On this very Halloween, Katone (full title Jimmy Katone) celebrates the world premiere of his brand-new video Everlasting on NRT-Data— a haunting and cinematic continuation of the darkly emotional journey he started together with his acclaimed EP Flesh and Fireplace. Signed to the extremely motivated unbiased label NRT-Data, Katone stands as one in every of fashionable rock’s most intriguing inventive forces. Along with his trademark mixture of gothic ambiance, industrial edge, and emotional depth, he blurs the road between love, want, and the supernatural. On this unique interview, Jimmy Katone opens up in regards to the making of Everlasting, his collaboration with NRT-Data, and the evolution of a profession spanning greater than 4 a long time.
The New Period – Flesh and Fireplace & Everlasting
Whats up Jimmy, thanks in your time. Your newest launch, “Flesh and Fireplace,” marks a daring and passionate new period for you. It combines gothic ambiance with darkish rock and traditional arduous rock vitality. What impressed you to discover this emotional territory — the skinny line between love and destruction?
Jimmy: After I started producing my solo albums I used to be very influenced by artists like Trent Reznor and Brian Warner. I’m from that interval. Despite the fact that I’m considered an 80’s pop rock artist, I used to be reborn into the 90’s Industrial period. I recognized with it. It was highly effective and harmful. I may very well be myself in it. All my albums are idea albums besides my Kat O’ 9 Tales album. When it was time to do my first launch below NRT-Data I needed to nonetheless be the KATONE of the previous two and a half a long time however I knew I needed to take this to a brand new degree. I knew I needed to put all of it throughout in order that possibly individuals might perceive me higher and relate to me a bit extra. Bringing in a pair of nice guitarists to assist out allowed me to concentrate on higher productions. I’ve at all times written alongside related themes as Flesh and Fireplace. My purpose actually was to take what I had at all times achieved effectively and put it on steroids.
The three tracks — Flesh and Fireplace, Certain by Chains, and Pull Me Beneath — all take care of ardour, temptation, and the darker facet of want. Do these songs come from private expertise, or do you strategy them extra from a storyteller’s standpoint?
Jimmy: Sure, the themes for the Flesh and Fireplace EP are all deeply private to me but additionally entwining different concepts and brief themes to make them a bit extra relatable. I’ve at all times taken on the storyteller strategy in my songs. Placing a music throughout as a story will get your viewers extra concerned. They listen extra after they hear themselves throughout the lyrics.
You carry out virtually each instrument your self on this EP: vocals, drums, bass, rhythm guitar, and keyboards. How do you handle to steadiness all these roles and nonetheless hold the uncooked, emotional energy of the music alive?
Jimmy: I believe it comes down to only specializing in the music. What I’ve realized about this through the years is that there are two killers to rawness and emotional energy in a music. 1) By no means wait too lengthy to file a music you’re feeling strongly about – this consists of ready on individuals to ship you tracks. 2) By no means do a demo. I don’t use them. The method of recording demos kills all the sensation of a music, in my view. All the uncooked emotion is in that first “demo” that was created. Now to desert that recording and recut the music from scratch and attempt to cop that preliminary really feel… you’ve simply murdered the music. I reside by that.
The manufacturing and visuals of Flesh and Fireplace really feel cinematic — every music comes with its personal music video. How necessary is the visible presentation for you relating to telling your musical tales?
Jimmy: Movies are extraordinarily necessary in my view. They create the music to life. They take the music and put it in 3D. Folks have grow to be very visible creatures as of late. If you would like a music to do effectively and probably go to the following degree, I do consider a music video is paramount.
Partnership with NRT-Data
Early This Yr you signed with NRT-Data, the German unbiased label that additionally represents Ritchie Newton and Reaper’s Revenge. How did this partnership come about, and what made you’re feeling that NRT was the correct residence in your music?
Jimmy: I first turned acquainted with NRT-Data whereas working with Ritchie Newton through the Increased Energyclasses. I labored carefully with the label on promos and manufacturing concepts for the album. I met Philipp Gottfried throughout these classes. My first impression was that they’re a really “palms on” label and really into top quality productions. In contrast to among the smaller labels I’ve labored with, they take an enormous curiosity in each facet of an album, from the songs to the movies to the paintings. They get ingrained into the mission with out stepping on the artist’s toes. I used to be impressed with NRT-Data instantly and was thrilled after they ultimately reached out to me a couple of potential deal for KATONE.
Impartial labels typically give artists much more freedom. How did working with NRT-Data affect the inventive course of Flesh and Fireplace and now your upcoming EP Everlasting?
Jimmy: Working together with NRT-Data on my Flesh and Fireplace EP was attention-grabbing as a result of now I’m working with them as a signed artist and never simply as a drummer on another person’s album. This was my debut below them and it was a getting acquainted interval. It was taking what KATONE was doing for many years and adapting it a bit to label beliefs. It was trying deeply at my profession and picture and deciding what points are going to be enhanced and what points are going to be moved on from. I believe we obtained it proper. I do worth my inventive freedom as a lot as I ever have however I additionally welcomed the inventive solutions from the label. Now we’re onto the following launch Everlasting, and having a launch like Flesh and Fireplace below our belts allowed us to choose up the place we left off as a substitute of ranging from scratch.
Collaborations and Inventive Bonds
You performed drums on Ritchie Newton’s Increased Energy and Crying within the Summer season Rain and appeared in each movies. What was that have like for you, each musically and personally?
Jimmy: I completely liked working with Ritchie Newton on the Increased Energy album. It was an ideal expertise and Ritchie and I turned nice associates within the course of. I’ve a whole lot of respect for him as a vocalist and producer. He’s fairly an artist and you may’t assist however to be taught from him. Additionally, working with Armin Sabol and Marco Mendoza was wonderful. I additionally set to work once more with my pal Markus Pfeffer who I even have labored together with on the Mason albums.
Let’s speak about your reinterpretation of Alice Cooper’s “Poison,” which you created with the german Heavy Metallic Band Reaper’s Revenge. The video gained over 30,000 views in simply two weeks — an unimaginable response! What made you determine to cowl such a legendary observe, and the way did you strategy giving it your individual darkish twist?
Jimmy: After the Flesh and Fireplace EP Philipp Gottfried (CEO of NRT-Data) and I briefly mentioned concepts for a subsequent launch down the highway. He talked about the thought of maybe overlaying the Alice Cooper music Poison. He felt my model was a match and will actually work. Whereas I liked the thought as a result of I’m an enormous Alice Cooper fan, I sort of took it with a grain of salt then as a result of we simply launched Flesh and Fireplace and I knew I used to be months away from starting my subsequent album. After we picked up discussions months later Philipp as soon as once more opened with the thought of me overlaying Poison and I then knew we had been actually critical about it. We had been each very excited by a collaboration with Reaper’s Revenge as a result of we felt it was an apparent match. They did an unimaginable job on the music, staying shut sufficient to the unique however injecting it with Reaper’s Revenge’s signature sound. They had been masterful.
The unique Poison is all in regards to the intoxicating hazard of affection — attraction that’s as thrilling as it’s damaging. That theme completely mirrors Flesh and Fireplace. Was that connection intentional, or one thing that developed naturally through the course of?
Jimmy: I do consider this was why Philipp selected this music for KATONE. It wasn’t intentional however I do consider me being impressed by Alice Cooper for all of my inventive life made this parallel in themes a long time later. I do proudly put on my influences on my sleeve.
Everlasting – Ardour and the Supernatural
Your subsequent launch, the EP “Everlasting,” premiered with the title observe on Halloween — a really symbolic date. Why did you select Halloween for this premiere? Was it related to the ambiance and themes of the music?
Jimmy: After we had been discussing the following launch date Halloween got here up instantly. Everlasting does have a mystical aspect to it; nonetheless, it’s not your prototypical ghost and goblins campy Halloween theme however relatively a divine intention. It’s about an imprint that two individuals have on each other that they’re born into and have with them eternally.
The observe Everlasting seems like a fusion of ardour and the supernatural — darkish, seductive, and haunting. What was the inspiration behind this music, and what story or emotion are you channeling by way of it?
Jimmy: My music Everlasting is a narrative of two individuals who grow to be concerned with each other and finally start feeling an attachment and starvation for each other. It modifications them perpetually and causes them to rethink and relearn every thing they’ve ever recognized a couple of relationship. They ultimately understand that they had been born into an imprinted divine betrothal to at least one one other — related by way of eternity earlier than this life and into the following. This music was written through the Flesh and Fireplace classes however was not accomplished on time for the discharge. It leads the preliminary Flesh and Fireplace theme into the following chapter.
Crimson Shadows paints a vivid, cinematic soundscape — it seems like strolling by way of a neon-lit metropolis at night time. What inventive concepts or feelings led to that music’s ambiance?
Jimmy: This can be a music about being indifferent from a strong connection for the primary time. Attempting to determine find out how to really feel regular after being torn away. The connection has simply ended abruptly and now all that’s left are shadows. Solely the outlines exist and every thing inside is simply too painful to consider as a result of it’s over. The video was shot in a number of international locations (Budapest, Prague, Austria) as this particular person desperately searches for peace however the shadows proceed to hang-out them wherever they’re.
The acoustic observe Love Like a Diamond closes Everlasting on a really emotional be aware. What does this music characterize for you — is it about love, loss, or one thing extra symbolic?
Jimmy: This music closes Everlasting on a extra bluesy be aware. I needed one thing actually highly effective to shut this chapter. The diamond is a metaphor for this cherished connection. A diamond they are saying is perpetually — it gleams and glows but additionally can lower like nothing else. I needed to painting the eagerness and emotion of the numerous sides and attention-grabbing cuts of a connection, revisiting a extra bluesy sound that was current all through the Flesh and Fireplace EP.
Legacy, Sound & Evolution
You’ve labored once more together with your long-time associates Igor Mueller and Al Augunas, each from Hit The Floor Runnin’. What’s particular about your inventive chemistry after so a few years of creating music collectively?
Jimmy: Al Augunas and I’ve been recording collectively on and off for about 40 years and we’re nice associates. We went by way of loads collectively in Hit The Floor Runnin’. He is aware of my model effectively and he’s one in every of my favourite guitarists. Igor and I turned associates through the MySpace period and have at all times needed to work collectively. He’s the prototypical studio rat and his guitar tone is godly. I’m so lucky to have each of those unimaginable guitarists in my nook.
You’re additionally endorsed by Trinity Cymbals — congratulations! What makes Trinity particular to you as a drummer, and the way do their cymbals form your sound?
Jimmy: As a drummer, I’m at all times trying to find the very best merchandise. A few years in the past I got here throughout Trinity Cymbals by way of a drummer pal and was so impressed that I reached out to the corporate instantly. I turned a Trinity Endorsed Artist final yr and haven’t regarded again. Their brilliance and lower have grow to be a staple to my drum sound on Flesh and Fireplace and Everlasting. I additionally endorse JJrums Customized Drums and Los Cabos Drumsticks.
From Drummer to Frontman
Having been energetic for greater than 4 a long time — from the golden age of rock to the trendy digital period — what do you assume has modified probably the most about being a rock artist as we speak?
Jimmy: The business has modified immensely since I signed my first file deal in 1988. At the moment a whole lot of my hometown associates had been getting label offers. I used to be born and raised in Philadelphia and obtained to observe The Hooters, Cinderella and Britny Fox get their massive moments, then alongside got here Fairly Poison, Bricklin and Tangier getting their offers and making their marks. These had been unimaginable days within the business however they simply don’t exist anymore. There are a whole lot of professionals and cons to the best way issues went over the previous 30 years. Again then should you had been fortunate sufficient to get a label deal you bought rushed into a big high-end recording studio and issued a prime producer. Lots of issues obtained paid for up entrance and your life modified instantly. Folks equated it to hitting the lottery though there are a whole lot of covered-up particulars to that.
Right now you do have extra creative management and among the finest new albums over the previous decade have been recorded in residence studios. These massive brassy studios of the previous have largely grow to be out of date. Nowadays the extra you do for your self the higher off you might be. Again then you definately carried out on stage and in your albums and many issues had been taken care of for you (to be paid by you later). Artists are far more hands-on with their careers as of late. I’ve gotten so used to managing myself that it’s arduous to think about it some other approach at this level. I choose this as a result of I by no means felt again within the day that my finest curiosity was ever really taken into consideration. It’s a extra DIY artist state of affairs as of late and I like it. Having management over my very own inventive artwork was one thing I by no means had again within the day. It’s worlds higher to have that. You simply must embrace the truth that the previous approach is over and lengthy gone.
Your lyrics typically mirror duality — gentle and darkness, pleasure and ache, ardour and hazard. Would you say that this mirrors your individual life experiences?
Jimmy: I’ve at all times taken my lyric writing critically. Individuals who have liked my music through the years at all times come again to my lyrics. I do consider my lyrics have been my fixed. Life is a giant mirror reflection. There are two sides to every thing. Everyone knows how stunning sunny days could be however we additionally know that sooner or later it has to rain. You may’t simply write in regards to the sunny days — it’s one dimensional and might get very boring.
I used to be at breakfast the opposite morning and I observed a person and his spouse sitting throughout from me. The spouse gave the impression to be having robust phrases with the person however the man wasn’t saying something… he had this droned however intense stare as if he was exploding internally. I need to write about what was happening in that man’s head on the time. I really like writing in regards to the unsaid issues — the issues that actually burst our seams. These are the gold for me. I might say about half of my songs are written about my very own life experiences and the opposite half are topics that I see others going by way of that I relate with.
After your time with Hit The Floor Runnin’, you launched your solo mission Katone, which has since grow to be your defining creative persona. How did it really feel to take that step into full inventive independence together with your debut Committing Suicide again in 1999?
Jimmy: After I look again at that second I felt prepared for it. It occurred very naturally. It wasn’t how I envisioned it however what I’m doing as we speak began because of individuals merely not displaying up. A guitarist calls and might’t make it over to put a observe down as a result of he’s having an argument together with his girlfriend or no matter… no worries, I’ll do the observe myself. The keyboardist has to work late and might’t make it over. Okay, I’ll do it myself. Sooner or later I simply didn’t ask individuals anymore. I simply merely did it myself. And I’m nonetheless doing that 27 years later.
Within the Nineteen Eighties you gained worldwide recognition with Hit The Floor Runnin’. The band carried out at main occasions such because the Monterey Pop (Defend Our Planet) Competition in 1989 and shared phases with artists like Sam Moore and Billy Preston. How do you look again on these early years?
Jimmy: The early Hit The Floor Runnin’ days had been formative for me. I actually realized find out how to be in a band then. We opened up for therefore many nice artists. It was like a crash course. I’ve very fond recollections of these days. Flying over to Monterey and taking part in on that stage was large. Assembly and hanging out with Billy Preston and others that night was surreal. Crafting the Sudden Influence album in my early twenties in an enormous recording studio with actual inventive management lit the spark for me for every thing that adopted. I do consider at that time I turned an artist. All of us did. Every member of Hit The Floor Runnin’ might have written and produced an ideal album on their very own. I’ve at all times believed that. A few of us have.
Over time, you didn’t simply stay a drummer — you turned a real multi-instrumentalist, a singer, and a songwriter. What drove you to take full inventive management and construct your individual musical identification?
Jimmy: Enjoying devices is a superb type of creative expression however I do consider when one begins singing one thing occurs — at that time one thing completely different occurs — you grow to be a persona. You grow to be the point of interest within the band. I started singing after I was about 13. I used to be jamming with my faculty buds and we had been starting to place songs collectively and started getting fairly good, however nobody needed to sing. I sort of turned that man out of necessity I suppose. I obtained a microphone and a growth stand and started singing whereas taking part in drums. I did this for years in a number of bands. I used to be the lead singer/drummer man for some time and in some bands I simply sang backups whereas taking part in. On just a few events I went out entrance to sing among the songs and it felt proper. Getting out from behind the drum package and fronting felt nice. As a lot as I liked drumming I knew that if I needed to totally categorical myself it needed to be out entrance.
In 1991 I made the choice to embark on a solo profession. Not giving up any devices however taking part in every thing and writing my very own songs. Getting gamers to play on my stuff early on was robust. Actually, I don’t assume I used to be being taken very critically as a result of I used to be generally known as a drummer so getting individuals to play on my stuff initially was troublesome. So I started laying tracks down myself — drums, bass, guitar, keys, vocals. My identification got here by way of my writing. As a result of I might write and play as I needed, I started crafting songs to suit who I actually was, with out having to fret about anybody else’s egos or personas intermingling with mine.
You grew up in Philadelphia and began taking part in drums on the age of 9. Do you bear in mind the second while you realized that music would grow to be your life’s path?
Jimmy: I started listening to music at a really early age — I’m the youngest of 4 and all my siblings had wonderful album collections — David Bowie, Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, Kiss, Edgar Winter, and so forth. I started listening to their albums repeatedly and naturally trying on the album pictures and inserts. I used to be fascinated and deeply enchanted with the sights and sounds of 70’s rock. I obtained my first guitar after I was 7 years previous for my birthday and started taking classes. I additionally started taking part in piano that very same yr. However my coronary heart dropped when my older brother started taking part in drums. I watched him follow and play alongside together with his albums every day. I used to be entranced and dropped every thing to grow to be a drummer. Shortly thereafter I heard a drum solo from Peter Criss on the Kiss Alive! album. That was the second I actually knew that music and drumming was going to be my path.
Trying Forward
Lastly, Jimmy — as Flesh and Fireplace continues to make waves and Everlasting launches into the world, what’s subsequent for Katone? Can followers anticipate extra music, collaborations, or perhaps a tour within the close to future?
Jimmy: I might love subsequent yr to be a giant step ahead — a brand new launch, one other massive collaboration, and hopefully reveals. I get requested each single day a couple of tour. I do consider that can occur within the coming yr. Every launch is one other rung on the ladder to taking KATONE on the highway.
Extra About Katone on Net:
Jimmy Katone on Fb:
https://www.fb.com/triskatone
Jimmy Katone on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/katone__official/
Jimmy Katone on Obtain and Streaming Providers:
https://fanlink.television/katone
Images copyright: Golden Shutter Pictures
