The DJs @ GeNeTiKa
as unrevelled by Bisoul Promotions

The heart of the machine. The centre of your joy, while likewise the terrorists of your poor ears that have to endure (albeit with pleasing surrender) their hyper-powered tunes. Here for you a word with the DJs from @ GeNeTiKa!

First off a set of same questions to the members of Bisoul themselves, for the first time ever all DJing under one roof!!!! For the sake of clarity G = Gool,  S = Swan, T = Countess Trisoul, & Y = YeNDoR. Let us go for a cruise on their soundscapes.....

First off, who are you and please allow us a brief introduction into your activities within your musical subculture?

G - I am DJ Gool, co-founder of BISOUL PROMOTIONS with DJ Swan to whom I was introduced when playing with my avantgarde metal act at an event he held as COIRE DI ANIMUS (Heart of the Soul) PRODUCTIONS in the late 90s. You can see where BISOUL as a name originated from....
I live and breathe music and have along the years played most types of metal, some trip-hop & post-rock & industrial, as well as travelled from here to there to music festivals & events. Concurrently, I have for a couple of years been active teaching music and guitar. For more details about the serious man behind this crazy mutant you know as DJ Gool, check out www.malcolmcallus.com

S - DJ Swan the better (looking) half of Bisoul Promotions. I met Malcolm (DJ Gool) at my first Gothic Party organized with DJ ChrisBC way back in 1997, a complete success. You know the rest of the story. Well I discovered Goth in the early nineties through The Sisters Of Mercy, one of the first Floor Dance bands who paved the way to modern Goth. Since then I experimented through all kinds of Goth, but my favourite remains Old School. Unfortunately due to personal commitments I moved away from the scene, but Goth is still at heart, hence a small comeback to the DJ stand. Thanks Malcolm.

T - I am ...... within Bisoul's grasp at least, commonly referred to as Countess Trisoul. For further questioning you'd have to approach me to request it personally, that is if you could find me.
As for my activities within my musical subculture, I am usually the listener, receiving it, not the one dishing it out. GeNeTiKa is going to give me the chance to flirt with an activity other than listening, let's hope it doesn't manage to circumvent my advances!

Y --- I go with the name YeNDoR otherwise as Cybersoul as referred to in the Bisoul community. My involvement with Bisoul came around when I took over and re-designed the Bisoul Website, with my visual productions becoming more noticable through setting up the right atmosphere & consequent animation displays time and time again at our events, that goes also with trying to keep myself a low profile as possible. Musicwise I've grew up from a very young age with a heavy doze of 80's culture directly evolving to a much wide range of "underground" sound experimentations, Progressive to Neoclassical, Industrial to Darkwave, Doom to Death metal, Trip Hop...whatever...you name it!! (at least as long as it's got a fulfilling dark, possibly gothic atmosphere). Other projects I'm involved in at the moment are 2 bands I'm co-writing melodic death & darkwave respectively with ... and I'm also the designer & webmaster for www.weepingsilence.com & www.forsakenmalta.com

What is your idea of a Bisoul Promotions party, and how do you see your participation in GeNeTiKa being received?

G --- Hehe, unlike most others, my idea of a Bisoul Promotions event is work (spelt W-O-R-K in definite CAPS LOCK)!!!! Believe me when I say that 1-2 months of organisational work in advance go in to ensure a good vibe for our punters at Bisoul parties, and at times it is tiring to catch up with the work while still continuing to face one's day to day challenges.
However, when all is said and done, I tend to forget it all when I see a packed dancefloor and our punters simply wasting themseles in fun :) I want to hear take the opportunity to thank all those who signed our guestbook or spared a positive comment at the venue, while hope to have double the extremity at GeNeTiKa!!! So spread the word!!!

S - I sympathize with Malcolm regarding organizational work, it takes a bloody amount of time to put things together. Keep it up Malcolm, I really appreciate your work. To me, a good Bisoul Party is watching the patrons enjoying the event.

T - Bisoul Parties have proved to be a pretty consistent symbol for a bloody good time. If you allow it to grab you by the hair (scalp/earring/grabbable-body-part) and lead you towards the path that lacks inhibitions and gives you space to freak out. If you do not condone this aforementioned 'bloody good time' then I guess we could always set up a little corner for the angst-ridden mopey lot, leaving a few shiny sharp objects lying around or something. As for being received, I hope without too much discomfort :P

Y ---Well, to my definition Bisoul Promotion is an idea which endorses all dark trends & an attempt to create an alternative atmosphere not usually experienced by clubbers. While most events tend to be of a commercial environment, Bisoul points to a deeper trend, say like bringing out the lesser exposed genres among those who attend. In the view of past successful events I really have a positive feel about the outcome of GeNeTiKa as this time around Bisoul Promotions is more focused in the organization, thus the work being carried out at a faster pace and with clearer ideas. Obviously how and which atmosphere shall settle and how it'll be received (keeping in mind that also the attendees play a big role in this...) we would only see on the very day during the event itself. But my expectations are higher this time!!!! Come and join in the dance of this Halloween feast!!!

While at it, what do you have prepared for our army of cyber mutants who are known to be only too keen to dance the night away....

G - For GeNeTiKa, I am gonna blow your mind, you have no escape :) Be prepared to listen to some of the old school industrial, stuff like EINSTURZENDE NEUBATEN & LAIBACH, the gurus that started it all!!! Then I got a pack of eXtreMeR-than-fReeZe pyschotic trance & EBM.
But the icing on the cake will definitely be THE FUTURE IS NOW!!!, a multimedia presentation that will see my varied spectrum of electronic music with a dark twist interacted with projected animations & live musicians/actors who will in turn be interacting with the crowd and cause it to participate. I am just so looking forward to GeNeTiKa!!!! And you?

S--I have been assigned the Post Punk/Old School section, so you will definitely hear some Bauhaus, Swans (their old stuff much avant-garde for their time), and obviously Sisters, Siouxsie and The Banshees, Joy Division and other legends.

T - Mu..ha..ha..ha..ha..ha.........uhm......things that cyber mutants want of course! What else?!

Y --- I'm glad to say that at all events so far, the music I played was received really well by the audience (usually more than it comes to comfort!!) so this time I've expanded quite a lot in the playing time and based on the likings of the same audience (and ok myself too..) I'll be playing 2 special features (a DEPECHE MODE & a KRAFTWERK special) which should come as a blast to all the fans of those bands... the 3rd list shall be my now traditional New Wave & New Romantic hour.

Finally, may you please reveal us an as of yet kept secret about yourself, an event that happend in your life completely irrelevant to you being a DJ, or on the other hand, a characteristic of your personality that might come out more while spinning the tunes at GeNeTiKa!

G - Some closer friends know me for the shocking characteristic of unconciously biting my hand when excited by extreme music I love. Hehe, come to GeNeTiKa, as at some point or other, I do foresee to go berserk, so this is your chance to catch me live in the act!!!!! Mano...... aaaarrrghh!

S - Goth spoke and requested me to spread its music. You will probably catch me singing to the music I will be spinning!!! I fly like a swan J

T - Well, secrets are things I shall remain faithful to, so that's out of the question. An event completely irrelevant to me being a DJ sums up pretty much most of my waking existence. A personal characteristic that may come out while spinning I shall be finding out at GeNeTiKa for the first time myself, so I don't have much to say on this one...If I ignore chastising you for your inquisitiveness that is......

Y --- Man, this question gives me some thought to answer LOL... let me see, well so much stuff happened, I mean I've been through so much hilarious situations! Well I recall once when I've played live with this band IWAS with a badly setup mixer and consequently without sound for most of the gig. I was placed just above the soundman, and it was a really singular feeling to act up the part and at the same time dieng to smash up the soundman's face...patience folks!
Also, while spinning the tunes at a Bisoul event, it always brings out a sort-like of adoptive behaviour depending on the atmosphere (yeah I use this word a lot!) building up at the time. A factor might be the females present dancing and acting up (whatever that might mean!), but alas don't blame me, I've been single for the last couple of months hehe... and to make it clear I am NOT a DJ... I'm just a trigger to the dancefloors nothing else...modestly :)

Ok so now that you know more about the Bisoul crew themselves, time to introduce our guest DJs at GeNeTiKa. Definitely one of the main attractions at GeNeTiKa at this 2-day festival was the appearance of Twan Sibon, a man who has been actively promoting music for the last 20 years!!!

From just the receiving end as a listener in his teens, to zine editor, interactive CD producer, graphic designer, database collector, and label A & R, nowadays he has worked with such noted names like cybermongers VOIVOD, folk-metal specialists IN EXTREMO and furious goreblasters CANNIBAL CORPSE, among others and others and others (like Metal Blade Records, to say the least) as documented at his metal portal www.brutalism.com, a worldwide reference among all people into this kind of music. Being a band mentioned at this worldwide accessed website means that billions of metalheads check out your band all over the globe, no mean feat as his long-time pal DJ Asmodeus (another metal warrior guest at GeNeTiKa) discovered when chatting for the first time formally with Twan Sibon!!!

To begin in a formal way (first time we’re talking formally I guess, my friend!).... Let’s kick off with a short introduction about yourself Twan....

If you are interested in me (who’s not? :P), I can tell you that I am 36 black summers, married and have 2 kids. I work as a graphic designer in Eindhoven (The Netherlands) and in my spare time everything is dedicated to BRUTALISM. Metal is my life for almost 25 years. Enough? If not ask me at Signals or send me an email: twan@brutalism.com

How was the idea behind the BRUTALISM.com project conceived? And what is it all about?

It all started with the design for DEADSHOT, my brother's band. Did some other designs and started to build a website to show. Also started to do some CDROM presentations and also add to the site. Then bands started to ask for reviews and intie. No problem. Adding links and more links every damn night. So nowadays it is a hobby that completely gone mad. So time to start under a name and choose BRUTALISM (obvious huh?) and began spreading it. Today it is one of the biggest metal portals. And I help people if they ask for it.

BRUTALISM has been in existence for quite some years now. How many people were/are involved in this project, then and now, and how did it evolve?

Started with my own ass and got in touch with Andy who builds  internet sites. As my work became bigger I asked him to join. And the same with Rob who is helping me with design like logo and covers. BRUTALISM is an open organisation which people can join if they are valuable. In the end I am the boss and decide. I am positive if I think you are a big help for BRUTALISM and the metal scene. To contact me if you think you earn a @brutalism.com emailaddress!

Did the results of your work meet your expectations, or did you expect something better (or worse)?

It went above my expectations. Because of internet it is much easier to get in touch with a lot of people. Remember the trading years ago with flyers and tapes? Yes I am that old... And people are always glad if you show interest and can help them. Of course there are always those who don’t react or don’t respond when I send them an answer to their question. Things can always be better of course. Suggestions welcome.

Now that you will be DJing in GENETIKA, I will ask you the same question which I had to answer, too... What have you prepared for the guests at GENETIKA?

I was asked to play some metal music. So I tried to choose some nice bands with various styles. I hope people will like them but you never know. I also brought flyers, tshirts and CDs with me as an opportunity to dive into BRUTALISM more. And I will be available for people if they want to talk and want to hear my opinion.

Anything else you wanna add?

10 inches more.

Thanks a lot for this interview and hope you enjoy your short stay on our island. Any closing message to the Maltese metalheads?

I hope you like the tunes I brought and hope to see you join brutalism.com and get in touch. Stay metal!

It feels fuckin strange saying please and thanks after all our friendly insults, ha?....What do you think, Twan?

Better for you not to bend over in front of me....

Since this interview, Twan Sibon has been to Malta, turned Maltese metalheads into Halloween pumpkins (at least that is what he thinks in his head) and returned to family life behind his PC  -- upps, he insists it is a MAC  :P -- on which he wrote a report about his time in Malta, extracts of which here follow ....

BRUTALISM INVADING MALTA 2004

Doors opened at 9 pm and gradually people started coming in. After some time it was nicely crowded and some of the people were dressed up according to the Halloween theme. Some guys even got their head painted. Scary or not?

A variety of musical styles could be heard - like black metal, gothic, industrial, electronic, depeche gay mode and of course fucking metal!!! Metal is why I came, saw and conquered! But it almost got cancelled because some fuckhead head was playing with fire and almost the whole mixer desk with the laptops was set on fire. But I was able to stop this alien, although it meant I risked burning my hands.

Besides the audio part, there was also room for visual aspect. A beamer was projecting the visuals on a big screen and so you could see a presentation of a photographer from www.adoniswebcreations.com. But fate came around the corner and burned the lamp inside the beamer. So no more visuals this night. So I was hoping that the next day it would be fixed because I had some nice metal videoclips with me. We had to see.

A performance of Deluge Of Sorrow which was received by the audience very well. Their sound is gothic metal and it has atmosphere and power. With the female vocalist they have their own visual attraction. Maybe it would be nice to have some male grunts added to it because sometimes she did not have enough power.

During the performance of The Future Is Now the three girls from SUA were playing with fire. Not trying to set the place on fire but swinging with the fireballs in an aesthical manner.

Unfortunately they didn’t get permission to do live tattooing but only piercings could be done. Some people got the balls to do it in public. But the best tattoo I saw was the one of Ludvic from Deluge Of Sorrow who got my logo on his back. So welcome Ludvic to the tattooed BRUTALISM clan. Now the metal is engraved in your skin.

Before it was my time to do my thing I got the opportunity to talk with bands and people, some of whom I already had contact by email. It was great to meet them, talk about metal and everything else, drinking beer and have a laugh.

At the end of the morning it is finally my turn to enter the stage and play some real shit. This was what the people were waiting for: METAL. The people who stayed till the end got the world premier of me playing as a DJ. Never done it before but it was great fun. With the easy software and the MP3 you have the ability to play as a DJ in a easy way. The songs that I played were a mixture of old and new songs, black, thrash and death metal. Some bands I played were Prophecy, Sacred Blade, Pandemia, Gorerotted, Slayer, Cradle Of Filth, Suicidal Tendencies, Mors In Tabula, Brutality etc. You can see the list on the Bisoul Promotions site www.bisoulpromotions.tk

When the morning set in we went to Ghall Cafe to get some breakfast. After a quick snap I was looking for my bed as it was almost 7 am. So goodnight.

30/10/04 Day Third
Day 2 of GeNeTiKa

After a very short sleep, a breakfast and coffee will get the day started. Time to buy some souvenirs for my 2 kids. Yeah, as a father you have some responsibilities or you have a fight when you return home...

In the afternoon I made up a new playlist because I could have some extra time to play. Nothing wrong with that.

At 5 pm again present at Signals thanks to David who by now had became my private chauffeur these days. I didn’t hear him complain so guess he was fine with that role.

Again we set-up the stage and yes there is a new beamer!!!!! (Later I learnt I was not the only one who had little sleep, so thanks Malcolm for making this new beamer a reality!) So, finally I got to show some videos and man did they love the Prophecy one! Those who saw it know what I am talking about heheJ The other clips were with a lot of blood, killing, raw meat and therefore  perfectly suited the Halloween spirit

And now back to question more of our guest DJs at GeNeTiKa!!!! Please welcome in alphabetical disorder - F = Francois, A = Agnostic, N = nIK, D = Asmodeus, V = V1RX, C = ChrisBC!!! On your marks, get set, dance!!!!!

First off, who are you and please allow us a brief introduction into your activities within your musical subculture?

F - As you know by now, I am Francois a member of The Guild. My musical tastes are very varied indeed but my love rests within the undying arms of Gothic, Industrial, EBM and Darkwave. These act as soundtracks to my interest in fantasy and cyberpunk. As a member of The Guild I have helped in the organisation of the various themed nights that have been organised in the past. Through these events we tried to introduce and help the gothic/industrial scene found on the island. I have had the opportunity to take up the role of DJ both in Guild and non-Guild events like Niki Gravino’s CD Launch.

A - I am DJ Agnostic, co-founder of Switch Promotions with some of my closest friends who, like me, are keen on music and eager to organize events for the alternative crowd. We organized a series of Alternative/Indie music late last year and we received a fairly good feedback. Sadly, the venue we were playing at closed doors due to some clashes between the venue owners. As an organization, Switch has been inactive ever since. I am glad that GeNeTiKa will provide me with an opportunity to DJ again.
I have also written and published various record and concert reviews on some leading local newspapers and electronic journals. As a side project, I am planning to start running my personal record reviews web site in the near future.

N - Hi, my name is Nick, just an average guy who is deeply into his music. Been into it for quite some time now, playing in bands and doing many promotion work for Malta’s music scene in general. My latest project is DMM - Def(in)ition Music Malta, which I am hoping to become a reknowned business for all alternative and extreme music styles focusing from music CDs to clothing.

D - DJ Asmodeus, helping-hand of BISOUL PROMOTIONS and ex-bandmate of DJ Gool. I have been involved in the metal scene for more than 15 years now. Like Gool, I met Swan at the COIRE DI ANIMUS event, where we were playing live (that was one of the coolest Goth events I've ever been!). I have played with different metal bands (from avantgarde to old school) throughout these 15 years (and am still active with ARCHEAN HARMONY) and I also used to teach classical music, but had to quit because of lack of patience with little children! I also used to conduct the Rancid Soup Radio Show with DJ Gool back in 1995/96.

V: Spank, graphic designer likes any music with goodsense & also weird music such as SPHLONGE to APHYX TWIN. I dislike people who think that they are something but they are nothing but just bullshit!

C - I don’t usually go by a DJ pseudonym, so Chris will do just fine or as my friends know me by CBC. I started off organizing with DJ Swan, one of the first ever gothic parties in Malta going back to 1999 by what we called ourselves Coire di Animus. Those were the days of heavy eye liner and black number 1 dye. Later on I joined The Guild Malta were we organized several themed events like Hardwired, a cyber industrial party, Breed and Anime. Since my preferred music is mostly Gothic and EBM, I take on these sets for the events organized. Those were my first DJ experiences. The rest of the time, I just sit back and enjoy some Sisters of Mercy in the comfort of my own home.

What is your idea of a Bisoul Promotions party, and how do you see your participation in GeNeTiKa being received?

F - Firstly I want to take this opportunity to thank Bisoul for the great work and for the opportunity they are giving me by inviting me to play in this great event. My idea of a Bisoul Promotions Party is that it cannot be merely called a party. There is much more to it like video features, poetry etc. I see Bisoul events as an exploration of the whole and not only of the musical part of the scene. As to my participation, I do hope that it will be enjoyed by all those who are attending the event and I promise that I will do my best.

A - A Bisoul Promotions party should be an event that should promote the numerous elements of the Goth culture and of its related subcultures in an
innovative fashion. My interest in the Goth culture revolves mainly around music, so I would expect it to be a comprehensive manifestation of the various sub-genres that have contributed to the development of Goth movement hitherto. On a social note, a Bisoul Promotions party should also be an extravagant gathering event for individuals who are interested in the Goth culture.
I think that my participation in GeNeTiKa is being positively received since I already had various song requests by Old School Goth Rock enthusiasts. I regret that I could not accept all requests due to inevitable time-limit restrictions.

N - Hehehe, I am a major vibe bringer in my own way, the Gool knows that! Well I am proud to be bringing the sounds of the modern Metal and Industrial worlds to GeNeTiKa.

D - Well, in my opinion, one cannot have a definite idea of what a Bisoul Promotions party is like, in the sense that each and every event differs from one another, so one cannot generalise. One thing is common though - hard pumping fun!

V - A party with a difference and I see my participation as a DJ.

While at it, what do you have prepared for our army of cyber mutants who are known to be only too keen to dance the night away....

F - The night is made to dance to the moon and for all those who want to participate in this rite, then dance you will. I shall be flowing from the mesmerising rhythms of E-Craft and Front Line Assembly to the heavier thumping sounds of Funker Vogt. To the more gentle natured (but hopefully not too gentle) there will also be Covenant (a personal favourite) and …well the rest will be felt during the night. Surprises should never be spoilt.

A -  My playlist will focus on what is known as Old-School Goth, with an occasional reference to the genre’s early influences (Art-Punk, Post-Punk) and related offshoots (New Wave, Death Rock). As the name of the genre suggests, the playlist will feature the music of the founders and early pioneers of the Gothic Rock genre.

N - A playlist of some of the best tunes the modern music world has to offer!!! Pulsing Beats, Pumping Guitars... and a few sick vocal lines  along the way hehe! (history since narrates that he had someone going ~~~~DJ Kawk ~~~~ through the evil robot vocoder in actual fact during parts of his set :P)

D - My troops will not be cyber-mutants, but metal-clad warriors! Haha! I will be having an entire session of good ol' Black Metal - Pure Fucking Armageddon!!!  \m/  :)

V: Dunno just dance and get fucked hope they like my style (WEIRD)

C - We’re going to dance to some classic goth oldies, played way back in the early 80’s when the gothic scene was at its peak and the dance-floors packed with black garbed, pointy booted goth heads... a perfect end for Genetika being on All Hallow’s Eve!

Finally, may you please reveal us an as of yet kept secret about yourself, an event that happened in your life completely irrelevant to you being a DJ, or on the other hand, a characteristic of your personality that might come out more while spinning the tunes at GeNeTiKa!

F - Very unexpected question indeed. I could tell you one of my wishes instead. I really wish that one day I will have the opportunity of be able to project my thoughts onto a big screen while being up there. One cannot even imagine the surreal worlds and images that would be projected onto that virgin screen.

A - I am a person who communicates through music, both to express my personality and to convey what I feel about a given situation or someone in particular. My DJ set at GeNeTiKa will be no exception. My playlist will be dedicated to my fondness for Old School Gothic Rock and to the good and bad memories of some people I met this year.
Whoever has ears let them hear…..... When I'm alone in bed at night, I still have the same nightmares. - Robert Smith

N - I work in a wedding shop!!! Is that enough?

D - Once, when I was about 15 years old, I was having a beer at M'Scala with a couple of buddies. I remember I was wearing a MASSARE t-shirt, and a guy came up to me and told me that MASSACRE sucked! I turned to my friend Horace (now playing with AMENTIA) and told him: "Who the fuck is this guy? What is he? What does he know about metal?"....after a couple of months that guy turned out to be my SCEPTOCRYPT bandmate, Mr. Gool! :)

V - A secret is a secret ...... Anyway don't know it myself don't know what's going to happen that night:] (I'm not a fortune teller)

C - I am actually a Sorceror named Zargo, from the seventh planet of Thula, four thousand light-years from Earth. I will be collecting human specimen who will not be on the dancefloor during my set for deviously pychotic experiments back on my home planet.

So that rounds up the whole thing.... and our punters have not been abducted by Zargo, maybe as during his set they just danced danced & danced to the moonlight of All Hallow's Eve!!! For a more animated version of these interviews download the booklet from our Events menu!