Interview- Cyanotic

Cyanotic defines harsh electronic metal, melding elements of classic industrial dance, electro, drum 'n' bass, glitch and metal to create a unique sonic assault.

The band enjoys a rapidly growing fan base, thanks to strong word of mouth, old fashioned charm and a reputation for high energy live performances, playing alongside acts like Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Meat Beat Manifesto, Everytime I Die, Andrew W.K., Stromkern, Dismantled, Acumen Nation, DJ? Acucrack, Bile, Nocturne, Cruciform Injection, De-fragmentation and many more.-www.bitriotrecords.com

 An interview with Sean Payne:7/17/07

Jason:You've re-released your album "Trashuman."  If someone
already has the original, why should they buy the
re-release?

Sean: Its a 2 disc reissue, so you get the original CD (digitally remastered by our buddy at Trozoc) thats been out of print since last summer and a full bonus CD of new alternate recordings, real "not just replacing the synth with another synth", balls out remixes and some really fun guest appearances from our guys in Front Line Assembly, 16 Volt, Acumen Nation, DJ? Acucrack, Rabbit Junk, mindfluxfuneral, just to name a few.

Plus, Bit Riot and us made sure to price it with fans who already had
the original. No busting the bank like most other bands who reissue the
uber super limited double disc deluxe editions of out of print albums.


Jason: Now that you've signed with Bit Riot, what happens to
your label, Glitch Mode?  Are you closing it down?

Sean:Glitch Mode will remain what it always was, a brand. It was never really a label, just something to promote all the people we grew to know as like-minded friends and musicians. The main boys are Cyanotic, Rabbit Junk, mindflux, Cracknation, Ad-ver-sary, genCAB, Iammynewt, Darque Science and a dozen or so more acts.

In short, Glitch Mode is more active than ever. We just aren't all on
the same label, but we carry the same stamp of approval, that little
pissed robot head sporting the headphones.  Thats the Glitch Mode seal of approval.

Jason: Can Bit Riot do something for Cyanotic that Glitch
Mode couldn't?  Or did you sign with them for other
reasons?

Sean: Bit Riot can function like a real label for us, something that we
haven't had in the past, as we were doing the self-release thing.

There were a number of labels talking to us around the time "Transhuman" sold out and I was wanting to repress it, and in the end, Bit Riot just understood how to treat us. Eric (the label founder) has been a friend for years, having seen the determination that he and Tonya (the other part of Bit Riot) put forth in these last few months was a real eye-opening experience.

Sean: Every other label that was talking to us just didn't have anything
sorted out, a lot of talk but with bare minimal effort.

Glitch Mode as a record label concept was basically me doing all the
work, along with help from people like my wife, Jairus from Ad-ver-sary
and Chris from Iammynewt. In the end, I didn't want the stress of Glitch
Mode as a label. I just want to worry about Cyanotic and my other
projects, not worrying about everybody else's projects and getting
myself overworked, underslept and unhappy.

Still though, I plan to continue releasing compilations (and maybe a few
other projects) via Glitch Mode, so once again, Glitch Mode is alive and
well.

Jason: How do you guys write?  You are the main writer
correct?  Is it all done via computer or does Cyanotic
operate more like a traditional rock band?

Sean: Its rare we operate like a traditional rock band, but we have done some fun experimentations with that. Its usually been done at adjoining desks in front of a bunch of TVs, computers and random electronic instruments.

It changes a bit, but the bulk of the material has always been done
getting together with Drew (guitarist/co-programming) over the course of a couple days and indulging in media, from music to movies, reality TV to C-SPAN. I don't think there would be any Cyanotic without gorging on media!

I usually start whatever Sometimes, I will end up doing the bulk of a
song by myself, sometimes I will have assistance outside of Drew,
whether its Chris (our lead guitarist), Jason from mindflux (our
co-producer on the last album), Brian from Fayle or Phil from
InfoCollapse. That variety keeps things interesting.

Jason:Do you think the album is becoming a dead concept?
What do you think about the newer more song or single
oriented music industry?

Sean:The industry is always shifting, mostly because its being run by people without a clue, too busy chasing their own tails.

I don't think this is the end of the album, at least I don't think it
should be the end of such a great concept, but its in time for reinvention.
People will look back in 50 years and remember the digital age as a new golden era for music. The major label dinosaurs will become a thing of the past. Its a kinda sorta music revolution we are going to be
experiencing right now, I think.

Jason: You've opened for a few acts that aren't related to
the industrial scene?  Is this something you want to
do more of?

Sean: Playing to as many different types of people is the goal. I don't like
the idea of limiting the number of ears who hear our music, and I don't
think its right for any band to think that way, its a very narrow
viewpoint.

Back when this scene was in its heyday, you had everybody playing with
everybody. 242, Ministry and Emergency Broadcast Network playing
Lollapooloza with like... Pearl Jam and Porno for Pyros! That whole era
was a really big turning point, when a lot of people became aware of
this music, the point at which that electronic "industrial" style of
music came into a lot of new people's lives.

I think its necessary for bands to play outside of their normal
conditions once in awhile. It keeps me interested, getting responses
from people who have never heard us or maybe even heard anything that sounds remotely like heavy electronic stuff.

Jason: Cyanotic has a bit of an old school coldwave style.
Do you think the scene will swing back towards that
style eventually?

Sean:I don't think "coldwave" or "machine rock" or whatever somebody prefers to call music with electronics and guitars will ever go away. Its
something no matter how many or how few like, there will always be
people who like it none-the-less.

It sure seems to be getting popular again, probably because its starting
to get interesting again. The bands we haven't heard from since '98 are
all coming back, some of 'em like 16 Volt are coming back strong and
being progressive, and some are just... y'know, just back, doing the
same thing they were doing in '98 or whenever the labels like
Re-constriction, 21st Circuitry, Fifth Column and Slipdisc (Slitwrist)
decided to collapse.

Jason:What bothers you about the current industrial scene?

Sean: Goblin vocals.

Bands that write the same club song ten times and call it an album.

Jason: Do you have any advice for a band starting up today?

Sean: Don't use goblin vocals and don't write the same club song ten times and call it an album.

Sean: Also, believe in your work, don't write what everybody else wants you to write, but write what you feel like writing.

If you do feel compelled to write what everybody else wants, look
forward to a short career, where you play puppet and never think for
yourself.

Jason:Do you listen to anything that fans might be surprised
to hear that you listen to?

Sean: We all listen to a pretty wide variety of music that I am sure some
people would call "surprising". Gangsta rap is a MUST. Grindcore (old
school and current), pretty pop stuff like Frou Frou, Sepultura and
pretty much all things Max Cavalera, Peter Gabriel, lots of heavy drum
'n' bass like Evol Intent and Counterstrike, Meshuggah, Beck and a lot
more I can't even think of at the moment.

Sean: Like I said, we try to indulge in as much media as possible and that
definitely includes music!

Jason: What's the first record you ever purchased?  First
concert?

The first tape I ever bought was the score for "Terminator 2" when I was 8.

My first concert was KMFDM in 8th grade. My mom came with me.

Jason: Any opinions on the 2008 presidential election?  Do
you think Bush and/ or Cheney should be impeached?

Sean: I know about the potential candidates, but I am not making any decisions soon, not till I have more time to breathe!

I don't think impeachment would help us much at this point. The damage
is about as done as its going to get.

Jason: You've been out on the road a bit? What's it like out
there? Any horror stories from the road?

Sean: The first few tours were fun disasters. The last few tours have been fun successes.

Being on the road and playing a new place every night is really one of
the best, most exhausting, uber rushes I have ever had the pleasure of
being involved with. I look forward to going out till its not fun
anymore, which really isn't going to happen anytime soon.

There's always horror stories. The promoter that night doesn't know what he's doing, running off and saddling you with paying the club. The
bloody tampon found in the dirty sink at the hotel. There's always way
more positive experiences though, like the guy that drove 700 miles to
see and parties with you till the next morning, or getting to hang out
with some of our favorite bands.

Jason: Who is playing from tour to tour always changes up too. Except for Chris and I, its always a revolving door amongst a few alternating friends and colleagues between who plays all the synths and drums. One guy can't come because he doesn't have vacation days at work, so we recruit the other guy who didn't use up his vacation days, or the unemployed guy!

Jason: When are we going to hear some new material from Cyanotic?

Sean: We have actually been working on new material since before we made the decision to release "T2.0" last year. There's about 50 songs we are sifting through right now, everything from 8 bar fragments to full 4
minute tracks. Right now, we are in the middle of figuring out what
tracks will go through the evolution process. We tend to get things done
at a pretty quick speed once we have a solid direction, so we are aiming for somewhere during the first half of 2008.

Jason: I know you're into film, do you see yourself doing any
sort of multimedia audio/visual project with Cyanotic?

Sean: Actually, thats what has been in full effect since this last tour with
mindfluxFuneral. I put together full visual backing tracks for all the
songs, interesting and evolving images from a bunch of different sources cut together. This is something I have been wanting to do since I gave up on wanting to make movies when I was a teenage and making music instead, so its been really exciting to finally make it fully realized!


Jason: Say you're walking in a desert and you come upon a
tortoise that's on its back and can't turn over. You
aren't helping it. Why not?

Sean: A tortoise. Whats that?