Clan Of Xymox

What is Clan Of Xymox to You; do You spare time for life outside or does it give all You need?

Ronny: No, everything I do intertwines with the band and the music. It does give all I need. Simple really

The en banc of COX has been very altering through time except You and the bassist Mojca Zugna. Do You think of Xymox as Your own band and the others as guest performers?

R: Well people know my music and the band knows that I’m the writer. I record and sing my songs. So I don’t need anyone in my life. If I stop there will be nothing. People who You see live are my friends who go with the band, who play only live. I tell them what they are supposed to do, what I want to do and carry out in a live.

As long as You are active, COX is active right?

R: Yes. People are always waiting for me to write songs, to record them and perform live. It’s actually a solo project. But I like playing as a band and I don’t want to go up on stage alone,so in lives I need people around me.

So, You will not be seen as a one-man band in that case.

R: No I hate that. I hate one-man bands, I hate three-men bands, I want four people minimum on stage.

How are Xymox tracks born? Do You play in the guitars and then the rest, or lyrics and the vocals first etc. Or does it alter a lot? How much do other members have a say in the making process or is it an even play?

R: First of all; no one else has a say in my music and the way I start is different though I never start with lyrics. Music inspires lyrics as it calls up images. It can be a long time after, we never know what emotions it will bring.

Not only the cast of Your characters has changed, but also Your name. Starting off as COX altering it to only Xymox, changing it back to COX.

R: It was a period of time when we got to a major label and they were offering me the universe and I was falling for it. I felt that a shorter name would be more accessible. When I didn’t like it anymore I just changed it back and started to do what I was doing before. To me Xymox is a period I really want to forget.

Still at some lives You have done a cover of a song from Xymox

R: It was most likely a bad joke.

What is Your opinion on Xymox being rather unknown on the gargantuan musical scapes? You're quite an icon in the darker alternative scene but stranger to the masses. Is it about being „true to the scene“?

R: No I’m just being true to myself. It doesn’t matter to me who picks it up, music is music to me, doesn’t matter as long as someone understands it. But I think throughout my career in COX has been the odd one out in the odd music industry; we’re not electro, we’re not gothic, we’re everything.

Could it be that Your music is very intelligent, thoughtful and immersful for a so called regular listener?

R: We also appeal to a lot of people, music has to be universal but I hate commercial music, I hate stupid music, I hate stupid lyrics. But also not too intelligent. I don’t have such big things, I don’t want to change the world, this is the world as it is.

So Your music is up close and personal?

R: In the end of the day; politicians, philosophers, whoever in life, when their wife divorces them, that’s what fucks them up not a thesis that didn’t appeal or got rejected. Personal life is what it’s about.
We all know if You have good sex then the morning after You’re very happy and if You haven’t had sex for a long time, You’re very grumpy. It’s the simple things in life. I find human topics more interesting then fake political behind what one can hide.

Whilst You were only starting out and recording Your first album what music were You listening to? Has it changed immensely through time?

R: It’s same as it is nowadays, I listen to bands that release new albums so during the time there are new bands coming up that’s what I always do, I listen to new bands in the scene and what binds them together. And to me life goes on; I might not listen to bands I listened during starting out ever again.

It's not very false to assume that The Sisters Of Mercy and The Cure have been great influences.

R: These were bands that I listened to when I was a teenager so of course they were important to me. I also listened to David Bowie and bands that were influenced by him and that weren’t that big. They are all a part of my generation. People who are 19- 20 are influenced by bands who are modern in 2006. One has to be fucking autistic if one doesn’t listen to music.

In 1984 You were touring with the legendary Dead Can Dance. How did the two bands hit off ?

R: We did it out of friendship, they were a new band and I had just started my band. We kept it on a personal level. I didn’t think I was COX and Brendan DCD though they were very well known later on. They did introduce me to the label and so on, but it was friendship and coincidence, it could have been anyone.

If invited, would You play with them again or do You have an eye out for some other bands?

R: It’s hard to tell. Yes, why not if it would help me in my own life. I had a good time on that tour so I don’t see why not though we played only like 6 shows together. But I don’t feel the need to play with other bands really; I like to do my own thing. I don’t feel COX is a supporting band or has to work with other bands to do what we do, our own thing.

You’re probably more attached to Germany right now than The Netherlands for You have been living here over a year now, but tell about the dark electro scene in Holland. There is Grendel, Jesus Complex and in best cases a few more names. Are there any more great artists on the way or who have yet to gain acknowledgment outside?

R: There are probably more bands there then I could imagine. It seems everyone has a band these days. Listening to tracks on Myspace and so on we see how hard it is to get anything heard these days and there are a lot of talented people. Because of that a many are listening to music they are not supposed to be listening to, being dictated in a way by magazines and charts. That’s the name of the game and there will be good bands in the future also.

You're also a DJ. For instance Your compilated DJ Revelation is one of the best dark electronica compilations ever. Your sense of direction in choosing tracks is impeccable. How did you get started, was it the „ local record shop“?

R: You don’t want to know.. I was about 10 years old when I started to DJ. First at school parties in my hometown then mainly the local clubs when I was older. I knew when I was 3 years old that I wanted to play music and formed my first band when I was four and in the nursery school, singing and screaming. Something like Einstürzende Neubauten.

Sounds more like Einstürzende Kindergarten?

R: I should believe so.

Have You ever had any other projects except COX? It has been around that You’ve played synth in Jesus Complex and also cooperated with them as a guest vocalist. Was it only a one timer or is there more to come?

R: Damon asked me to sing a song and I thought why not and if I had time I’d do it again. There are only 24 hrs in a day and if I had five times as much time I wouldn’t have to say no to offers. It might sound selfish but COX is a priority.

The mandatory question; do You know anything about Estonia? Why haven’t You ever performed there? Even as a DJ?

R: Because I have never been asked. It’s a small country surrounded by Russia...

What do You find to be more pleasurable; giving lives or working in the studio with new tracks?

R: I don’t know. I like both in a different way. I like to write songs and also see if the work live. There’s nothing more beautiful if people know what You have written and see recognition. You make yourself start but it’s also good to know that people appreciate it.

You're very much a people’s person, walking around in the crowd, not minding that star attitude. Do You have any memorable encounters with fans?

R: Again it’s like I have no idea where to begin and where to end, there are so many moments like that. I guess that’s why it’s nice to go to the club afterwards and talk to people about the show and everyday things and I think that people like to tell also. We can sit backstage but it’s no fun, I like to see happy faces.

Fuck the superstar attitude?

R: Definitely.