Interview Val I Suffer Inc.

Lineup: Val - Vocals Alex Di Clemente - Guitar/Vocals Sandro D'angelo - Bass Luca Fois - Guitar Michele - Drums

10/20/05 Email Interview Interviewer: Karma E. Omowale

Thanks for doing the interview, Val!!             

VAL - Thanks to u Karma, I am honoured!!

Q: Please give the viewers some background info on I Suffer Inc. How did the band form and history behind the name of the band.

A: Well, the band was born from the ashes of a power trash band called Windseeker. When they parted ways the leader Alex Di Clemente contacted me and invited me to work in this new project as  lead singer. At the time I was the bass player and second voice in a emocore band.  The concept behind the name is that society is like a big corporation made to make the single person suffer.  I SUFFER INCORPORATED.

Q: How would you best describe your music and who is your target audience?

A: I personally don’t like labels, they puts limits to us musicians and to listeners. Beside, it is true that people who have never listened to a band must know what kind of music they play. Melodic death, Metalcore, some described us as Black Core.  I think that we play fuckin’ rock!!! Is emotional music. Angry, romantic, dark. We have all kind of audience, that’s a great thing!!! Metalheads, hardcore kids, emo kids, a lot of girls and young guys. It seems that we are appreciated by different crowds.

Q: Has I Suffer Inc. become a full-time gig or do you still work day jobs to pay the bills, etc.? 

A: No, no, we still can’t live with music, that’s our dream. That’s every musician’s dream I guess. Some of us work, some goes to university.

Q: How is the metal/hardcore scene in Italy? Does it help to have bands like Graveworm and Lacuna Coil in the spotlight on the scene, or has it been enough? 

A: If we look at the “global” scene we must admit that in the last couple of years it has got pretty big. Is important to have bands like Lacuna Coil out in the USA and the rest of Europe. They help us screaming to the world “Hey guys there are some cool bands also here in Italy”. In the underground it depends on the city,  but we’re still pretty far from your giant scene.

Q: How would you describe your local scene? 

A: In Rome, there are a lot of good bands like TO KILL who are on Catalyst Records, Strength Approach, The Phoenix, Corpse Fucking Art, and many others. There are shows every week and people in general is receptive. We can’t complain after all.

Q: Do you find there is a lack of support in the scene (underground)? 

A: Yeah, absolutely. It’s always hard to get kids coming to the shows. I think the main problem here in Italy are the venues and who control booking agency. It takes passion to work with art in the underground. There is definitely a lack of passion.

Q: Who are some of the band’s musical influences?

A: We have very different influences. We all like Swedish death metal bands, 70’s and 80’s music, and rock in all its genres. I love every kind of music, from Black metal to trip hop, pop, classical, electronic. Let’s say that in our songs u can find death metal, emo parts, breakdowns, punk.

Q: Are you planning to tour outside of Italy anytime soon?

A: Actually for now we’re trying to focus on the next record. We’re going to play a couple of shows in Rome, Naples, Florence, Milan and around Italy. Next year it would be great to tour Europe with some friends.

Q: What can one expect at a live I Suffer Inc. show?

A: .....Instinct is the first word that comes to my mind. And fury. We all love to perform live, that’s the best part of being in a band. No matter how many people there is at the show, we will always play the best as we can, having fun.

Q: Who would you like to see your name next to on a marquee, your all time bill from hell? 

A: MMM,  let me think. Dillinger Escape Plan, Poison The Well, In Flames, Slayer., Metallica.

Q: Love the new site by the way it rocks! Does it coincide with the new release of the E.P.?

A: Yeah the new site is  great, we must thank Cyberfranz, our webmaster. He’s like the sixth member of the band!!! We can say it has to do with the upcoming CD, we wanted this to be a sort of rebirth for the band. New music, a new image.

Q: Speaking of the EP, how did the song writing differ from Bury Me In Silence?

A: Basically the songs from the previous album were old ideas wrote by Alex one or two years before. We assembled everything and I sang on. This time it has been more complex. We all worked together for the very first time, everyone came up with his own vision, and we shaped the songs for months. I wrote some riffs too.  The result is that the melodic side is more intense and emotional and the heavy parts are “in your face”. 

Q: When writing songs, to whom or what do you look towards for inspiration?  

A: The saddest part of life I think. Lyrically I have some fixation. The title of  the new E.P. is Chronicles of Lost Purity it talks about love, jealousy, tragedies, pornography, morality, pedophilia, vengeance, unity, the dark side of us.....reactions.

Q: How have the lineup changes affected your songwriting, if it has at all? And do all members contribute or do you have a main songwriter? 

A: Alex used to be the main songwriter of the band. He wrote all the music for Bury Me In Silence, and I wrote vocal parts and lyrics. For Chronicles Luca (lead guitar) and the new drummer, Mick helped us a lot with their ideas. This seems to be the final line up.

Q: Love the video for “Vanity”, who came up that concept or was Tony (D’Angelo) allowed free creative reign to do as he liked for the direction of the video?

A: We gave him the lyric and we talked about it. But he was free enough to bring his vision of the song and the concept behind it on the screen.

Q: What's the biggest test of character you've endured thus far with your life in I Suffer Inc.? 

A: I was very depressed when we were without a drummer. It’s very hard to find the right member for skills, mentality, personal goals and musical taste.

Q: Who are you listening to in the genre and out of the genre? 

Darkest Hour, As I Lay Dying, Every Time I Die, It Dies Today, From First To Last, Sevendust. Actually I am not listening too much metal or hxc right now. I prefer bands like The Cardigans, A Perfect Circle, Björk, Mars Volta and Visual Kei bands, Japanese rock like Dir En Grey or Malice Mizer. 

Q: Wish list? 

A: I don’t have a list. I’d like to play as long as possible and I want my words to be heard by people all around the world. Not for fame or money, my desire is help out kids with music. Music saved my life years ago, so I believe its power is unconfined. 

Q: If you could work collaborate with anyone (producer wise), who would you chose? 

A: Ross Robinson definitely. I love all he did. Also Andy Sneap.

Q: If you could commission a band to do your favorite song, who would do it and which song would it be?

A: Weird question - It would be cool to hear Duran Duran's "Save A Prayer" played by Killswitch Engage.

Q: Now one of yours?

A: I would probably ask Incubus to cover our "Everything Flows". It's our acoustic - blues song.

Q: Name a couple of albums that served as major influences on your lives.

A:

1. Wish and Seventeen Seconds by Cure

2. Proud Like A God by Guano Apes

3. Korn, the first self titled

4. White pony by Deftones

5. Make Yourself by Incubus

6. Debut by Björk

7. Granturismo by The Cardigans

8. War by U2

9. Opposite of December by Poison the Well

10. Without You I’m Nothing by Placebo

11. Mer de Noms by A Perfect Circle

Q: If you could do a split CD with any band, which would you choose.

A: It would be cool with Heaven Shall burn.

Q: Releases, where can they be found? 

A: At the shows, or you can order our music and merch online. Hope soon in the shops.

Q: Future releases? What does the future hold for I Suffer Inc.? What can your fans look forward to?

A: We’re going to record the new E.P. in November, it will be out in January.  It will contain five brand new songs, a remake of "Justify The Cross", and one instrumental track. A sort of documentary with backstage of recordings, live performances, and stupid moments. Then merchandising and overall a lot of live shows.

Q: If you could interview a band, name one that you would like to interview?  

A: The Cure or Rolling Stones

Q: More role reversals, do you have any questions for me? 

A: Do u always understand the twisted minds of artists?? Not always, but it takes a twisted mind to want to get to know another's twisted mind!! ;^)

Q: Any final words? Do you have a message you would like to share with your fans? 

A: We thanks with the heart in our hands all the guys around the world who supported us in the past months online. Check out our site www.isufferinc.com and support underground. Remember, underground is you!!! Thank you for the interview. Good luck!! See ya next time.

Grazie, Val e buona fortuna!

I'd like to thank Val and the rest of I Suffer Inc. as I wish them the best of luck, as I hope the rest of the world gets to see this band VERY soon!