Machinae Supremacy, the Swedish originators of the one-of-a-kind Sid-metal, have a huge underground following.
- (Graphic provided by Machinae Supremacy)
Getting their start in 2000, the boys in Machinae Supremacy have gained a cult underground following that encompasses the globe. Their music is heavily influenced by gaming and popular culture, which is clearly evident in their songs.
Machinae Supremacy is playing their first ever US show in January at MAGFest. They are currently in the process of putting out a new album and funding a world tour.
The Pit, being fans of the legendary Machinae Supremacy, had the chance to speak with them briefly about a variety of topics, including those listed above.
The Pit: How did you get into music and which musicians influence you?
MaSu: We all have our different ways into music but and the artists which influence us are of course different. In fact, they are so different it’s hard to namedrop even a few. We listen to ALOT of music and not just rock or heavy metal.
The Pit: How much of an impact do video games have on your music?
MaSu: We grew up playing a lot of video games and we still do so of course we have been strongly influenced by sounds and music from video games. Video games, much like movies, use sound and music to help set the mood and convey a certain feeling to the player. We try to use this also when writing songs.
The Pit: What are your favorite video game genres and specific franchises?
MaSu: Just like the first question, this differs a lot between members. So the answer here is just about the same, we play and enjoy everything from ultra-simple games to complex story games, strategy, platform, FPS etc.
The Pit: How do you feel about the upcoming PS4 and Xbox One?
MaSu: We’re excited to see what new things this will bring to the market.
The Pit: What characteristics about your music either instrumentally or lyrically really stand out to you?
MaSu: We try to say something with most our songs. Maybe everybody does that, but we try keep it at a different level than “I wanna take a ride on your disco stick”. We’re not trying to be pretentious and we listen to and enjoy our share of “party” music but when we write lyrics and music we write about important things we see and feel around us.
The Pit: How would you describe Machinae Supremacy’s style and brand over the years?
MaSu: The style may have changed slightly and probably always will to a certain degree. This has to do with our “brand” which is to write music that we love and believe in. Different situations and influences in life changes peoples personality short term or long term. Since our music is part of our personalities, our music also change as we live our lives. Some things about who you are never change though, and that also reflect in our music.
The Pit: How much of an impact has the internet had on the popularity of MaSu not only regionally but globally?
MaSu: Internet has been key in spreading MaSu internationally and still is our most important tool when it comes to interaction with fans and marketing the band. We have met so many awesome people during our years with the band and it’s mind-blowing to think of all the talent, intelligence and pure win that’s out there.
The Pit: Who are some of the most passionate fans, as in, German fans, British fans, American fans, etc.
MaSu: There are extraordinary fans everywhere. Passion seems to not be geographically bound. When it comes to popularity though, Finland is still the country where most people show up for our gigs.
The Pit: Machinae Supremacy is scheduled to play MAGFest this year in the US. What does it mean for the band to play your first US show, and what do you expect from American fans?
MaSu: We are really looking forward to this! Our usual expectations on a gig is that we will meet a lot of awesome people. In events like MAGFest there’s usually also a lot of people with similar interests to us so that makes it extra interesting!
The Pit: Has the WTF helped with funding the MAGFest show, and how is that going overall?
MaSu: WTF is going great, we have managed to unlock 9 countries so far. The MAGFest gig is not funded by this though.
The Pit: You just released a new song dedicated to Doctor Who and the Weeping Angels. What was the inspiration behind that song and why did you write it?
MaSu: The song is about family and friends, but the video was made into a tribute to Doctor Who since the poetry of the sing fits that particular villain so quite well. We’re huge fans, obviously.
The Pit: What can fans expect from the band over the next few years?
MaSu: This spring we’re releasing a new album and after that we’re heading to Europe on tour. What happens the next few years is hard to say, but our focus will not change. It’s all about doing what we love and trying to give back as much as possible to the people who like what we do.
