Interview with Statiqbloom: "It's not the paint brush that makes the great painting but it's how the person uses it."

Photo: Nikki Sneakers

by Stina Isabel Gavrilin

Statiqbloom has played at BFTV, he has played in Paavli Kultuurivabrik, but he has never played at BFTV in Paavli Kultuurivabrik... Neither have we, to be honest. But it's finally happening, because that's precisely where we're moving to on June 20th! 7 DJs, preceded by the official Baltic premiere for the new Cold Meat Industry documentary "Soul In Flames". The main act of the night of course, will be the Berlin based artist Statiqbloom from the US, with a live set masterfully blending industrial and techno. He answered some questions for us - here they are for your reading pleasure (or horror)...

When you first started as Statiqbloom, you didn’t release anything for a while. What’s your opinion on the saying that art isn’t art until it’s shared?

When I first started Statiqbloom it was music I was making when I had insomnia, then I was making songs just for me, it wasn’t until later that I decided to share the Statiqbloom material. I don't think I fully agree with that statement, because a lot of art is personal and can be a way of exorcising demons or expressing love & joy for the creator.

You’ve been heavily influenced by metal, industrial, IDM, triphop, and rhythmic noise to name just a few things. What would you say is the one thing all of these have in common that drew you to them in the first place?

A strong sense of rhythm and groove along with an otherworldly atmosphere, I feel these elements is what resonate with me and is tied throughout these genres of music.

Who are the figures that you looked up to growing up that have shaped your world view?

As a teenager it was a lot of surrealist and abstract painters like H.R. Giger, Francis Bacon & Gerhard Richter. Music by Skinny Puppy, Coil, Cocteau Twins & Einstürzende Neubauten, were a big influence on giving me new perspectives of what music could be and to break free of the normal concepts and patterns of what music was and how it was played. They planted the seeds of experimentation and creating worlds within the music.

Statiqbloom has been both a solo project and a group. Which incarnation do you feel suits it best and would you ever consider bringing other people in again?

At the moment I think I need to create on my own and try to birth some ideas that I’ve been holding on to. I think it would be difficult to realize them with someone else, but who knows what the future may bring, I'm always open for collaborations.

You’ve just released an EP with Blush Response, how did you two first meet and connect?

We met in New York, we did a US tour together when I first started Statiqbloom. And when I moved to Berlin 3 years ago, we reconnected and made some music together. That is this EP that just was released on Hands label.

Are you a gear nerd? Does it interest what other artists use to make music?

I'm not super nerdy with gear, but there are certain synths and drum machines I love. I'm interested in techniques that people use and abuse gear to get new and interesting sounds. But at the end of the day, I really feel that it's not the paint brush that makes the great painting but it's how the person uses it.

Statiqbloom at BFTV in June 2022. Photo: Evert Palmets

Are there any instruments you despise and completely refuse to use in your music?

Maybe a harmonica or bad synth trumpet sounds. There are no instruments I despise, but there is definitely music that I despise.

Are you still active in any metal bands? Since the genre is a formative part of your development as a musician, have you ever thought of going that route as Statiqbloom?

No I’m currently not in any metal bands or projects, no I would not go that route with Statiqbloom, it would be under a different name if I decided to do that.

You’ve had many insane stories to tell regarding your shows among other things. But what’s the craziest or most embarrassing thing that has happened to you that involves an artist you admire?

Once I almost hit Björk when she was pregnant while I was driving a delivery truck in New York City. I had the green light and she steeped into the street, luckily I hit the breaks in time!

How do you think you’d be spending your time if artistic expression didn’t exist?

I would probably be a very miserable person.

This will be your third time in Tallinn. Sorry about the trauma we caused last time by taking you through all those dark moldy basements. What other phobias do you have that we could abuse this time?

I have fear of heights, and the fear of skin conditions, particularly when associated with patterns of holes or bumps, it's often referred to as trypophobia. Looking at a photo of someone with something like small pox really freaks me out. So please don’t do that to me.

Pre-sale tickets for the event are available on Fienta:

https://fienta.com/et/beats-from-the-vault-20-06-paavli