Interviews

Interviews: killwhitneydead

What happens when you mix some of the best metal and grindcore with crazy sick samples and brutal vocals? You get killwhitneydead, a metal band that isn't afraid to break taboos that even some of the most disturbed metal bands wouldn't touch. The resulting twisting chaos was made to sit down and answer some of our most dire questions. The victim was vocalist M. of killwhitneydead and he was able to wrench himself free of his tortorous thoughts to be fully Smothered. Be sure to read our reviews of their "So Pretty So Plastic", the KWDMF remix album of "So Pretty So Plastic", as well as their haunting "Never Good Enough For You".

Smother: First off, who is Whitney and why so much animosity towards her? Are all the songs about her, whoever she is?

M: Whitney is a friend of mine. We have had our ups and downs over the years like any friendship can have. The band name was spawned at a low point, obviously. Everything is great now between us. She understands that it's only a band name, and is flattered that we rock so hard with her name within our moniker.

Actually, none of the songs are about Whitney. They are written about a few other people who have happened to float through my life at one point or another. We won't get into specifics, as the people aren't worth mentioning by name. As a piece of shit is still a piece of shit no matter what name you give it, right?

Smother: How'd the band form? Did you guys set to form the perfect metal band to listen to after a harsh break-up?

M: The idea of "KWD" was something I had in my head for a while. The initial battle plan was gather up some local musicians and start a band that I could front. I had the concept of what I wanted to sing about and I knew I wanted to use sound clips from movies, and have a totally insane band persona, but the music I left up to the guys I got to join the band. I gave them 3 stipulations. It had to be fast, have crushing breakdowns and Kerry King solos.

As far as the lyrics and concepts I had most of the first album already written lyrically well before we got a band together, but the other 2 records I wrote during the periods before we recorded them so they are more representative of recent occurrences in my life. It seems my struggles in life are the same for a lot of people out there. I happen to write a tremendous amount of material about heartbreak, b/c that is what hits me the strongest for some reason in my life and I think most people can relate to that as well. We have all had our hearts broken at some point, I just choose to write about what happens after someone does that to you. The getting even part.

Smother: What was the idea behind doing that exclusive limited edition disc of "remixes" under the moniker KWDMF? Shall we guess that it stands for kill whitney dead motherfucker?

M: You are correct, that is what it stands for. The concept of KWDMF came from all the fans loving our sample usage. I had so many left over from the last two albums that I wanted to use them for something so why not try and redo the entire new album with all new samples? It was for the fans first, but also a challenge to myself to see if I could pull it off and have it still sound cohesive. I think it worked out very well.

Smother: What's been your favorite show that you've played thus far? Do any girls show up or do they feel out of place at a kwd show?

M: I don't know because surprisingly enough we have never played live. We are a studio project. All that hype on the one-sheets/website was to throw everyone off our trail, because we figured no one would give us a chance if we were simply known as a studio project or if anyone knew who we really were. When I started KWD I wanted a fair shake and if people knew I was in the band I knew a fair shake wasn't going to be possible. So I created a band image/story of what I thought KWD represented. But, since all the fans have started demanding that we play shows, we are currently working on getting on a summer tour in 2005. So this once studio project has become a full-blown band with 6 members currently. Judging from all the female fan mail we get we would assume they would all come out to the shows as well. I don't think they would feel out of place. Women are angry too, and that is what we as KWD represent, anger and hostility. We are revenge, and what woman hasn't wanted to exact revenge upon some poor dude? They are all welcome at KWD shows. Plus, we need someone to hook up with after the show is over and sweaty dudes won't cut it for us.

Smother: How do you go about recording an album? Do you gather up all the samples first or is that a process as you write? Is it hard to speak after laying down all the vocal tracks?

M: KWD on the albums is just a trio. Collin and Steven write all the music with my few thoughts or contributions. I then take those songs and put lyrics to them. I don't start putting samples to the music until its recorded and I can better hear how the songs will flow. If I have a lyrical concept I then start searching for samples that will fit the theme, and I just do that for every song on an album until I am finished.

As far as my voice, it all depends. On the recording of "So Pretty So Plastic" I redid a lot of the vocals more than once. I did one session that was just for demos and my voice sounded horrible, then I came back later after I had strengthened my voice and re-tracked it all. After those sessions I came back again and redid certain parts I wanted to fix and each time I recorded my voice got stronger and stronger. Your vocals chords are like any other muscle in the body, you have to work them out so they will grow stronger. Since we are a studio band I have a little more work ahead of me than most singers do when entering a studio, but I manage and they seem to come out alright on the albums, or at least the fans enjoy them and that is all that counts.

Smother: What bands have been an influence would you say? How do you guys think you fit in among the metal and grindcore scenes?

M: We all like different types of music. So it's hard to say exactly who influences us. We all like death metal/hardcore and progressive metal like Rush and Dream Theater. We just write songs we enjoy listening to, and we hope the fans will dig them to. I think that is pretty evident if you listen to the progression of the three KWD albums, as they are each their own album. We just write what we want to, and don't worry about anything else at the time.

I don't think we really fit into the grindcore scene honestly, because I don't consider KWD to be a grind band. Sure we have grinding parts, but we aren't a grind band. We don't fit that scene at all. Not that it's a bad thing to be a grindcore band, but we have too many breakdowns in our songs to be a grind band.

Smother: Tribunal Records seems to be a pretty rockin' label with several unbelievably amazing bands. How did you guys start working together and what's your feel on the label?

M: We had an "inside connection" with the label. We can't get into to details or it will be a breach of contract (hahaha). They have been great to us, and let us do whatever the hell we want to do, and that is all a band can ever ask for: the freedom to be creative.

Smother: Any slamming tours coming up? If you could pick any band, past or present, or hell even future that you could play a show with, who would you pick?

M: We are working on some plans for a summer tour this year, but nothing is set in stone.

We are up for playing a show with anyone. We don't care at this point who we play with as long as we get to rock out and everyone has a great time when they come see us play.

As far as playing shows with defunct bands, I would have to say Dark Angel, Exodus or any of the Bay Area thrash bands. I loved that entire '80's thrash scene, and would love to rock like that now! So we'll see how KWD album # 4 turns out!!

Smother: Shifting to the lyrical content, it seems that most of the songs deal with pretty angry issues and a violent resolution seems to entail most of them. Is this done in fun, or are you half-serious? Will you EVER be married?

M: Yes, I am sure I will be married at some point. There will be one woman who can tame the rage inside of me.

I use KWD as a form of catharsis. We all have terrible things that occur in our lives and we need ways to deal with it or get our anger out and for me it is KWD. I deal with so many shitheads in my daily life that it gets frustrating sometimes. So I take the anger I feel and channel it into my lyrics. Some songs are written from a realistic standpoint, but others are created when I am in a horrible mood and I am feeling creative. Some of the outrageous stuff is in jest, but there are some songs that I am 100% serious about, but I will let the listeners be the judge of that. I don't want ruin it for the fans.

Most of all my songs are violent in nature because that is something that I enjoy singing about. Violence is what hardcore is about. Sure there are themes of unity and things of that nature but when a breakdown hits everyone starts going berserk so we just wrote a soundtrack for it. We don't condone dance floor violence, b/c that just holds up shows and is stupid, but we want kids to come out and dance hard, scream along and have fun.

Smother: How (and more importantly when!) will you follow-up "So Pretty So Plastic"?

M: Probably some time in 2006. It all depends on how well "So Pretty So Plastic" does. We need to sell some records so our label will keep us going. With all the rampant stealing of music via the Internet nowadays it gets harder and harder for a label to support its bands when the records they press don't sell. So if we can move some units our new album will be out in 2006. We already have 5 songs written for it 3 of which are recorded in a demo form. As with the last album be ready for a change, we don't like doing the same thing twice. It will still have all the trademark things that make KWD sound like KWD, but there will be a few new things added to the mix.

We are also working on a cover song EP. That is just for us to have some fun with. Get ready for KWD covering Kelly Clarkson. Yes, it will happen. We love that new song of hers.

Smother: Alright I need to be greedy here--can I get a free t-shirt? Ah, hell, I'll pay for one, you guys deserve my hard-earned dough. Hell you guys deserve everyone's hard-earned dough. How are sales going anyways, it seems like this album is pretty hyped up at least in the underground.

M: The record is doing pretty good, not as great as we thought since we had a nice buzz going from "Never" but we aren't complaining. We had a TON of fans pre-order the album, which was absolutely amazing to see. We never thought we would sell so many before the record had even been pressed. Its nice to know you have a legion of devoted fans you can always count on. We just need to get their friends to buy the records, and not burn them.

Smother: Speaking of album sales, would you rather write a song about Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, or Avril Lavigne? And if you did, what would you call it?

M: I already wrote a song about all 3, it's on the latest album. Its called ""If I Told You That I Loved You Would I Get It Any Faster?"

Seriously, I would probably write a song about Britney because she seems to be getting more and more slutty nowadays, which is a great thing to me. Hey Britney--CALL ME! I mean I would love to play with Jessica Simpson too, but she doesn't seem like too much fun to be around. Avril? She can call me if she puts on about 20lbs. I would crush her.

Smother: Your song titles are usually very humorous; who comes up with song titles like "The Age Old Dilemma of Romance vs. Retribution", "I Didn't Know 'I Love You' Came with a Knife in the Back", "Forgiveness Isn't As Much Fun As Holding a Grudge", "Save Your Sermons For Sunday So I Can Sleep This Night Off", "If I Told You That I Loved You Would I Get It Any Faster?"

M: I come up with most of the song titles; a few band members give me ideas to use as well. I try and have fun with them, but at the same time be a little serious with their intent. For example I came up with "Save Your Sermons For Sunday So I Can Sleep This Night Off" while seeing a certain Christian band at a club and the guy started talking about having to fight off his sexual urges because of all the pretty girls at the show. I couldn't stop laughing while sitting at the bar, and I just wrote the song title down on a napkin. I had also written down "I Talk About Refraining From Sexual Urges On Stage To Pick Up Chicks" but I went with the other one. Maybe the latter will wind up on the next album. I have them all saved in a data base!!

Smother: On your "Never Good Enough for You" album, you guys worked with Katie from Suicide Girls on your artwork, how'd you get hooked up with those beautiful ladies? Are you still working with them? I'll spare you the obvious bad jokes and inneundos...

M: A friend had a membership to the website and I saw her photo set on there, so I sent her an email and told her how much I loved her artwork and asked if she wanted to be a part of the album and thankfully she said yes. Her photo set just fit the concept of the album's title and theme. It's funny because everyone thinks that the imagery is supposed to be violence against women, like our band name, but the violence on the cover is self inflicted and represents the album's title "Never Good Enough For You" and the song's lyrics in which the title is pulled from. The newest cover girl, Mollie, is an up and coming SG, but we met her through another band on Tribunal so it was all a coincidence that she was a SG girl. I am not sure what we will be doing for the 4th album visually. It all depends on what my lyrical themes turn out to be, so we'll see what happens!

Smother: We know you love movies as evidenced by samples from great movies like "American Psycho", "Apocalypse Now", and "Red Dawn". so do you have any movie recommendations that you'd like to share? What about other bands you like?

M: I don't really know about movies to recommend. I would just tell kids to check out all the movies we sample from, b/c they have moved me in some form that I chose to use their dialogue on my albums to help further my creative expressions.

I love JOURNEY, and I will leave it at that.

Smother: What's currently rocking your Playstation/Xbox/Gamecube?

M: Sadly enough, I don't play video games. I have no time for them. Sorry I am lame, I know.

Smother: We always ask this one question of all the people we interview to see who gives us the funniest or most interesting response--What would do/say if you met a guy named Carbomb?

M: Nice to meet you, Carbomb was it? Can I meet your parents?

Smother: Thanks for doing this, you got anything else you'd like to add?

M: Thanks to all the fans for all the amazing support they have given us thus far. See you on the road in 2005!! Thanks to Smother for giving us space on the website for this interview, we appreciate it all!!



Links:

Official Site

Tribunal Records