IIOIOIOII

The name might be impossible to stick in your mind, but the tunes of IIOIOIOII definitely will. Peek-A-Boo had a talk with this US-based artist.

Hi Christopher, can you introduce your IIOIOIOII project to us?

Well first, IIOIOIOII is pronounced I.O. to those who are curious. It's a project I created when I wanted to take my deep love of Industrial music and actually create something with it. Over the years IIOIOIOII has naturally gone towards a Synthpop/Darkwave tone. Most of the music I create is introspective with lots of synth layers to create a dream like feel. I feel like this project as a whole is a very honest and open thing without the gimmicks or themes.

At the end of the month your EP ‘Post Brimstone’ will be released, did it take you long to make this album, and can you tell us something about it?

A lot longer than I expected. I've completed full length albums in the time span that it took to write and record this EP. I dealt with some medical issues which slowed down the vocal recording process to a crawl. I had old label issues that really demoralized me. There were a few small things as well but it all added up and made me question whether this piece was going to ever get finished. It was around early January of 2015 that I got a new sense of motivation and pushed forward. I got the release finished and with the help of Adrian Thompson from AnalogueTrash Records we're getting it out there for everyone to hear. I'm really excited about it and I'm eagerly awaiting feedback to see how it was received.

You now signed up with Analoguetrash Records, I think it will be a lot easier for you, as a US based artist,to get some fame in Europe now?

You know, despite the fact that I'm a US based artist most of my fan base is in Europe. I've mainly worked with European labels and artists in the past. However, working with AnalogueTrash has been a joy and I know with their help that I'll have the chance to expose even more people to my music.

Most tracks you make are analogue synth pop tunes with catchy and gorgeous sounds and powerful lyrics. Did you already have some feedback regarding your releases?

I have a group of trusted friends that I pester into listening to my material before I consider them finished. They're a kind of proof reader. You spend months working on these tracks and you get very comfortable with them to the point where even the mistakes sound like they should be in there. So it's helpful to have a fresh pair of ears every now and then. As for musical direction, I tend to keep that to myself and my friends who listen in now and then respect that and don't really try to influence things outside of the occasional, "that doesn't sound right."

Any plans for a small tour or some gigs to support your album?

I am definitely planning on playing some live shows in the near future. My ideal short term outcome would be to play locally for a while to get comfortable and then do some mini tours in Europe. There are so many people I want to meet and thank in person.

Who are your favorite musicians, and did they have any influence on your music?

I have so many musicians that I love for a variety of reasons. Dave Gahan and Martin Gore for their amazing vocals and catchy song writing. Gary Numan for the extremely emotional pieces he wrote that really engage you. You really understand where he's coming from. Nivek Ogre for the incredibly unusual lyric writing and strong vocals. Blixa Bargeld who showed that you can explore styles and aren't tied down by previous work. Then you have modern day bands that are just blowing the doors down with their amazing music like Health and Dead When I Found Her. These are just a few examples and they've all influenced me.

What’s the first album you ever bought, and what’s on your i-pod right now?

If I remember correctly, the first album I ever bought was Metallica's Ride The Lightning on cassette. I had my cousins in Germany turn me on to metal music when I was really young. On my i-pod I have the new album Timeshift from Volt 9000. I've been a big fan of them for a while.

Can you tell us your musical wishes for the future? Where do you see yourself in a few years?

I have two goals set for myself. The first is the same one I had when I started this project. I want to reach as many people as possible and share my music with them. Obviously that goal has no end but it's something that means a lot to me. The second goal is to get on some festival line ups so I can see and meet some of my favorite musicians and to experience that massive collection of people there for a single positive purpose.

Any last words for our readers?

Only the most important ones; Thank you. Without your support and help we wouldn't be able to do what we're doing. Thank you for reading this interview and supporting Peek A Boo Magazine. I hope that you find the time to take a listen to my new EP Post Brimstone and I would love to hear what every single one of you thinks of it.

Peter HESELMANS
14/06/2015