POSR interview With Designer Drugs
February 4, 2010 by POSR
Filed under Blog, Featured, Reviews/Mixtapes, Video
illson:
Cool. You’re here with illson from your favorite band, POSR, spending time with the people that you really love to listen to. Right now I’m here with Designer Drugs. Why don’t you introduce yourselves, guys?
Theo:
I’m Theo.
Michael:
What’s up; I’m Michael.
illson:
They’re here to play this giant party called Mega Buzz this Thanksgiving weekend. It’s thrown by Massive Intent; you guys should keep an eye out for whatever they’re doing. So guys, we’ve got one hot minute in here and I just have a handful of questions to ask you…
Michael:
Sure.
illson:
… the first of which is: in your interviews, I’ve seen that back in the day you’ve run into some raves and listened to some rave music. From those early days, do you remember any kind of artist that kind of like, struck you, that you guys can mention?
Theo:
Bad Company. Drum ‘n Bass.
Michael:
Yeah, yeah, Bad Company was really good. They were awesome.
Theo:
Paul Oakenfold. Always. Umm… All the big drum ‘n bass d.j.’s. We used to both be really into drum ‘n bass.
Michael:
Like Dillinja, Bad Company and …
Theo:
Techtronics. Fresh from Bad Company. Adam Meth. Dieselboy, we we’re really into him, really early on…
illson:
He’s from your side of town, right?
Theo:
Yeah, yeah, yup. Just all those guys out there, especially the U.K. guys.
illson:
Does punk really figure into your music, or is that just something easy to say?
Theo:
Not from my perspective, no. Not much of an influence on me.
Michael:
Yeah, I think I listen to it more than he does. Some of the new tracks, though, are pretty heavy. They have more of punk rock vocals and stuff.
Theo:
I think a lot of it is we like a lot of high-energy stuff, and a lot of punk is high-energy. They’re kind of like a parallel universe.
Michael:
A lot of distortion and stuff, too.
illson:
I’d like to know how your original music is developing; not your remixes, but the music you guys make yourselves, and what should the public be expecting in your upcoming releases?
Michael:
It’s coming along really good, actually. I’m really happy … I’m more happy doing the originals than the remixes, so we’re cutting back on the remixes a lot, and doing original stuff. The new originals, they’re very diverse. We have some really pretty songs, and we have some really punk rock songs – some really heavy, nasty distorted stuff, but we also have some really pretty songs with some singing, and rapping, and …
Theo:
We have some slow, uh …
Michael:
(laughing) … love songs!
Theo:
Yeah, we got some love songs! We got some poppier stuff. We got some, uh … just a little bit of everything for everybody, I think. As far as developing, our production skills are getting better, we’re buying new stuff. We’re just learning a lot from listening to other people’s music, and we’re trying to make everybody happy and still lean towards better quality product for everybody.
illson:
Always growing in technique, I’m assuming?
Theo:
Yeah. Always learning; for sure.
illson:
We’re all looking forward to those originals.
Michael:
There’s actually a lot more real instruments. We recorded drums for some songs, we recorded guitars, vocals; more analog stuff going on.
illson:
You’re playing piano again on it?
Michael:
Uh, yeah, yeah! We’re always playing piano.
Theo:
(laughing) Always playing piano.
illson:
Is there a song of yours that you two felt really good about, where you said, ‘hey, we did a really good job at this.’ Is there a song that holds a special place in your hearts, that you guys made?
Michael:
We just shot a music video for this one called ‘Through the Prism,’ which really came together really quick. I think it’s really fresh sounding and it’s a uh, I think it’s a really solid song. I like it a lot. I feel the integrity of it is pretty good. Yeah. A lot of the new stuff I feel pretty happy about.
Theo:
Yeah. Some of the stuff that nobody’s heard of yet I feel pretty happy with. If I was gonna go back, I would say I really liked ‘Drop Down’ a lot; that was a good one.
Michael:
Yeah, ‘Drop Down’ is really good.
Theo:
It was a hard one.
illson:
We’ve looked at your discography a little and we can go back all the way to 2008. Amazing, isn’t it? We saw an early track from Warner Bros. How was that for you guys, since it was so early in your career and you were dealing with a major label, and how does that compare to being in a small, boutique label now? Working with I Heart Comix, of course.
Theo:
Right.
Michael:
It was cool for us; we were excited, you know? Because we always want to do big stuff, so it was cool to work with a big label, you know?
Theo:
It was our first experience with a major label, but most of our remixes are attached with a certain label; some are bigger than others, We’ve done stuff with, I don’t know – twenty other labels, maybe? I don’t know. A lot of labels.
Michael:
Maybe ten.
Theo:
Yeah, maybe ten, something like that. A lot of labels.
Michael:
Mostly smaller ones. They’ve all been cool. Everything’s been … good working with them.
illson:
And finally: Wes Anderson or Wes Craven?
(silence)
Theo:
(laughing) Who?
Michael:
(laughing)
Theo:
Wes Anderson? (laughing) Who’s Wes Anderson?
Michael:
Is that Diplo?
illson:
Rushmore.
Michael:
I don’t know, man. Honestly, I’m not familiar with either.
illson:
Ok. Finally …
Michael:
We’re more … I don’t know … what kind of movies? Oh, I like uh … Greg Araki’s movies.
illson:
Oh, cool! Yeah, ‘Doom Generation’!
Michael:
Yeah, been watching him a lot lately, actually.
illson:
He’s a favorite of mine, too.
Michael:
I like ‘Nowhere,’ too. ‘Nowhere’ is a really good one.
Theo:
Never seen him (laughing).
Michael:
Really? I think you might have seen some …
Theo:
Really? I don’t know.
illson:
You should try ‘Doom Generation.’
Theo:
I’d love to.
illson:
It’s a hot one.
Theo:
Sounds cool.
illson:
Well kids, that’s it! That’s a hot minute with Designer Drugs. Good luck with your set tonight. Four a.m., right?
Theo:
Four to five.
Michael:
Stay up.
illson:
Always good advice. Good night!
POSR Interview with THE PUNISHER
December 14, 2009 by POSR
Filed under Reviews/Mixtapes, Video
Interview With The Punisher from POSR on Vimeo.
Punisher Biography
 |
|
| Real name / | Michelle Herrmann |
| Moniker(s) / | punisher (detroit) |
Hailing from Detroit, Michelle Herrmann better know as just Punisher, is a petite techno veteran that packs a powerful punch. An observer and artist by nature, Michelle was drawn to music and the creative side of life since the beginning. She was fortunate to find her way into the Detroit techno scene in the early 90’s when the energy was awe inspiring, and from that moment Punisher emerged. From her career’s onset in 1993 at only 15 years old, Michelle has set a precedent of raising the bar high for all things Punisher through flawless productions and dance floor igniting DJ and live PA sets.
Very early on Michelle realized that being a DJ alone would not be enough to contain her artistic creativity and prowess. Trying to get closer to the music and release the sounds within, Michelle purchased some drum machines and was on her way to the next level. In 1996 and 1997, within a few years of learning the science of the synths, Punisher put out her first two twelve inch EPs on Sean Deason’s Detroit based label Matrix Records. Seeking to push forth the concepts of sound and motion, in 1998 she launched the seminal Detroit label, Seismic Records in addition to her collaboration with legendary producer Mark Gage of Vapourspace. The label quickly gained much critical respect with collaborations from many world renowned producers. Seismic has seen releases from the likes of the Advent, Bryan Zentz, and Andrei Morant. Through licensing by Dave Clarke, Bill Nasty and others, Seismic had become a strong international techno label.
This thing we refer to as “techno” is limitless and over the years as technology has prevailed the music has evolved. Punisher’s style has progressed and grown along with the industry as if connected to a part of “techno” as a whole. Michelle’s musical creativity is currently being propelled into her latest undertaking – the founding of new label, Hej Records – with John Overfiend. Hej was founded with a vision: ‘making a mark in the evolution of musical energy’. Hej’s premiere EP in 2007 entitled “Enter The Hej” with tracks by Punisher and Dave Powers, is a release emphasizing the innovative and energetic flavor of the label. Hej will put forth an onslaught of both vinyl and net tracks from a wide range of International and Midwestern talent. Punisher’s music has also landed her upcoming immediate releases and remixes for Prosthetic Pressings, Klectik, Blank Code, Cryovac, and of course Hej.
To back the momentum of her constant stream of releases, Punisher travels the world, djing and performing live PA sets on an array of machines. The recent Hej tour took her to Miami for WMC, South America where she represented Detroit at the Monte Mapu festival and famed afters of Ricardo Villalobos, Dominica 54, and a headlining spot at Detroit’s 2008 DEMF Movement festival. Within seconds she can hypnotize a crowd, her sound, a unique blend of exotic techno, sassy funk, and electric driving beats, has resonated on dance floors from the United States to Canada, Europe and Latin America. Michelle has literally pummeled walls of sound alongside artists such as Pascal F.E.O.S., Adam Beyer, Joel Mull, Marco Carola, Ben Sims, Alex Under, and countless others, next time it could be you
For more updates, tracks, and bookings check any of the sites below.
Website /// www.hejrecords.com
buy tracks at /// www.beatport.com search : hej records or punisher (Detroit)
e-mail & bookings /// info@hejrecords.com
myspace /// www.myspace.com/hejrecords
www.myspace.com/punisherdetroit ( new music page)
Selected Discography
Punisher releases
____________________________________________
Punisher – ”Isometric” (12″), Matrix Records (Detroit, 1997)
Punisher – ”Balance Of Power” (EP, 12″), Matrix Records (Detroit, 1997).
Punisher – ”Mechanism” (EP, 12″), Re-load Records (Belgium, 1998).
Punisher – ”Extinction” (12″), Seismic Records Detroit (1999).
Punisher – “Mmmm” (12″), Seismic Records Detroit (1999).
Punisher – ”The Plot Sickens” (12″), Seismic Records Detroit (2000).
Punisher – ”Beyond The Mind’s Ear” (12″), Seismic Records Detroit (2000).
Punisher – ”Desensitize” (12″), Seismic Records Detroit (2000).
Punisher – ”Midnight Magik” (12″), Seismic Records Detroit (2001).
Punisher & Cozmic Spore – ”The Richter Scale” (12″), Seismic Records Detroit (2002).
Punisher – “Drop The Gloves” (12″), Uppercut (Chicago, 2002).
Punisher – ”Wave Stalker” (12″), Seismic Records Detroit (2003).
Punisher & Cozmic Spore – ”The Seismic Theory” (12″), Seismic Records Detroit (2005).
Punisher , Dave Powers – ”Enter The Hej” (12″), Hej Records (Detroit, 2007).
Punisher – “Electric Agriculture Part 1″ , Prosthetic Pressings (Chicago, 2008)
Punisher & John Overfiend – “Thermal Underwear” (12″), Hej Records (Detroit , 2008)
Punisher – “Electric Agriculture Part 2″ , Prosthetic Pressings (Chicago, 2008)
Punisher, John Overfiend – “Dark Side of the hej” , Hej Records (Detroit, 2008)
Remixes
______________________________________________________
Bubbles up (Punisher remix) on “Whatever Bubbles” (12″), DEM Records (Detroit, 2000)
Mental Flight Simulator (MFS Remix, by the Punisher) on ”Words” (12″), DEM Records (Detroit, 2001)
Inn Balance (Punisher Remix) on ”Inn Balance Remixes” (12″) Seismic Records Detroit (2003).
DNA (XXX Punisher Remix) on “XY Chromosome” (12″), Seismic Records Detroit (2003).
Itikiti ( Punisher Lair Remix ) on “Enter The Hej”(12″) Hej Records (Detroit 2007)
Your Imagination ( Punisher Wild Imagination Remix ) on “Your Imagination Remixes” (12″) Klectik Records (Chicago, 2008)
Tripping In Chile (Punisher (Detroit)’s Monte Mapu Re-edit) . Hej Records (Detroit, 2008)
Sickness (Punisher (detroit) remix) , Prosthetic Pressings (Chicago, 2008)
tracks appear on
____________________________________
Comin’ From Tha D (Installment 3.0) (12″) Mirage (DJ T-1000 Remix) Intuit-Solar 1999
Techieroglyphics Detroit / Liege 1999 (2×12″) Untitled – Dark Print 1999
Chemical Compounds Vol. 2 (12″) Dilated – Seismic Records Detroit 2004
Detroit Electronic Quarterly (Volume 2) (CD) The Mizz – Detroit Electronic Quarterly 2005
FUSE-IN Live Sets Vol.2 (DVD) Live Act NowonDVD 2006
The Great Lakes Sound : Techno From The 194 * 401 Corridor (2xCD)Symbiosis – Third Ear Recordings 2006
An Interview With Richard Henry
Richard Henry Interview from POSR on Vimeo.
illson:
we’re here at House Wine on 408 Josephine to talk with a local scenester in the Austin music scene. Now people say that Austin is the music capital of the world. That’s so because of the work of these people. His name’s Richard Henry, and we’re going to ask him a handful of questions so that you get to know him a little better.
So, Richard Henry – in what way do you contribute to Austin’s music scene?
RH:
Ummm, I book a bunch of shows in town, usually talent-scouting around looking for new things that people will like – stuff that I listen to in my ipod – new music – and just bringing in new music from other cities into town and also doing the same exact thing … exporting and importing basically music. It’s kind of like coffee, but with music.
illson:
Do you have a production company, or a promo company, or anything we can recognize by name?
RH:
Yeah, I have this promotional company called Platypus Promotions. It kind of happpened by default, like everything else I do, and just had to create something to be more ‘professional,’ and it’s pretty much caters to everything, like all kinds of different genres of music. Umm, it’s everything ’cause a platypus is a little bit of everything. So is the company, its A & R … it’s different stuff. I don’t know how to explain it. It deals with reggae, umm … hip-hop, rap, umm … street music, dance music, umm … punk rock, rock. Pretty much everything that tickles my ear.
illson:
Do you still like music?
RH:
Absolutely NO! No, I love music. I’ve been into music since I was like a kid kicking it in my mom’s womb – to the beat, ‘woom buncha boom’ – so I’m a pretty big fan.
illson:
Any particular bands that you’re really into right now?
RH:
Umm … actually, yeah, there’s a few bands. There’s a band I found that out plays across my street. There called the Hex Dispensers. They’re really good. They’re garage, punk rock style. Another band is Fingaar Bangaar. They’re amazing. They’re part of Insect Records, by Butcher Bear & Charlie. They’re pretty good. And … I don’t know. That’s about it for local type bands and stuff.
illson:
Aside from money, what other essential traits should a promoter have?
RH:
You should do it because you like it. You shouldn’t do it just for the money. If you’re doing it for the limelight, (or) being on the cover of some local ‘zine or something like that, you’re doing it for the wrong reasons… Basically what I’m trying to say is that basically you shouldn’t mind about the money because the money will come if you stick with it, and just stick with something you like doing, because nobody wants to work a nine to five job. Fuck that.
illson:
What has been your creative outlet as of late?
RH:
My dj’ing. I used to be in a band a long time ago. We broke up. (So) Dj’ing. Trying to get into music production, and trying to recreate kind of like, uh … I don’t know how to explain it. Kind of like a garage type sounding music right now, I’m working on. And that’s basically how I got the promotion company. I have to create posters and all that stuff, and help people out of situations – so I could buy more gear. Basically that’s how I ended up (with it), by default. That’s pretty much it right now.
illson:
Finally, Seth Rogen or Bill Murray?
RH:
Bill Murray!
illson:
Allright. that’s one hot minute with Richard Henry of Platypus Productions. Keep an eye out for his work in the city and say hello when you see him. Thanks, Richard.
RH:
Platypus Promotions!
illson:
Platypus Promotions. Thank you, Richard.
RH:
You’re welcome.
Chris Casual Of POSR
October 20, 2009 by Jake Childs
Filed under Video
Chris Casual Of POSR from POSR on Vimeo.
New song “Fix” by POSR
This was a new one we wrote a week ago so Mr. Childs had to read off a cheat sheet. We performed it at The Backroom in Houston on July 18.
At the End Up
Adam Warped of POSR from POSR on Vimeo.
Adam Warped of POSR talks about meeting vocalist Jake Childs at the End Up in San Francisco.
Band practice at the new pad
POSR practices a new track at Jake Childs’ new loft in Austin, Texas.
Rags to riches, and damaged fingers
Chris Casual of POSR from POSR on Vimeo.
Chris Casual tells the story of joining POSR, and abuse to his fingers since then.
Dubious first impressions
Illson of POSR from POSR on Vimeo.
Illson talks about the funny circumstances of how he met Jake in a not-so-distant past.
Video of “Clairvoyant” from Wax Club gig
Electronic-Thrash band POSR plays “Clairvoyant” from POSR on Vimeo.
POSR rocks out its first official live performance at Wax Club in San Antonio.
