First of, just want to thank you for participating in this edition of Infidel Interviews. Could you start off by giving a little information about you to the audience? Whatever you feel comfortable with, but name, age, and where you live would be pretty standard?
Hello, I'm Erie Loch, lead singer and songwriter for Wiccid. Wiccid consists of myself and Crash MF on keyboards and backing vocals. We both live in Sacramento, California. We're both 48 years old currently.
How do you enjoy where you live? Is there a vibrant music community where you are? Would you say you find that your local scene influences your attitude and/or creativity?
There WAS a vibrant music scene here about 15 years ago, and Crash and I were a BIG part of it. We used to both be in a band called LUXT, which was arguably the biggest band in this city for a while. Currently, this city has undergone a massive gentrification, and is still morphing in to something new. The scene has definitely suffered, but there is still an underground here. It's just much smaller than it once was.
What does Wiccid mean to you guys in 2017? And how does that compare to what the project meant to you guys when it was formed?
Wiccid is exactly what we wanted it to be. Futuristic, melodic, hooky as hell and great dance music. That's why we called the album "By Design".
The interview continues after this video and all further streaming content...
What do you see in the near, and far, future for your creative output?
Currently, we're working on music videos for ALL of the songs on the album. Then, I'm sure, we'll put out another album. And so on. :)
Do you consider yourself to be part of a particular sound or scene? What is your thoughts on the nature of genres and styles, and do you have any particular ones which you find to your enjoyment more, listening and/or production-wise?
Well, we weren't trying to be part of one, but it kind of happened anyway. Wiccid can definitely fit into the futurepop/electro-industrial synthpop genres. I'm not sure that the people who help mold those genres were trying to start a genre, just doing what we did, wrote the kind of music they'd like to hear.
Would you say that your choice to pursue music has changed your life since you started? Would you say that creativity has evolved you spiritually, emotionally, or logically?
Absolutely. It has shaped my entire life. When I was 13, I told my mother that I wanted to make music my whole life, even if it meant I lived in poverty. Mission accomplished! Hahahah!
What would you say are your favorite themes and topics that inspire you to compose? What draws you to those themes?
For this project, the future, and science fiction had a lot to do with it. Writing from a speculative perspective about life in the future.
So much has been said, and it sometimes feel that every word combination has every been taken. As a lyricist myself I know the pain of how hard it can be to articulate something in a way that is both engaging to the audience and uniquely artist. How do you find inspiration for your lyrical poetry?
Lyrics are never a problem for me. They just constantly flow out of my head. Usually WAY too many words, actually. I have to try to condense it all to fewer words so I can find time to breathe on stage. Ha!
What would you say are your biggest influences when it comes to art and music? Are there any bands that you would say struck you with the chord that inspired you to peruse your current path of musical aspirations?
I'm a HUGE Depeche Mode fan. But other than that, I love bands that hybrid many styles together. Some are strange and obscure and not a lot of people have heard of them. I wish more people had, at least in the US. Bands like Skunk Anansie, Die Warzau, Age of Chance etc. I was greatly influenced by 70 & 80's bands like Queen, Meatloaf, Genesis and Prince as well. I think just about everything I've ever heard has influenced me in some way. Even music I hate. If I hear something I don't know how to make, I try and learn how they made it. Every one is one more tool in my bag of tricks.
Are you musically self taught? Or have you had mentors along the way to help you develop?
Totally self-taught. The only mentors I usually have are other musicians and engineers I've worked with or asked questions along the way. Other than that, it's been magazines and now the internet if I need to learn something.
When it comes to composing music, do you approach things with a clear vision in mind, or do you prefer to let songs feel themselves out? Do you have any particular techniques or tricks you use to keep yourself creative and consistent?
It's completely different every time. I'm luckily at a point in my career that if I think of a sound, I can create it. I've been doing this for 34 years now. I would definitley rather know what I know how to do than be young again. Ha!
Playing live shows, recording new tracks, attempting to go live the life that gives you the experiences that inspires it all... it can be difficult to balance the time. Do you have any particular methods that you use to keep yourself focused or balanced in your direction?
Scheduling. Alotting THIS time for live practices, THIS time for live shows, THIS time for recording etc. I also don't have a social life at all. I've been married for years and have three kids and we're usually always at home, so it's pretty easy to slip back an forth between family and studio and live if you plan it out properly.
For fans who have not seen you yet, when it comes to your live show, how would you describe yourself thematically and visually? Are you an energy and audience driven band in the live atmosphere? Or would you consider yourself to be more thematic or presentation oriented?
Live, we are both very busy playing all the keyboard parts and singing all the harmonies, so there's not a wild, running-around vibe. But we do incorporate lights (which Crash programs) and video projections (which I do) as part of our show that really set the mood and theme as well.
When it comes to performing, what are your favorite sort of venues to play in, and what are your favorite areas to tour? If you could tour with any other band in the world who would it be and why? What are some of your favorite memories of touring?
We love ALL venues. Small and dirty to huge and corporate. We don't care. We love PLAYING everywhere in the US and Canada, but I do hate dealing with New England's toll roads and just overall super-crowded expensiveness. But the live shows there are worth the hassles. Would love to tour with just about anyone, but obviously, someone in our genre would be preferable. We just finished a tour with Lords of Acid and Combichrist, both bands that are more of a "party" live than the kind of thing we're doing. We would love to tour with bands like Depeche Mode... hahahah! But seriuosly, Asthetic Perfection, Grendel, VNV Nation, Covenant and others like that would all be great matches for us.
You've had an opportunity with your rising success to play a series of concerts and festivals with some other high profile bands. What are some of your favorite places to play, and bands to play with, and why?
Honestly, when you get to play with "larger" acts, a lot of time, you never even get to experience their show because you're breaking down and loading your gear. It's been an honor to open for everyone we've gotten the opportunity to open for. Sometimes we even get to meet them. Hahahha!
Have you had any particular moment(s) that you would like to share, that you would consider to be a crowning achievement in your musical career so far, or moments that you would say truly continue to inspire you to pursue your artistic path?
Playing to like 5000 people when we opened for System of a Down and Godsmack was pretty cool. Opening for Rammstein on the first show of their first-ever American tour was pretty amazing. But these were all with other bands we were in. With Wiccid, the album just came out. We're just getting started. But opening for En Esch, Christian Death, Combichrist and Lords of Acid every night was beyond description. Just amazing. And so great to get to know them all as well.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have had to overcome in your musical career?
My biggest challenge, and it still remains one, has been losing weight. At one point I was up to 540 lbs. I've lost about 150 since then, and I still struggle with it. But yes, I have to say it HAS effected my musical career. It matters to a lot of poeple, whether I like it or not. I'm losing weight for my health, but a side effect will be the removal of THAT annoying thing. It's been harder dealing with my weight than anything I've dealt with musically. Music is the easy part for me.
Outside of Electronic music, what other genres could you see yourself composing music in? Or should I say, do you see yourself inspired by? Do you have any other musical projects that you are involved with, or do you have any other musicians or artists that you collaborate with in some capacity?
I've been doing it for years. Crash and I have been in bands together since the early 90's. And we've been friends since we were 7 years old. We've been in mostly industrial(ish) bands from all-synth and melodic bands like Wiccid and Immedia, to crazy metal/punk/show-tune/etc. bands like Blownload. Other bands we've been in, and sometimes toured extensively with are Blownload, LUXT, Dream In Red, Esther Black, Razing Eden, Chalkhead, Cock Diesel, Exageist and I'm sure there are more. We run the gamut on genres with them all, but they all have a little industrial flavor for sure.
What sort of new bands have come out in recent years that have caught your attention? Is there any bands out there you see yourself, or would like to, remix or collaborate with in the future?
We love My Chemical Romance. Just amazing songs from those guys. I also love Die Antwoord. I love the mixing of styles. Crash is in to Irish Folk-Punk a lot too.
Outside of music, what are some of your favorite past times and emotional engagements?
What is this "outside of music" thing? I don't know what that is. Hahahhaha!
Thank you so much for participating in this episode of Infidel Interview. Any parting words for your fans, or my audience?
Much Love to everyone! And many thanks!
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