Washington, D.C.s PYGMY CHILDREN are a young electronic group producing excellent and aggressive hardbeat sounds. After a self-released CD and CDEP, they have now signed to L.A. label Cleopatra, and have released their 2nd CD, Decontruct. This new album boasts production by Keith Fluffy Auerbach and shows the group moving well past their initial comparisons to Front Line Assembly. Brothers Brian and Pete Roper of PYGMY CHILDREN were interviewed by Todd Zachritz of GODSEND in March of 1996.
G-Describe how/why/when you started Pygmy Children... previous bands... motivations, etc.
PETE: I had been playing drums in a speed/thrash band, but had gotten really tired of it and by the time we were breaking up I really didnt want to play that type of music anymore. In late 1992, we (Brian, a friend from the old band, and I) bought a sampler to attempt to put together a new project moving in a more industrial direction. BRIAN: My background is really more artistic than musical, but art / music is kinda in the same field and I had always wanted to venture into trying to do something musically anyway. I had been into electro/industrial stuff and always made Pete listen to what I was listening to at the time, and after a while he began to think that it was a hell of a lot more interesting than the stuff he was involved in, so we naturally collaborated on this thing that eventually became Pygmy Children. PETE: In the beginning a friend of ours who had been in the previous band with me was playing guitar with us, but we were just going around in circles, with so many conflicting ideas that after a while Brian and I decided to go our own electronic way. We needed a vocalist, so I started screaming and thats pretty much how it started.
G-What has influenced your music, and who do you listen to?
PETE: Early on, Id have to say Ministry, Skinny Puppy and FLA but now, I couldnt really cite any bands as overwhelming influences. I try to listen to all styles of music. Sometimes mellow stuff, other times extreme stuff..it just depends on the mood... BRIAN: When we started, I would have to say Front Line was the dominant influence on what we were doing, and there have been comparisons to early FLA with tracks off of Facedown and Malignant (their debut EP and CDs), although we werent purposefully trying to be imitators. I think now our sound has grown and gotten to the point where it would be hard to say that it sounds too influenced by anyone. We like to listen to all kinds of things, grabbing ideas that inspire us to push it a little further, creating a sound that is our own.
G-Live showshave you done any yet or any plans to?
PETE: Weve played live in the past. Shows had been pretty limited with very little effects, lights, etc. I guess the most excitable show was our first, where I accidentally cut my arm open, severing two tendons and managed to bleed all over the place. As for the future. we will probably use a live drummer to some degree and want the show to be very aggressive. BRIAN: Live shows have been to say the least interesting... things happen that you never expect, like MIDI problems where machines suddenly drop out or the time we blew the power in a club and Pete started singing Kumbaya in total darkness to break the silence. Weve been trying to work with more live performance for shows, to offer something different to the music than how it is on CD.
G-Thoughts on the current state of electronic music.
BRIAN: I havent bought tons of new music lately, but in general I think there are a lot of exciting things going on. At the same time, though, there seems to be a lot of formulaic trends and not enough pushing of the envelope. Right now, were working on the next CD and we are experimenting with new sounds, techniques, approaches. Who knows, it may sound nothing like deconstruct when its done. PETE: I think theres a lot of really good electro stuff out that people who arent hardcore into the electro/industrial scene will never hear (like us maybe?) because for some reason people are really fucking stupid. I mean, why is it when you go out to a club it seems that a lot of people just want to hear something off of Pretty Hate Machine for the nine millionth time?
G-How did you hook up with Keith Auerbach and Cleopatra?
PETE/BRIAN: We got in touch with Fluffy through Cleopatra who had told us who might be interested in working with us on the CD. Of the options we had, we thought working with Fluffy would be incredible because of his past work and all the great stuff thats come out of Chicago Trax. Fluffy is a really cool guy and was a pleasure to work with, despite our hectic schedule (18 hour days). As far as hooking up with Cleopatra goes, we originally sent them our two self-released CDs in regards of distribution and things kinda happened from there.
G-Reactions and press in USA and other countries... Does your audience seem to be centered in any certain area?
BRIAN: Of the reviews that were aware of, the response has been extremely positive. Weve done several interviews since the CD was released, including Terra Industria, issue 2 (PO Box 2127 Fairfax VA 22030), New Industrial Sounds (PO Box 34038 Omaha NE 68134-0038), Infectious Substance and B-Side. PETE: Weve gotten mail/e-mail from people all over, but I would have to say we get a lot of response from Europe. Belgium, Germany, France, Slovakia, Lithuania, etc. The reactions seem to be positive, although no ones lining our pockets with gold...
G-Future plans for Pygmy Children, other projects, releases, etc.
BRIAN: Were pretty much done with remix EP which should be pretty coola couple remixes we did, and others by George Hagegeorge of Under the Noise, Spahn Ranch, Razed in Black, etc. Weve done some remixes for Spahn Ranch and a couple for Under the Noise and had a lot fun with them. We did a video for Recoil (directed by Cheryl Fair, who by the way shot the photos enclosed) which will be out on a compilation by Cleopatra. Were working on new material and may be thinking about doing some kind of side project in the future. PETE: In general, just keep working on new music and progressing; play as many live shows as possible; and take electronic music into the 21st century. You know, just keep on trucking down that highway and not get run over...
Thanx to Pete and Brian for taking the time to answer these questions. To contact PYGMY CHILDREN: PO Box 25327 Washington, DC 20007-8327 USA or email : pygmyboy@aol.com