Hawaii may be known for it's white sands, crystal clear waters, warm tropical weather, lush green vegetation, and gorgeous and exotic people, but it doesn't mean we doesn't mean we don't have our share of disparity, anguish, and gloom living in such surroundings. Most consider the ultimate paradise helps when trying to escape from your innermost frustrations, but it's easy for me personally to overlook the beauty. Sure I've spent all of my life on this rock. I’m not about to take the stance of announcing "I’m a sorrowful waif surrounded by sadness and anger. Comfort me!" I’m generally a happy person. I just exert and express my aggression in my music wholeheartedly. If I didn’t have a means to release what is built up inside, I’d probably be talking to you in a seance.

Well, currently RAZED IN BLACK and TRANSMUTATOR are the only electronic outfits in the islands. It’s kinda’ nice being the only one, 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 scene here in Hawaii is actually quite healthy. Courtney, Hawaii’s Gothic-Industrial club king, provides us with a rivet/gloom event every Friday called TEMPLE, 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. Courtney recently erected a new club called PROPAGANDA, joyfully mixing in new wave with the Goth and Industrial line up. Erik of Angels de Misery occasionally holds his HAVEN and GATHERING nights, always a comfort. CYN of Cyn City will in a blue moon host a great party complete with her smart bar fixins. Daniel of HOLY BODY PIERCING or Gus of PARAGON will adorn these events with their freaky body manipulation shows and suspensions. Pretty impressive considering we’re on a little island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.]

About the Hawaiian Goth girls going mad when listening to RAZED IN BLACK: they don’t get mad, they get HORNY!!

I’ve always been fond of European electro and the techno that comes from there. It’s only natural that its influences will seep in my compositions. With "Sacrificed" I didn’t consciously say I’m going to write a Drum & Bass track or an electro track. The emotional content of the songs were more of the focus with this album. I wrote the music to convey what I was trying to express in the compositions. If I heard a sweeping acid line, a drum & bass groove, or harsh guitar riffs in my head, that’s what I laid down.

That show was a hell of a lot of fun and a big success. We held it at an evening called the DUNGEON, which in itself is an exciting S&M/Bondage/Fetish event. According to Courtney, it was one the biggest Dungeon he’s ever had. There was a line of people that went around the block for the show. We hired pro-audio and lights who provided a un-fucking-believable sound (8-18" subwoofers, mains that shrieked through the city!). The sound was so large, we had to hire an electrician to assure proper power. We had two guys run lights, dudes familiar enough with the set to know when all the punches of the music were. The club provided special staging and re-arranged the club to accommodate the show. Drummer (good friend of mine who flew down from CA on break from STOMP) kicked some serious ass. We just picked up new triggers the day of the show that responded so much better than the ones we've been using. Keyboardist showed up with another NORD and other analog-ish boards. The MESA/BOOGIE gear kicked! So happy the endorsement came through!

Above the stage, friends from Paragon Piercing hook-suspended two guys from the flesh on a single beam suspended by a single chain with a spin pulley. Unfortunately, one of the guys passed out after the third song. We had to stop to let him down for paramedics. Though I was very, very concerned him, he ended up being ok. It was actually really cool it happened. It added so much to the drama of the show. The other guy later climbed up on the rafters and lit pyro-sticks to creep down at the audience.

Cleopatra flew down to Hawaii to enjoy in the festivities. They definitely lost their minds. The party continued on for three days of insanity. It was such a great time.

It all started in 1997, after the composition of a track entitled "My Wonderful Friend" which was released on the high profile compilation-Trancespotting. The track, written at the request from Hypnotic Records for RAZED IN BLACK, ended up being so different as to title it under a different moniker. Thus TRANSMUTATOR was born. This track was also chosen by Hollywood Director of Photography, Miguel Delgado, for the production of a cyber-filled music video which aired on MTV "amp". A full length debut, TAKEOVER released via Hypnotic (USA) and Blue Dolphin (JAPAN), soon followed featuring guest appearances by Astralasia, UVX, and LCD. TRANSMUTATOR actually did quite well since it’s start. MTV, NBC Homicide, SEGA, and CARRIE 2:The Rage have administered. "The Colony of Sluts", the next full length, will be released soon!

MACHO MAN was written more as a tribute to my best friend, MACHO (whom he was named after). He passed this year. He would have been 18 (human years). I immortalized him in song with the track. His picture is also on the inner booklet of "Sacrificed."

I actually have fun with the tribute tracks.

-covers-

MADONNA "Erotica" (Featuring Michelle on Vocals)

MADONNA "Frozen" (Featuring Gene Loves Jezebel)

U2 "Pride"

SKINNY PUPPY "Assimilate"

THE CURE "Disintegration"

ABC "Look of Love"

DURAN DURAN "A View To Kill"

DEPECHE MODE "A New Dress"

METALLICA "Damage Inc."

METALLICA "The Thing That Should Not Be"

AC/DC "Hells Bells"

THE VILLAGE PEOPLE "Macho Man"

BEETHOVEN "Symphony #5"

PRINCE "1999"

It’s also interesting to hear other artist’s renditions of the tracks, though sometimes songs are better left unscathed.

Remixes are fun as well for me. I’m up to 25 remixes at this point, from groups like INFORMATION SOCIETY, MISSING PERSONS, BERLIN to SWITCHBLADE SYMPHONY, NEW MIND, ELECTRIC HELLFIRE CLUB.

Here’s a strange one: I was hired as TRANSMUTATOR to remix a side project of Stephen Pearcy (RATT) called VERTEX. I wrote the remixes for Corey Glover (Living Color) to lay the vocal tracks, since RATT was touring. My remix was so different from the original Corey decided to lay down his own melody and lyrics. The track ended up being an original. Through this process, an entirely new project emerged entitled DIGI-WNI, which was released in Japan. Trippy, huh?

Apparently my manager is somehow connected with the adult scene. DIRTY took advantage of one of my trips to LA to include a layout and article in an issue. It was great! We took the shots at an actual porno shoot between sex scenes. When I first walked in the studio a few of the porn stars thought I was going to star with them in the next scene (he-he). Unfortunately, my girl at the time was watching like a hawk across the room.

I just recently took photos at Taime’s PRETTY UGLY CLUB in LA for an upcoming issue of DIRTY. Not all the girls were able to make it, so we’re continuing the shoot at a later date.

By the way, RAZED IN BLACK won the highly acclaimed AVN award for "Best Music in a Movie 1999". An adult film called Strange Life: The Breech. Got music in a porno, appeared in a porno mag, starring in a film??? Rocco Regulacion??? ... I dunno. It depends on how fucked up you get me. (ha-ha-ha)

"Sacrificed" is definitely my most personal album to date. The music took much out of me emotionally. Each individual track bears some significant meaning to my life. Those who really know me and know what I’ve been through this past year understand. Maybe that’s where it’s intensity is derived from. Even the suture tracks, "Snooze" "guilty"... , have a much deeper meaning than it is on the surface.

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.

Yes, as mention before much of 98 was fucked for me. "Sacrificed" was definitely my therapy. The lustful tracks are just another part of me (actually a big part). They go hand in hand ... pleasure and pain.

"I’ve Suffered Long Enough" was actually the first song written for "Sacrificed". It was written soon after the trauma, no erased or scratched out lines, one take in the studio after gathering the emotion. It’s strange when I receive comments on this song from people. This track is a track I thought I’d be the only one to understand. I guess it shows, you’re never alone.

Well, you know about my dog, Macho. I just wanted his picture in there for me. No relation to the music or the album ... just me. At a time when it was the worst possible moment for anything more in my life to go wrong, my new car which I had just replaced was stolen and crashed 1 week after I got it. I ended up having to fucking recondition a 3rd MAZDA Rx7. Pain in the fucking ass. Because I just got the car, insurance wasn’t established yet. Fortunately the third is running and looking great now. The cars don’t have much of a relation to the music or the album, just to me. The girl is Michelle Pagan, who provides vocals on the album as well. We were once exclusive to each other. We still see each other. We’re close. We’re good friends. She provides more sensuality on tracks on the new TRANSMUTATOR "The Colony of Sluts", and new RIB track "Oh My Goth!" (featured as a bonus track on the second pressing of "Sacrificed" - new versions in the Summer! Pick it up again! It’s remastered and the artworks is tricked up!).

I’m continuing on with RAZED IN BLACK and TRANSMUTATOR music. Before all of this, I fronted a synth-pop outfit in college called RIME. I’m considering unearthing the project. We’re touring US in the Summer supporting SWITCHBLADE SYMPHONY. Definitely looking forward to that! I’m hoping Europe is in our future! If we’re there, you’d better be there too!!!!