Grave Concerns: Hey there Michael, it’s a wonderful pleasure to have this opportunity to interview you…how are you?

Michael: Hello and thank you for the opportunity! I greatly appreciate it! I am doing very well thank you!

Grave Concerns: How did you know you truly wanted to be a musician? Did you ever have doubts about giving up? What is one thing you would say to those interested in pursing a music career?

Michael: It began when I was an 8-year-old child. I have always possessed an appreciation for any form of sound whether it be musical or ambient and understood the fact that expression can be manifested through the element of sound and through said element, you can establish a connection with people emotionally and cerebrally. I began to train in symphonic piano and at age 8 and at the time I developed an appreciation for such composers as Mozart, Beethoven, etc...by virtue of how difficult it was to utilize one's skills as a pianist/composer. From time to time, I became frustrated when I struck an incorrect note while I was learning how to play "Fur Elise", which lead to me doubting if I ever would utilize my ability to play piano, but I kept telling myself that trial and error applies to every experiment. So I continued to learn and develop my skills as a pianist and let the curtain of doubt fall to the floor. Then around age 12, I discovered an album entitled "the Land of Rape and Honey" by Ministry and was so in awe of how avant-garde that the album was and how they infused meaning with sound. So I eventually acquired a synthesizer in order to use my symphonic training to compose songs and incorporate a degree of content, which was real, relevant, flawed and deceptive but somehow vital to our survival. In short, political infrastructures. My intention was to connect to people in a fashion, which was not fueled by dictation, ideology, or force. An expressive connection in which people could think for themselves as opposed to surrendering to totalitarianism, ecumenical politics, superficial policies and "pipe-dream" visions brought on by supposed "leaders"...Thus, Engelmacher was born.
 
Grave Concerns: When it comes to writing new material, which do you feel comes first in the creative process---the lyrics or the music, or doesn’t it matter?

Michael: For me, the music ALWAYS comes first. The music serves as a support system for the vocals and helps to convey the emotion and/or content in which the vocals are accentuating. I try to treat the vocals as if they are another instrument, which is part of the musical whole. I have considered trying to write the music around the vocals, but since I write the music first, it could become a rather frustrating process.Grave Concerns: What do you feel are the biggest misconceptions about your style of music? Have you’ve been able to sway those who once weren’t to keen on it; or do you just let it roll, and continue to do what you love? And what is it about the Electro/Industrial/ Electronica scene that is so appealing to you?

Michael: The biggest misconception would have to come from the mainstream populace, and that very misconception is that electronic artists are devoid of "real" talent because they do not play traditional instruments such as guitars. But the irony, is that a lot of mainstream artists do not either. Especially pop and hip-hop artists. They pay people to compose music for them which is what? ELECTRONIC! People can be SO hypocritical sometimes. But on the other hand, I have had a surprising amount of people tell me that they do not normally like "that type of music", but like Engelmacher. I greatly appreciate that, but I am not one to claim that I have "converted" someone's preference in music. I also tell them that there are ALOT of great EBM/Future-Pop, etc...artists out there and I always tell them not to rely on just Engelmacher in regards to passing judgement on the genre. The genre itself, is full of endless possibilities in some shape or form. That is one of many things that I find compelling about it. Electronic music can be very 3-Dimensional.

Grave Concerns: Besides the obvious necessities of life, what are six things that you can’t be without?

Michael: Natalie and my musical equipment would be the most important. There are entirely too many to name just six.

Grave Concerns: In my research, I learned what the meaning of Engelmacher stands for. It’s a German term…please share with our readers why you choose this for your name.

Michael: My decision to use that title was based on the reflections that I have in regards to how political infrastructures ignore the basic "cause and effect" element in regards to problem solving. I took the original definition and applied it to my own interpretation of politics, government engines, etc....and decided to use it as a metaphor for describing "population control". One of many agendas that I feel that governments are fueling, as well as a lack of respect that they have for their common man.

Grave Concerns: If you were to plant a tree to symbolize something special in your lives, where would that tree be planted, and what kind is it?

Michael: It would be planted in a safe and secure place and it would be an oak tree, which would represent stability, strength, and prolongation.

Grave Concerns: How do you differentiate a real good song, from a classic? In other words, what really makes a song stand out and last? And with your music, which song or songs do you feel have met that challenge, have come close to it, or are you currently just enjoying the creative bliss?

Michael: Classic songs always have an epic feel to them. They always have a very catchy and accessible song structure and are usually simplistic, which makes them stick out in a good way, not in a bad way. As far as if I have felt that Engelmacher has met the challenge? I like to hope that I have created an album, song, or songs that people would hold in regards to being "classics".

Grave Concerns: If you were able to put on a concert for charity, which one/s would you be supporting, and which artists would you like to headline?

Michael: That one, would take some research. LOL! But a few bands that I would LOVE to see perform at the event would be: 8Khz Mono, E-Craft, Seabound, and Aslan Faction, (just to name a few.)

Grave Concerns: Being a member of MySpace, how has it helped, or hindered your musical endeavors? And which countries do you feel have embraced your music the most?

Michael: It has definitely helped. MySpace is a medium in which almost everyone uses and it gives everyone access to artists whom they have never heard before. MySpace is a "press-kit" in a sense. I am unsure which countries have embraced Engelmacher the most. I hope all of them do.

Grave Concerns: As a musician, how does the music in movies affect you? And if you were asked to compose a song for a soundtrack, which genera would that be in? Now let me take that question even further---actually backward; if you were to go back to the past, with your current music in hand, and were asked that same question, would any of your songs stand out as a good fit? If so, which song and movie would it have been?

Michael: To be honest, if I was ever approached by a film director or producer about composing a film score, I would compose it from scratch via the fact that it would be a challenge to compose music that serves the purpose of accentuating a film scene/sequence as well as a challenge to compose something which falls outside of your current genre. But at the same time, if he or she wanted to use an existing Engelmacher track in a film, perhaps a "cyber-punk" film would be fitting.

Grave Concerns: You’ve been asked to create a new word defining your style of music. What is that word?

Michael: "Political-Industrial". - A politically-driven hybrid of EBM, Future-pop, and Industrial.

Grave Concerns: Tell us, your fans; what are some fun things you enjoying doing in your spare time?

Michael: If you do not mind, here is a list: musical composition/production/performance, synthesizers, political ideology/engineering, architectural design, building obscure things, film making, visual media production, art, photography, philosophy, iconography, vinyl/latex/pvc/rubber, mesh, sheer stalkings, gas masks, filtration masks, fashion, mechanical structures/devices, chrome, decaying buildings, wires, bladed weapons, international travel, lightning storms, gloomy weather, rain, snow, cats, surgical procedures, and a taste for the bizarre.

Grave Concerns: Do you have any pets?

Michael: I have a "Flame-point" Persian cat named Gizmo.

Grave Concerns: Favorite foods and drinks? It’s always fun to know what one likes to eat and can recommend. (:

Michael: Pad Thai and Ziti for food. Always orgasmic. Drink-wise, I would have to say Chai tea. Or any form of tea actually! LOL.  

Grave Concerns: Are you a “take your shoes off as soon as I get home person”? I sure am…I can’t stand wearing them. In fact, I can’t stand clothes, for the most part…but that’s a completely different subject. I just think it’s fun to ask.

Michael: It really depends. If I have a task that does not require me attending to it immediately, I shall definitely take a few moments to relax. I feel the same way about clothing as well! LOL!

Grave Concerns: What is something about the human race that really gets you down…make you wonder…how could that person do that, act that way…say that?

Michael: Where to begin. LOL. One thing that I find irritating are people who wield cynicism. They hate the world, they are misanthropic, etc...It makes me wonder do they really feel this way? Or is it an attempt to accumulate attention via shock value? Egomaniacal human beings are another irritation of mine. They like to perceive themselves as "gods" and expect people to hold them in reverence because of who they think they are.

Grave Concerns: What then, on the other hand, does the human race do to make you feel simply proud and amazed by?

Michael: When inventions, solutions, etc...maniacal are created which can aid the human race regarding REAL problems. Even though such inventions are "business-related", there is still a sense of humanitarianism behind them. People that achieve such accomplishments are not exploiting weaknesses like people who create useless hand-held electronic accessories that allow a person to access music, email, etc... despite the fact that we already have instruments that do such things, thanks to "digitalization".

Grave Concerns: Do you have any quirks, or superstitions?

Michael: No superstitions.

Grave Concerns: What do you fear most about yourself as an artist?

Michael: That I could become consumed by the work that I do as an artist and lose sight of more important aspects of my life.

Grave Concerns: What are you most proud of?

Michael: The fact that I, like many other people, have the ability to express themselves, their thoughts, and their opinions regarding certain things in a creative manner.

Grave Concerns: Three photos on your MySpace profile, which I find very striking and thought provoking to me, seem to tell a story. The one where you have your arms folded and are behind some kind of tunnel, the second, with the gas mask and bleeding eyes, and lastly, the album cover to “Birds of a Feather”.  Are there stories behind those photos? And do you have a say in how you want the photos and artwork to look? Who did the artwork for your “Birds of a Feather” album? It's amazing.

Michael: I am glad that you enjoyed them and I appreciate your kind comment! Natalie did ALL of the artwork. Natalie does anything graphic related regarding Engelmacher. I just conceptualize. The album cover art does possess a story/meaning. Starting with the quote "Birds of a Feather flock together....". The album title, like the album cover, serves as a metaphor regarding business relationships between governments and corporate entities and how (back to the "cause and effect" element) they remain separate but follow the same path with the same agenda and ignore the results of their actions, based on the lack of "cause and effect" decision making. The album cover represents the result of what happens when "cause and effect" decision making is ignored, and how the way that it effects people, is ignored.

Grave Concerns: What is it about the writings of Fredrich Nietzsche and William S. Burroughs that influence you?

Michael: Nietzche influenced me in the fact that he was misunderstood. He was always perceived as a "nihilist" when in fact, he was a "realist". He believed that "sugar-coating" reality was a deception in which people would sometimes become lost and have no desire of leaving. Many things pull a wall over our eyes, or at least try to, and expect us to accept things at face value without questioning the logic and/or morality of why. Burroughs was similar in this aspect even though he wrote his prose from an abstract and even sometimes incoherent perspective, hence, "The Naked Lunch". That novel alone was a testament to how people attempt to "sugar-coat" reality, or in his case, escape it through excess and ignore reality.  The title of the novel is another testament to the fact that delusional people are merely hiding from who they really are, but come to the realization of who they truly are when they are "at the end of a fork" being held in scrutiny. I found it to be very philosophical and inspirational in many ways.

Grave Concerns: If you had an opportunity to live for 1 year and 11 days on another planet of your choosing, would you? And if so, which planet would that be and why?

Michael: I would remain on Earth because to our knowledge, it is the only planet in our solar system that can sustain life.

Grave Concerns: Since so much of yourself is put into your music, have you ever thought about channeling that creativity into other projects…those that may be able to express your creativity in other ways?

Michael: Films. I would LOVE to work on films. The process of composition from a directorial stand point and the mental imagery of a screen play coming together from a screenplay writer's standpoint sounds like it would be stressful, but fun and creativity-challenging at the same time.

Grave Concerns: What do you feel are the most over-abused/under-used Amendments to the Constitution of the United States?

Michael: First off, Number 2. "The Right to bear arms." In my opinion, it is the most abused amendment of any in the Constitution because people have lost sight as to why it was created. Our government feared a second revolution, therefore they wanted this nation to be prepared for it. Now, people purchase firearms simply for the sake of having one. Firearms CAN serve as a form of protection, but can also serve as a tool for people who are not psychologically stable enough to handle one responsibly. Would you feel safe knowing that the person next to you, who LEGALLY carries a firearm, suffers from some form of mental deficiency? Specifically one that can render them unaware of their actions? Not me. The second, would have to be number 10, "Power reserved for the state and/or the people." If the "people" part of that amendment were true, then we would be able to do more than just vote as a form of "people power".

Grave Concerns: I’ve also read as your influences, that politics and the human psyche are of interest. Tell us more about how these fuel your own life.

Michael: They both create a learning experience, which leads to a higher standard of awareness regarding certain scenarios. On the political side, I like to observe the Legislative Branch of government to see what there is to expect regarding certain issues from the laws that they love to adopt. I like to observe the Federal government to avoid any surprising tax increases/inflations, which will just infuriate me anyway. I like to pay attention to the "Big Business" agenda so that maybe, in the future someone can throw it back in their face when they try to justify some action that they took which resulted in a negative outcome, despite the fact that they claimed they were informed by some study group that their actions "would be without consequence". It fuels me obviously from the perspective of an observer, or a spectator. Like war for example. War is a spectator sport from which we are forced to accept and perceive as spectators. Not as people with a voice or an opinion, which is unfortunate. People are the same way. If we encounter someone who is rude for example, the most that we can do is observe. We cannot change their personalities nor their morality. But we can take necessary steps in order to avoid such people through the element of observation.

Grave Concerns: I’m giving you 13 letters to choose from, in any order; you only have to use 6 of them (you can use more if you want, but not less than 6) and you have to make up a phrase describing a futuristic world in the year 3030. But only with these letters...MCBKFJLAHPYOR.

Michael: "All black", because no one is able to see that far into the future and nothing can be done which could determine how the year 3030 will be. Hence, "All Black".

Grave Concerns: I read that your tour has been postponed until the summer of ‘08…I’m sorry to hear that, as I’m sure your fans are, too. But it does sound like things will be moving ahead with your summer plans. Where will the tour be headed?  

Michael: We plan to take the tour to the East Coast, parts of the Mid-West, and parts of the South-East, South-West and West Coast.
 
Grave Concerns: Write whatever comes to your mind after reading the following:
1. The golden liquid poured…into the toilet and I felt a sense of relief. (Sorry. When one thinks "golden liquid", you can imagine where it will go. LOL!)
2. I am burdened with…common things that burden everyone else.
3. At the height of it all…the anti-climax of said height is a mind-splinter that is inevitably going to occur.
4. The city’s landscape…is bathed in cepia and noise, which is reflected by the ocean.
5. Voices went silent, lips quivered…and hearts pounded in fearful unison.

Grave Concerns: Anything else you care to share about yourself and/or your music?

Michael: Expect a highly energetic and visual live show and expect to meet two very down-to-earth people!

Grave Concerns: Michael, it has been a great honor to be able to interview you. You’ve got a lot of fire in your music, and we here at Grave Concerns wish you continued positive influences within your creativity, your debut album “Birds of a Feather” and with your two upcoming releases. Please keep in touch. Cheers!

Michael: Likewise! Thank you very much for the opportunity and I shall definitely stay in touch!

For more information on “Engelmacher” check out http://www.myspace.com/engelmacher and http://engelmacher.com/