature sound of Obszön Geschöpf. Several people have told me that they recognized the new music as Obszön Geschöpf within the first few seconds. Even after listening to each and every track, the general consensus of what people have told me is that we have our own unique and definitive style. Although, it is true that fans who have followed us from the very beginning have mentioned that they were very surprised when they listened to “Symphony of Decay” for the first time :)

NINa: Why does black metal music describe women in a bad light most often?

Remzi: I don't know because I do not listen to a lot of Black Metal, I'm more into Death Metal, Thrash Metal, etc. In regards to the Death Metal theme, I would have to say that we are just more interested in serial killers. However, it is true that most of the time the girls in our songs end up sliced up in the refrigerator, but this is also the case with horror movies, which I am an absolute fan of! Keep in mind that serial killers like Gacy and Dahmer got off on killing men, so there is nothing sexist in our philosophy. It's just that we love stories that scare people to death with blood splattered everywhere, although personally, I rather enjoy my meat well done :)

NINa: Do you have any ideas for your next album already?

Remzi: Yes, I actually made the basis of all the songs for the next upcoming album. I can tell you that it will be very industrial metal, with a sound that embodies the hardcore styles of acts from the United States. Many songs are also very old school hip hop metal because I'm also a fan of this style of music. In short, a sort of crossover between White Zombie, Fear Factory, Ministry, Clawfinger, Limp Bizkit, Pantera and H Blockx.

NINa: Is there anything you'd like to share with Fabryka readers?

Remzi: Together we already share the love of Industrial-Rock-Metal music. Readers of Fabryka Magazine are not here just by chance. Also, I would like to add that fans can listen to some song previews from the “Symphony of Decay” album on our MySpace page. If you, the readers, love Metal guitars mixed with Industrial sounds in styles and atmospheres more violent than horror movies from the 60's, 70's and 80's, I think you would really like this album.

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Pictures come from Obszön Geschöpf archive, all copyrights reserved by their respective owners. Questions proofreading: Scott M. Owens.