Interview for Succubus Magazine in English

Spanking Maschine – a strange name for a band?

MVK: Is it? I think it is a perfect name. Humanity, Robotics, Synths, Sensuality, Domination, Submission…and Spanking. What’s so strange about that?

LS: We wanted a name that was different and had a little fun with itself. At the time when we first started, a lot of the bands in our scene had names that were apocalyptic or coldly technological. We wanted to stand out.


Is Spanking Machine more a Fetish – S/M Performance Band or a rock band?

MVK: We are more about music than a flashy show. We are creating a world to escape into.

LS: Really music is the key to what we do. Fetish and S&M are more of a tool for communicating our message. While people are very drawn to our stage show, it's really the music that makes someone a fan of the band.


Are your personally involved in the fetish – S/M Scene?

MVK: My involvement becomes more and more personal every day. It’s easy to simply like the pomp and circumstance of people parading around whipping each other. But I’m more psychological about it. I take it seriously. Fetish and BDSM are thought of as the dirty little secrets of humanity, but they are perfect metaphors for life if we open our minds and accept them.

LS: It is definitely a part of my life. But it's also very personal and private. Mz. Victoria and myself don't participate in public or group events. We like to attend them, however, and draw inspiration from the energy shared by other people.


Is there a large Fetish – S/M Scene in the states or is it more an underground lifestyle?

MVK: It was once quite big here in LA. Florida seems to be leading the way in above ground fetish clubs right now. For the most part it is still quite underground but that’s slowly changing.

LS: There are certainly a lot of people who are into the S&M lifestyle. The US probably leads the world in the amount of money spent on fetish magazines and websites. Unfortunately, like many freedoms in our country, S&M is suffering under the oppression of the Bush regime. Laws are being set up specifically with purpose of forcing nightclubs to close. And S&M clubs are usually the first ones that are raided. Probably because S&M is very much in contrast to conservative christian beliefs. And because most police would prefer to spend their shift busting up a party with women in g-strings than doing something like breaking up a gang fight.


Which fascinates you at this scene?

MVK: The freedom and the creativity. Everyone has a fetish, but there is too much shame involved with sexuality here in the States. Going to a fetish club is like meeting everyone wearing their soul on the outside. People are more open minded and less insecure. Insecurity and ignorance are my enemies. Once they take hold of people they try to infect as many other people as possible – not that the scene is free of insecure people, but at least there are fewer of them in a place where the only rules and boundaries are your own.

LS: For me, it's the freedom. To wear what you want. To do what you want with your body. To establish relationships on your own terms. I've also always liked the music played at the events – usually dark, heavy and electronic.

Kiki: the ability to bring/share our music into your/all existence while performing live. The chance to uplift ones emotions or even change ones life . To create an unforgettable experience.


How long did you work on the new album "Now Lie in It" and what was the inspiration for the songs?

LS; It took about two years. In fact, we started soon after our first CD was released. The inspiration for me came from the chaotic turn my life has taken over the past few years. Crushing pain followed by intense euphoria, over and over again. Sometimes I would start programming the synths for a song while I was feeling depressed and then go back to it a couple days later feeling elated. You can especially hear the contrast of emotions in a song like Konstruct.

MVK: Yes, working hard toward a goal like being in a band is a major learning experience. It inspires quite a bit of our music.


Can you tell us something about the live-performance of Spanking Machine?

LS: Musically, we capture the sound of the CD while adding live energy. You can lose yourself in the music, dance and sing along to the songs you know, but still feel like you're watching a band, as opposed to a DJ set.

MVK: Live performances are where we really come to life. We incorporate some theatrics to enhance the experience of falling into another world. But we are careful not to rely on them. We won’t make up for something that is lacking in the music or our own performance by throwing dancers onstage. I want to be in as much of a trance as the audience. I enjoy feeling their energy.


In which way you create new songs?

LS: Mz. Victoria writes the lyrics and the melodies while I write the music and program the synths. Sometimes, I will write to a lyrical idea Victoria has. But sometimes music will inspire lyrics. We work separately and then get together when we're both ready to share something. Kiki is also involved at that point working on bass lines and offering thoughts.

Can you tell us something about the inspirations for the lyrics?

MVK: I’ve come to a point in my life where I am standing up to all the things that have bothered me over the years. I spent most of my early life as an observer, never really expressing myself or being myself. I’ve had a very unique life, my perspective is not going to be shared by everyone, but I need to share it with them.


Do you think that your music is only for the dance floor or the music works also at home?

LS: I think it works for both. We wanted to create something that people could listen to all the way through, instead of skipping to their favorite dance floor songs. So our goal was to make sure the CD was not repetitive. We've done that by offering a variety of tempos, sounds and emotional intensity. There are also hidden layers that are only revealed after you've heard the songs several times. Something new is always awaiting you around every corner.

MVK: Our music is a direct communication. You can pay attention to any part of that communication you want. Doesn’t matter if it is stomping to the beat on the dancefloor or laying on your bed reading the lyrics with headphones on.


Are there any plans for a tour or concerts in Europe or Germany?

LS: We would absolutely love to. But, currently, we are an independent band without a label. So we lack the support to pull off a tour effectively. We have many fans in Europe. We are calling on them to purchase our CD, as opposed to downloading or burning a copy, to help us get the money to perform in their city – or to help us secure the support of a label.

MVK: We’ve been doing this for years on our own. We’ve given away free MP3’s on the web, thrown t-shirts and cd’s to fans at our concerts and we’ve sent out hundreds of CD’s to dj’s around the world – the only thing we ask in return is for those who like us to buy our cd, tell their friends, send out emails and help us get out to where they live. We put everything into our shows and our sound, imagine what we could do with some extra help. Go to Music Non Stop or spankingmachine.de to find the cd for sale. I want to be in Europe tomorrow.

Thank you very much for the Interview and good luck with the new album!!!!

MVK: Thank you! The pleasure was ours ; )

Michael Dettenberger
SUCCUBUS MAGAZIN
Klagenfurter Str. 39
70469 Stuttgart
GERMANY
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