Anna Hel Milyanenko- Lead Singer for Industrial Metal Machine ‘CONFLИCT’(Moscow, Russian Federation) & Cyber/Industrial Metal Act ‘THEORY EXX’ (USA)
Interview conducted on July 18, 2020
By Dan Locke
Conflict-INDUSTRIAL METAL MACHINE FROM MOSCOW, RUSSIA
How did you discover music?
If talking about metal I discovered Metallica, AC/DC and many more when I was about 12 years old. I wish I could remember and prolong that feeling of hearing something special and absolutely new for me. It was very sudden, my older acquaintances suggested buying cassettes at that time, so that’s how I discovered and fell in love with metal music.
How did you start to write music?
I’ve never thought I will be a singer or write lyrics for songs. I believe it came up with the mood of discovering my self as a person and the attitude to the world and people. I suppose it comes up pretty naturally if you have something to say or expose.
What was your first performance at like?
My very first performance was an enormously long time ago but I still remember that there was no any nervousness or anxiety, I felt very cozy on the stage.
Any performance is self-expression and energetic interaction, and there’s always a need for it inside of me.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
My very first original songs were done with the former band Stentorian Voice. We even have EP “The path’ 2009”, but there was no further work done because of conflict between the members, and as a leader, I disbanded it.
How did you start your Industrial Metal Band Conflict? How the band did get its name?
There was a band in the UK with the same name from 1981. Did you have any trouble getting your band name?
Conflict started its history in 2004 and since then there are three full-length albums, singles, and a cover song album. There were many changes in the lineup thru the years. In 2012, “Conflict” releases the first single entitled “Low Frequency Addicted” with me on vocals.
At the beginning the main influences were drawn from Swedish melodic death and industrial metal genres.
I don’t think that the naming should raise many questions, I assume it came up to the guys for the certain reason and had important response despite that there’s another band with the same name.
The logo is written with the Cyrillic letter И (not i) from the Russian alphabet if you have a closer look.
How did you start combining jazz into your music?
Every member of the band has a vast and versatile music taste. Each album is quintessential of all that we have been listening and are listening to now. Post-rock tones or dark jazz with a saxophone? – why not getting t into a song? If you take a look at a beautiful picture of an artist you may see there lots of different colors and tones gathering into one perfect composition.
Every time looking at it we may find something new, the same with music.
Tell me about your album Decision Code? Who designed the artwork for the cover?
The “Decision Code” is an industrial death metal blend spiced with post-rock and dark jazz elements with the futuristic atmosphere. All that is supported by a certain conception, and significantly heavier the previous two albums. The conception raises the idea about the human imperfection blinded by fanaticism ready to destroy the humankind. You may also hear many great guest vocalists such as Burton C Bell of Fear Factory, Jayce Lewis, Dave Lowmiller of A Dark Halo, Karsten Jagger of Disbelief, Alex Blake of Deadheaven that extremely spiced up the album blend.
The artwork was created by the same French digital designer and illustrator Pierre-Alain Durand (http://www.3mmi.org/). We love working with him as we have the same vibe and understand each other perfectly. I’m very happy we found him!
The album is a conceptual album, which takes place in 2048. Do you think it will become a movie?
Actually, it is becoming a movie. The latest video “To Serve and Protect” is a part of number of sequences coming together as parts of chapters in our album. But sometimes I think its story is too much reflecting the nowadays reality that I personally find an unfortunate fact. The world is on fire…
We made the video shoot for 2048 song in May 2019 that is put on hold because of ruining the economic situation. We are self-funded musicians and it beat us too hard. The crowdfunding is on plan, however, the overall situation is not cheering at all.
What is your favorite track on the album?
Hmm, it’s hard to say, but I would mark out those with the guest appearances: D-evolution,
The Architect, Decision Code, Deadlock, Speechless. I love how the songs became completely different and standing out from what they were. These duets colored the tracks in absolutely unique way, and the pleasure of working with such great musicians is stunning!
How do you stay healthy while touring?
These are all the obvious things, drink much water, having good sleep, anything that keeps mind and body connected and not destroyed.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music? Digital vs. vinyl?
Streaming doesn’t pay off for unsigned musicians, maybe there are such for whom it works of course, I don’t know; many streaming websites cut digital sales almost to zero. Many people stopped buying CDs that become obsolete. Vinyl is expensive in production, but we have an idea to release them in limited editions later on. I suppose the CD era is almost gone, but history repeats itself as you see that even cassettes are coming back as an old school trendy stuff.
I want to thank those people who still support us buying merch and CDs, digipacks with the beautiful art keeping the industrial machine working.
What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?
Feelings are certain: people are being manipulated and clashed to have their main focus moved away from the absolutely important questions – the capitalistic system fails itself, increscent class inequality, and absolute uncertainty about the future. The epidemic situation just showed it all clearly. A big punch for all people that hopefully bring changes for better. Will see
What song from the past is in your mind right now? And what is the meaning that song means to you?
Surprising you asked it cause recently I started to bring back memories of my past music passions. Trying to get those feelings back and probably reaching inspiration.
One of them is the song Bleed Well of HIM, where rock, love and solitude are entwined.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I’m working from home, ‘cause the music is not my main income. Almost every evening I record demos, songs and write lyrics. Finally I have time to read a lot more and started drawing. I’m an introverted person; these activities are pleasure for me
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I decided to draw again, as I tend to start it from time to time. It’s a very relaxing and meditating process helping to get rid of the anxiety that the current situation in the world project on mind.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. What are you planning to do?
Conflict now is pretty busy with the new material, not sure we will be able to meet soon.
Probably will do some live sessions thru social media a little bit later.
Why did you decide to redo Lana Del Ray Cover Summertime Sadness?
As I early said all the members of the band have a pretty wide view on music genres.
If you listen to the “Take Cover” album you may hear lots of covers made for different genres, from punk to pop.
This cover song was released a long time ago actually, it was my idea to make a video for the cover song. It was shot and edited at the little home studio, due to the epidemic situation and lockdown there was no chance to get to a professional studio or hire a director. I think it worked out awesome despite all limitations. (provided the link below)
You are still doing Stentorian doing vocals and you also were on Genetic Algorithm also doing vocals. How do you have time?
Due to the pandemics, I decided to make some arrangements at home to accommodate the recording process without going out. So it saves tons of time, and I use it for recording songs and demos. Pretty convenient, I wish I did it much earlier.
To be precise, Stentorian Voice is disbanded as I said above. The Genetic Algorithm song originally made by Dmitry Shinkarchyuk (FB Force band) – is a collaboration. I love his works and their heavy electro sound reminding death metal riffs, so we decided to do something together. I wrote the lyrics pretty fast and the vox was done in one session. I’m really looking forward to working with him again.
Check out the song by clicking the link below.
Recently I recorded the album IRIS for my side the cyber/industrial TheoryExx, where me and Nate Gradowski debuted together (the link is below). The album is scheduled for the release on August 1.
Moreover, there will be more collab songs with some bands Outpost 11 and S7igma. Stay tuned!
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
The epidemic has just started and much time will pass to grow the common immunity. It’s too early for holding big gigs or festivals. Lots of people died and still dying because the medical care simply can not stand an enormous number of infected people coming to hospitals.
I understand that musicians that headbang for the living need to eat and pay the bills. The social media nowadays is a very supportive instrument. I like the idea of the live concerts thru digital platforms it saves time and money and compensate for the issue. The drastic changes in the world economics will affect the music business for a long time. So there should be new ways to make for a living doing music.
What is S7igma?
It’s the industrial death band that recently contacted me for a collab song. Hopefully we can hear it soon! You may check out their music on FB or Youtube.
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
My views now are drastically changing. The importance of a moment of now started to prevail more and more. And I found myself in a position of choice. Anyways I see myself developing in music and writing great powerful and beautiful songs as much as possible.
Anything you would like to say in closing?
I truly believe that we all have the strength to come thru the pandemic and economic crisis, even it will become worse, music is always with us and in our souls.
Support your favorite musicians in any way, because the art of music and musicians themselves became very fragile today.
Stay safe and healthy!
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