Interview for NO RADIO MAGAZINE
by Andrew Falk

First of all, thanks for taking the time to do this interview with me.

The aspect of your music that I notice and appreciate most is the constantly shifting spotlight.  All three members are featured so heavily that there's no one song that's primarily bass-driven, guitar-driven, or drum-driven.  Is this an intentional effort or is it just how it turns out?

KH: I believe it's just the way we've always written our songs. There are times when maybe the drums or bass will take the spotlight, or they'll be the occasional guitar solo but when we write our music, we are all contributing and writing our own parts. None of us are really fans of listening to other people solo for hours at a time, we just play the music we want to hear.

You said in another review that your newest record Pretest was recorded mostly live, with everyone in the band playing at the same time and very few overdubs.  Were your older records recorded like that too, or did you use different studio methods and effects?

KH: The first record 'Contradiction' was recorded very similarly to 'Pretest'. We all played live in one take straight to analog tape and later I added some additional guitar textures, harmonies, noise. The second record 'No Interference' was recorded the same way, except it is a digital recording and it sounds a lot cleaner. There was more processing used on that recording and definitely more overdubs in both the guitar and bass on one song ("Craving for Transformation") One thing we learned from that recording is that we shouldn't burn ourselves out on doing take after take to get it "perfect" because it will never be perfect. After the 13th take of an 8 minute song you start to lose your energy and enthusiasm...we didn't want to make that mistake again on 'Pretest', and we didn't. Albini wouldn't let us do more than 3 or 4 takes.

Since all three members have very different musical tastes, are there times when you can never agree on the direction a song should take?

KH: Yeah, but usually when a song is finished, we're all pretty happy with it. If we're not, it doesn't get used. I appreciate the different influences Clayton and Jeff bring to the band.

I saw you perform this summer at the Lemp Arts Center in St. Louis.  The place was tiny, hot, and only about five paying customers showed up.  Despite all that, you still put on an amazing performance.  Do shows like that make you feel like your talent is being wasted?

KH: Nah...we're used to shows like that. It's nothing new to us. If only five people come to the show that's still five people that care about your band and want to see you play your asses off. We owe it to them for coming at all. I've seen some of my favorite bands play to five people too and it felt special being there for them and thinking to myself how stupid everyone else is for not being there!!

When I was younger and I went to summer camp for a week or something, I would get sick of all my friends within a few days because I was with them twenty four hours a day.  Does it ever get like that between you guys when you tour?

KH: You bet! Touring can be tough in that respect. When you're a band at our level you don't get to have much personal space or time. Most of the day you're with the same 2 other people driving/sitting in a van for anywhere from 4-12 hours, sleeping in the van at night when you can't find a friend to crash with or the drive is too long to the next show. You start to let the slightest little personality quirks bother you, etc. The best way to deal with these tensions is to talk about them, which is easier said than done. There haven't been any fistfights or anything....yet!

If you were forced to have guest vocals by either Flavor Flav or Ronnie James Dio for a new song of yours, which would you choose and why?

KH: Well, since we've already crossed over into the "true" metal scene, we wouldn't need Ronnie James Dio's help. I just asked our booking agent Rich Hoak [Total Fucking Destruction/ex-Brutal Truth], since he's sitting in front of me, this question and he reckons Dio would be a total weenie and Flavor Flav would have tons of "bud" and bring the "party"....Personally, I don't know how much of Public Enemy's crowd is aware of Dysrhythmia, so I would definitely choose Flavor Flav too! Plus we probably make the same wacky facial expressions when we perform.

What record do you absolutely love that people who hear Dysrhythmia's music wouldn't expect you to like?

KH: A lot of times people come up to us and ask us what our favorite King Crimson record is or something. They usually seem a little surprised when I tell them all I've been listening to lately is ambient music or that Clayton's the biggest Black Flag fan on earth.

Is there an instrument besides guitar that you would really like to know how to play?

KH: Yes, the cello.

What's the most memorable comment someone has yelled at you from an audience at one of your shows?

KH: "Turn up the vocals" not because it's the best or even funny but because it's the one we hear the most. "Play some real music" was a good one too.

What's your favorite snack food?

KH: Right now it's Sun Chips (original flavor)

Thanks for your time, any last words?

KH: Which one of the five were you at the show?