Interview with ADULT. - - 11th Hour Technology

Continuing Detroit’s tradition of providing the world with music far from the beaten path, ADULT. emerge from the ultra-synthetic electro world of Ersatz Audio. Comprising label boss Adam Lee Miller, and fashion photographer Nicola Kuperus, ADULT. are currently taking the twisted world by storm with their funky robotic releases and live shows.

ADULT. : There once was a project called ARTIFICIAL MATERIAL (which was Adam Lee Miller's solo work). Nicola Kuperus began to help Adam with his music writing so much, that they decided to start a new band - ADULT., because the music had become 50/50.

ADULT. : Yes, if you have a stereo :) People have called it stiff, electro-punk, death disco, white, etc. These are fine adjectives.

11th-Hour : What was your musical background - what led you down the path of electronic machines?

ADULT. : Adam was in punk bands playing bass guitar, Nicola was taking piano lessons. Nether one of us are great at these instruments, but electronic machines are great at keeping time and being repetitive.

11th-Hour : Your style has developed considerably since your first release - is this simply a natural progression, or an intended strategy, and will it continue to change in the future?

ADULT. : It is a natural progression - once we were not very good at being complex, now we aren't interested in being complex. We will always change. We don't want to be a member of any club that would have people like us as members, so if our style of music becomes popular, we will change to stay away from mainstream acceptance.

11th-Hour : How is your music linked to the agenda of Ersatz Audio, and what other labels do you record for?

ADULT. : Agenda: Deliver music that is synthetic both in its instrumentation and its rhythms. We have also put a 12" out on Clone records. We have remixed acts like G.D.Luxxe, Tuxedomoon, Ectomorph, MAT101, Solvent, and Fischerspooner.

11th-Hour : Who else is involved with the music you create, and who are your partners in the scene?

ADULT. : We have played in Helsinki, NYC, Amsterdam, Berlin, Zurich, Detroit, etc.

11th-Hour : How does the music scene in Detroit compare to the other places you have visited?

ADULT. : It is more isolated here, in our opinion. People work more on there own, than directly in a scene. It is a middle class city, and the work ethic rubs off on the musicians, as well.

11th-Hour : What are your thoughts on fame - is attention something you prefer to avoid, or do you strive to be in the spotlight?

ADULT. : Fame, on a small level is just a way to be able to make a living at what you love. I don't think we are famous at all, but we are in the spotlight once in a while. That helps us sell records to people who have never heard us before.

11th-Hour : You seem to be releasing more and more records at the moment - is this due to a large backlog of work, or an increase in the amount you produce?

ADULT. : It is because Adam quit his day job about 1 and a half years ago to run the label full time.

11th-Hour : Do you wish to have a major influence on the course of music, or do you simply want to add your voice?

ADULT. : Of course we hope to have a major influence, and I think in certain pockets, we have. That is what keeps us going day to day. We were / are influenced and inspired by certain bands, and one day we would like to pass that along to another group of people. That is what art is about to us.

11th-Hour : What drives you to write your music, and do you think that it will continue for a long time?

ADULT. : I think our biggest influence is releasing music. Once 1 song is out, then you see how people react, and it seems more concrete, the song is done. So then, it is exciting to think, "What's Next?" So I guess we are very reactionary in our music, but not against politics or the like, but against our own lexicon.

ADULT. : We have a new CD planned for the spring, which we hope to do a lot of promotion for. We also have a remix "concept" record in the plans. Play live more, and keep people guessing what our next record will sound like

Many thanks and much respect to Nicola Kuperus and Adam Lee Miller