POWERMAD interview with Kevin Hufnagel and Clayton Ingerson
by Brett of Transcending the Mundane

1.  Give a brief background on Dysrhythmia and your formation.

KH: Dysrhythmia started with myself and Clayton in the late summer of 1998. We began writing
music with just guitar and bass, all the while searching for a drummer. We found our drummer
Jeff Eber in March of 1999 and began gigging almost immediately.
In January 2000 we recorded our debut CD 'Contradiction', on a pretty low budget. Throughout
most of 2000 we played out a lot and did a brief two week tour that fall. We had also written a
large amount of new material that we felt much stronger about than the material on 'Contradiction'.
One year later in January 2001 we recorded 'no interference'...played more shows,
did a March tour and now we're in the process of setting up another tour that will run for
three weeks from late September through middle of October. We're
looking foward to hitting some places we've never played before.

2   How do you feel about the new record?

KH: I'm really proud of it. I think it sounds great. Many people seem to agree we've grown a lot
as a band within that year between 'Contradiction' and 'no interference'.

CI:  I think it's good.

3.  How has the band grown since the debut?

KH: With 'Contradiction' most of the songs were written by myself and Clayton. Jeff had joined
after most of the material was written, so he just learned the songs and didn't really have much
imput in the writing process.
After recording 'Contradiction' we began working more as a band and we wrote together as a
band. We got to know each other better as musicians and everyone was contributing ideas. The
songs were becoming shorter and more focused. Of course the more live experience we gained, the
more connected to each other and tighter we became. That's probably been the biggest factor in
our growth.

CI:  I think we're making better music now, and we're a better live band.

4.  Your compositions have plenty of variety and they are very listenable,
how do you approach writing songs for Dysrhythmia?

KH: There is no one way we write. Some songs are written fully by Clayton or myself and then
the others will listen and create there own parts to fit the song or maybe suggest some different
arrangement ideas, etc. Other songs just happen magically from a spontaneous jam. If we feel
like we're on to something good, we'll start recording it and then later pick out the parts we liked
and start to arrange it into a completed song.

CI:  We disagree and argue a lot.  It's very difficult, but sometimes
when things click it just feels great, because it sounds great.

5.   Why did you choose to be an instrumental band?  What are the advantages
and disadvantages?  Will you ever consider adding vocals?

KH: There is a lot of music that I hear where the music is great or at least kind of interesting and
then there will be this horrible vocalist totally ruining it for me. So, with us you don't have to worry
about hearing any bad vocals. The obvious disadvantage is that some people don't have the
attention span to listen to music without lyrics or vocals. I enjoy the challenge it presents.

CI:  I don't think vocals would ever work with this band.  I don't even
want to think about that.

6.  Do you feel your music is song oriented and do you think it's also
technical enough to please fans of that genre?

KH: With Dysrhythmia I don't think anyone of us is trying to write music to cater to a particular
crowd. We all love so many different kinds of music and that is why there is so much variety on
our records. I think we are quite good at blending simple and complex ideas into good music.

CI:  Sometimes I think a good song is just about the best thing there
is in music.  Sometimes I feel like when we put our music together and work
it out that things get too contrived and cerebral, and then the strength of
the song as a form is lost or undercut.  So I try to steer away from all
that.  I want the music to mean something.      I don't know what genre
you're talking about, but I don't play music to cater to anyone or to make
some self-conscious display of technique.  I don't care if people are
pleased or if they like to think of music in genres.  That's why I sometimes
don't like to talk about music with most people at all--because it gets to
be a whole lot of bullshit.

7.  What types of audiences do you think would be interested in your music?

KH: Anyone willing to listen.

CI:  I can't say anything about that.

8.  What are your interests or hobbies outside Dysrhythmia?

KH: Sleeping.

CI:  Reading, writing, running, traveling, eating--anything exciting.
I am also looking to start another band--something very different from
Dysrhythmia.

9.  Do you think your band has the potential for along life span?   What
would be your ultimate goals as an individual and a band?

KH: My goal is to just keep continuing to grow as a musician and as an individual. I would love to
one day be able to survive solely by performances and cd sales.

CI:  Playing and touring as much as possible is the goal in my mind.

10.  Have you been rained or have you learned your craft on your own?

KH: I took lessons for many years which helped me develope my technique and turn me on to
many different styles of music. Yet, when it comes time to writing music, I hardly use any of my
musical/theoretical knowledge. I tend to play what sounds good to my ear and not over analyse it.

CI:  Most of what really matters to me I never learned in any school.
Hands-on life experience, I think, is the only real training for anything.
Sometimes I think all that music schooling permanently destroyed some of my
creative ability.  But I'll never know now.

11.  What are some bands you are currently listening to and enjoying?

KH: Hmm...I honestly haven't been listening to much of anything new lately. I still break out my old
favorites like Voivod, Anacrusis, Cynic, etc. when I feel like hearing some good metal. I've really
been enjoying this U.K. band called Yellow 6 a lot lately. It's sort of hypnotic ambient guitar stuff.
Right now I'm listening to Massive Attack.

CI:  Lunachicks, Descendents, The Crownhate Ruin, Dead Meadow, Dmitri
Shostakovich, Cat Power, Naked Raygun, Bad Brains, John Coltrane, Spirit
Caravan, The Effigies.

12.  What will your set list look like for Powermad?

KH: Whatever we feel like playing at that moment.

13.  Any final comments or is there anything we may have missed?

KH: Come see us live.
CI:  Thanks for the interview.

Thanks a lot for your time!