Interface (band)
Encyclopedia
Interface is an electronic music
group based on Long Island
, New York
. It was founded in 1993 by Eric Eldredge (keyboards, sequences, and vocals). Its career has been lined with a steady output of songs and dance remixes for other artists and several lineup shifts. Each of its three albums to date display a blend of various styles of electronic music, most notably trance
, synthpop
, electro-industrial
and aggrotech, with a strong sense of melody and songwriting.
Interface self-released the first LP The Artemis Complex
in January 1999. New Brunswick, NJ based label Tinman Records signed the group, picked up the album and released it that summer. A rather ordinary sampling of Industrial and EBM aesthetics of the time, it did win Interface a small cult following, helped immensely by the mp3.com music website. The onstage lineup expanded to Eric's brother Evan Eldredge (guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Jon Billian (keyboards) that summer.
The second release, July 2002's Angels In Disguise, proved to be Interface's breakthrough into the dark electronic world. Besides a vastly improved overall sound, singles like "Wasted Time" and the title track saw heavy club, indie radio, and webcast play throughout North America and Europe. The higher profile landed them better remix work and live support slots (such as a 2003 show with The Human League
). Despite the album's runaway success, Tinman fell into financial trouble, washing out a followup remix companion to Angels. Tinman finally shut down in 2005, just as the group announced a new album was in the works.
In 2005, after recording the album, titled Beyond Humanity, Interface began an exhaustive search for a new label, finally landing with Nilaihah Records, a Columbus, Ohio-based label founded by Kristy Venrick of The Azoic
. Finally released in March 2006 as an expanded edition with extra tracks added on, the album once again solidified the group's songwriting and production ability. The album's tracks "Age of Computers" and "Doubts and Fears" found their way onto top compilation CDs (Cryonica Tanz 4 and The State of Synthpop 2005, respectively).
Evan Eldredge left the group in 2006 to pursue other interests.
In 2006, the band collaborated with fellow New Yorker Viral Consciousness on a remake of Depeche Mode
's "Aggro Mix" for the Cryonica tribute album Bright Lights, Dark Room.
2007 saw the debut of the band's most current touring lineup at the Black Sun Festival in August, now adding J. Joseph Dobise as an additional keyboard player and drummer Justin Parker. In addition, they finally recorded a cover of "Land Of Confusion
" by Genesis
for the Sigsaly Media compilation Machines Against Hunger (according to the Interface website, they have performed it live since 2003 and it was a fan favorite at concerts).
The Cryonica Tanz V5 compilation was announced on March 28, 2008 as including a new Interface song called "Destination", as remixed by Mindless Faith. On a Myspace
blog on December 24, 2007 the band announced that a new album Destination Focus will be out in 2008, preceded by an EP called Modern Life. However, these names appeared reversed upon the release of Destination Focus as the EP on October 28. Visions Of Modern Life was released February 24, 2009 on Nilaihah. The first 200 copies sold from Nilaihah's mail order site also included a free copy of the Transit EP via digital download card.
Interface has spent much of 2009 and 2010 with more tour dates and festival appearances as well as the release of an EP for the song "Body Flow", making it the third single pulled from Visions of Modern Life.
, other artists have used the name in the past, posing a potential element of confusion amongst music collectors.
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
group based on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It was founded in 1993 by Eric Eldredge (keyboards, sequences, and vocals). Its career has been lined with a steady output of songs and dance remixes for other artists and several lineup shifts. Each of its three albums to date display a blend of various styles of electronic music, most notably trance
Trance music
Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...
, synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
, electro-industrial
Electro-industrial
Electro-industrial is a music genre drawing on EBM and post-industrial that developed in the mid-1980s. While EBM has a minimal structure and clean production, electro-industrial has a deep, complex and layered sound. The style was pioneered by Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, and other groups,...
and aggrotech, with a strong sense of melody and songwriting.
Band history
The project became a serious entity when Eldredge left another group, Valve, in 1997. The band's inaugural lineup also included Joseph Destry (guitar, vocals) and Mike Cummings a/k/a DJ ANGZTEK (drums). In total Interface released 4 demo tapes between 1993 and 1998, with little interest from record labels or the music press. DJ ANGZTEK(Mindsett,Absolution) and Destry left Interface in 1998, leaving Eldredge as its sole member.Interface self-released the first LP The Artemis Complex
The Artemis Complex
The Artemis Complex is the debut album for Interface, released in January 1999. Originally self-pressed and intended to be sold independently, it wasn't long before Tinman Records signed Interface to a distribution deal. Between the album's release and the band's increasing marketing presence on...
in January 1999. New Brunswick, NJ based label Tinman Records signed the group, picked up the album and released it that summer. A rather ordinary sampling of Industrial and EBM aesthetics of the time, it did win Interface a small cult following, helped immensely by the mp3.com music website. The onstage lineup expanded to Eric's brother Evan Eldredge (guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Jon Billian (keyboards) that summer.
The second release, July 2002's Angels In Disguise, proved to be Interface's breakthrough into the dark electronic world. Besides a vastly improved overall sound, singles like "Wasted Time" and the title track saw heavy club, indie radio, and webcast play throughout North America and Europe. The higher profile landed them better remix work and live support slots (such as a 2003 show with The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
). Despite the album's runaway success, Tinman fell into financial trouble, washing out a followup remix companion to Angels. Tinman finally shut down in 2005, just as the group announced a new album was in the works.
In 2005, after recording the album, titled Beyond Humanity, Interface began an exhaustive search for a new label, finally landing with Nilaihah Records, a Columbus, Ohio-based label founded by Kristy Venrick of The Azoic
The Azoic
The Azoic is an electronic dance band that was formed by Steve Laskarides, Shawn Lower, and Kristy Venrick in February 1996.-History:In October 1996, they received a record contract from Worm Records and released their first CD, The Divine Sufferin, in April 1997. Shawn left the band in early 1998...
. Finally released in March 2006 as an expanded edition with extra tracks added on, the album once again solidified the group's songwriting and production ability. The album's tracks "Age of Computers" and "Doubts and Fears" found their way onto top compilation CDs (Cryonica Tanz 4 and The State of Synthpop 2005, respectively).
Evan Eldredge left the group in 2006 to pursue other interests.
In 2006, the band collaborated with fellow New Yorker Viral Consciousness on a remake of Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
's "Aggro Mix" for the Cryonica tribute album Bright Lights, Dark Room.
2007 saw the debut of the band's most current touring lineup at the Black Sun Festival in August, now adding J. Joseph Dobise as an additional keyboard player and drummer Justin Parker. In addition, they finally recorded a cover of "Land Of Confusion
Land of Confusion
"Land of Confusion" is a rock song written by the band Genesis for their 1986 album Invisible Touch. The song was the third track on the album and was the fourth track from the album to become a single, which reached #4 in the US and #14 in the UK in early 1987. It made #8 in the Netherlands...
" by Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
for the Sigsaly Media compilation Machines Against Hunger (according to the Interface website, they have performed it live since 2003 and it was a fan favorite at concerts).
The Cryonica Tanz V5 compilation was announced on March 28, 2008 as including a new Interface song called "Destination", as remixed by Mindless Faith. On a Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
blog on December 24, 2007 the band announced that a new album Destination Focus will be out in 2008, preceded by an EP called Modern Life. However, these names appeared reversed upon the release of Destination Focus as the EP on October 28. Visions Of Modern Life was released February 24, 2009 on Nilaihah. The first 200 copies sold from Nilaihah's mail order site also included a free copy of the Transit EP via digital download card.
Interface has spent much of 2009 and 2010 with more tour dates and festival appearances as well as the release of an EP for the song "Body Flow", making it the third single pulled from Visions of Modern Life.
Members
- Eric Eldredge - lead vocals, programming/sequencing, production, keyboards
- Jon Billian - live keyboards, live guitar, programming/sequencing, sampling, vocoder
- J. Joseph Dobise - live keyboards, additional production/programming
- Justin Parker - live electronic drums
Former members
- Evan Eldredge (1999–2006) - guitars, keyboards, backing vocals, additional production
- Joseph Destry a/k/a DJ CYN (1997–1998) - guitars, vocals, keyboards
- Michael A. Cummings a/k/a DJ ANGZTEK (1997–1998) - drums
Discography (Albums)
- The Artemis ComplexThe Artemis ComplexThe Artemis Complex is the debut album for Interface, released in January 1999. Originally self-pressed and intended to be sold independently, it wasn't long before Tinman Records signed Interface to a distribution deal. Between the album's release and the band's increasing marketing presence on...
- 19991999 in music-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
Tinman Records - Angels In Disguise - 20022002 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
Tinman Records - Wasted Time EP - 20032003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
Internet limited edition - Disguised As Angels - 20032003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
Internet limited edition - Beyond HumanityBeyond HumanityBeyond Humanity is the third full-length album by Interface. It was released by Nilaihah Records on March 14, 2006.The album was the band's first to be recorded and produced entirely within the environment of the computer, with little hardware instrumentation. It was also the band's first album in...
- 20062006 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
Nilaihah RecordsNilaihah RecordsNilaihah Records is an American independent record label, currently based in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1999 by Kristy Venrick of The Azoic, after Oneiroid Psychosis asked her to release their next album. Though she did not have a record label at the time, Oneiroid Psychosis was... - Destination Focus EP - 20082008 in music2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such...
Nilaihah RecordsNilaihah RecordsNilaihah Records is an American independent record label, currently based in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1999 by Kristy Venrick of The Azoic, after Oneiroid Psychosis asked her to release their next album. Though she did not have a record label at the time, Oneiroid Psychosis was... - Visions of Modern LifeVisions of Modern LifeVisions of Modern Life is the fourth full-length album by Interface. It was released by Nilaihah Records February 24, 2009 on CD, with digital downloads available March 10, 2009....
- 20092009 in musicThe following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year...
Nilaihah RecordsNilaihah RecordsNilaihah Records is an American independent record label, currently based in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1999 by Kristy Venrick of The Azoic, after Oneiroid Psychosis asked her to release their next album. Though she did not have a record label at the time, Oneiroid Psychosis was... - Transit EP - 20092009 in musicThe following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year...
Nilaihah RecordsNilaihah RecordsNilaihah Records is an American independent record label, currently based in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1999 by Kristy Venrick of The Azoic, after Oneiroid Psychosis asked her to release their next album. Though she did not have a record label at the time, Oneiroid Psychosis was... - Body Flow EP - 20102010 in music2010 in music may refer to:*2010 in American music*2010 in Australian music*2010 in British music*2010 in Canadian music*2010 in European music *2010 in Irish music*2010 in Japanese music*2010 in New Zealand music...
Nilaihah RecordsNilaihah RecordsNilaihah Records is an American independent record label, currently based in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1999 by Kristy Venrick of The Azoic, after Oneiroid Psychosis asked her to release their next album. Though she did not have a record label at the time, Oneiroid Psychosis was...
Discography (Compilation Appearances)
- Ringworm V1 (19991999 in music-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
, Tinman) - "Frantic" - Don't Blow Your Cover: A Tribute to KMFDM (20002000 in musicSee also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List....
) - "Sex on a Flag" - The Art of War: Divide (20042004 in musicSee also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
, Remixwars.com) - "Age Of Computers 2.0" - The State of Synthpop 2005 (20052005 in music-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
, A Different Drum) - "Doubts and Fears" - Cryonica Tanz V4 (20052005 in music-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
, Cryonica) - "Age of Computers (Club Version)" - Bright Lights, Dark Room: A Depeche ModeDepeche ModeDepeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
B-Sides Tribute (20062006 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
, Cryonica) - Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix) (collaboration with Viral Consciousness) - Fourplay Vol.1 (20062006 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
, Nilaihah) - "Stranger In A Strange Land (Club Rapture)", "Escape (Momentum Mix)", "Stranger In A Strange Land (Blueliner Mix by Fiction 8)", "Doubts and Fears (Gold Paralax Mix)", "Beyond Human (Lukotyk Mutation)". - Fxxk The Mainstream Vol. 1 Box Set (20072007 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame...
, Alfa Matrix) - "Nobody's Hero (Vengeance Version)" - Machines Against Hunger (20082008 in music2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such...
, Sigsaly Media) - "Land Of ConfusionLand of Confusion"Land of Confusion" is a rock song written by the band Genesis for their 1986 album Invisible Touch. The song was the third track on the album and was the fourth track from the album to become a single, which reached #4 in the US and #14 in the UK in early 1987. It made #8 in the Netherlands...
" - Cryonica Tanz V5 (20082008 in music2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such...
, Cryonica) - "Destination (Mindless Faith Remix)" - Electronic Saviors: Industrial Music to Cure Cancer (20102010 in music2010 in music may refer to:*2010 in American music*2010 in Australian music*2010 in British music*2010 in Canadian music*2010 in European music *2010 in Irish music*2010 in Japanese music*2010 in New Zealand music...
, Metropolis RecordsMetropolis RecordsMetropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
) - "Never Say Farewell"
Other "Interfaces" in Music
Due to "Interface" being a rather common word, especially in electronic musicElectronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
, other artists have used the name in the past, posing a potential element of confusion amongst music collectors.
- The website Discogs.com lists no fewer than 20 artist listings under "Interface". It is unclear how many of them are duplicates, or how many were one-off acts or projects that are currently still active.
- Hollywood, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
based producer/remixer/sound designer Julian Synne contributed several remixes to Cleopatra RecordsCleopatra RecordsCleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
throughout the 1990s, with many of them being called an "Interface Remix". Many of these are available on the label's extensive line of tribute compilations. Several websites have incorrectly attributed many of these tracks to "this" Interface. - A jungleOldschool jungleJungle is a genre of electronic music that incorporates influences from genres including breakbeat hardcore, and reggae/dub/dancehall. There is debate as to whether jungle is a separate genre from drum and bass as many use the terms interchangeably...
DJ/producer in EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
goes by the name Interface. - Interface was the name of an Italo DiscoItalo discoItalo disco encompasses much of the dance music output in Europe during the 1980s. It is one of the world's first forms of mostly electronic dance music and evolved during the late 1970s and early 1980s in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and other parts of Europe...
group active in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They produced 2 notable singles, "Plastic Age" and "Human Cry", among a few minor others. The Last FM website has mistakenly merged them with the above incarnation. - A Christian rock group made by members of a seminary in Fort Myers, Florida goes by the name Interface.
- A metal act from Lucerne, Switzerland emerged under the name, but usually adds "Lucerne" to avoid confusion.
- A one-off improvisational project released one album called Swank under the name in 2001, but have not done anything since.