Circuit 8: Who are Zhark Records?

Hecate: Hmm......I would have to say it started with Patrick (DJ Kareem) in New York, yeah.....just him and myself. We started a project and label under the name of ZHARK and didn't care about the formalities.

C8: Why "Zhark"?

H: That word means a myriad of things too me.... I don't become attached to any of the meanings though: sharks, zarg (en Deutsche), and the guy in Tron , Zark.

C8: Where are you based?

H: Honestly, I would have to say where ever one of us is.......it started in New York (the two of us), separated in Berlin, just myself in Berlin, and many various assortments including Detroit (my home) and presently Vancouver B.C...

C8: You seem to have got about a fair bit… what were you doing in these places?

H: I was sick of America, knew some people in Berlin and took off.....before that I spent time in between New York and Detroit...I always went back to visit my hometown but Detroit and the rest of America are just too fucked, the racial conflict in Detroit is a horror show between the suburbs and one of the worst low income areas in the states. I needed more hands on information......

C8: How does Vancouver compare to the rest of the world when it comes to music?

H: There was the whole industrial thing that went down here in the 80's, no scenes are good anywhere really.... every scene has its faults. As far as music, Mark Spybey (D.V.O.A., Download) and I will be working on a project here. There are a couple good record stores, like Scratch, and that is all you really need.... access to what you want.

C8: Is there a party scene over there?

H: All that I know.... On Sunday I went to get some coffee at a coffeeshop near school, about 1:30 PM, I opened the door only to find the smell of Vicks vapo rub and vocal house wash over me. I said I just wanted to get a coffee, they said I had to either pay to get into this afterhour, or give collateral. I reached into my bag handed over my 10 lb. LINGO book and this kid looked at me like he had never seen a book in his life, professional ravers... so the answer is yes, there are shit parties here if you want them...... I'd rather not.

C8: So what are you doing in Vancouver?

H: I came here to spend ten months at the Vancouver film school. I am getting certified in CD-ROM authoring, Protools, and digital video production. I have enough time to be doing this instead of concentrating solely on music. There are just so many ways to incorporate various media to give life to a shared concept, I had to get my hands on all this tech..... Plus it is a nice change from both Berlin and Detroit, as far as climate and scenery.

C8: So, should we expect a full on multimedia Zhark release in the near future?

H: Near? That all depends.... for sure after these ten months are through, hopefully before then. But, be sure that more than one will exist.

C8: How long has the label been going?

H: It started in the May of 96 (just before my 20th birthday) , the Payback EP. ....... we are now coming on our 5th release.

C8: What made you start Zhark?

H: I would have to say that ZHARK started from a lack of meaning in the Detroit and New York electronic society... all the harsher or even more ambient stuff was thrown into this black hole of performance art e.g. illbient.....
We just stayed in our apt. making tracks and listening to our neighbour play Ace of Base songs on repeat for several hours at a time.

C8: How would you describe the music you make?

H: As for solo projects, I have released under HECATE and a release coming as LYNN POWDERHORN :-) on the next release.... My music is usually beat oriented with a lot of equilibrium, twisting sounds.... some vocals with the Lynn Powderhorn vein, HECATE is more post-apocalyptic... dirty, eerie, sexy... dark, sick, music...

C8: Aah, you know the way to my heart! Lynn Powderhorn… I'll probably regret asking this but what's that all about?

H: There are actually 2 stories regarding that... take a pick: Door 1... how I thought of it, or 2, what Joel (Midiwar) thought of it.....? Choose your fate.

C8: Joel… hmm… I'll have to choose Door 2 and then try and pick the lock on Door 1.

H: Oh-oh.....
OK...so Joel, his girlfriend (Caro) and I are out for a beer and he says to me, "So Patric and I were wondering about this Lynn Powderhorn. He thinks it's about a vibrator and I think it is a reference to you smoking a joint with coke in it. Which one is it?" I reply with, "Obviously, it is me putting the coke on the vibrator and using it!"
Actually it is how this equation to come up with a porn name equalled out - middle name + name of the street you've lived on the longest = porn star name.

H: What would yours be?

C8: Richard Southsea… but you can call me Dick.

H: Aw, yeah....I see you're getting the hang of it!

C8: You haven't seen my films? Ermm… why did you actually want a porn star name?

H: Because I would never be one, and Lynn Powderhorn just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it? Hehe.

C8: Yup, it slides out nicely. You're into the more "extreme" end of music - how did that come about?

H: At birth, but I won't go there......
I grew up (14-17) in the Detroit techno scene, after a while I needed to hear something more abusive, more powerful. I became hungry for grating sounds, hollow tones, eerie references... I am attracted to harsh things, truth... The truth of the matter is that it is pretty fucked everywhere, you already know that… There are certain frequencies and beats that just tear through all of the bullshit . I need that release.

C8: What other labels or producers make these sounds?

H: As far as new stuff, I have to say I adore those first two Ambush records. Some Praxis stuff (24 especially)also Sub/Version, some of Patric C's stuff (haven't heard anything new lately though), Techno Animal, Alec Empire's Generation StarWars, and hm.... I really don't know what else... unfortunately not one female producer I can name though......

C8: Why do you think that is? Is it purely down cultural conditioning?

H: Funny, I was just having a little talk with Lisa Carver 'bout that..... I have wondered if it is that there isn't enough support for women who want to enter this male dominated profession. I have had lots of trouble in the past, but that may have to do with just being involved with the music industry itself, not because of gender... I will never really know that though. Lisa thought that women aren't attracted to tech because women are more interested in hands on living things, if so then I must be a mutant. Anyway you look at it, there will be no answer because of the complexities.

C8: Who's Lisa Carver?

H: She is an American writer who produces a zine called RollerDerby - articles about music, exhibitionism, herself, performance "art", mailorder brides, etc... she also performs with a French guy, last name Costes.

C8: Mailorder brides? Oh forget it. Who do you listen to?

H: Lots of different stuff, as long as it is not wishy-washy. For example... fucked up field recordings, SPK, Misfits, Keukot, ones mentioned above, Current93, Rachael's, TAGC, Aube, assorted soundtracks, Nurse with Wound, some older Alec Empire stuff, Mile's Davis's "Get Up With It", friends who haven't released anything yet, and tapes that I secretly recorded while beating people, of course.

C8: Of course… right, you're doing the digital video thing, you make truly new music and we're doing this interview via email. I'm sorry to be so obvious but you appear to be a technophile… is this true?

H: Well, my heartbeat does raise when I see a lot of high-end gear...... but then again, I have been known to blush when I hold an AK-47....

C8: Apart from the AK-47, what do you see as the social role for all this technology ?

H: Besides, separating and exploiting the classes even more?

It's already too big to stop, we are all wired in the system.

It's already too big to stop, we are all wired in the system.

It's already too big to stop, we are all wired in the system.

The lucky ones who have access to all this tech, and are not victims of zombification can use it as a way to eradicate mediocrity and continue the d-evolution of humanity... To come together with a plethora of knowledge, art, music, and vengeance... just like what we are doing right now.

C8: So you feel that everyone should have access to all this technology by right?

H: Well I do believe that there should be better access to technology, if only for basic training, in lower income housing areas... remember, I am from the States, the socio-economic situation is a lot different from England.

C8: That's very true, although over here there's also the opinion that those who can't afford the technology are disenfranchised. What about the point of view that you never miss what you've never had?

H: I don't think children in the ghetto are oblivious to the existence of computers.... plus, as I said about the social role of technology, how can everyone from different places come together if tech is only for the social elite? Doesn't give us a very accurate cross section does it?

It's already too big to stop, we are all wired in the system some way.

It's already too big to stop, we are all wired in the system some way.

It's already too big to stop, we are all wired in the system some way.

C8: That's also true but I haven't heard the, supposedly charitable, developed, elite countries screaming for telephones and TVs to be given to the undeveloped countries. Don't you think it's kind of surreal talking about ghetto children having computers when the clockwork radio has only just been invented for the true poor people of the world?

H: Do not get me wrong, I am not advocating that we all chip in and buy every kid in the ghetto a computer, I mean that there should be community centers where children, and adults can go and learn the basics of computing if they have the will to learn.

C8: I have met some of the kindest, most generous people through this dark, hard and sometimes violent music… ermm… I don't want to sound (too) pretentious but, if you agree, why do the "best" people like the "nastiest" sounds?

H: I fear that is too general. But twist my arm....

Harder...

So-called dark creations. Life given to them by some human experiencing the harsher side of the classic human condition.

C8: Ermm.. OK.. you're into video, what films do you like?

H: At the moment this Dario Argento film, SUSPERIA, is my favorite eerie/occult film. the soundtrack is killer, the lighting, and script all seamless. Cafe Flesh ,The White Room, Kenneth Anger films, City Hunter, Cabinet of Dr. Calagari, and Hour of the Wolf are some more that I highly recommend.

C8: Earlier you mentioned Zhark's next release. Who's it by and what's it like?

H: Next week a CD comp is coming out, a nice selection of tracks from artists including 4E, Eradicator, Alec Empire, myself, and others.... slower ,beat oriented, darker shit...... pick one up!

C8: I will do! You obviously keep in touch with Berlin… do you plan to release any more collaborations in the future? If so, who with?

H: We'll have to see........