IAMX – Alive In New Light

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) I know your music has been described as “electronic rock,” but how would you describe it?

A) I think I might have used that term just because I can’t really think of anything else. I’m notoriously lazy with labels. I know that people often need it to be able to reference and understand what music is about. But I think because it’s such a genre-mashup of sound I find it difficult to do. I know that the two things that I do are perform with a full band on stage and I also get very passionate about electronic music in the studio. So, those things seem to be the most general way to describe it. You can go into each song and find something different, but “electronic rock” is the best I can do.

Q) Talk about where the title of your new LP Alive In New Light comes from.

A) It came from a psychological arrival, being in a place that I’m personally at more at peace with myself, being human, being alive and overcoming quite a long period of depression. I was in a turmoil and this album is basically throwing off the weight or the shackles of that – a dark period. So, it to me, personally represents or symbolizes a very sort of hopeful, uplifting moment in my life. That seems to be the best way to describe it, even though when you get into the content it is still pretty gnarly. I’m in a much more positive place now.

Q) How did your song “Mile Deep Hollow” come to be feature on “How To Get Away With Murder” and what did it mean to you?

A) Pete Nowalk, the creator of the show, ahs bene a fan for years now. He just contacted me a couple of years ago and started using IAMX music. He was very enthusiastic. It’s not the kind of show that I would normally think would be connected with this kind of music, but the way it is used it’s very lovely and I absolutely appreciate his support because it really helped me out of a hole. When I arrived in LA (I came to LA from Berlin to recover) it was perfect timing for him to use the music. He recently listened to the new album and liked that track.

Q) What is your process like for creating music? Do you need the music/melody before you can write lyrics?

A) It’s very much melody, chord and production led. So, I always leave the lyrics to the end because they are so emotionally immersive that I have to get a lot of the technical boring stuff out of the way so I can really focus and put my attention to the message. So, lyrics always scome last. There is a process where I write on a quite traiditonal instrument on a piano or a guitar and then I’ll write the basica melodies and chords. After that, I will dress it up with my production. Then, I’ll finalize the lyrics and rhythems and melodies and the message. That’s pretty much how I’ve always done it and I’m sure I’ll always sdo it like that. It’s never really led by a poem or story or anything like that.

Q) You got to work with Kat Von D on various songs. How did your collaboration come about?

A) You know, I didn’t really know Kat. I don’t really go on social media so I was told she liked IAMX music. Then, I got to know what she was all about and realized she was this icon and amazing figure. So, I fantasized about this idea of collaborating with her because I thought the aesthetic was great. It was this sort of deeper connection between us. I knew we would complement each other somehow. So, I contacted her and suggested an odd twisted duet and she loved the idea. We connected very quickly and had a lot of fun. She’s very easy and there is no bullshit spoken. It’s all straight to the point and I love that about her. Obviously, her voice is beautiful and she’s very talented. She understood the process and the writing. She really threw herself into it and it was a real pleasure to work with her.

Q) What tracks on the LP are you most looking forward to performing live?

A) I don’t know. It’s still pretty early. They don’t show themselves this early. What happens is for a week or two we fuck up every night. [laughs] Then, once we know everything I think the really strong ones start to show themselves. I didn’t really think that “Stalker” (a trick with Kat) would work live, but after playing it in rehearsal it seems to be quite a strong one. That’s probably a surprise because it’s quite an organic production. When we play it live translating that sound is kind of difficult as it’s mainly keyboard and electronic instruments. So, playing it live and actually seeing it work quite well. Has me looking forward to that one very much.

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from playing this LP?

A) My albums and my work are mainly a journey of self discovery and I pretty much look inside all the time. I observe the world and critique the world and I understand what is going on out there. I think to progress as humans we all have to look inside and be self aware and do a lot of soul searching and therapy. I hope by doing that others can maybe do the same and learn that and connect with me and also connect with themselves and try harder and become better people and hopefully progress as human beings. That’s my hope.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan or maybe someone else who finds themselves in a deep depression the way you did?

A) You can do it! It’s fucking hard work, but the reward is immense. I think when you come out of crisis…when you transcend yourself life becomes even better. So, keep going and just win.