PIT TALK

Atari Teenage Riot
Atari Teenage Riot may well be one of the most important bands that you’ve never
heard of. Having influenced everyone from Enter Shikari and Crossfaith through to
Jilted Generation era Prodigy, the Berlin based outfit were amongst the first bands
to do the unthinkable and combine hardcore punk with electronic music. Still as
outspoken as ever, mastermind Alec Empire discuses their politics and evolution.
“I THINK THAT IT’S IMPORTANT TO
CONSIDER HOW THIS INTRUSION OF
PRIVACY AFFECTS PEOPLE, ADN HOW
“I think that as a male you need to be aware of that too, which is
why we made that point.” He explains, clearly passionate about the
topic. “People assume that because she’s female she can’t set up her
own equipment, or she just somebody’s girlfriends who’s gotten lost.
Why do we still have to think like that? I realized when I was looking
at some of these comments and I noticed that lot of people just didn’t
Despite pioneering the sub-genre known as Digital Hardcore maybe miss a bit,” Muses Alec Empire, one of the two masterminds
understand what the meaning of that it is, especially in that context. I
THEY START TO SELF-CENSOR.”
and gaining a cult following in the UK, USA and throughout who drive the project. “Nic [Endo, vocalist, programmer and cofounder],
who is really mostly behind the noise stuff and adding noise
maybe actually look into what you’re attacking. “
think that if you react with that much anger and hate then you should
It’s clear when talking to Empire that the fans are a hugely
Europe, by 1999 the band were bordering on selfdestruction.
With a string of mental breakdowns, huge amounts of
important factor in what the band do. He manages to relate almost
to ATR; the absence of some of the white noise and stuff has more to
There are many things that you could accuse Alec Empire and the
every topic that he discusses back to them: Endo’s new position as the
do with the fact that she’s singing more and not being able to do both
other members who make up Atari Teenage Riot of, but having nothing
tension within the band and addiction to prescription medication
front-woman, the change in song writing style on the new record, and
at the same time on stage more than it’s down to us suddenly hating
to say is not one of them. Since their inception, ATR have carried a
taking it’s toll, the group agreed to support Nine Inch Nails at
perhaps most interestingly the role that feminism played on the band.
noise or something.”
strong political message and their latest studio effort Reset did not
Brixton Academy at the personal request of industrial heavyweight
Last month on the group’s Facebook page, a series of images were
When faced with the concept of reintroducing some of the more
prove to be an exception. One song, Erase Your Face, spoke explicitly
Trent Reznor. The show would prove to be one of the most divisive
posted with quotes made by Endo promoting feminism. The reaction
chaotic, less controlled noise elements, Empire goes quiet and takes
about living in a surveillance state and the consequences of that as
of a small minority of fans was hugely negative; with some going so
in the genre’s history. One which abandoned all concepts of a few moments to consider his response. “It’s an element that we think
well as the controversy surround the NSA in America and infamous
far as to completely denounce the group. “I was really surprised by
traditional song structure, instead opting for pure chaos and noise. we need to bring back to a certain extent.” He starts carefully, obviously
whistle-blower Edward Snowden.
some of the guys reactions,” Empire says, a note of disapproval and
The element had always been present in the band’s sound until still trying to formulate the remainder of his answer. “That’s the thing,
“We thought okay, when we write this we need to describe that
disappointment aimed towards those individuals still clearly evident in
that point, but has notably vanished on more recent recordings. sometimes when we put something out people will immediately think
feeling and I think that the spoken word thing at the end of the track
his voice. “People can argue with us online about it, but the fact is that
“I think that it was an element of our sound that some people that ‘Oh that’s the direction that they’re going to take for the next
that mentions the NSA and stuff did that.” He explains, pausing again
we need feminism in the music industry. Artists like Nic Endo, she’s
ten years’.” Sometimes we focus more on one side like the noise, or
to compose himself. By this point it is clear that when Empire, a man
facing a lot of bullshit and sexism and discrimination from that industry.
another side like the hardcore and that’s just how we do it. It doesn’t
who is usually fluent and outspoken in his answers, stops his response
I mean, we don’t make a thing out of it and talk about it all the time but
mean that because we did Is This Hypereal? for example that every
mid-flow to evaluate which direction he wants to go it will generally
it starts with little things.”
record will sound like that from then on.”
lead down a path that few artists, or indeed people, are brave enough
to tread.
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Words: Alex Macrow Photo: