Kevin Gan Yuen (guitar) Sutekh Hexen
What is your name and band/label/etc?
Kevin Gan Yuen and I play guitar and contribute to the following projects: Sutekh Hexen, OGHAM, Fermentæ, Circle of Eyes and a new project named NVLL.
What are your top five albums that were released in 2012? (In order 1-5)
- Anthony Pateras "Errors of the Human Body OST" 2xLP Editions Mego
- Vatican Shadow "September Cell" LP, Bed of Nails
- Aluk Todolo "Occult Rock" 2xLP, The Ajna Offensive
- High aura'd "Sanguine Future's" LP, Bathetic Records
- Wreathes "S/T" LP, Pesanta Urfolk
Worthy mentions:
- Teitanblood "Woven Black Arteries" CD, Norma Evangelium Diaboli
- KTL "V" 2xLP, Editions Mego
- Burial Hex "Eschatology II" CS, Brave Mysteries
- Alan Lamb, Garry Bradburry, David, Burraston, Oren Ambarchi & Robin Fox "Wired Open Day 2009" 2xLP, Taiga
- Converge "All We Love We Leave Behind" CD, Epitaph
What band did you discover in 2012 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
These days, I am all about (re)discoveries, you know... classics and through classics and not actively seeking out new bands, etc. There is so much music out there already!!
How will you remember 2012? (In terms of music)
Sutekh Hexen's first US tour and all of the great people that we shared time with across the States
What can we look forward to from you in 2013?
Lots of things: in Autumn of 2013 we are looking to tour Scandinavia into Central Europe and hopefully hit London in support of the new record. It will be good to play for the new audience. Sutekh Hexen will be finishing our new 2xC10 titled "Monument of Decay" for Black Horizons, this will be the return to the cassette format. Around the second-quarter, we will see the LP edition of the now OOP "Become" material, which was originally released by Auris Apothecary on 1/4" tape!! (such an obscure format these days). Also, weeks from typing this, we will begin writing and recording for our 2xLP, the next proper album titled "Light & Matter" with some incredible collaborators in-tow. I am still wrapping up the first and final FERMENTÆ full-length LP; as to when this solo-effort sees release is questionable, but some folks have expressed interest in releasing it. The first OGHAM release, my collaboration with Thomas Ekelund (SWE) will be coming out on cassette shortly through Merz Tapes too. That is pretty exciting, we are very happy with this one and it has been a long-time coming!! As for the rest... We Shall See.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2013?
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Fundraising sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have made a strong impact on the ability of artists to release music. Do you think this approach is a trend, or will it continue to shape how artists produce their material?
Sure, I believe they are a great resource for creatives. The fact of the matter is: when it is all said and done, there is little to no-profit for the artists involved, because the funds channel directly back into the work: production costs for recording or pressing new records, printing posters/promotional ephemera, gas money and other necessities that are modest requirements. This is the nature of creative publication. What I do know from personal experience is that these fundraisers involve a group of people agreeing to want to directly help support their favorite artists, friends or colleagues and the ability to see results. It exposes the flaws and shortcomings that various industries have failed to deliver on. At the same time, these pledge-platforms demonstrate a sense of great community on a larger scale, that otherwise exists, city to city, but this is huge and needs to be recognized as a legitimate model for sincere creatives who really believe that their work needs to be available to the world. If you are reading this, Thank You for supporting.
