Steven Hess Locrian
What is your name and band/label/etc?
Locrian
What are your top five albums that were released in 2012? (In order 1-5)
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! (Constellation)
- Horseback - Half Blood (Relapse Records)
- Brian Eno - Lux (Warp)
- Loscil - Sketches from New Brighton (Kranky)
- Swans - The Seer (Young God)
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?
Raime (Blackest Ever Black). Minimal, dark, beautiful and eerie sounds all in one package. With their newest release "Quarter Turns Over a Living Line" they stick with the same musical aesthetic but with more organic sounds. Amazing duo, and I highly recommend you check them out if you haven't heard them.
How will you remember 2012? (In terms of music)
Busy
What can we look forward to from you in 2013?
A new Locrian record, "Return to Annihilation" on Relapse. A new Pan American release on Kranky due out in Feb 2013, and the debut release of a new band called Innode (w/Stefan Nemeth and Bernhard Breuer). I'm looking forward to playing/touring/traveling in 2013, and also stepping back a bit to do some other non-musical activities.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2013?
Hard to say. A couple that I can think of right now, are: William Basinski + Richard Chartier (LINE), and Death Blues (Taiga). I'm hoping there will be a new Asva release, and a new Fennesz record in 2013 as well.
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?
I hope it's just a trend. Personally, I find Kickstarter to be the equivalent of begging for money to release a record, fund a tour, getting shirts made, etc.. If your going to go that route, apply for a grant (or two), or get funding/backing elsewhere, as in a label, publisher, or maybe you have some rich parents/relatives. Best yet... get a job, work hard, save your money, and do it yourself.
