"Fusing together a hybrid collection of IDM, broken beats, ambient, industrial and alternative eclectic electronica, Autoclav1.1 as a project aims to reflect emotion whether that be on album or live on stage." Autoclav 1.1 has released several powerful albums through Crunch Pod including "Visitor Attractions" and has recently signed onto Hive Records. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Tony Young from this incredibly interesting and diverse project. For more information check out http://www.sentrymusic.com/autoclavhome.htm

Introduce yourself; who are you, what do you do?

That’s a question that could ask a lot (laughs).  Ermmm, I guess I am me.  I do many things from making my music to playing live for Unter Null.  I run a management and promo company called Sentry with my partner Erica and a small label  called ‘The Pandemic’ we have started which will come to fruit in the future.


What is Autoclav1.1? Can you provide us with a brief bio of the project?

Autoclav1.1 is me. It’s my emotional vent.  I have been in the music industry for a lot of years and thought I would have a go myself.  This was around the latter part of 2004.  In 2005 I got the opportunity to get a couple of EP’s out.  As basic as they were this led to me getting a few shows that were paramount to me getting a deal with a good label.


What does Autoclav1.1 mean? Why did you choose this name for the project?

To be fair after being asked this many times, I have to be honest.  I could make some tripe up, but I would be lying.  It doesn’t mean anything really.  I originally just wanted something no-one else had.  An autoclave is a sterilising instrument so you could say I am sterilising music or something.  Yes that is a weak answer.


What do you hope to accomplish with Autoclav1.1 with music in general?

Just to have fun and enjoy what I am doing really.  I just want to push and push, always producing the best out of myself.  I have set myself an aim that everything I do and release must be better than its predecessor.  I believe I have achieved that.  Everything is a learning process.  ‘Visitor Attractions’ is obviously better than ‘You Are My All And More’.  My piano and synth playing has got better and my ear for composition has grown which I would like to think happens to everyone as they progress.  The moment I am not producing anything better I will stop.


I see that you have recently signed with Hive records and are going to be putting out a new album. How did this switch to Hive [from Crunch Pod] come about, and what can we expect on the new album?

 

Crunch Pod are taking a break this year form new album releases.  I like to keep moving forward with stuff and wanted a release this year and keep me ‘out there’ so to speak.  I have done some promo for Hive UK and Europe wise for some time and Davyd is a good lad.  Hive is a good step for me aesthetics wise right now, and I am kicking it off with a remix album called ‘Broken Beats For Broken Hearts’. 

My next album provisionally titled ‘All Long Black Spirals?’ is underway.  It’s different without losing the feelings that are rooted in me and what makes Autoclav1.1 what it is.  It’s a massive step forward… I have a number of tracks underway and three tracks completed at this time.  It’s more straightforward and I am trying to make each track one of my best ever.  Let’s just say with tracks such as ‘six minutes to live’ I am trying to create something massive.  Yet there will be some major surprises on it.

The music of Autoclav1.1 is amazing, dynamic and dare I say it…emotional. What inspires you to make music? Why do you choose to make idm and ambient influenced industrial (for lack of a more cohesive global term)?

Emotion is what I am all about.  Inspiration comes in all forms.  My first album was obviously driven by the death of my cat Frank who I miss still.  Visitor Attractions but what makes people tick and how people treat each other.  The new album is based on hope.  I didn’t choose to make IDM and I am not strictly IDM really, even though it weighs in that direction heavily because of the style.  I like industrial too, even if the scene is very poor at the moment with far too many uninspiring acts leaving it a bit of a joke to be honest.  I just write music and whatever comes out is the result.


Can you walk us through the production of one of your tracks (pick your favourite track that you’ve done, or perhaps just how you work on music in general)?

I don’t have a real favourite.  I do like my new stuff a lot and the three I have just completed ‘casually losing selected memories’, ‘it’s indifference’ and ‘six minutes to live’ are just a progression on everything I have done.  The production values are the same.  I use an Apple Mac and Logic.  I just get more use out of them on each release.  I like using organic sounds and string instruments of all types.


Recently you have gotten engaged to Erica Dunham of Unter Null. Since you are both prominent musicians, how has this relationship affected you as both a person and a musician? How will this affect the future of Autoclav1.1?

Well to be honest that’s a little personal and I can be a private person so I will keep it as short as I can. We try keep music out of our relationship as we love each other and music is just something we do otherwise, I am very happy with Erica and it has given me a more positive outlook on life.  It’s cool to have someone I respect to bounce my ideas off though and play a track to when it’s complete.  Erica has a good ear and can spot something it may be lacking or if I have overdone something.  When you write music your ears go deaf to it sometimes and you miss something.  Nothing changes with Autoclav1.1, my music is just music.


How have your expectations, goals, and/or dreams (music related or otherwise) changed since you began this project?

Only slightly.  I am always grateful if someone sends me a message saying they like it, and sometimes that is enough.  Obviously I want more people to hear it and whatever comes of it will come of it.  I can only try.


What do you think the future of “industrial” or perhaps just electronic music is?

It will always be there.  Like I said earlier though, its been damaged for me.  There is no spirit really and a lot of the bands are just not very good any more.  Me and a couple of mates Rhys and Pete (DJ’s of now defunct club Implant) were on about it the other night.  It’s a shame; the scene is just pumping out 3^rd rate electronic oontz oontz music for kids of the download generation.  Older acts are beginning to just sound rubbish and have run out of anything worth saying.  There are a couple of big acts who fall into this category and I won’t name them here.  I used to really like them too.  Now they just sound like lamer re-hashes of the artists that were forerunners for this scene and it’s sad.  I guess the almighty dollar or something just calls to them knowing that the kids just lap up anything they are given as long as they have a glow stick in their hand and a dummy in their mouth.  I haven’t seen any progression from a lot of artists… in fact they appear to have just got worse.  The true judgment will be in a few years time and seeing if they’re still around. At this moment in time there is just not a lot to get excited over for me.


What do you foresee in the future of Autoclav1.1? What is currently on your agenda?

I can’t make any calls on that unfortunately.  As long as I can just get better and better and get releases out and someone likes my music I will be happy.


Any last words?

Ummm, I will leave them for my death bed I guess. (how goth)


Thanks so much for taking the time to do this interview. Wounds of the Earth wishes Autoclav1.1 much success in the future!

Thanks for the time mate, much appreciated.

-[.d4n b4rr3tt.]