English Version

UNTER NULL

Unter Null, is here with us on Dside. Welcome technological girl. What kind of music accompanied Erica Dunham's youth?

-|-|-» Erika: Ciao a tutti :) Cominciamo... My early years were shaped by a lot of classical music and a lot of Johnny Cash. From there I discovered Nick Cave at a very young age and started following all similar artists which later led to my discovery of Skinny Puppy, Einsturzende Neubaten, Frontline Assembly, and on... I was a very strange child :)

The first self-titled demo "Unter Null" signed the beginning of your career: what were your intentions when you conceived it? By any chance do you happen to play some tracks taken from that work during your current gigs?

-|-|-» Erika: I wanted to have a shot at doing the style of music that I was so obsessed with at the time - rhythmic noise! Stuff like Converter, Noisex, Haus Arafna, I love the harsh sounds and how brutal it was with pure electronics, so I wanted to see if I could do it too. Of course, looking back on that first self-released album, God... it was horribly mixed, but the intent was good and honest.
And no, I don't ever play any of my earlier works. That's in my past and I'm really not interested in creating that style of music anymore.... even though once in a while I'll go back to my roots and experiment with some crunchy beats.

Your music is a combination of rhythm, aggression, melody and passion mixed with industrial, classical, black metal, IDM and Ebm sounds. Do you use logic or instinct to associate the lyrics with the music you play?

-|-|-» Erika: It's kind of weird how my writing process is. I have a notebook I keep with me most of the time (or scraps of paper or anything else that I can write on) and when lyrics or phrases or ideas pop into my mind, I write them down. I have books filled with lyrics and ideas. This is generally separate from my studio time where I simply just write. I don't ever write a song to fit with lyrics, or write lyrics to fit with a song. I piece it all together at the end of the process. It seems much more natural to me that way. Sometimes a melody I have will form the words for me... if that makes any sense.

Even if your songs openly reflect every aspect of your personality, which track expresses more than any other who Erica Dunham really is?

-|-|-» Erika: From my current album? I'd have to say it would be a combination of "Godless" (bitter faith), and "I Can't Be the One" (standing up for yourself). I've learned over the years to be your own person and never, ever apologize for that. Too many people seem to feel that they have to right to tell you who you are, how you should feel, how you should think, and it's wrong. It took me a long time to be okay with myself and who I am.

You took a long break before returning with the new album "Moving On". What have you done (artistically) during this interlude?

-|-|-» Erika: In the interlude between albums, I focused on my other project "Stray" and released an album under that name called "Abuse By Proxy". It's a project that definitely fueled even more ideas for Unter Null and the continuation of Stray. I've also done some collaborative work with other artists, formed a live band for Unter Null, and started a few other side-projects for whatever catharsis I need at the time.

The new full-length album is more tortured, darker and introspective. What did you want to communicate to us with this release?

-|-|-» Erika: I'm glad you caught on to the introspective aspect of "Moving On", as it is very much so. The album isn't really about anyone in my life or anyone that has been in my life except myself. I've done a lot of soul-searching and self-discovery over the time since my last release and I think this album definitely reflects that. I guess the title of the album really does sum it up well - "Moving On" from the past.

What are the differences between "Moving On" and "The Failure Epiphany" for you? Are there some points of contact between the two albums?

-|-|-» Erika: I listen to the Failure Epiphany now, and it really is Unter Null in it's younger stages. Comparing that album to "Moving On" definitely shows the evolution this project has taken in leaps and bounds. I feel that The Failure Epiphany is a lot more stripped down, and if I were to re-write it now it would be a lot more fleshed-out.
Also with my newer material I've cleaned my vocals up a bit. I feel that I used way too many effects on my vocals for "The Failure Epiphany", and I wanted "Moving On" to focus on brutal and clean vocals rather that distorting them horribly.

You originally wanted to call your project "total loser": considering the achievements you have reached, can you call yourself today a "total winner"?

-|-|-» Erika: Hahaha. Indeed "Unter Null" was chosen as a tongue-in-cheek self-depricating name, but nowadays the name has just kind of stuck, and doesn't hold that meaning anymore. I don't consider myself a winner until I've written the most perfect album, and that will never happen. I'm glad to be imperfect.

Stray, your side-project, reflects your most emotional universe, and is closer to the heart. Are there any updates about this parallel identity?

-|-|-» Erika: I am currently working on a new Stray album, which in the next several months will be consuming a lot of my energies and focus, as I want it to be as close to perfect as I can. The material I am writing for it now is vastly different than "Abuse By Proxy" and a lot more lush and melodic, not dancey at all.

The aggressiveness of your music as Unter Null is often synonymous with brutal energy. Do you think this vehemence goes against "traditional values" that are seen as feminine?

-|-|-» Erika: I like to defy traditional values and imagery while I do retain a lot of tradition in my personal life ;) I agree, maybe I am going against the grain a bit, but so what? I am just doing what I feel driven to do. If that isn't traditional, then fuck it.

What aspect of this present world scares you most? Do you think that music can help to improve social distortions? If so, how?

-|-|-» Erika: I think morals and ethics in general are going to shit. I think that piracy is killing the music industry. I think that everyone should have the right to basic healthcare. I think that no one should be starving, no one should be living in fear, and people who bring harm to others should be shot. How's that? I think this world is on the brink of some major, major change, and it will be interested to see what events unfold.

What dream does Erica Dunham want to see come true in the very near future? And in a more distant future?

-|-|-» Erika: Near future? Oh, so much. I want to and plan on returning to Italy very soon - most likely later this year, to play some shows, and to walk around my favorite city of Roma (and Bologna, and Napoli, and Parma, and...). Long term future? I'm going to keep on writing music and keep progressing in all artistic aspects of my life.

U.S. or Europe. In which of these continents does your music work better?

-|-|-» Erika: Europe, easily said. People there are much more open-minded when it comes to music, especially electronic music. Here in the states it's still a battle with rock music. Guitars are very popular, and while I love guitars in music, it would be nice if electronic music wasn't always called "techno" or associated with raves.

Before leaving you I would like to ask you, as is our habit, for a special thought dedicated to Dside's community..

-|-|-» Erika: To the D-Side community: Please continue the support of music and art as it is a beautiful thing! Big hugs to Italy from USA

Maxymox '10