1. First this, Remi Szyszka joined Psyche this year and Per-Anders Kurenbach left the band. How will this change affect the Psyche sound?

Oh boy right at the first question. Well you'll have to wait and hear "Sanctuary". We are getting a bit more electro, modern danceable with Remi's sound. I'm trying to develop in a different way from the typical song structure of the last few Psyche albums. Maybe a bit more "Unveiling The Secret" with a modern twist.

2. Why did the change take place?

DARRIN: For the reason that I felt Per-Anders and I had reached a peak with our recordings, and I just didn't see a development possibility. We had only managed 3 or 4 new songs in the last 2 years. Although they were great. (3 of them are on "Misguided Angels".) I think by 2001 Psyche needs to be revamped and fully new and surprising. Remi is very good in sound design, and technical quality. Also Per and I seemed to getting too much into traditional ballad style song-writing and I wanted to see if I could escape that. Our last work together was the Inertia Remix. I was in fact lucky that I found someone new like Remi.

3. Where does Remi come from, muscially speaking then?

DARRIN: He likes a lot of the new groups cause he's a whole generation younger. There is a bit of VNV Nation, Apoptygma Bezerk, and even And One influences which I'm still trying to sort out. But mainly his variations of earlier Psyche material which we're now performing show a solid direction and very clean electro-sound. My job is to make it a little dirtier though!!

4. With the compilation album "Misguided Angels" you have entered a new era in the neverending story of Psyche, the USA is invaded, a member is dropped and you deliver us a wonderfull retro-view on your career.
Had you expected this?

DARRIN: No to be honest I was frustrated not to have a new album for 2000, but a part of it was the time consumed looking for a new member and because I was in fact working on a new recording of "Unveiling The Secret" with a known Techno producer who wanted to try his hand at Synth-Pop. This will never see the light of day, except maybe as a live recording. And so in the meantime I had managed to finally get a North American label interested to try and break us there all over again. It has been in fact 10 years since we were really released domestically. And to answer peoples' wondering questions, although Psyche's been around around awhile, no it doesn't get easier, it gets harder to prove yourself with every generation! I'm torn now between enjoying the nostalgic re-discovery of Psyche and amazing people with something completely new. Well at least there's a couple last new titles from Per and I but still, by 2001 no one can expect us to do sound exactly like those tunes.

5. Why "Misguided Angels" as a title?

Oh I like that question. Well in fact I had considered calling it "Goodbye Horses" because of the obsession with that song, and sort of as a throwing off of the past for this collection, but since I had originally hoped to release "Misguided Angels" earlier as a single and we just got this new mix from D-Code, Yolk from Art Of Fact preferred this title. But the reason is also the meaning. The song is about all the people following maybe the wrong ideals but in an innocent and pure fashion. Or the worship of such idols. Each individual song could fit somewhere in all these misled ideals. Not that there's anything wrong with being misguided by the way, I certainly don't want to point out a direction...

6. Every now and then, Psyche goes through a flow of heavy changes, is that a typical Psyche move? Or is it inherent to what Psyche has become, a living labatory of creative minds...

Oh that's good!! Well yeah, I've always said people should see my career in Psyche as a library including my biographical or historical documents of various times. I'll be honest, although some people think it's all a bit too wide ranging, I believe there is a consistancy of desire for uniqueness in synth music and the honesty of the vocals and lyrics. We haven't gone into Rap, Metal, Country or whatever so for those who can't deal with our strange developments, I can't help you...
Even despite the different members I feel Psyche adheres to a certain vision. I certainly don't want to completely repeat my style though. So if it seems like there's some shocking left turns, it's because I tend to always want the opposite of whatever's the trend at the time.

7. What was the main reason for this compilation?

To show the kids that Psyche kicks ass! And will continue to.  ; )
Also we really don't want to be completely forgotten to North America. I'm satisfied being almost a European artist, but it's sad to not be in on all the developments overseas. I think the scene is just beginning to establish itself there, and we've got to at least say our bit as well.

8. How does it feel to move back to the continent where you were born? Do you expect to tour in the USA?

Who says I'm moving? Psyche will hopefully do a few shows in the U.S. and Canada next year but first the new album has to come out. We're happy that we got some connections in New York recently. We had hoped to play this year but it's just a little too soon. I'm staying faithfull to life in Germany though.

9. Is the bible story of "the lost son" linkable to this event, or not?

Heh? No I'm not looking back.

10. Do you think you've missed "something" by being all the time in Germany/Europe? Did you ever regret happened moved overseas?

Again no, my brother and I couldn't wait to get out of Canada at the time. We'd tried all we could to build up an audience, but it just wasn't much really. We were so happy to experience Europe, and all the different attitudes. Now more than ever I'm happy I'm not in the crazy fast paced American obsessiveness. Although it still inspires me sometimes.
Je ne regret rien.

11. When compiling all the tracks, what went through your mind? How do you look back to those 18 years of Psyche?

Oh boy, well in fact I was more excited by the 3 recent tracks really. I would've chosen a few other titles from the past but I wanted Yolk to decide with me, and also I had hoped to keep a pretty definitive atmosphere in the collection. Most of the tracks are in fact not that old as they come from Per-Anders and I. I'm always fascinated by how powerful and solid "Brain Collapses" was as a composition though. I love the special "arsenic" version of "Exhale" and am happy that this album will hopefully gain more interest for the shamefully ignored "Love Among The Ruined"! I really love the "Torture" track with Dwayne though. I think it represents the whole originality of Psyche's quirky style and poetic words. Also Che from Suicide is just a great sounding track! Thanks to Dirk Ivens for asking us to do it in the first place.

12. What event through Psyche's career struck you the most, both positive and negative?

Oh my God, now I have to write a book soon. O.k. I'll give two high points and 2 low.
The most exciting moment was when New Rose Records first signed us. It was just thrilling to know we'd be on the label where the Cramps, and Damon Edge of Chrome were signed. We were the first electro-act on thelabel, and them getting us in for support of Suicide for our first concert was just the topping. Another interesting high-point was appearing in Poland. It was not a country I'd even thought about playing in the beginning, and then it just happened. And at a rock festival for 6,000 people! Our biggest concert ever.

And now 2 negative things, well my brother's illness obviously has changed Psyche's course, and then the lack of chart success or record sales that would put us in league with say Front 242 or whatever, but really we've had our highpoints and we've never made any recordings for the wrong reasons. At least we've retained our integrity all these years.
I think the most negative thing for me personally is that to support Anne Clark Psyche had to pay alot of money which was covered by SPV but only as recoupable royalties. Sure we hoped we'd sell three times as many CD's but when it didn't happen then my debt to this label would forever continue until we sell a huge amount again someday.

This is a part of the business that shouldn't affect the music you make but it did knock me back a few years of creativity that's for sure. What matters is that because of this we released "69 Minutes Of History" which still continues to make people aware of Psyche's best work of that period, and then "Intimacy" was a very special follow up album that although no real "club" success, musically I feel a real unique collection that set a standard of its own.

13. Once again, I noticed your deep affection for Marc Almond in the cover of Soft Cell's "Sex Dwarf". I think of him as a tragic person, what's your opinion?

To be honest, I can think of thousands of better songs I'd liked to have done from Marc, but "Sex Dwarf" was the most freaky song at the time for the electro-scene, and fit with all that fetish stuff happening. Besides I just had to sing "isn't it nice sugar and spice..etc."

That would also make good sense for Britney Spears to sing!! Lately, I've seriously been considering doing "Entertain Me" because that's about how I feel at the moment. And why is Marc tragic? Sure he wasted alot of money on drugs, which isn't my thing, but my God as a musician and vocalist he's made some of the most incredible music and lyrics.
And he's still alive to tell us more!!! I think you'll have to explain to me where the tragedy is in that. I read his biography, and I think let's face it he had a massive No.1 and then did so many different things afterwards. How many artists haven't just disappeared or made boring Stadium Rock music instead?

14. A real tragedy happened when on August 23rd, 1995, Skinny Puppy's Dwayne Goettel died of a heroin overdose at his parent's home in Edmonton, AB., there isn't a better tribute than "Torture" I guess.  Your comment?

Yeah now there's a tragedy really. See Marc survived his drugs,and messed up lifestyle. Now we won't know what Dwayne would've made musically, and Skinny Puppy was also at some kind of a standstill creatively just before which makes it even harder for the fans.  There are other songs besides "Torture" but that one really shows the origins of the classic Psyche sound when Dwayne was with us. Still, there was alot of rivalry between us at the time, and my brother
and I continued on our own ideas so I'm unable to feel anything but numb at the way things turned out. I hadn't seen Dwayne since 1984 so....

15. Why only a north American release? Many European fans will rip each other's hair out just to get hold of this nice compilation.

Thanks, I'm laughing as I visualize that scenario! Well since we originally had planned to release new material in Europe it just worked out that way. Now it's a good bridge for us to take this review before trying to release a new album in North America and Europe at the same time next year. We will sell the CD through the Psyche Headquarters and various mailorders. There was talk of distributing it here as an import through Strangeways, but it's not been decided. We're not the only ones who've had an exlusive U.S. release though so real fans will get it anyway. Besides, it's nice to have something rare.

16. The new tracks, "Assassin", "Misguided angels" and "Brother Suicide" give me the impression you are a rather moody person, though on the other hand, I always have this smiling guy in front of my eyes when I hear your voice.
Is this duality the core of what Psyche is about?

Oh your really getting into me, Bernard. I had this comment once when I'd just released "The Influence". I was so relieved to have finally gotten over all the pain and sadness I felt at the time of recording that I was just enjoying being over it. I nearly threw up the first time I sat and listened to "The Sundial", and then I found it humourous that I would be now having to discuss all that and performing my pain live. I have apretty dark sense of humour, and somehow found the irony too hysterical. So yeah, I'm usually fairly cheerful, but I can't express pure joy in a song, there's always all the fear and sorrow holding back the smile when I really sing. Although "You Ran Away" was sung with a sense of happiness, although somewhat sarcastic. The little "trio of torture" on "Misguided Angels" is because I was really into some self abusive thoughts at the time, and pretty dark desires based on my new questions about humanity versus the Internet. I enjoyed delving into these emotions though this time. It was all a little more fantasy oriented than the reality in "The Influence". Who knows how I'm going to follow that up!

17. Are you genetically, instinctively an optimist...?

Yes, definitely. I believe in discovery, and creation. I worship people who invent things or scientists who are looking for the defintion of existence and so on. I believe really in the good side of humanity, even when I can see the dark side. I think pure cynicism would be deadly.

18. You're quite a busy bee, currently working on new material with your new partner in crime Remi under the title "Sanctuary". This title struck me, is music a sanctuary for you in any way?

Yeah, that song is also about seeking that safe warm place as well. I guess Ms. Madonna would like that question considering she's just sang her tribute to "Music". Thank God I can hear, and see. People should all be thankfull for these senses, don't you think? I mean sure we don't all like the same things, but at least for me certain songs or sounds can transform your whole way of feeling. I'm not the only one, I've read tons of other peoples interviews, and some artists believe that a perfect little pop song can save the world! I'm not sure I'd go that far, but there was a time when "Tainted Love", or "Here Comes The Rain Again" certainly meant the world to me. My actual song "Sanctuary" is a bit tragic though because it ends with loss, even though it does contain a tone of desperate hope in the chorus.

19. You're amongst the few artists that truly live for (their) music, was it an easy path to choose?

Yes, somehow I knew it by the time we released our first record that that was going to be it for me. I must sing. Even if not on record. Really I sing little bits of things everyday. And I like live performance when it's going well. I hate studio recording, and sometimes writing. Too bad you can't just record everything live right away. I mean it could be done, but not always so defined as you'd usually want. I've had rough times financially but when you get to this point in life you can't do anything else anyway. Everytime I think about maybe not doing music I get a little bit suicidal, and feel sick, so there is no alternative now.

20. What do you do when you're not working on music, care for an insight?

Well, well, how private should one go? I've become an internet freak, although my surfing has gone down ironically since I have a flatrate. I mess around with the Psyche-HQ. I used to go often to the movies, but lately there's not much happening that I need to see. I don't go out much to clubs, but occasionally I will go dance, or to a concert. No festivals though. At the moment I'm really collecting my thoughts and discussing with Remi things for the next album. I have to take care of the so called "business" side of Psyche as well since we've never had management. It's enough to keep me busy for now. I read alot of music magazines, and sadly too few books. The last thing I read was "American Psycho", and am looking forward to the film. Sometimes I try to find out what happened to certain artists, like at the moment I'm researching GINA X who had a hit with No GDM, and Big Pig who had a hit only in America with "Breakaway" years ago. I'm now fascinated to find out what some of these people do now. I've also recently become a fan of TEDDYBEARS from Stockholm and am curious why they are not really known outside of Sweden. Strange past-time I know but I'm weird about knowing this kind of info.

21. You recently met Sparks, I guess a dream became true, tell us your first thought when you saw them in the cafe?

Oh well most of that's up on the Psyche Site, but when I first some them sitting there I just couldn't believe it.
I felt like I should do the "I'm not worthy" greeting from Wayne's World. I mean it's like having several images and decades flash before your eyes, and there they are the creaters of these moments in flesh and blood. I also thought this when I saw Blondie in concert. It was like for me they are more than just people. It is weird because a fan in Poland said that to me recently and was shaking from nervousness to stand next to me. It's funny when you're the person it's happening to. But now I know how it feels to be that person. But they are really nice, and made me feel as if I'd hung out with them most of my life. A great familiar feeling. Really cheered me up to see them starting anew, and on the Strangeways label whom I recommended to their manager! Hope all goes well...
But they have honestly made a pretty cool album. I don't like everything from their work, but this time I am very impressed with their creativity. They've always been on a high level when it comes to songwriting. Just incredible such an achievement for nearly 30 years.
I can only be inspired.

22. Any other dreams you'd like to see become reality?

Acting in a horror film. Or having the theme song for any film. A Top 40 hit in any country. Maybe finally meeting Marc Almond although I'd be terrified. Working with more artists on various collaborations. A few more cover versions later on in my career. Maybe even a solo album in a slightly different genre. Yes I'm not ready to rest on my laurels yet.
Oh, and Psyche must finally perform in Italy because when we first came to Europe we wanted to play France, Germany, and Italy(mainly because of our love for Dario Argento). Somehow that never happened. And very important, a concert in Paris, France at La Locomotive on "Sanctuary" night, you read me Guillaume?? My brother and I performed on that very stage once in 1987. Also, one day seeing Psyche on the cover of some important German magazines. It's been awhile since New Life. And if ever possible pehaps supporting SOFT CELL or Gary Numan on a concert date.
Please , please...

23. What future lays ahead for Psyche?

Another interview with you in 2001 when our 9th official release finally comes out.
And some of those dreams mentioned becoming reality.
(Note: Psyche will play La Locomotive this year, it's a DM Party, but it's Paris finally after ten years!)

24. Any final comment?

That was one whopping interview. It's been awhile since we've been asked anything. If there are any strange fan questions, or anything specific about some songs or the making of a certain album you'd like to ask about. Feel free.
Look out for some pretty intense synth music coming from Psyche next year. (and it will be...)