Cease2Xist

Hello Guys. It's a dreary Friday evening, and like typical Brits, we're celebrating something most people don't care about, other than for the purpose of celebrating. How are you all doing?
Dayve: - "Evening, yeah we're fine thank you. In regards to pointless celebrations yeah fuck that!"
Séamus: - "Nursing a rather brutal hangover from last night. Coming down south for gigs always involves a freaking scandalous amount of booze. Essentially having free reign over a nice bar in Shrewsbury for an evening is awesome, but somewhat messy! Today has involved rehearsals, watching reruns of The Young Ones and lots of pizza. Good times all round."

Since I reviewed the 'Living By The Bullet' EP, you've transformed yourself into a live three piece. Please introduce your new members for those of you who are unaware.
Dayve: - "Yeah, when it came to transforming Cease2Xist from just a solo project to a live outfit, I wanted to find as like minded people as possible. I met Jay through various channels and initially it was the two of us, myself on vocal and him on keys. Through Jay I met Séamus who views and thoughts appeared perfect to join us on stage taking over the role of keys and Jay moving to guitar, occasionally old friend of mine O.S. Entity of Nexus Inferis joins us, who stood in for a show when Jay couldn't make it. It was a pleasure to work with him again and became a permanent member when he's not busy with NI."

Dayve, Please tell us about the plans you have for Cease2xist, and your thoughts on the British scene - there's some real talent out there.
Dayve: - "I've always viewed Cease2Xist as a great medium to escape the general bullshit of day-to-day life. I'm grateful for the great response we have had from the first EP and tracks released from the forth coming album "You Are Expendable". We have played some great shows, met a lot of amazing people and generally had a great time. I hope this continues in future and we progress with momentum. I have the upmost respect for the British scene, it gets put down a lot by "scene" folk but I strongly believe that it highlights some of the most diverse and interesting acts in the global scene. When I started C2X I saw a huge resurgence of UK acts coming into the spotlight, this drove me to push the project a little harder. I couldn't name of my favorite UK acts as I simply like and respect a lot of them."

Jay, you've got a reputation for being a very talented remixer, and with CeDigest, an excellent portfolio of material. CeDigest is sadly on hold if I am correct. Please tell us what's going on, as I for one would love to see a re-unification.
Jay: - "As for any more work with CeDigest or any of my industrial endeavors, who knows. I've been talking to a few people about a new album, but nothing concrete. I actually have an album written and recorded, but my old laptop died. I guess one day it'll have to be heard! "

Séamus, your work with The.Invalid has been met very positively by the press. Short of a three track EP, we're lacking in material to get our hands on. I understand you've had some issues with writing recently. Your thoughts?
Séamus: - "Yeah, in all honesty I've tried to take a bit of a step back from it recently. Music is one of my absolute unbridled pleasures in life, and quite frankly, I want to enjoy it as much as possible. I mean you get hundreds of people in interviews and advice columns and so on and so forth telling you that YOU HAVE TO PUSH YOURSELF AND WRITE ALL OF THE TIME IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND FAMOUS. Fuck that noise. If I wanted to be successful and famous, I wouldn't be writing industrial music haha. It's a hobby, not a profession, and I kind of like it that way."
Jay: - "I think Séamus should do something with this album. He just blew me... Away, with a track he showed me earlier."

I Recall you guys saying you had something to get off your chests - I can't imagine what three upstanding young gentlemen could possibly have an issue with! What's got your goats?
Dayve: - "Well then, let me word this correctly. At the time when I posted that I had something to get off my chest it was a combination of general unnecessary scene drama that floats around like a bad smell constantly. I mean why has all respect for one another been drained from this scene, and most the drama comes from people in one project vs. people in rival projects? Is there any sense in the word "rivalry"? If you don't like something then don't listen to it. That's what really gets my goat, there's a certain ego, which can come from any of us and when released it just looks pathetic. It really grinds me that people will quite happily tear a release or project apart due to a personal view, I hate this. Someone has put a lot of effort and time into that and to be ripped to shreds because it doesn't please you or meet your personal tastes is seriously discouraging to the artist, It's happened to me personally and everyday to another artists. If you don't like it then SHUT THE HELL UP and listen to something else. In recent news following the Kinetik Ad-ver-sary shit, as much as I agreed with the views put forward but it was a complete pointless jab at certain projects, just highlighting the tame nature of what this scene has become. Where is our freedom of speech and expression, which this scene "ONCE" did so well! Another thing I would like to mention is the release of our new album 'You Are Expendable'which is nearing completion very soon. I've worked for the past 2 years on this album and it contains material that I have really stamped my views and opinions on. Keep your eyes peeled for the release."
Séamus: - "Being a total raging feminist, I have a bit of a different point of view to Dayve on the whole Kinetik drama, but quite frankly, it's been discussed to absolute death already. Everybody's got their point of view on it, so whatever. But yeah, I think that being a big bunch of goffs, (British slang for 'Goth' - Nick) by extension we're a vain and insecure lot, and as such there's always going to be drama. But quite frankly yeah there's a whole bunch of shit that really gets my goat! YOU - YES YOU: Stop going on about how everything was so much better in the good old days. Stop worshipping Skinny Puppy. Stop worshipping bands altogether, in fact! Please stop playing the same old shit in clubs. There is absolutely smegloads of good new music coming out at the moment, and it's not getting the audience it deserves. That, and many other clichéd industrial moany things. Also, I hate wasps. Seriously, fuck wasps. I would punch them in the face."

I mentioned earlier that the UK is celebrating the Diamond Jubilee. The Queen has been on the throne for 60 years, and that's causing a nationwide hysteria. How are you guys celebrating this?
Dayve: - "I suppose it would be really cliché of me to say, I couldn't care less? But I'm afraid it is that way. In the current state of the country I think it does nothing more than escalate the world of shit we're in. Plus I've been on the throne 3 times today and I don't get a party."
Séamus: - "I'm Scottish. I don't have a fucking clue what you two are on about. What is a Queen? Is it something to do with Freddie Mercury? That guy was a fucking don."
Jay: - "What the fuck is a diamond jubilee?"

My concern with the three of you working together is that one or more of your solo projects will be neglected. Is there a long term programme for you all?
Dayve: - "Cease2Xist is my solo project, Séamus and Jay help with production and ideas but the music is pretty much all myself. I think it's safe to say if we keep it this way other projects won't get neglected."
Séamus: - "I neglect The .invalid enough as it is! C2X is awesome to do because for me it's not a huge time-sink or any kind of obligation. We turn up, get drunk, play gigs, swag out. Basically it's my idea of leisure time!"

It's an exciting year. CeDigest have been released through Deathwatch Asia and Noitekk. Other UK-based acts such as Surgyn and Cyferdyne have also been released through Deathwatch Asia. Are you personally seeking a label for your next release?
Dayve: - "I would love to be involved with a label that share our view and projections, I have spoken about this with a few people for the debut full length release but nothing has struck the right nerve yet. I'm not going to give up and stop looking though. Originally I was going to release all material for free, but unfortunately I don't have the time and funds to do this."
Séamus: - "I'm of the opinion that labels have to shift focus. I'm going to get a lot of flak for saying this, but currently we're in a situation where most of the obstacles to successfully releasing material independently have been removed. The main assets that labels still have to offer are promotion, and the ability to curate for the intended audience. Both of these things are pretty damn essential in the age of the internet, where you're constantly bombarded with info. So it's pretty disheartening to see that for the most part, labels are increasingly turning to bands who already have really good promotional acumen, and could feasibly get by just fine themselves. They're seemingly taking the safe bets and acting as middlemen in an environment where there's not even that much money to be made. There's often little curation, and whilst the promotion is there, what's the point if the artist is already in a position to do so themselves. All that's being provided is rarely necessary at all."
Jay: Labels are cool if they're run by cool people. Jamie from DWA is a geeza, definitely working with him on future shit.

Tell us all about your day jobs. The three of you are very different people, and for some of us, quite mysterious.
Dayve: - "I am the manager of a pretty cool little bar in my hometown. I'm a sucker for nightlife and I love what I do."
Séamus: - "I'm staff in an organic/ethical grocery store in Edinburgh. Not very industrial, but quite frankly the industrial scene could do with eating healthier. You're not going to get your protein or vitamins eating and shitting cogs all day, that's for sure. Some very keen readers may remember I was Brutal Resonance's news editor for about 7 seconds, which coincidentally is about the length of my attention span."

The penultimate question, as always, is a soapbox for each of you. Use the 'answer' for this to each tell us anything you want us to hear.
Dayve: - "It gets said a lot, but people don't tend to take it in. Support your scene, go to shows, share the music around, tell your friends about your favorite new acts and generally do your part. I'm afraid to say if you don't attend shows and festivals you will lose them, people pour their money and heart into organizing these events and if it become pointless to continue in any degree they will disappear. Also make some music, I want to hear more awesome acts to come out of the UK, we're doing well lets keep it up. Ohh and don't do drugs, they bad!"
Séamus: - "This one goes out to all the synth players out there - There's literally nothing more wank than going to see an industrial band where all the synth player is doing is standing solemnly standing behind his or her gear and plonking away. You're not playing a goddamn Bach piece, have some fun, rock out, move about a bit! Nobody cares if you're perfect or not, just enjoy it and get into it."
Jay: - "Hi Mom!"

We'd like to thank you all for agreeing to this interview. Perhaps you could seal the deal by talking about the prospects of seeing you live this year? I for one wouldn't mind a gig.
Dayve: - "Tomorrow we head down to sunny Brighton for first (and hopefully of many) Hardwired Festival, seriously looking forward to this, opening for acts such as Grendel and Code 64 is a true honour. Currently 2012 is looking a little quiet at the moment, but fingers cross we can confirm some more shows, but focus is currently on finishing the album "You Are Expendable". There are a few very exciting things in the pipe line which I can't reveal quite yet."
Jay: *Edited as our readers know what a Penis looks like, and frankly, it's probably bigger than Jay's (thanks for the drawing though!) - Nick*

Thanks to Dayve Yates, Jay Ruin, and Séamus Bradd.