Timo Ellis (Netherlands)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2017? (In order 1-5)
- Ellen Allien - Nost
- Couch Slut - Contempt
- Noveller - A Punk Sunset For No One
- Noam Pikelny - Universal Favorite
- Mortiferum - Altar of Decay
2. What band did you discover in 2017 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
TIDAL ARMS self-titled, second LP (2013) ... snuck up on me, and although I'd heard it before... somehow it just seriously CLOBBERED me this time around - its so harmonically unexpected/ interesting, by turns ruminative, upbeat, and then HEAVVVVY as fuck too... yeah, IMO it's a fucking classic!!! GO LISTEN NOW:
https://tidalarmsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/tidal-arms
3. How will you remember 2017? (In terms of music)
Notable moments: NETHrock playing with EYEHATEGOD, the arrival of our incredible new drummer Joel "Moon Boy" Willis, EARTHEATER live, BUTOH BEETHOVEN, playing bass with MIHO HATORI at the Yayoi Kusama show at The Broad in LA, CAR BOMB live, PAMELIA STICKNEY (the theremin master) live... and obsessively making my own music for months on end, along with regularly DJ'ing on the fantastic Brooklyn LOT RADIO station throughout the year. Soweeeeeet.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2018?
Touring with NETHrock! Also kicking major ass/releasing a shitload of my own new music (+ also being a goddamn super vegan/ vocal animal rights motherfucker too, btw).
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2018?
NETHrock's new EP Hope Porn (out 2.9.18) and everything else on my new label Records and Tapes Records, stay tuned (and also waiting to see if DECAPITATED are innocent or not (um, not holding my breath, unfortunately...)
6. For most, 2017 will be remembered as a year of political and social conflict. How does that cultural atmosphere influence your own music or artistic life?
For me, this "cultural atmosphere" has been informing my work in the way implied by this question for many years now - obviously 2017 was fucking horrendous in certain ways, as we all know... but frankly, IMO things were already profoundly fucked up, and have been wildly out of control in the the US... for decades, now...Meaning, aside from the current insane political trash fire, domestically + internationally (IE Trump's terrifying ineptitude, his open racism, sexism, and endless parade of idiotic, backward-ass and possibly catastrophic bullshit, notwithstanding... )
The US is a longtime, and is still actively... an utterly ruthless, racist, murderous imperial force; and in spite of certain (relatively) progressive advances after WWII, and since the '60's... in the last 20-30 years, a corporate coup in the US HAS been taken place... and it's now complete. Meaning, the US-based (but also supra-national) oligarchical elite will continue to jockey for "world dominance" by any means necessary... even it if means cannibalizing and ultimately destroying even THIS society!! And all while also (constantly) committing state sponsored terror around the world... IMO any remotely educated perspective about this ought to profoundly terrify and fucking infuriate EVERYONE!! So... NEVER FORGET THIS + DECOLONIZE/ RESIST/ FIGHT THE FUCKING POWER, etc. etc.
... so yeah, all this is always on my mind/ informs ALL my music and art!! ;) PEAAAAAACE!!! /T
