The Sychophant : You’ve been in many different styles of music over the years, so it’s pretty amazing to see a time line of your career laid out. My question is; was it hard to transition from one project to another, or did it just come naturally as you grew as a musician?
Tim Skold : The one thing I have always aspired to is to have fun. If I am not enjoying what I do I can not expect anyone else to either. Now this doesn’t mean I spend all day giggly with a big smile on my face. Some of what I do is tedious and boring but I feel that it needs to be done and serves the big picture. So even if the sound changes from record to record and from band to band I always try to stay true to the original intent, enjoyment. There’s many aspects to this joy like pride and fascination for example. Music is a truly wonderful thing and to immerse myself in it seems like the most natural thing I could ever do.
The Sychophant : How do you write music? Is it spontaneous in nature, or is it something you have to create an atmosphere for?
TS : That can actually get a bit strange. If you are lucky enough to do something like this for as long as I have it can become hard to tell where the music starts and stops. I have tailored my life around making music for sa long as I can remember. But to me a big part of that is to stay flexible. A lot of times trying a different atmosphere will bring new ideas.
The Sychophant : What is the funniest, scariest, or most interesting fan experience you’ve ever had throughout your career?
TS : Off the top of my head I would say that the funniest would be conversing with Asian fans. I love to go over there but you literally can’t go for more than a few minutes before hilarity ensues. The scariest would be having an off duty policeman in the pit for a KMFDM show lose his handgun. We kept playing and the gun was “never found”. This one of the very few times KMFDM was ever mentioned on MTV by the way. I would have to say that the most interesting would probably be Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.
The Sychophant : There tend to be one of two reactions to you and your music : it’s either loved or hated, and both sides seem to get a little crazy about who’s right. How do you deal with all of the negative criticism’s that come about when you start a new project, particularly when you enter an already established band?
TS : Frankly my dear, I just can’t give a shit. The dilemma here is that if you let yourself enjoy the accolades and the praise you have to also accept the criticism and I’m not about to do that. Having said all that, I try to keep both feet on the ground at most times and I think I have a pretty good idea of what I do and what to me is good and what is bad.
The Sychophant : What, if any, is/are your biggest regret(s) as far as your music career is concerned?
TS : None. Everything I’ve done has served a purpose and did so very well. Now, just because I don’t regret something doesn’t mean I would do it all the same way again. What would be the fun in that?
The Sychophant : How do you get your hair to stand on end like it does?
TS : I sleep hanging upside down of course…
The Sycophant : Which do you prefer and why? (Or possibly your thoughts on all three?)
* Writing and recording as a solo artist.
* Writing and recording within a collaboration.
* Guiding other musicians in realizing their vision for a project.
TS : #1 and #2 about 50 / 50. I want to say that I prefer recording by and for myself but I keep finding myself wanting to share in the process. #3 is really only interesting to me if it pays really, really well.
The Sychophant : How did you get your guitar tone during the Resident Evil songs and GAOG?
TS : Well, the guitar tones on GOAG would of course come from John 5’s playing and his guitars, but back then I was using a lot of Tech 21 stuff for recording guitars. Both the hardware and the Plug in Sans Amp PSA-1 and also the Tri AC but a lot of the tone comes from hitting mic preamps (old Mackie) too hard and old shitty converters (meaning lofi).
The Sychophant : You’ve dipped your hand into many languages, and are obviously fluent in at least two. So what was the hardest language you’ve ever encountered, and what was the easiest? Also, have you ever thought about singing in Swedish?
TS : There is actually an unreleased version of the KMFDM song sung in Swedish. I was with Chris Shepard in Chicago to make a radio edit of the song ‘Anarchy’ and we worked too fast and ended up with some left over studio time so I thought I would try to do a translation into Swedish. It has been a very long time since I heard it but if my memory serves me right it is actually pretty good. I can’t remember why we didn’t release it.
The Sychophant : What the hell is up with the song by Drone 24-7 called ‘Tim Skold’s Gotta Die’? Does anyone even really know?
TS : Neh, I don’t know but this: {Itunes link} is actually even scarier.
The Sychophant : Do you ever get homesick?
TS : Well, I’m home right now, but if you mean Sweden, sometimes I think I miss it and then I realize I don’t think I have any long johns left and winter is coming up. I was hanging out in Oslo just a few months ago and there was a ton of snow coming down. It really looks fantastic but I made sure to also take pictures of the brown wet slosh that you get when the snow melts. Nostalgia is a tricky thing. I have lived about half my life in the US by now and there are many things I don’t even know how to talk about in Swedish because I never had to do so. Last time I was in Sweden, I was homesick.
The Sychophant : What are your feelings on the alternative methods artists are using to put out their music, and the release of songs in certain formats for fan mixes? Do you think that downloading has widened your audience?
TS : It’s hard for me to picture a world without a music industry. If people can’t have the chance at making money on music they would be forced to make a living somewhere else and we would be stuck listening to crap made by lottery winners and trust fund babies.
The Sychophant : What musicians would you like to collaborate with that you’ve never gotten a chance to? (Dead, alive, retired, or still working.)
TS : Since this is all fantasy, how about I get a time machine and slide in as a replacement for Brian Jones before Mick Taylor takes that spot?
The Sychophant : If you could work as a musician in Sweden and be as successful, would you prefer living there or in the US?
TS : No, I really like living in California. I would however love to see faster and cheaper transatlantic transportation.
The Sychophant : What are your thoughts on recent ideas that censorship laws and rating systems for mature content need to be strengthened beyond the use of the Parental Advisory “Tipper-sticker” in music?
TS : I am always tickled by the notion that some people think they know what is best for most people and that this wisdom can somehow be transferred, whether it be by education or force.
The Sychophant : What ever became of the black-and-white double bass you used on tour with Manson?
TS : It is a gorgeous bass, I kept it in my living room for a while but right now it is in a roadcase in storage. I guess I need a bigger house.
The Sychophant : Is there any particular time period in history that has been a big inspiration to your work, or that your are fond of?
TS : Well, if I am allowed to define ‘work’ as in creating music that time is right now. Musically so much is making perfect sense to me right now. The tricky part is of course how to make this music available in a time when the music industry is going through some very big changes. I seldom do, but when I hear or see albums or such from the past I feel good about it. The instant cringe factor that you might sometimes get from seeing things from your past disappear as soon as I put things in perspective.
The Sychophant : Is there anything planned for the future that you would like to hint at, or that might be coming our way from your end of the woods?
TS : It really comes down to what I said above. I’m not in a position where I can retire and make music purely for the hell of it. I need a business model here damnit ;P
The Sychophant : For the sake of Sychophant tradition – tacos or burritos?
TS : Mexican food is not my first choice but I’d go with the tacos. Carne asada on a flour tortilla hold the cilantro.
The Sychophant : Would you ever consider working with Pogo again, and if so, is it even a possibility?
TS : I love Pogo but my phone plan does not include outer space ;P
Photo Credit : Jim Louvau
The Sychophant Interviews Tim Skold (C) 2009 The Sychophant. Neither the photos or text may be redistributed without prior written authorization.
