tempobet yeni adresi
like this interview
11/11/2012 : OBVERSE REALITY - Reality can be grim. 11/11/2012 : OBVERSE REALITY - Reality can be grim. 11/11/2012 : OBVERSE REALITY - Reality can be grim.

OBVERSE REALITY

Reality can be grim.


11/11/2012, Jurgen VANVLASSELAER


With The Future Ended...Today , Obverse Reality released one of the best Belgian albums of the year. An astonishing album that hopefully will get the attention it deserves. We had a nice talk with mastermind Günther Haegeman.

Welcome Günther. Can you give us a little introduction to Obverse Reality?

Thank you! Obverse Reality first saw the light back in 1996, therefore it was named Subside Reflect. Started as a 2-headed project with lots of influences from Front 242, Global Genocide Forget Heaven (G.G.F.H.) and Sheep On Drugs. Later The music was more synth-pop based, and nowadays I make something I just call electro.

Can you remember the first time that music really moved you?

Yes, I was only 7 years old when I bought my first records and taped radio shows on a tape recorder. I was born in 1975, and I got in touch in the eighties with great new wave and pop bands. Paul Hardcastle with his hit 19 was one of my favorites, Axel Foley, Simple Minds, Nacht Und Nebel, … all great stuff and I wanted to be an artist since I was about 8 years old.

Which artist or which event made you decide to make music yourself? And was it clearly from in the beginning that you wanted to make electronic music?

With a new wave flow over the country, I was very moved by this. And I bought my first synth/sampler when I was 8 years old and started to make tunes. But when I first heard hard rock/heavy metal in 1987, my mom bought me a guitar and I started a band named Nasty Society. Influenced by Kreator, Megadeth, Sixty Nine, Charged G.B.H. We started to play trash-punk. Nasty Society is now known as the band The Difference. They have changed their name, the music that they now bring is something professional and totally different then in the early days. A year later I came in touch with deathmetal/grindcore, bands such as Napalm Death, Carcass, Impetigo, Carnage,... so I started a grindcore band when I was 14. A few years ago I counted the projects that I had, seventeen projects, all sorts of music. The first gig I went to was a Crust/punk gig. I was just 13 years old, I wanted to play the same music. Been to many gigs from an early age. Saw Napalm Death, Pungent Stench, Disharmonic Orchestra, Polluted inheritance,... I went to gigs all over the land. When I was 15 I heard something amazing. It was the band Godflesh. This was not easy listening, but I fell in love with it, later my record collection included bands such as Skin Chamber, Scorn, Pitchshifter, Cable Regime, Deathless, … and the next step was electronic music. When I was 17 I started to listen to Einstürzende Neubauten, Front 242, Nightblooms, Cranes, … And then I decided to make electronic music. Saw many inspiring bands live.

How many Obverse Reality releases are there so far and how can we purchase them?

Let me think... 7. You can write or email me. (obverserealityarylia@yahoo.com)

You latest excellent self-released album The Future Ended…Today is out now. Can you tell us something about it?

Yes... we have chosen a new direction in producing. Also, some influences from other styles are in the album. It's all Obverse Reality, but with new flavours. We are totally underground. I do my thing, I always do. I make music that I like. I like to experiment with rhythms and stuff. I was a drummer once, so rhythm is important to me. The latest album was not an easy go. We worked hard on it. And it's way over release date. But... the result is great. The best stuff we have done up to now. I hardly listen to the older cd's from Obverse Reality. The sound is heavy and fresh. The recordings were done by Sam, a good friend of mine. He pre-mixed the thing, I did the final mix and Dries, also a good friend of mine, did the mastering. It's an in-your-face record.

Most of the songs breathe out some kind of sadness, bitterness. Frozen Sorrow, Captive, The Day Hate Rised , Parasite etc…how come?

Because reality can be grim. The bands name is Obverse Reality. And in fact, we should obverse some of the reality. There was a day I sang about romance, in my early synth pop days. But now I'm more critic, like in my early days at the dawn of Obverse Reality. Fuck, life isn't always that easy and simple. Things are happening. We live now in an era of change. We need change. A good statement is good in lyrical music. Some of the lyrics are written by me, sometimes they are very dark like The Day Hate Rised but this is inspired by real life, sometimes I use actual things that really happened. Nathalie wrote some lyrics too on the album, she uses her imagination.

My favourite track is the dance floor filler Parasite. What’s the story behind this fantastic track?

A former friend of mine inspired me for this one. It is the hardest track on the album, and the song is about humans destroying the planet. OK before you tell this is cliché, I sing that everything is going down. Instead of saving ourselves, I tell that it's too late. And I am no hypocrite, I am guilty as well. I try to live as well as possible, I've been a vegetarian for 19 years now, I try not to use too much energy, I drive my bicycle. But there is always something that you mess up if whether you want it or not. We can't be 100% indestructive. This song is about humans and their behaviour. My opinion is that it's gone too far, there is no turning back. The music of this track is also aggressive, I made it in a few hours, like I do with all of my tracks.

Another big plus are the beautiful female vocals of Nathalie De Vlaminck. I really love the warmth in her voice and they go well with your dark vocals. How did she end up in Obverse Reality?

I met her when I was 13 years old. And in a way, she was never far away from me in my life. One day I was looking for a female singer and she send me an email, this was 7 years ago. She became part of the project, but 6 years ago she left the band, and then returned after a year. She sings very well. I can't miss that voice in Obverse Reality.

It's quite unbelievable that you are still an unsigned band. I really think Obverse Reality would be perfect for the Alfa Matrix label. Have you been in contact with them?

Been in touch a few years ago, and they have reviewed some of my releases. Good reviews in fact, but I realized that the stuff back then wasn't ready for a full album on a label. Soon I will send a copy to them, and who knows?

What about Obverse Reality live? Can we see you guys on a stage in the near future?

Maybe...

I’ve seen you perform a few times already and you always seem to have a lot of fun on stage. I am pretty sure Mister Spinal Tap lurked around the corner already a few times.

Obverse Reality mostly turns a gig into a stand-up comedian show. Sometimes we act clumsy. The audience always have a good time, even when they don't like our music. I had fun during gigs and I loved the time. Now I am putting on to another level. We just have to.

Another project of yours is Synthetic Dream. Is that still alive and kicking?

Yes. I released many cd's, and I even made it with that project on a compilation Shadows In The Dark by Minimal Maximal Records. This project is basically dark. It swings from ambient to (Goa)-trance. It's pure instrumental music. And I create most of the sounds myself. I can go very experimental with it. Absolute non-mainstream. Obverse Reality is not mainstream either. No ambition in that way. I make music for me. If someone else like it, well that is nice. Still underground. A new Synthetic Dream album is on its way. I have 6 new songs, and I will create more. I hope to release a new one begin next year. The music will be produced in a better way with modern technology.

What’s on the Obverse Reality agenda the next couple of weeks?

I have made 3 new tracks that are finished. Nathalie will write lyrics and I will write music. I am very busy with a new secret project as well.

A final word? 

Thank you for your support!

 

Thank you for the answers and good luck with all your projects!

http://www.obverse-reality.com/

http://www.myspace.com/obversereality

Jurgen VANVLASSELAER
11/11/2012


Next interviews

THE INVINCIBLE SPIRIT • There will be a new release in the near future.Stay Tuned!
CRONOS TITAN • Yes, religion means a lot to us.And we also feel that it's a great topic, especially since a lot of other bands in the scene deal with more dark and evil themes.
DERNIERE VOLONTE • In all forms of art, it's what you have in your heart that counts, your truth, your pure emotion...
HECQ (BEN LUKAS BOYSEN) • Both the Maschinenfest and Pluto gigs will drift in a pretty groovy realm.
RESIST CONCEPT • I mostly write about the things that affect me in my life. It's not like all of our lives are filled with angels and butterflies.We all have a dark side and i choose to explore that side of my psyche.
JONTEKNIK • A good friend of mine says that my music is made of elements of all my favourite artists with a bit of me gelling it together.
GAVIN FRIDAY • When you make music, you have to do it as passionate, as vulnerable, as ardent and as in love as when you made your first single or album. Otherwise it's bullshit...
AIBOFORCEN • Being on a compilation together with bands such as Bauhaus, Virgin Prunes , Gary Numan and Christian Death is very pleasant.
JOB KARMA • What is common for both projects is melancholy and emotional concepts for the music.
BLANCMANGE • It was either 'Blancmange' or 'A Pint Of Curry'. We were called 'The Blancmange' originally, but we dropped the 'The' when the record company asked if we'd consider changing our name. So that was our compromise!

Music reviews

04
02
BODY SYSTEM
World Of Lies
03
02
VAMPIRE MOON
I am your vampire queen
30
01
BOY GEORGE / PETER MURPHY
Let The Flowers Grow (Delerium remix)
29
01
FLESH FIELD
Supplication
28
01
DEADLY SINS
Mad mind of this world
27
01
CHRISTINE PLAYS VIOLA
F.I.V.E. - Fear Increases Violent Emotions

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

NEWS

04
02
Gold Star Punk | The Ramones End Of The Century At 46!
03
02
This month, 40 years ago, Front Line Assembly released Corrosion!
02
02
Anarchy And Innocence | Sid Vicious Died 47 Years Ago Today...
01
02
On this day, 42 years ago, Fad Gadget released its last studio album Gag!
30
01
On this day, 42 years ago The Cure performed in the Alabama Halle, Munich, Germany!
30
01
Calva Y Nada to release ¡Palpita, Corazón, Palpita! Vinyl + remix 12″ in May 2026

Concert reviews

03
11
FIX:8 SED:8 - MILDREDA - DATA VOID - 2ND FACE
Lessons in Humility Tour - The underground Vision - Oostende - 31 oktober 2025
24
10
PROJECT PITCHFORK
Live, 23 October 2025, Waregem, B
17
08
KRAFTWERK
Royal Palace Open Air - Brussels - August 14 2025
22
04
GAVIN FRIDAY
Live at 404 / De Vooruit - Ghent - 01/04.2025

GET A COPY OF OUR MAGAZINE
SEND TO YOUR HOME

INTERVIEWS

17
12
THE LAST DECADE
“Tonight we will be one. There is no choice on our run.“
15
12
JEROME FROESE
“Through Wasteland Methods, Towards the Evening Star, the Dream Keeps Spiraling Into Eternity.“
12
12
BLACK ROSE MOVES
“I lose myself, with every step that I take, In this dark, twisted world, my senses slowly awake.“
29
11
THE JUGGERNAUTS
“One day the ground will crumble. Disappear from underneath.You will feel yourself tumble. In this cold black hole beneath.“
27
11
DARKWAYS
“I like the night, Darkness is my only friend. I like the night, And the night likes me.”

PHOTOS

03
02
CLANOF XYMOX
Kulttempel Oberhausen
18
01
SIGLO XX
AB Brussel
18
01
REHASH NEU KLANG
AB Brussel
28
12
PROJECT-X
Bimfest XXIII St Niklaas
28
12
MAJESTOLUXE
Bimfest XXIII St Niklaas
28
12
THEY FEEL NOTHING
Bimfest XXIII St Niklaas
28
12
ZWEITE JUGEND
Bimfest XXIII St Niklaas

ADVERTISE
IN PEEK-A-BOO

VIDEO CLIPS

04
02
LES PANTIES
L'Arrivée
03
02
CLAN OF XYMOX
Imagination
02
02
PIG
The Dark Room
01
02
NINE INCH NAILS
Less Than
31
01
KRANKLAND
In the Realms of the Unreal
30
01
KATATONIA
Old Heart Falls
29
01
PSY'AVIAH
Opia