The Apparatus

Steve Jarrett, guitarist for Orgone, fills us in on the band's views on politics and commercialism in music. 

I have yet to find any Orgone band photo, promotional photo, or live footage. Is there a reason for the mystery of your image? Are you holding off on it? Do you just not care? Or is it merely a lack of resources?

I tend to think it's ridiculous when bands make a conscious effort to avoid having photographs published or displayed publicly. So for us, it really isn't fueled by pretentiousness or a desire to remain caped and illusive. Instead, we just haven't made it a priority. If we ever did have promotional photos, we would want them to be tastefully done, centered around a specific, central, artistic theme and far removed from the crossed-arm, soul-piercing gaze of intimidation approach. On the other hand, it's equally obnoxious to have press shots become the focal point of a band, which often happens. I can't even begin to express how disheartening it is to see bands that invest more energy into their image and merchandise than their music. Although, that mentality usually produces noticeably inauthentic work. Granted, it also garners popularity and money, but the music and writing itself is less inspired and less meaningful to the artist and listener.

Those kind of bands usually sell hundreds of shirts without once considering who made the shirts they're selling. They're promoting and selling some popularized image in the same way that a retail franchise might. Everyone is doing this to an extent, even in apparently underground circles: "alternative, socially-conscious bands" commodify a belief system or lifestyle (which has obviously been done with straight edge and veganism) and place unnecessarily rigid labels on individuals who are vastly more complex and unique than any collection of stock slogans. Both of those lifestyles (which some of us subscribe to) are staunchly opposed to consumerism and devoted to positive personal development, so I think it's extremely important to not become deeply invested in the token image of ANY movement or lifestyle, but to instead embody the spirit of that belief and actively manifest those ideas on a day to day basis. Otherwise, a person basically draws their own caricature by unconsciously fulfilling all of the symbolic roles of a set lifestyle and have merely traded one image for another, climbing up and down a different social hierarchy.

There's a documentary that I really enjoy: "There is a Policeman inside all of our Heads" that specifically addresses what I'm talking about. It outlines how an efficient marketing scheme was devised to appeal to the "starving artist", the "rebellious teen", the "aspiring entrepreneur". In other words, the "powers that be" will willingly and enthusiastically accommodate any lifestyle, whether it's rebellious or mainstream, because it reenforces two very obvious things: dependence on material possessions and dependence on a set perception of "self". It redirects honorable, uncorrupted feelings like creativity, compassion, rebellion or ambition into a purchasable product that enhances each role and satiates the very justifiable yearning to express those feelings. Most of all, it brings in a great deal of money and causes even more division amongst disillusioned goons who endorse a new mode of dogmatic thinking that is only slightly different than the one they've been raised to endorse. So, I think we should cast aside the flimsy divisions and be united in disgust and rageful disdain towards the expertly mutilated world that we operate in...a world that has been purposefully removed from its natural, harmonious state...a world that has been brutally conditioned to operate in fear, hopelessness and seclusion. I think that we should feel alienated in this concretized, mechanical, colorless state of mental and spiritual suffering. It most definitely benefits the manipulators of this planet when we adhere to petty sociological labels, instead of confronting our own multi-dimensional nature and embracing our undeniable interconnectedness. What's important is that we have a responsibility to be mature, intelligent, compassionate human beings who evolve through self-exploration. For me, that requires an opinion-less examination of darkness/light, solitude/companionship, every duality, paradox and mystery that presents itself. If someone chooses to boastfully brandish their apathy or near-sightedness, it's ultimately their loss. I can't think of anything more rewarding (and baffling) than discovering and then enacting the purpose of your own life.

To clarify, I'm not saying that creative ambition is a deplorable thing or supporting well-intentioned ideals is a negative thing in itself, but when you start a band with a specific market or target group in mind, it's a pretty narrow-sighted vision and automatically excludes a wide variety of people (who like you) are searching for their own version of understanding and expression. As far as we're concerned, we welcome open discussion on any topic and try to be as approachable as possible, because from the onset we've handled every aspect of our creative output. It's been extremely encouraging to hear from a diverse range of people in the states and abroad, with varying musical and personal tastes, who much like us, are trying to celebrate very fundamental ideas: freedom, compassion, justice, creativity. Thankfully there are still some incredible bands and artists who produce excellent, provocative music with meaningful, personalized lyrics and are perceptive and sensitive enough to recognize their intimate kinship and union with the whole of existence. They recognize that to viciously trample upon the dignity of another being to expedite their own gratification or nourishment is not only unacceptable, but also deeply harmful to the perpetrator(s) of that unjust act. They also realize that this deeply repressed, self-loathing mode of existence is a lingering disease that squelches any prospect of true self-realization.
In terms of our "image", we spent a lot of time collaborating with David D'Andrea on our album artwork, but we don't feel remotely guilty about that decision. He's an innovative, seasoned artist and made a conscious, considerate effort to find the visual counterpart to the music we produced on "The Goliath". So in that sense, image can be very important when you view your music as an artistic composition instead of a convenient, amusing hobby or a way to infiltrate appealing social circles. Any images that we have released publicly (save some live shots) are closely tied to our lyrics, which again, are an aspect we feel is grossly overlooked in most metal circles. I'd say one obvious exception that comes to mind is Deathspell Omega...probably some of the most synchronized, well-arranged music/lyrics/artwork I've personally encountered.

This question is related to what I was just talking about in the last response. All of us in the band are either vegan or vegetarian, but I personally view it as an almost unavoidable obligation to honor and cherish the other species of this planet (including animals, humans and wildlife). Factory farming operates entirely in a realm of anguish that compromises the dignity of all three: the employees are usually uneducated, underpaid, miserable (for obvious reasons) and eventually desensitized to the atrocities committed within the confines of the "farm", the animals are humiliated, drugged, tortured, driven to madness and cannibalism, then slaughtered in the manner that is most economical or efficient... which can include being repeatedly bludgeoned, boiled alive, having their throats slit (and these are amongst the more humane methods) and finally, the surrounding wildlife is irreversibly disturbed by the constant pollution caused by the facility's operation. There's much more to be said on this topic and for anyone who is interested in being vegan or vegetarian, I'd recommend the documentary "Earthlings", which is available on YouTube and explores every aspect of animal exploitation ranging from the meat industry to animal experimentation to the circus industry. Also, the website www.vegan-info.com is an encouraging and open-minded resource center. As far as abstaining from the 2008 elections, that decision seems intuitive and automatic to me. The restoration of "freedom" in my opinion, in no way coincides with the election of a new, powerless figurehead. There are many people who genuinely think that "If Hilary Clinton is elected, she'll usher in a new era of democracy and liberalism". Think whatever you'd like, we're all entitled to that. To me, I think that a calculated agenda of enslavement and disempowerment is being implemented against the inhabitants of this planet and we have the decision whether to accept and contribute to that type of existence or to deny and dismantle its introduction. The identity of the supposed "reign-holder" of a single nation then, seems completely inconsequential if you have a planet comprised of billions of terrified people who are literally incapable of forming their own opinion. Christian wanted to mention that he is in favor of people voting if they are actually informed on the candidates and issues, but also feels that it is ultimately a futile effort. Humans have extraordinary significance, both collectively and as individuals, but it deeply saddens me to see people invest energy and effort into the reenforcement of an illusion like fair voting, when they've never even confronted themselves. I just see it as a projection of powerlessness, an earnest hope that a single man or woman will improve the condition of their lives. It's an insane idea, because it sacrifices our free will to an outside force, which gladly offers a very distorted and unhealthy solution.

There's a section of the book "Dispatches" by Michael Herr that had a profound impact on me as a teenager, in which he describes an American soldier in Vietnam, who after an intense engagement, laughs and urinates into the eyes of a dead Vietnamese soldier. I see that same desecration of human dignity in many of the films that are surfacing from soldiers in Iraq and elsewhere. In fact, recently, after speaking briefly about how most perceived attacks against the U.S. have been staged propaganda events, a guy in the audience told me to "Say something about the troops". I was sort of at a loss for words, because I think it's an abomination that underprivileged kids are cunningly deceived into military service to improve their own financial status or to fulfill some (potentially sincere, but misplaced) feelings of patriotism and duty. Then, some of these same kids turn into the deluded, maniacal murderers mentioned in books like "Dispatches", listening to Disturbed while they viciously pummel a human being with .50 caliber bullets. Even if troops enter the service as well-intentioned young men and women who have simply been conditioned to honor the tradition of military service, they usually return as obliterated souls who have been ravaged by the unbearable sights of death and inhumanity.

It's the same aging story over and over... a country is attacked, threatened or dishonored and each government's propaganda machine portrays the opposing nation as a den of murderous mongrels, when in fact, the populations of both nations are mortified by fear of death and insecurity, so they react out of fear and place full power into the hands of government. This is an unacceptable "routine" to fall into and it's time to recognize that when it comes to human/global exploitation there are no political or cultural divisions...there is one immense power structure that (despite occasional disagreements) aims to absorb the life-force and essence of all who willingly submit to their domineering tactics.

Well actually, I didn't do any live vocals with our previous lineup, while our old singer Dutch Pearce was in the band. I did contribute some recorded vocals, though. As for our current lineup, Christian does the vast majority of the vocals and I occasionally chime in. He learned the songs and lyrics on "The Goliath" in literally a week and a half before we had to record and he was unbelievably patient about the whole thing. Thankfully, we made it through the whole ordeal despite the time constraints and everyone's personalities match alarmingly well. In terms of changing our sound, we are most definitely trying to evolve. The next full-length is going to be much more experimental: some tabla drumming, guzheng, sitar..(not for novelty, but to try to tastefully incorporate some new elements). The songs themselves will be diverse...still plenty of technicality, but with much more emphasis on the mood that's being conveyed...definitely just trying to give each song a unique personality.

We would love to tour extensively, but as of now we really don't have the resources to accomplish that in a respectable and worthwhile way. We're hoping the full-length generates some interest and even if it doesn't, we'll be completely satisfied writing and releasing albums, booking our own shows and tours in the future. We're definitely an album-centered band, but we would like to eventually convert a diesel van and do some touring (probably this year or next). Europe (France & Germany in particular) are also slated on the long term agenda. Justin wants to go to Egypt, so we're determined to make that happen!

Basically, we noticed that Doug had recorded Kalibas, Psyopus, Lethargy, Unholy, Earth Crisis and Snapcase, amongst a sleu of other impressive bands (some active, some of yesteryear) and we decided to get in touch with him. We were impressed by the quality and cost, so we went with it. Recording with Doug, despite some band-related complications and problems during the first week we were there, was a really enjoyable experience and as I've said before, he handled the whole thing very graciously. I think he did an exceptional job, especially since the music itself was recorded in 3 days (followed by two days of vocals/mixing/mastering). He told us some great stories and introduced us to Appalachian warlords "Pentaface" via Metal Maniacs, so he exceeded our expectations. We're scheduled to record our next full-length with him in July of 2008. While we were in Lockport, Justin found "(The) Mighty Taco" and we could barely contain our sensual yearnings for that place after one visit, so we ate their often. Later, we found some really graphic crucifixion candles in a grocery store and plan on picking one up on our return. I think we'll actually be staying at a campground during this next visit (which totals 12 days), so we'll probably be entering the studio with a rugged, woodland musk that hopefully Doug can stomach day after day. Honestly, we're really excited to go back. Doug is an awesome guy and since all of us have very active personal schedules, it's always really fun spending a significant amount of time together working on something creative.

I've noticed that, too. I saw The End play at Yesterday's in Wheeling, West Virginia and I was very impressed. They're a really captivating band, regardless of what they're playing (stuff from Transfer Trachea..., Within Dividia or the more streamlined stuff on Elementary). I give them a lot of credit for being bold enough to explore new territory with Elementary, despite the flak they've received. I know Justin saw them years ago, around the release of Transfer Trachea and was equally impressed.

The idea of the government trying to limit the use of any drug is so preposterous and ironic that it's almost difficult to approach the subject seriously. To anyone who feels that governments are genuinely invested in curbing drug use, I'd say, read the book "TranceFormation of America" by Cathy O'Brien or watch the film (though it's not the most accurate portrayal) "Panther" to get a better understanding of how governments have traditionally flooded hard drugs into poor communities (domestically and internationally) and then profited from the sales. Drugs have been planted to create intentionally disastrous, violent effects on once-peaceful communities and to hinder the personal development of millions of otherwise capable individuals. Outside of hard drugs, I think it's important to thoughtfully examine the pharmaceutical industry... how medications exist for every possible physical or psychological ailment, many of which can be remedied with sleep, water or healing sessions. What kind of harmful effects could a dependence on these synthetic substances have on our bodies? I'd say, read or listen to anything on ayuvedic medicine or the "body-mind" by Deepak Chopra to understand that we already possess a limitless pharmacy, a limitless healing power within our own bodies and that a genetic link exists between our bodies and minds that, if nurtured and understood, can enhance and invigorate us, leading towards true health and harmony, devoid of pills or debilitating addictions.

We have a show coming up (this Tuesday, actually) with Anti-Flag at the Recher Theatre in Baltimore, so that should be an enjoyable experience. We're set to record our second full-length in July of 2008 and have actually just confirmed all of the recording dates with Doug White. The artwork on the next album will be done by David D'Andrea and we're hoping to release that in CD and vinyl.

Thanks a lot for compiling these questions and for continually supporting us as a band (literally from the start). A lot of the people we've been in touch with have discovered us through The Apparatus and I'm glad to see that the site is developing in such a positive direction. Thanks to anyone who read this entire interview... I tried to answer each question as thoroughly as possible. Finally, we just wanted to include a short recommended reading list:

Total Freedom by Jiddu Krishnamurti
Atlantis, Aliens and Genetic Manipulation by Michael Tsarion
Be as You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi
On the Shortness of Life by Seneca
Prometheus Rising by Robert Anton Wilson
Mass Psychology of Fascism by Wilhelm Reich
The House on the Lagoon by Rosario Ferre
Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
God's Grace by Bernard Malamud
Dispatches by Michael Herr
A People's History of the United States by Noam Chomsky
The Biggest Secret by David Icke
Lost World of Agharti: Mystery of Vril Power by Alec MacLellan
Trance-Formation of America by Cathy O'Brien

Thanks again and take care!

Steve / Orgone

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