HMTV DJ Tina : Hi Starkiller Sound , Congratulations of your new singles Earth and Deeper Underground.
Starkiller Sound - Ice: - Hi Tina from all SKS. - Thanks!
HMTV DJ Tina : Are you working on more singles for your new EP?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : The short way to answer that is Yes, we are, but actually we are far away from the old concept of CDs / EPs and all of those standard approaches with music distribution. Right now, for example, I am taking a break from mixing 2 new tracks we are working on, enjoying answering your questions, then back in the other room and keep on mixing .. well maybe I'll be happy with the sound tonight and I'll put it on line right away .. tomorrow it'll be on some metalhead mp3player that'll enjoy new shit on his way to school .. do I really need anything more?
HMTV DJ Tina : How are your new song tracks different than your previous release “Scar”?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : Scar was the random attempt of a bunch of young guys, close friends of each other, to put together "stuff they like" in order to play together and have some fun. After I joined the band we tried to focus on a specific direction to follow, being very picky about every note, pointing to the best possible result, trying to reach the best and larger audience .. to go there, play together and have some fun!
HMTV DJ Tina : Can you tell us a little about your band when it was formed, the members and their roles in Starkiller Sound?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : The year was 2003, at that time the monicker was "Inner Void".
Two years later, due to a close friendship among the band members and Simone H. Madis, who at that time was both STORMLORD keyboard player and tech-assistant in TEMPLE OF NOISE recording studios, the band entered the studio to record SCAR .. but no singer was in line up so they asked me to record the vocals. Well we all found out that something interesting could come out of that, so here we are now:
Christian Ice - vocals / tech
Luca Bellanova - clean vocals / keyboard
Thomas - guitar
Massi - guitar
B-Ray - bass
Nyk - drums
HMTV DJ Tina : What do you consider your main influences to be for your music?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : Too many, I could have a list of stunning bands out there from Ministry to Celldweller, Disturbed to Slipknot, Pantera to Rammstein .. Would be better to spend a line for the incredible work of Mr Mike Patton and his Faith No More .. they really put together next two generations of music way before we could handle a microphone.
HMTV DJ Tina : Who writes your songs and what do you express in your lyrical content?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : Me and Luca for the most, but everybody in the band gives their contribution. Depends on the song, the lyrics could be about everything, every word anyway comes from a specific opinion I have on different topics .. "Earth" for example talks about our planet, that tired of being abused decides it's time to get rid of us, and as easy as popping a pimple, our illusions to be "the only life form that really matters", will be ancient history.
HMTV DJ Tina : Who helps mix, record and master all Starkiller Sound’s music?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : I do everything myself in my TEMPLE OF NOISE recording studio.
HMTV DJ Tina : Do you record in digital or analog?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : Digital. oh c'mon it's the third millennium!
HMTV DJ Tina : Any video production planned for any of your new singles in 2008?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : The "Earth" video is in post-production right now, should be ready very soon. In the meanwhile we are planning the next one, but nothing is fixed yet.
HMTV DJ Tina : I hear you are unsigned what do you look for in a record label?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : CD market is dead. Labels know that, so let's speak frankly ... All the money in music has moved to LIVE performances, FESTIVALS and merchandise. So now a label MUST be more similar to a live/promotion agency or it won't survive. We had contacts with many, that I won't mention, repeating the same old story: "Ok guys, let's do that in co-production, you have to spend money to gain money .." We consider only labels that allow us to play on stages we can't arrive with our legs .. that's it.
HMTV DJ Tina : What are your live performances like and do you sell merchandise at your shows?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : Right now we are working on the show itself, not the usual plug n' play concert, some sponsor will do the difference if we find a good deal. About merchandise, of course we do, and actually i think, if there's a spot left to sell a cd, it really is after the concert, expecially for people who see the band for the first time .. the point is having a good show, so merchandise is something to remember about that night.
HMTV DJ Tina : Do you have any tours planned for 2008?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : We are collecting good contacts, the biggest problem is the distance, we know we are way more expensive than local bands, nevertheless there are many really nice guys who work hard to organize good shows .. end of 2008 or early 2009 we are planning to visit mexico, states and canada, let's hope for the best.
HMTV DJ Tina : What is the music scene like in Italy?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : Italian scene is very active, there's a lot of new and old bands that have already prooved their quality like Lacuna Coil, Theatres des Vampires, Novembre, Stormlord, Enemynside. The fact is that we have a daily fight with a political system that appears to hate every form of art, rules and regulations from our S.I.A.E. that works like a cancer to a body and some old labels and journalists in Europe still think italians are only good for pasta, but as our friend Dante Alighieri said "Fama di loro il mondo esser non lassa; misericordia e giustizia li sdegna; non ragioniam di lor, ma guarda e passa".
HMTV DJ Tina : What is your opinion of the music industry today?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : As I said CD market is dead, all the money in music has moved to LIVE performances, FESTIVALS and merchandise. I really think it's time for bands to understand that among 900 billions bands out there, it's quite silly to ask for money for your unknown record, music is back in the 50's and that's good .. are you a musician? Wow. PLAY! Million copies selling is now history, ask Robbie Williams about that :) ( http://www.robbiewilliams.pl/en/news24/2008/01/23/rudebox-china/ ) On the other side, we've got internet .. guys.. maybe you are too young to know how lucky you are. The music industry must STOP their war on internet sharing, mp3s and downloading NOW. It's a waste of time and money, they have already lost.
HMTV DJ Tina : Before we wrap up our interview can you tell us where fans can access your music on the internet to buy CD’s and Starkiller Sound merchandise?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : Fans can download our music for free at
http://www.myspace.com/starkillersound
http://www.hollywoodmusic.tv/starkillersound
http://www.reverbnation.com/starkillersound
http://trig.com/starkillersound
http://www.last.fm/music/StarKiller Sound
and our new merchandise will be available through our hollywoodmusic profile soon.
HMTV DJ Tina : Any last words?
Starkiller Sound - Ice : Thanks for the opportunity and for the space you gave us, we really wish all the best to you, Steve. and all guys at hollywood music, you are doing a fantastic job!
HMTV DJ Tina : Thank you Starkiller Sound for allowing our eZine to interview your band
Starkiller Sound - Ice : Our pleasure.
Cheerz!
Ice.
HMTV Canada eZine
