Cease2Xist

Those unfamiliar with Cease2Xist should know their 3rd EP--which ends up being their 5th release--is about to drop this Friday, April 18th, 2014--In which I recently reviewed and gave it a 9.5/10. The EP was strategically planned for..I don't know..the-biggest-weekend-in-the-United Kingdom-since-2011, the weekend of Resistanz (which they played last year) AND Record Store Day--the latter of which, I don't know why labels and bands aren't capitalizing more on, sure there's lots of releases this weekend but they aren't branding the releases with the term "Record Store Day Release."

Cease2Xist have been rising to the top ever since they dropped their ground breaking debut album. "You Are Expendable," was released September 2012 via Static Distortion. Highly acclaimed by fans, musicians and critics alike - here on Brutal Resonance it earned a collective score of 9.0 - the band quickly made a name for themselves. Just months after the album was dropped, they were announced to play Resistanz 2013 and had their brand new track, "Incinerator," premier and be featured on the official soundtrack by DeathWatch Asia (now known--or unknown it seems, even by bands on it's own roster--as Digital World Audio).

Hey Dayve! Thank you for joining me today for this interview. I think an interview is a tad bit overdue - and you need a proper interview. Let's start off by a formal introduction to Cease2Xist:

Dayve - "Hi Miles, it's a pleasure mate. Thank you for taking the time to do this. Cease2Xist was formed after a 3 year hiatus from music by myself who is the sole member of the project. I noticed that industrial and electronic music in general was becoming more abrasive, harsher and wanted to get it on it. Before this I had played with other musicians in more metal based projects (Instruments and vocals) and experimented with more obscure electronic music. The live band consists two of the most talented musicians in the UK; Jay Ruin (Ruinizer/CeDigest/Heartwire) and Seamus Bradd (The .invalid) which is a huge honour, these guys are top of their game and I'm totally grateful to regard them as my brothers."

Okay, my first question has got to be, Where Is Your God Now?

Dayve - That's for you guys to answer really. The fact that the EP title is a question says it all really. It's questioning religion, life, personal issues and decisions, everything really.

What does the name of the band mean to you? Is it derived from Charles Manson's album, "LIE"?

Dayve - "Partly yes. I've had the bootleg Charles Manson album on my iPod for years, but never considered that name for a project name. I was looking for a suitable name for a couple of demos I had written and I stumbled on the Ladytron song "Cease2Xist" the spelling totally grabbed me (Numbers and X being soooo Industrial and all) and the whole feel of the words "Cease To Exist" really encapsulated what I was doing with the project at the time. In retrospect the Charles Manson song highlights in its lyrics what Cease2Xist was and has become. The lyric "I never had a lesson I ever learned. But I know we all get our turn," is a perfect example of that."

Sounds like you have the start of another song! :) Who would you credit as being one of the reasons you desired to be a musican?

Dayve - "No one person or memory really just the simple fact of creativity. Since an early age I've always wanted to create rather than just sit back and appreciate music or art. When I listen to something I like I instantly think "How did they make that sound?" "Wow, listen to that! I want to make music like this.""

Through social media, we have heard mentions of influences here and there - like Atari Teenage Riot when the song Living By The Bullet was being discussed - but nothing like a list of artists or anything. Could you please give some further elaboration on this?

Dayve - "Initially I drew a lot of inspiration from the bands and artists I admired and really wanted to encapsulate that passion in my own music. Atari Teenage Riot were my stepping stone from metal to electronic music and I still reserve a huge amount of respect for them in my heart. "Living by the Bullet" drew inspiration from bands that inspired the project like Grendel, ATR, Alec Empire, KMFDM, etc. I was also listening to a lot of American punk music for the 70's at the time too. But as a whole I'd have to say the artists that have inspired me the most are; Prince, David Bowie, Alec Empire, Marilyn Manson and more recently Savant (Aleksander Vinter)."

What 10 albums could you not live without?

Dayve - "Offttt that's a tough one, as there are far too many to list, but a few stick out: Savant - Orakel, Panic DHH - Panic Drives Human Herds, Prince - Purple Rain, KMFDM - Nihil, Marilyn Manson - Mechanical Animals, Alec Empire - Futurist, Shadow Project - Shadow Project, PIG - Wrecked, Grendel - Harsh Generation, Behemoth - Thelema 6"

OOoo! Speaking of Mechanical Animals that was an amazing cover you recorded last year for an ill-fated Marilyn Manson Tribute. From the outside looking in, it seems that Nick Quarm has been a vital key in the growth of C2X as an entity. From 2011 to present he has been there boasting about the great new talents the United Kingdom has to offer in the alternative electronic world. What has he done or how did he assist in helping the band with accomplishments before signing to Juggernaut Music Group?

Dayve - "Nick has been amazing since really early days, he approached me telling me that he really liked my material and wanted to review "Living By The Bullet" for Brutal Resonance. Since then he has become a close friend. He's helped me every step along the way with the progression of C2X. When he offered me to sign with Juggernaut I was more than pleased to jump on board, it's an honour to be working with him directly.
The slot at Resistanz was a huge opportunity which I can safely say that without Nick's continuing support would not have become a reality. I actually approached Nikos (Markogiannakis) about the artwork as I saw an existing piece of his online which totally clicked. I knew straight away that he was the guy for the job. The artwork was actually done and finished when only 3 tracks were written for "You Are Expendable." That's how confident I was with Nikos."

How did you get approached to play Resistanz last year? Did Leighton contact you personally? Did Jamie Nova put in the good word for you?

Dayve - "Leighton actually approached us after being impressed with our performance at the Angelspit show in Sheffield. He literally sent me a message asking "So who do I talk to about getting you guys on at Resistanz?" To my knowledge I don't think Jamie Nova had any involvement, if he did then Cheers DUDE!"

Did you find him yet?

Dayve - "No still looking, I guess we'll be here for some time!"

How did the opportunity to remix Die Sektor come to be? Did the band approach you or did the label? Very solid remix by the way. What other remixes have you done? Any personal favorites that stand out to you? Any remixes coming out soon?

Dayve - "Edwin approached me regarding the remix. I remember Seamus send me a text a few month prior saying, "Dude Die Sektor are sharing your stuff via there FB page," which was amazing of them. So when they asked me to do a remix I actually left work early and got to it straight away. It was awesome to work with them and provide a remix for their DWA release. They are one of my favourite bands and they are a lovely bunch of guys too and I'm so glad they liked the remix I did. I've currently just completed a remix for the guys in Defeat who I love working with for their new EP, so keep you eyes peeled for that one. A personally favourite aside from the remix of Die Sektor - Nine has to be the Remix I did for Endless Sunder that you set me up with actually. I couldn't open any midi files from their remix kit, so I took a different approach and wrote a completely unique track around their vocals. This resulted in something I'm truly, really proud of. To my knowledge this remix has not yet been released so it's another one for you to look out for. I'm also very proud of my remix I did for Kill the Sleeper. That was a lot of fun and the track just worked perfectly. I'll also add, I never submit anything I'm not 100% happy with. I enjoy all remixes I've done."

Yeah, I really love that Remix you did for Endless Sunder, but then again I'm kind of a sucker for your signature sound. The band's members have been really busy making music videos as of late, but are finishing all the details to get the release scheduled out sometime this Summer.--Onto the next question--You've played with some of the greatest bands in the scene like KMFDM, Angelspit, XP8, Resistanz 2013, and soon to be iVardensphere -- what's your dream line-up show for C2X to play?

Dayve - "I'd actually be happy to play with anyone really. I haven't encountered any hostile people in this scene. Everyone has been great. We just love meeting people and partying with like-minded individuals that share a passion for music. There's a lot to be said about meeting your idols, and I'd like to keep my opinion of them as undeluded as possible."

Was 'Incinerator,' 'Goliath (Ruinzer feat. Cease2Xist from the debut album []i]Mechanical Exhumation of the Antichrist),' & 'WIYGN?' written in close proximity of each other? It could be just coincidence - because after all, great minds think alike - but there seems to be similarity in lyrical content.

Dayve - "Not at all. Incinerator was written for the Resistanz compilation and was completed in Jan/Feb of 2013, vocals recorded with a chest infection too. Goliath came much later in that year. Jay AKA Ruinizer wrote Goliath. I just provided the lyrics and vocals for it."

When I wrote the lyrics for Goliath, they came very naturally. Jay has some super power that makes me immediately connect with his tracks.

Fan question from Gary Walker of Harlow, Essex, United Kingdom: When writing songs do you write the music or the lyrics first?

Dayve - "Most of the time it's music first, but I do have a huge amount of lyrical ideas or one lines that I keep written In hope to write them some day. The track from the new EP WIYGN?, 'This Is My Design' actually was written around some rough lyrical ideas, but the track now is completely instrumental ad it just worked out better that way. Maybe in future a version with vocals will be released but for now I am happy with it as an instrumental piece."

How does your brain write songs? Like do you typically start with a synth line you ran through your head at work?

Dayve - "I usually toy around in my DAW and see what develops I've got countless project files with basic riffs and ideas that I visit from time to time for inspiration. I've also used the voice recorder on my phone to hum melodies or riff when they hit me."

Do you think of a lyric and then start to formulate a synth based on the key the song would be sung in?

Dayve - "No all vocals and lyrics are recorded/performed in key with the track. It's kind of a work in progress sometimes. If the key of a track won't meld with the vocals you need to adjust and reconsider at times."

Where do you get your influences & themes for the lyrics? I.e., "You Are Expendable" the whole album seemed like the soundtrack to a society in terminal decline.

Dayve - "I write on what I'm concerned with at the time. With "You Are Expendable" you're right on. It was about decline, invisible poverty and corruption that kind of thing. With "WIYGN?" The lyrical theme was more simply anti religious. But other tracks on that EP don't coincide with that theme. It's really just down to what I feel needs to be said at the time. People often sit back and ignore the whirlwind of shit that's being sold to us on a daily basis. It's our job to remind people just how bad things can get emotionally, politically and physically. The revolution will be Televised."

Do you write songs on a keyboard or guitar, when working out the chords? or do you start with a beat/ riff inside the computer?

Dayve - "It's all pretty much inside the box. I do jam my guitar quite frequently and most synth riffs come for real time playing on a midi keyboard. I just refine and chop the bits I like. I generally record a midi part that can go on for ages, then when I feel I've jammed something I like I'll hit a note an octave up from the one I'm playing to use as a marker so things don't become messy and improves work flow."

Well, I think we have more than dived into and found out a little bit more about the band, it's origins, how they've progressed, and as well as some technical questions. Is there anything else you'd like to say to your fans out there, maybe something to watch for like a single or something, you know, what's in store for the next year's time frame of C2X?

Dayve - "I'm planning some releases in the next 2/3 months, some new stuff and maybe some older stuff. I won't ruin anything for now but It'll all be very exciting. I'd like to thank everyone who has supported Cease2Xist and continue to do so. Without you guys this wouldn't be half as worth it. Stay awesome, support your scene, listen to the music you want to and enjoy it! ALWAYS BE YOURSELF!"