LOST SOULS started in 1994. As RAZED IN BLACK is a solo effort in the studio and a 4 piece live, LOST SOULS was the same. We established quite a following here in the islands receiving radio play and much local support as LOST SOULS. When we signed to Cleopatra records a year later, they discovered a slew of bands with the same name. Thus RAZED IN BLACK came into existence.

Back in 1992 I started a synth pop outfit called RIME! We played mostly the college circuit and ‘alternative rock’ nightclubs. My current drummer, Ivan Delaforce, was actually my drummer then as well as now. The music was in the Depeche Mode - Red Flag vain, and so was the original material. As I was a fan of early industrial and metal music, I experimented with this then as well, but couldn’t incorporate it in RIME since RIME was already an established synth pop group. After writing more and more in this new style, I decided to give RIME a break and start LOST SOULS. I’d eventually like to unearth RIME someday. With the way the 90’s synth pop scene has been moving, RIME could be a welcoming presence.

Well, currently RAZED IN BLACK and TRANSMUTATOR are the only electronic outfits in the islands. Though SOIL & ECLIPSE and PULSE LEGION originated from Honolulu, they’ve relocated. It’s kinda’ nice being the only one right now, though it gets lonely at times. When other aggressive bands come though town (which unfortunately is a rarity these days), RIB or TRANS is always the one asked to share the stage, as we’ve done with FILTER, TOOL, DEATHRIDE 69, THE TORTURE KING, MY LIFE WITH THE THRILL KILL KULT, ETC.

The club scene here in Honolulu is actually quite healthy. Courtney, Hawaii’s Gothic-Industrial club king, provides us with a rivet/gloom event every week fixed in a hidden, dank warehouse. Every so often he’ll put on a wicked S&M event called THE DUNGEON, which also happens to be an event RIB will frequently perform at. On the average, The Dungeon brings in about 400 — 500 people. When RAZED IN BLACK performs at The Dungeon, the head count has gone up to 750. Promoters here will always find someway to keep the scene alive. It’s fetish scene has even grabbed the attention of SKIN TWO, E! Television, and other media. After touring and discovering how well the scenes are in other cities, I’m actually quite proud of Hawaii’s goths and rivetheads. We need to spread this all over the world!

Of the responses, reviews, and comments I’ve received so far I’m very pleased. Touring has really opened my eyes to RAZED IN BLACK’s acceptance in the scene. Since our first U.S. tour with SWITCHBLADE SYMPHONY, RAZED IN BLACK has never performed off the Hawaiian Islands. I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised and overwhelmed with the response. We’ve just finished a short tour of Japan. Once again, I was overwhelmed. I’m anxious to tour Europe someday. I’m aware the electro scene is the best there! … definitely curious to find out how RAZED IN BLACK will be received.

Musically, I’ve let myself go as well. Writing as TRANSMUTATOR opened my horizons to experiment with different things. I’ve consumed myself in ‘techno’ more than anything these days. I’ve also been religious with New Wave and electro-pop. The aggression is still within me no matter what. I guess it makes for an interesting mesh. Much of it wasn’t a conscious effort. If I heard it in my head or felt it in my bones, that’s what was put down.

Imagery? You haven’t seen my bedroom.

Sure. I’m as big a fan of industrial, and its incarnations, as I am to techno, and it’s incarnations. It’s inevitable that I’d mix styles. This is what I find attractive to this musical genre. No limitations, no rules (at least in my book).

Of course. I’m not going to lie and say any of the new ‘industrial’ bands have not influenced me in some shape or form. Everything I’m exposed to, musical and non-musical, bears some kind of influence on my music. I don’t think anything is wrong with that. RAZED IN BLACK music is still RAZED IN BLACK music.

Of course there are many things I’d like a label to spend more efforts on in promotions, but I’m quite satisfied with Cleopatra thus far. It’s a great label run by a bunch of fun people! I do what I can in my capacity to increase promotional efforts, but as always it’s never enough. There are still many out there who don’t know who RAZED IN BLACK is.

I was beside myself when I received the studio tracks from BERLIN. I was such a big fan of Terri Nunn back in the day. The same goes with MISSING PERSONS. I air drummed a many a nights with Terry Bozzio! My favorite remix at the moment would have to be SOIL & ECLIPSE’s "Poetry of Angels" and CHEAP TRICK’s "Dream Police."

I guess I’m not ‘most artists.’ I enjoy doing remixes. It allows me to provide another dimension for the existing track to travel to, and allows me experiment with ideas I wouldn’t normally attempt in my own music. I am, however, being overwhelmed with the amount of remix requests I’m getting and have to turn down many. I’m currently working on new RAZED IN BLACK material.

THQ requested existing RAZED IN BLACK tracks for their "VS" video game for the Playstation. Existing RAZED IN BLACK and TRANSMUTATOR music is what gamers are interested so far. I’m looking forward for an opportunity to write specifically for a game.

In early 1997, Hypnotic Records requested a RAZED IN BLACK contribution for a high profile compilation - Trancespotting. After I wrote "My Wonderful Friend" for the compilation, we decided the track was too different to call it a RAZED IN BLACK track. Thus TRANSMUTATOR was born. Since then this single track received much attention. More music from TRANSMUTATOR was requested. "My Wonderful Friend" was chosen by Hollywood director, Miguel Delgado, for the production of a cyber-filled music video which aired on MTV "amp," as well as one of the tracks for CARRIE 2: THE RAGE, NBC HOMICIDE, and more. The full length TRANSMUTATOR debut, TAKEOVER, was released at the same time as it’s licensed label in Japan, Dolphin Entertainment. I toured the U.S. and Japan a bit as TRANSMUTATOR. It’s also opened the doors for collaborations with other artists like Corey Glover (LIVING COLOR) for the DIGI WNI project in Japan. Some tracks were released on vinyl. The second full length THE COLONY OF SLUTS was recently released. Get your hands on it!

The music of TRANSMUTATOR, still retaining a dark sinister vibe, fits comfortably in the techno category. A majority of the tracks are more dirty breaks oriented with trance overtones. Vocals are minimal, but there are song formula oriented tracks as well. I’ve covered Duran Duran’s "A View To A Kill" in a hard drum and bass style, as well as The Village People’s "Macho Man" in a hard trance style (as a tribute to my dog, Macho). I often come across TRANSMUTATOR in industrial playlists, which is actually very comforting for me. It’s nice to know it could cross over as well! The new album, THE COLONY OF SLUTS, is very erotic and intense. So far the first track, AUTO-DRIP GRIND, has been receiving much praise.

In the early years I was consumed in early Kraftwerk, Devo, Berlin, Missing Persons, Depeche Mode, Front 242, and most of the electronic bands, as well as the metal scene. The electronic music scene wasn’t too popular among my peers so I was kid who listened to the ‘weird’ music. I played piano as a child and got my first keyboard as birthday gift from my parents in elementary school. Fond of the metal scene, I bought my first electric guitar in the 7^th grade, picked up a 4-track cassette recorder in the 9^th grade, and fiddled around with electronic music of my own since then.

This is because Prince is my influence as an artist, not the music. I’ve always admired his musicianship and his prowess in the performance of many instruments. I admire that from the beginning he has done everything from writing to engineering. I admire that he’s such a large person on stage in a small framed body. Prince is definitely ‘the Man!’

Your opinion.

Money? What money? I write because it needs to escape me. I invest more funds on music than it comes in. Someone asked me, "if I won the 10 million dollar lottery, what would you do with the money?" I responded, "my music." Then someone asked, "what would you do if you went bankrupt?" The answer was the same.

For months now I’ve been jotting down ideas and writing in my journal. I’ve been busy with touring, remixes, and other projects. I’ve set some time aside this summer to write music for the next RAZED IN BLACK album. Lately I’ve been consumed in trance and intelligent techno, so influences may creep up there (as my recent tribute contributions and remixes have shown). I’ve also been up on modifying my guitar sound and tones with Mesa/Boogie, so expect to hear new hyper-sonic guitars!