Sutekh Hexen / In Solace Publishing (Kevin Gan Yuen)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2020? (In order 1-5)
- Eyvind Kang – Ajaeng Ajaeng
- Paysage d'Hiver – Im Wald
- Clipping - Visions of Bodies Being Burned
- Susan Alcorn – The Heart Sutra (Arranged by Janel Leppin)
- Reverorum ib Malacht – Vad Är Inte Sju Huvud?
- God is War - ApexPredator
2. What band did you discover in 2020 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
I rediscovered this minimalist techno project called GAS and his 2nd-4th albums. It is almost a bad cliche to say that something is the soundtrack to your life but Wolfgang Voigt basically became that for me and revisiting his works in 2020 remains true. For me techno was always a fine line between being engaging or cheesy and GAS is totally a gray area: I connected with it immediately. A lot has changed in my personal life since I first heard GAS ages ago: his music still moves me, it's the rhythm/tempo, atmosphere and subtleties.
3. How will you remember 2020? (In terms of music)
That music is still one of the most important things for humanity, whether you're a creator or a fan.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2021?
It is really hard to say, especially right now.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2021?
To be honest I don't have the luxury of time like I used to in actively keeping tabs on bands. I just look forward to making it through life content and healthy right now!
It is very good for us all to be pleasantly surprised every now and again.
6. Trying to put a positive spin on things, what is your favorite development from the global pandemic this year? (Is there a new medium you enjoy, a specific song or collaboration, personal news, etc. that was a bright spot?)
I really was not sure how this would all pan out for a lot of people that I know or kind of know who are in much more prolific and successful bands. Obviously it has been stressful for the people who are committed to touring relentlessly and sustaining their vision and lives this way. From my perspective as an American citizen: this all came at a tumultuous time, the climate in the world in general has been tense. Particularly in the States... These last few years have been absolutely fucked, so seeing people continuing to record, promote and release music had made me feel conflicted (I had to stop myself and edit this part of the response, but I'm 100% positive that most of the people I know felt similarly)... The brightest spot without a doubt is knowing people who have the fan base and ability to vocalize and utilize their platform and resources towards doing the right thing. It does not equalize the insanity but certainly tips the scale in a favorable direction. With some of these bands/people, their generous actions actually overshadowed their music for me and that is true power.
