I'm not an artist. I've recorded some of my own stuff but never released it and don't plan on it. Maybe in the future I can get my project up and going but the sound I want is difficult to get with the equipment that I have and can even afford.
What I do is simply
The Pure Stench. Interviews and reviews from Power Electronics, Industrial and Noise groups. I did some art for the next Exoteric zine and I've done some other small pieces just for the Stench, but that is really as far as my "art project" goes. I also run another forum somewhat like this but with just a bit more choice (there is of course a Noise/PE/Industrial forum as well as a Metal sub-forum, Hardcore/Post-Punk sub-forum, General Discussion, etc) -
http://stenchforums.net . I feel like right now my site and my forums are the best contribution that I can personally add, and I'm happy with just doing that for now.
Quote1) Do you believe industrial music is an art form that ANYONE, especially the musically talentless, can contribute to if they want to? That's one of the myths that originally drew me to it, often alluded to in the early interviews of Throbbing Gristle, but I'm not sure I believe it now. Maybe some people are naturally inclined to be capable industrial musicians, and some people aren't. I'm not sure if by giving up I'm being more honest or lazy.
I've wrote about this pretty extensively but I'll post what my main point is from my blog...
Is it a good thing to be open-minded in small genres such as Noise, Power Electronics (even Black Metal) these days? There are all too many people out there who record their static hiss onto a cassette, xerox the cover art and call it a solid release. This is not exciting. Words like "art" and "creative medium" are no excuse. An attention to detail and a clear explanation for action should be upheld as they are in any other genre. The argument that art is not art until it is communicated is a true statement. But what the fuck makes everyone think that they are an artist, or at least that their choice of expression is the correct fit for them? The phrase "I create art in order to _______" (fill in the blank) is a good starting point. Why bother if your answer is "I create art in order to fill in the blank"? Before you set out there and play with your pedals please do keep in mind that bad art is bad because it does not evoke the feelings in which it is supposed to be representing, not because it isn't "pretty" or understood in mass. The lack of intention and sincerity can be picked up on easily.
"...If it is not admitted that art must be intelligible and comprehensible, then any unintelligible or incomprehensible expression of thoughts or feelings may be called "art." If any incomprehensible form of personal expression may be called "art," then the definition of art gradually loses its meaning, until it has no meaning at all." - Tolstoy
(this section is taken from a comment I made in the same post)....art is very subjective. It is actually one of the only forms of communication that remains "completely personal". There is that which is perceiving the art, that which created the art to be perceived and the act, itself, of perceiving it. If "that which created the art to be perceived" has no intention behind it than, I personally believe, the process is severed at that point and the act of perceiving is reduced to the same level of communication as mopping the floor. I don't want people to think that what this little paragraph means is that if I don't like or understand the art than it isn't art. That's not true at all although I could see it being mistaken due to the Tolstoy quote. It is only when the art is created in vain, with no intention, that it is "bad art". As one would imagine this presents itself more frequently once you start getting towards more abstract forms such as Noise. But this doesn't mean that a standard of some sort should not be upheld. I believe that if this standard, however loose it is, collapses than the genre is in trouble of dying. And when it does then these "anti-art" people sweep it up and add the tag "post-whatever" as if they are proud that they killed it. I don't know if that is a great answer but it is just the way I personally feel about the whole thing. And it is the reason I don't release any of my material - I don't think the stuff I have recorded is up to par.
