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Other Arts & Review
the Other Press
October 15, 1992
Changing State of Mind
by Angus Adair
“Ch Ch Ch Changes”
-David Bowie-Changes
The Autumnal Equinox isa day
ofchangeand soitseemed apropriate
that this was the day that Vic Wayne,
the lead singer of State of Mind, and
- Icame together for the first time ina
bees to discuss a very new State of
oe is band posseses more focus
now and a harder edge . They have
done away with close to 14 so
which while good, were sending
bandintoomany different directions.
Vic and I talked at length trying to
define the sound and finally
notplay withthefusionand technical
tightness of Eli Paull( the previous
drummer) but has supplanted his
own highly solid chops which
possesses thespontaneous vibe found
more often in rock and hard edged
music.
The rest of theband has notbeen
idle. Vic continues to write powerful
hard edged guitar tends to direct the
flow.
ReeceTerriscontinues toexpand
the defintion of keyboardist. Using
little or no synthesizer but simply
experimenting with different
amplification feeds and distortion
peddles is producing some rather
unique sounds.
State of Mind. Clockwise from riaht: Vic Wavne, Reece Terris, Steve Monteith, Matt Holden, and Bruce McKinlay.
concluded that they had acheived a
sound of their own.
Fansnoticeittoo. Moreand more
people are saying to the members of
State of Mind, “I really like
yoursound”. What has preciptated
this change ? An entire new rhythm
section.”These guys are difinitely
moresexy than the other guys,” Iwas
assured.
Matt Holden has taken over on
bass and background vocals . As a
result the band has gained the
advantage of a bass player with a
good ear for melody who doesn’t
“compete” with the other
instruments. Bruce McKinlay now
provides the drum beats. He does
and intense lyrics that have always
been true to where he comes from.
That scene is the underground
Edmonton music scene which has
produced some amazing talent from
The Pursuit of Happinessand Junior
Gone Wild to some skilled backup
musicians that have played with
Spirit of The West and Sara
McLaghlan.
Steve Monteith continues to
improve on guitar and his sounds
are more prominent on the new
material. The effect is somewhat of a
reversal of thesound of State of Mind.
In the earlier material, the rhythm
sectiondominated and the guitar was
just enhancement. Now, Monteith’s
Artiscally speaking, State of
Mind has never been better. Despite
the grey cloud of two band members
leaving , the silver lining has
contributed imeasurably toforginga
more powerfull group of artists
Preserving one’s artistic
integrity when youare writing about
some of the social issues, big and
small, that populate a song list for
State of Mind, is always important.
We talked about the almost
McCarthyist feel for musicand TV in
the states. We also discussed how
some bands have become separated
from their audience with continued
successand how this canaffectartistic
vision. Westopped midway through
our interview so that Vic could speak
to a friend who had just walked by.
She was newly married and
pregnant, and Vic was genuinely
more interested in catching up on
these significant events in her life
than he was in promoting himself to
me. It spoke volumes for how
unisolated he is despite the success
he and the entire band have begun to
enjoy and which he continues to
downplay. I have no doubt that it
will take a while for State of Mind to
lose it’s audience and it’s connection
to people.
On the topic of censorship, Vic
said that any major record label that
would pressure him not to write a
song like Cry Out Loud because it
deals with some issues about AIDS
wouldn’t understand why they
should be signed in the first place.
There isa distinct trend in music
lately. More and more music with a
message - with artistic vision - is
finding the words to express the
overwhelming angst of our
generation. The bands are diverse in
their style but they are all a Cry Out
Loud to whoever is listening. They
are the folk music of what some see
as a lost generation ,overwhelmed
by what the previous generations
have done.
I feel now, morethanever before,
that State of Mind will continue to
speak volumes through their music
and willcontinuetochallenge people
touse their heads and think about the
world in which we live. We need
State of Mind. Some of the old fans
have walkedaway from Stateof Mind
claiming that they “used to be fun”.
Truth is; State of Mind has simply
moved from being — social
consciousness you can dance to
towards consumate recording and
rforming artists who make you
think. While I enjoy the former I
prefer the latter.
The future, no doubt, holds
many more positive
changes.Advance word is that
another album, from State of Mind
may soon be arriving and ee a
major label deal to boot, if things go
well.
There is also the possibility of
tour schedules soon being arranged,
if State of Mind can avoid having to
compete with the mega tours. Look
for more of State of Mind. After a lot
of time and effort, their time has
come, evenifsomepeopledon’tknow
it yet.
To Censor or Not to Censor?
by Karen Rempel
Censorship withclout:caveman
A says “Man you are one ugly
mother”; caveman B clubs caveman
over the head. And so begins the
human race’s long and uneasy
association with censorship.
The recent controversy over
rapper Ice-T’s song, “Cop Killer”,
brings aoe to the forefront
again. Some peopleareasking recotd
companies to censor their artists’
lyrics. But the real issue is far more
basic. Today thecensorshipargument
revolves around two seemingly
opposing viewpoints. On one side,
om of expression. On the other
side, propagation of hate messages
that lead to stereotypes and possibly
to murder.
“Everyone has the right to
freedom of opinion and expression,”
So states the Cinited Nations General
Assembly in Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. This statement was made in
1948, three years after Hitler’s murder
of 25 million people. Hitler’s death-
toll is often quoted by people who
favor censorship of hate messages.
Ice-T himself used this argument in
aninterview with the Vancouver Sun:
“Who's moredangerous, who’smore
powerful, the guy out on the street
with a or the guy who talked
him into doingit? ...somebody like
Hitler.”
Ironically, Hitler gained his
power through suppression of
freedom of
speech. No one
presentiieastnat We ... acts like Madonna
opposed his own.
In fact
nogren an ve WON'T De affected, new
rappers will have a harder
likened
attempte 3
censorship of an
stated to Newsweek that while
controversialacts like Madonna won't
be affected, new rappers will havea
harder time getting. signed..The
messageisclear:ananti-black double-
standard.
The movie Terminator II
portrayed violence against
supposed that
censorship of
Hitler’s hate-messages would have
prevented the holocaust, it was
censorship of opposing views that
allowed Hitler to gain the power he
did.
Censorship of black artists like
Ice-T could be equally devastating.
During the recent clamor for music-
lyric censorship, Tim Carr, a talent
scout for Ice-I’s record company
policemen-Itreceivedlittlecriticism.
Ice-T portrays a character who is
protesting police brutality; he has
ended up withdrawing his album
because policemen feel it is an
incitement to murder.
With the focus on the song Cop
Killer, little mention was made of the
song’s warning about the dangers of
drug use and gang warfare. As Ice-
T told the Georgia Strait, heuses hard-
core imagery to attract his audience,
kids who might rob a store, steal a
car, or shoot somebody in the face.
Once he has their attention, he tells
what happens to the kids who use
that gun. He explained in Billboard
magazine that his message is, “go to
school, doesn’t end
up in jail, drugs ain’t
gonna help you...
learn through my
experience.” Andhe
told. the Vancouver
Sun thatrap musicis
breaking the
stereotypes thathave
been built between
the races, that white
kids are starting to
like and try to
understand black
kids.
If record companies use
censorship to quell an artist's
disturbing messages, our society may
lose that artist’s positive messages as
well. Inevery caseof censorship, free
expression is sacrificed. In some
cases, the consequences have been
horrifying. Maybe we haven’t come
far from the cave-man after all.
Other Arts & Review
the Other Press
October 15, 1992
Changing State of Mind
by Angus Adair
“Ch Ch Ch Changes”
-David Bowie-Changes
The Autumnal Equinox isa day
ofchangeand soitseemed apropriate
that this was the day that Vic Wayne,
the lead singer of State of Mind, and
- Icame together for the first time ina
bees to discuss a very new State of
oe is band posseses more focus
now and a harder edge . They have
done away with close to 14 so
which while good, were sending
bandintoomany different directions.
Vic and I talked at length trying to
define the sound and finally
notplay withthefusionand technical
tightness of Eli Paull( the previous
drummer) but has supplanted his
own highly solid chops which
possesses thespontaneous vibe found
more often in rock and hard edged
music.
The rest of theband has notbeen
idle. Vic continues to write powerful
hard edged guitar tends to direct the
flow.
ReeceTerriscontinues toexpand
the defintion of keyboardist. Using
little or no synthesizer but simply
experimenting with different
amplification feeds and distortion
peddles is producing some rather
unique sounds.
State of Mind. Clockwise from riaht: Vic Wavne, Reece Terris, Steve Monteith, Matt Holden, and Bruce McKinlay.
concluded that they had acheived a
sound of their own.
Fansnoticeittoo. Moreand more
people are saying to the members of
State of Mind, “I really like
yoursound”. What has preciptated
this change ? An entire new rhythm
section.”These guys are difinitely
moresexy than the other guys,” Iwas
assured.
Matt Holden has taken over on
bass and background vocals . As a
result the band has gained the
advantage of a bass player with a
good ear for melody who doesn’t
“compete” with the other
instruments. Bruce McKinlay now
provides the drum beats. He does
and intense lyrics that have always
been true to where he comes from.
That scene is the underground
Edmonton music scene which has
produced some amazing talent from
The Pursuit of Happinessand Junior
Gone Wild to some skilled backup
musicians that have played with
Spirit of The West and Sara
McLaghlan.
Steve Monteith continues to
improve on guitar and his sounds
are more prominent on the new
material. The effect is somewhat of a
reversal of thesound of State of Mind.
In the earlier material, the rhythm
sectiondominated and the guitar was
just enhancement. Now, Monteith’s
Artiscally speaking, State of
Mind has never been better. Despite
the grey cloud of two band members
leaving , the silver lining has
contributed imeasurably toforginga
more powerfull group of artists
Preserving one’s artistic
integrity when youare writing about
some of the social issues, big and
small, that populate a song list for
State of Mind, is always important.
We talked about the almost
McCarthyist feel for musicand TV in
the states. We also discussed how
some bands have become separated
from their audience with continued
successand how this canaffectartistic
vision. Westopped midway through
our interview so that Vic could speak
to a friend who had just walked by.
She was newly married and
pregnant, and Vic was genuinely
more interested in catching up on
these significant events in her life
than he was in promoting himself to
me. It spoke volumes for how
unisolated he is despite the success
he and the entire band have begun to
enjoy and which he continues to
downplay. I have no doubt that it
will take a while for State of Mind to
lose it’s audience and it’s connection
to people.
On the topic of censorship, Vic
said that any major record label that
would pressure him not to write a
song like Cry Out Loud because it
deals with some issues about AIDS
wouldn’t understand why they
should be signed in the first place.
There isa distinct trend in music
lately. More and more music with a
message - with artistic vision - is
finding the words to express the
overwhelming angst of our
generation. The bands are diverse in
their style but they are all a Cry Out
Loud to whoever is listening. They
are the folk music of what some see
as a lost generation ,overwhelmed
by what the previous generations
have done.
I feel now, morethanever before,
that State of Mind will continue to
speak volumes through their music
and willcontinuetochallenge people
touse their heads and think about the
world in which we live. We need
State of Mind. Some of the old fans
have walkedaway from Stateof Mind
claiming that they “used to be fun”.
Truth is; State of Mind has simply
moved from being — social
consciousness you can dance to
towards consumate recording and
rforming artists who make you
think. While I enjoy the former I
prefer the latter.
The future, no doubt, holds
many more positive
changes.Advance word is that
another album, from State of Mind
may soon be arriving and ee a
major label deal to boot, if things go
well.
There is also the possibility of
tour schedules soon being arranged,
if State of Mind can avoid having to
compete with the mega tours. Look
for more of State of Mind. After a lot
of time and effort, their time has
come, evenifsomepeopledon’tknow
it yet.
To Censor or Not to Censor?
by Karen Rempel
Censorship withclout:caveman
A says “Man you are one ugly
mother”; caveman B clubs caveman
over the head. And so begins the
human race’s long and uneasy
association with censorship.
The recent controversy over
rapper Ice-T’s song, “Cop Killer”,
brings aoe to the forefront
again. Some peopleareasking recotd
companies to censor their artists’
lyrics. But the real issue is far more
basic. Today thecensorshipargument
revolves around two seemingly
opposing viewpoints. On one side,
om of expression. On the other
side, propagation of hate messages
that lead to stereotypes and possibly
to murder.
“Everyone has the right to
freedom of opinion and expression,”
So states the Cinited Nations General
Assembly in Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. This statement was made in
1948, three years after Hitler’s murder
of 25 million people. Hitler’s death-
toll is often quoted by people who
favor censorship of hate messages.
Ice-T himself used this argument in
aninterview with the Vancouver Sun:
“Who's moredangerous, who’smore
powerful, the guy out on the street
with a or the guy who talked
him into doingit? ...somebody like
Hitler.”
Ironically, Hitler gained his
power through suppression of
freedom of
speech. No one
presentiieastnat We ... acts like Madonna
opposed his own.
In fact
nogren an ve WON'T De affected, new
rappers will have a harder
likened
attempte 3
censorship of an
stated to Newsweek that while
controversialacts like Madonna won't
be affected, new rappers will havea
harder time getting. signed..The
messageisclear:ananti-black double-
standard.
The movie Terminator II
portrayed violence against
supposed that
censorship of
Hitler’s hate-messages would have
prevented the holocaust, it was
censorship of opposing views that
allowed Hitler to gain the power he
did.
Censorship of black artists like
Ice-T could be equally devastating.
During the recent clamor for music-
lyric censorship, Tim Carr, a talent
scout for Ice-I’s record company
policemen-Itreceivedlittlecriticism.
Ice-T portrays a character who is
protesting police brutality; he has
ended up withdrawing his album
because policemen feel it is an
incitement to murder.
With the focus on the song Cop
Killer, little mention was made of the
song’s warning about the dangers of
drug use and gang warfare. As Ice-
T told the Georgia Strait, heuses hard-
core imagery to attract his audience,
kids who might rob a store, steal a
car, or shoot somebody in the face.
Once he has their attention, he tells
what happens to the kids who use
that gun. He explained in Billboard
magazine that his message is, “go to
school, doesn’t end
up in jail, drugs ain’t
gonna help you...
learn through my
experience.” Andhe
told. the Vancouver
Sun thatrap musicis
breaking the
stereotypes thathave
been built between
the races, that white
kids are starting to
like and try to
understand black
kids.
If record companies use
censorship to quell an artist's
disturbing messages, our society may
lose that artist’s positive messages as
well. Inevery caseof censorship, free
expression is sacrificed. In some
cases, the consequences have been
horrifying. Maybe we haven’t come
far from the cave-man after all.
Edited Text
ETT
Other Arts & Review
the Other Press
October 15, 1992
Changing State of Mind
by Angus Adair
“Ch Ch Ch Changes”
-David Bowie-Changes
The Autumnal Equinox isa day
ofchangeand soitseemed apropriate
that this was the day that Vic Wayne,
the lead singer of State of Mind, and
- Icame together for the first time ina
bees to discuss a very new State of
oe is band posseses more focus
now and a harder edge . They have
done away with close to 14 so
which while good, were sending
bandintoomany different directions.
Vic and I talked at length trying to
define the sound and finally
notplay withthefusionand technical
tightness of Eli Paull( the previous
drummer) but has supplanted his
own highly solid chops which
possesses thespontaneous vibe found
more often in rock and hard edged
music.
The rest of theband has notbeen
idle. Vic continues to write powerful
hard edged guitar tends to direct the
flow.
ReeceTerriscontinues toexpand
the defintion of keyboardist. Using
little or no synthesizer but simply
experimenting with different
amplification feeds and distortion
peddles is producing some rather
unique sounds.
State of Mind. Clockwise from riaht: Vic Wavne, Reece Terris, Steve Monteith, Matt Holden, and Bruce McKinlay.
concluded that they had acheived a
sound of their own.
Fansnoticeittoo. Moreand more
people are saying to the members of
State of Mind, “I really like
yoursound”. What has preciptated
this change ? An entire new rhythm
section.”These guys are difinitely
moresexy than the other guys,” Iwas
assured.
Matt Holden has taken over on
bass and background vocals . As a
result the band has gained the
advantage of a bass player with a
good ear for melody who doesn’t
“compete” with the other
instruments. Bruce McKinlay now
provides the drum beats. He does
and intense lyrics that have always
been true to where he comes from.
That scene is the underground
Edmonton music scene which has
produced some amazing talent from
The Pursuit of Happinessand Junior
Gone Wild to some skilled backup
musicians that have played with
Spirit of The West and Sara
McLaghlan.
Steve Monteith continues to
improve on guitar and his sounds
are more prominent on the new
material. The effect is somewhat of a
reversal of thesound of State of Mind.
In the earlier material, the rhythm
sectiondominated and the guitar was
just enhancement. Now, Monteith’s
Artiscally speaking, State of
Mind has never been better. Despite
the grey cloud of two band members
leaving , the silver lining has
contributed imeasurably toforginga
more powerfull group of artists
Preserving one’s artistic
integrity when youare writing about
some of the social issues, big and
small, that populate a song list for
State of Mind, is always important.
We talked about the almost
McCarthyist feel for musicand TV in
the states. We also discussed how
some bands have become separated
from their audience with continued
successand how this canaffectartistic
vision. Westopped midway through
our interview so that Vic could speak
to a friend who had just walked by.
She was newly married and
pregnant, and Vic was genuinely
more interested in catching up on
these significant events in her life
than he was in promoting himself to
me. It spoke volumes for how
unisolated he is despite the success
he and the entire band have begun to
enjoy and which he continues to
downplay. I have no doubt that it
will take a while for State of Mind to
lose it’s audience and it’s connection
to people.
On the topic of censorship, Vic
said that any major record label that
would pressure him not to write a
song like Cry Out Loud because it
deals with some issues about AIDS
wouldn’t understand why they
should be signed in the first place.
There isa distinct trend in music
lately. More and more music with a
message - with artistic vision - is
finding the words to express the
overwhelming angst of our
generation. The bands are diverse in
their style but they are all a Cry Out
Loud to whoever is listening. They
are the folk music of what some see
as a lost generation ,overwhelmed
by what the previous generations
have done.
I feel now, morethanever before,
that State of Mind will continue to
speak volumes through their music
and willcontinuetochallenge people
touse their heads and think about the
world in which we live. We need
State of Mind. Some of the old fans
have walkedaway from Stateof Mind
claiming that they “used to be fun”.
Truth is; State of Mind has simply
moved from being — social
consciousness you can dance to
towards consumate recording and
rforming artists who make you
think. While I enjoy the former I
prefer the latter.
The future, no doubt, holds
many more positive
changes.Advance word is that
another album, from State of Mind
may soon be arriving and ee a
major label deal to boot, if things go
well.
There is also the possibility of
tour schedules soon being arranged,
if State of Mind can avoid having to
compete with the mega tours. Look
for more of State of Mind. After a lot
of time and effort, their time has
come, evenifsomepeopledon’tknow
it yet.
To Censor or Not to Censor?
by Karen Rempel
Censorship withclout:caveman
A says “Man you are one ugly
mother”; caveman B clubs caveman
over the head. And so begins the
human race’s long and uneasy
association with censorship.
The recent controversy over
rapper Ice-T’s song, “Cop Killer”,
brings aoe to the forefront
again. Some peopleareasking recotd
companies to censor their artists’
lyrics. But the real issue is far more
basic. Today thecensorshipargument
revolves around two seemingly
opposing viewpoints. On one side,
om of expression. On the other
side, propagation of hate messages
that lead to stereotypes and possibly
to murder.
“Everyone has the right to
freedom of opinion and expression,”
So states the Cinited Nations General
Assembly in Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. This statement was made in
1948, three years after Hitler’s murder
of 25 million people. Hitler’s death-
toll is often quoted by people who
favor censorship of hate messages.
Ice-T himself used this argument in
aninterview with the Vancouver Sun:
“Who's moredangerous, who’smore
powerful, the guy out on the street
with a or the guy who talked
him into doingit? ...somebody like
Hitler.”
Ironically, Hitler gained his
power through suppression of
freedom of
speech. No one
presentiieastnat We ... acts like Madonna
opposed his own.
In fact
nogren an ve WON'T De affected, new
rappers will have a harder
likened
attempte 3
censorship of an
stated to Newsweek that while
controversialacts like Madonna won't
be affected, new rappers will havea
harder time getting. signed..The
messageisclear:ananti-black double-
standard.
The movie Terminator II
portrayed violence against
supposed that
censorship of
Hitler’s hate-messages would have
prevented the holocaust, it was
censorship of opposing views that
allowed Hitler to gain the power he
did.
Censorship of black artists like
Ice-T could be equally devastating.
During the recent clamor for music-
lyric censorship, Tim Carr, a talent
scout for Ice-I’s record company
policemen-Itreceivedlittlecriticism.
Ice-T portrays a character who is
protesting police brutality; he has
ended up withdrawing his album
because policemen feel it is an
incitement to murder.
With the focus on the song Cop
Killer, little mention was made of the
song’s warning about the dangers of
drug use and gang warfare. As Ice-
T told the Georgia Strait, heuses hard-
core imagery to attract his audience,
kids who might rob a store, steal a
car, or shoot somebody in the face.
Once he has their attention, he tells
what happens to the kids who use
that gun. He explained in Billboard
magazine that his message is, “go to
school, doesn’t end
up in jail, drugs ain’t
gonna help you...
learn through my
experience.” Andhe
told. the Vancouver
Sun thatrap musicis
breaking the
stereotypes thathave
been built between
the races, that white
kids are starting to
like and try to
understand black
kids.
If record companies use
censorship to quell an artist's
disturbing messages, our society may
lose that artist’s positive messages as
well. Inevery caseof censorship, free
expression is sacrificed. In some
cases, the consequences have been
horrifying. Maybe we haven’t come
far from the cave-man after all.
Other Arts & Review
the Other Press
October 15, 1992
Changing State of Mind
by Angus Adair
“Ch Ch Ch Changes”
-David Bowie-Changes
The Autumnal Equinox isa day
ofchangeand soitseemed apropriate
that this was the day that Vic Wayne,
the lead singer of State of Mind, and
- Icame together for the first time ina
bees to discuss a very new State of
oe is band posseses more focus
now and a harder edge . They have
done away with close to 14 so
which while good, were sending
bandintoomany different directions.
Vic and I talked at length trying to
define the sound and finally
notplay withthefusionand technical
tightness of Eli Paull( the previous
drummer) but has supplanted his
own highly solid chops which
possesses thespontaneous vibe found
more often in rock and hard edged
music.
The rest of theband has notbeen
idle. Vic continues to write powerful
hard edged guitar tends to direct the
flow.
ReeceTerriscontinues toexpand
the defintion of keyboardist. Using
little or no synthesizer but simply
experimenting with different
amplification feeds and distortion
peddles is producing some rather
unique sounds.
State of Mind. Clockwise from riaht: Vic Wavne, Reece Terris, Steve Monteith, Matt Holden, and Bruce McKinlay.
concluded that they had acheived a
sound of their own.
Fansnoticeittoo. Moreand more
people are saying to the members of
State of Mind, “I really like
yoursound”. What has preciptated
this change ? An entire new rhythm
section.”These guys are difinitely
moresexy than the other guys,” Iwas
assured.
Matt Holden has taken over on
bass and background vocals . As a
result the band has gained the
advantage of a bass player with a
good ear for melody who doesn’t
“compete” with the other
instruments. Bruce McKinlay now
provides the drum beats. He does
and intense lyrics that have always
been true to where he comes from.
That scene is the underground
Edmonton music scene which has
produced some amazing talent from
The Pursuit of Happinessand Junior
Gone Wild to some skilled backup
musicians that have played with
Spirit of The West and Sara
McLaghlan.
Steve Monteith continues to
improve on guitar and his sounds
are more prominent on the new
material. The effect is somewhat of a
reversal of thesound of State of Mind.
In the earlier material, the rhythm
sectiondominated and the guitar was
just enhancement. Now, Monteith’s
Artiscally speaking, State of
Mind has never been better. Despite
the grey cloud of two band members
leaving , the silver lining has
contributed imeasurably toforginga
more powerfull group of artists
Preserving one’s artistic
integrity when youare writing about
some of the social issues, big and
small, that populate a song list for
State of Mind, is always important.
We talked about the almost
McCarthyist feel for musicand TV in
the states. We also discussed how
some bands have become separated
from their audience with continued
successand how this canaffectartistic
vision. Westopped midway through
our interview so that Vic could speak
to a friend who had just walked by.
She was newly married and
pregnant, and Vic was genuinely
more interested in catching up on
these significant events in her life
than he was in promoting himself to
me. It spoke volumes for how
unisolated he is despite the success
he and the entire band have begun to
enjoy and which he continues to
downplay. I have no doubt that it
will take a while for State of Mind to
lose it’s audience and it’s connection
to people.
On the topic of censorship, Vic
said that any major record label that
would pressure him not to write a
song like Cry Out Loud because it
deals with some issues about AIDS
wouldn’t understand why they
should be signed in the first place.
There isa distinct trend in music
lately. More and more music with a
message - with artistic vision - is
finding the words to express the
overwhelming angst of our
generation. The bands are diverse in
their style but they are all a Cry Out
Loud to whoever is listening. They
are the folk music of what some see
as a lost generation ,overwhelmed
by what the previous generations
have done.
I feel now, morethanever before,
that State of Mind will continue to
speak volumes through their music
and willcontinuetochallenge people
touse their heads and think about the
world in which we live. We need
State of Mind. Some of the old fans
have walkedaway from Stateof Mind
claiming that they “used to be fun”.
Truth is; State of Mind has simply
moved from being — social
consciousness you can dance to
towards consumate recording and
rforming artists who make you
think. While I enjoy the former I
prefer the latter.
The future, no doubt, holds
many more positive
changes.Advance word is that
another album, from State of Mind
may soon be arriving and ee a
major label deal to boot, if things go
well.
There is also the possibility of
tour schedules soon being arranged,
if State of Mind can avoid having to
compete with the mega tours. Look
for more of State of Mind. After a lot
of time and effort, their time has
come, evenifsomepeopledon’tknow
it yet.
To Censor or Not to Censor?
by Karen Rempel
Censorship withclout:caveman
A says “Man you are one ugly
mother”; caveman B clubs caveman
over the head. And so begins the
human race’s long and uneasy
association with censorship.
The recent controversy over
rapper Ice-T’s song, “Cop Killer”,
brings aoe to the forefront
again. Some peopleareasking recotd
companies to censor their artists’
lyrics. But the real issue is far more
basic. Today thecensorshipargument
revolves around two seemingly
opposing viewpoints. On one side,
om of expression. On the other
side, propagation of hate messages
that lead to stereotypes and possibly
to murder.
“Everyone has the right to
freedom of opinion and expression,”
So states the Cinited Nations General
Assembly in Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. This statement was made in
1948, three years after Hitler’s murder
of 25 million people. Hitler’s death-
toll is often quoted by people who
favor censorship of hate messages.
Ice-T himself used this argument in
aninterview with the Vancouver Sun:
“Who's moredangerous, who’smore
powerful, the guy out on the street
with a or the guy who talked
him into doingit? ...somebody like
Hitler.”
Ironically, Hitler gained his
power through suppression of
freedom of
speech. No one
presentiieastnat We ... acts like Madonna
opposed his own.
In fact
nogren an ve WON'T De affected, new
rappers will have a harder
likened
attempte 3
censorship of an
stated to Newsweek that while
controversialacts like Madonna won't
be affected, new rappers will havea
harder time getting. signed..The
messageisclear:ananti-black double-
standard.
The movie Terminator II
portrayed violence against
supposed that
censorship of
Hitler’s hate-messages would have
prevented the holocaust, it was
censorship of opposing views that
allowed Hitler to gain the power he
did.
Censorship of black artists like
Ice-T could be equally devastating.
During the recent clamor for music-
lyric censorship, Tim Carr, a talent
scout for Ice-I’s record company
policemen-Itreceivedlittlecriticism.
Ice-T portrays a character who is
protesting police brutality; he has
ended up withdrawing his album
because policemen feel it is an
incitement to murder.
With the focus on the song Cop
Killer, little mention was made of the
song’s warning about the dangers of
drug use and gang warfare. As Ice-
T told the Georgia Strait, heuses hard-
core imagery to attract his audience,
kids who might rob a store, steal a
car, or shoot somebody in the face.
Once he has their attention, he tells
what happens to the kids who use
that gun. He explained in Billboard
magazine that his message is, “go to
school, doesn’t end
up in jail, drugs ain’t
gonna help you...
learn through my
experience.” Andhe
told. the Vancouver
Sun thatrap musicis
breaking the
stereotypes thathave
been built between
the races, that white
kids are starting to
like and try to
understand black
kids.
If record companies use
censorship to quell an artist's
disturbing messages, our society may
lose that artist’s positive messages as
well. Inevery caseof censorship, free
expression is sacrificed. In some
cases, the consequences have been
horrifying. Maybe we haven’t come
far from the cave-man after all.
Other Arts & Review
the Other Press
October 15, 1992
Changing State of Mind
by Angus Adair
“Ch Ch Ch Changes”
-David Bowie-Changes
The Autumnal Equinox isa day
ofchangeand soitseemed apropriate
that this was the day that Vic Wayne,
the lead singer of State of Mind, and
- Icame together for the first time ina
bees to discuss a very new State of
oe is band posseses more focus
now and a harder edge . They have
done away with close to 14 so
which while good, were sending
bandintoomany different directions.
Vic and I talked at length trying to
define the sound and finally
notplay withthefusionand technical
tightness of Eli Paull( the previous
drummer) but has supplanted his
own highly solid chops which
possesses thespontaneous vibe found
more often in rock and hard edged
music.
The rest of theband has notbeen
idle. Vic continues to write powerful
hard edged guitar tends to direct the
flow.
ReeceTerriscontinues toexpand
the defintion of keyboardist. Using
little or no synthesizer but simply
experimenting with different
amplification feeds and distortion
peddles is producing some rather
unique sounds.
State of Mind. Clockwise from riaht: Vic Wavne, Reece Terris, Steve Monteith, Matt Holden, and Bruce McKinlay.
concluded that they had acheived a
sound of their own.
Fansnoticeittoo. Moreand more
people are saying to the members of
State of Mind, “I really like
yoursound”. What has preciptated
this change ? An entire new rhythm
section.”These guys are difinitely
moresexy than the other guys,” Iwas
assured.
Matt Holden has taken over on
bass and background vocals . As a
result the band has gained the
advantage of a bass player with a
good ear for melody who doesn’t
“compete” with the other
instruments. Bruce McKinlay now
provides the drum beats. He does
and intense lyrics that have always
been true to where he comes from.
That scene is the underground
Edmonton music scene which has
produced some amazing talent from
The Pursuit of Happinessand Junior
Gone Wild to some skilled backup
musicians that have played with
Spirit of The West and Sara
McLaghlan.
Steve Monteith continues to
improve on guitar and his sounds
are more prominent on the new
material. The effect is somewhat of a
reversal of thesound of State of Mind.
In the earlier material, the rhythm
sectiondominated and the guitar was
just enhancement. Now, Monteith’s
Artiscally speaking, State of
Mind has never been better. Despite
the grey cloud of two band members
leaving , the silver lining has
contributed imeasurably toforginga
more powerfull group of artists
Preserving one’s artistic
integrity when youare writing about
some of the social issues, big and
small, that populate a song list for
State of Mind, is always important.
We talked about the almost
McCarthyist feel for musicand TV in
the states. We also discussed how
some bands have become separated
from their audience with continued
successand how this canaffectartistic
vision. Westopped midway through
our interview so that Vic could speak
to a friend who had just walked by.
She was newly married and
pregnant, and Vic was genuinely
more interested in catching up on
these significant events in her life
than he was in promoting himself to
me. It spoke volumes for how
unisolated he is despite the success
he and the entire band have begun to
enjoy and which he continues to
downplay. I have no doubt that it
will take a while for State of Mind to
lose it’s audience and it’s connection
to people.
On the topic of censorship, Vic
said that any major record label that
would pressure him not to write a
song like Cry Out Loud because it
deals with some issues about AIDS
wouldn’t understand why they
should be signed in the first place.
There isa distinct trend in music
lately. More and more music with a
message - with artistic vision - is
finding the words to express the
overwhelming angst of our
generation. The bands are diverse in
their style but they are all a Cry Out
Loud to whoever is listening. They
are the folk music of what some see
as a lost generation ,overwhelmed
by what the previous generations
have done.
I feel now, morethanever before,
that State of Mind will continue to
speak volumes through their music
and willcontinuetochallenge people
touse their heads and think about the
world in which we live. We need
State of Mind. Some of the old fans
have walkedaway from Stateof Mind
claiming that they “used to be fun”.
Truth is; State of Mind has simply
moved from being — social
consciousness you can dance to
towards consumate recording and
rforming artists who make you
think. While I enjoy the former I
prefer the latter.
The future, no doubt, holds
many more positive
changes.Advance word is that
another album, from State of Mind
may soon be arriving and ee a
major label deal to boot, if things go
well.
There is also the possibility of
tour schedules soon being arranged,
if State of Mind can avoid having to
compete with the mega tours. Look
for more of State of Mind. After a lot
of time and effort, their time has
come, evenifsomepeopledon’tknow
it yet.
To Censor or Not to Censor?
by Karen Rempel
Censorship withclout:caveman
A says “Man you are one ugly
mother”; caveman B clubs caveman
over the head. And so begins the
human race’s long and uneasy
association with censorship.
The recent controversy over
rapper Ice-T’s song, “Cop Killer”,
brings aoe to the forefront
again. Some peopleareasking recotd
companies to censor their artists’
lyrics. But the real issue is far more
basic. Today thecensorshipargument
revolves around two seemingly
opposing viewpoints. On one side,
om of expression. On the other
side, propagation of hate messages
that lead to stereotypes and possibly
to murder.
“Everyone has the right to
freedom of opinion and expression,”
So states the Cinited Nations General
Assembly in Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. This statement was made in
1948, three years after Hitler’s murder
of 25 million people. Hitler’s death-
toll is often quoted by people who
favor censorship of hate messages.
Ice-T himself used this argument in
aninterview with the Vancouver Sun:
“Who's moredangerous, who’smore
powerful, the guy out on the street
with a or the guy who talked
him into doingit? ...somebody like
Hitler.”
Ironically, Hitler gained his
power through suppression of
freedom of
speech. No one
presentiieastnat We ... acts like Madonna
opposed his own.
In fact
nogren an ve WON'T De affected, new
rappers will have a harder
likened
attempte 3
censorship of an
stated to Newsweek that while
controversialacts like Madonna won't
be affected, new rappers will havea
harder time getting. signed..The
messageisclear:ananti-black double-
standard.
The movie Terminator II
portrayed violence against
supposed that
censorship of
Hitler’s hate-messages would have
prevented the holocaust, it was
censorship of opposing views that
allowed Hitler to gain the power he
did.
Censorship of black artists like
Ice-T could be equally devastating.
During the recent clamor for music-
lyric censorship, Tim Carr, a talent
scout for Ice-I’s record company
policemen-Itreceivedlittlecriticism.
Ice-T portrays a character who is
protesting police brutality; he has
ended up withdrawing his album
because policemen feel it is an
incitement to murder.
With the focus on the song Cop
Killer, little mention was made of the
song’s warning about the dangers of
drug use and gang warfare. As Ice-
T told the Georgia Strait, heuses hard-
core imagery to attract his audience,
kids who might rob a store, steal a
car, or shoot somebody in the face.
Once he has their attention, he tells
what happens to the kids who use
that gun. He explained in Billboard
magazine that his message is, “go to
school, doesn’t end
up in jail, drugs ain’t
gonna help you...
learn through my
experience.” Andhe
told. the Vancouver
Sun thatrap musicis
breaking the
stereotypes thathave
been built between
the races, that white
kids are starting to
like and try to
understand black
kids.
If record companies use
censorship to quell an artist's
disturbing messages, our society may
lose that artist’s positive messages as
well. Inevery caseof censorship, free
expression is sacrificed. In some
cases, the consequences have been
horrifying. Maybe we haven’t come
far from the cave-man after all.
Other Arts & Review
the Other Press
October 15, 1992
Changing State of Mind
by Angus Adair
“Ch Ch Ch Changes”
-David Bowie-Changes
The Autumnal Equinox isa day
ofchangeand soitseemed apropriate
that this was the day that Vic Wayne,
the lead singer of State of Mind, and
- Icame together for the first time ina
bees to discuss a very new State of
oe is band posseses more focus
now and a harder edge . They have
done away with close to 14 so
which while good, were sending
bandintoomany different directions.
Vic and I talked at length trying to
define the sound and finally
notplay withthefusionand technical
tightness of Eli Paull( the previous
drummer) but has supplanted his
own highly solid chops which
possesses thespontaneous vibe found
more often in rock and hard edged
music.
The rest of theband has notbeen
idle. Vic continues to write powerful
hard edged guitar tends to direct the
flow.
ReeceTerriscontinues toexpand
the defintion of keyboardist. Using
little or no synthesizer but simply
experimenting with different
amplification feeds and distortion
peddles is producing some rather
unique sounds.
State of Mind. Clockwise from riaht: Vic Wavne, Reece Terris, Steve Monteith, Matt Holden, and Bruce McKinlay.
concluded that they had acheived a
sound of their own.
Fansnoticeittoo. Moreand more
people are saying to the members of
State of Mind, “I really like
yoursound”. What has preciptated
this change ? An entire new rhythm
section.”These guys are difinitely
moresexy than the other guys,” Iwas
assured.
Matt Holden has taken over on
bass and background vocals . As a
result the band has gained the
advantage of a bass player with a
good ear for melody who doesn’t
“compete” with the other
instruments. Bruce McKinlay now
provides the drum beats. He does
and intense lyrics that have always
been true to where he comes from.
That scene is the underground
Edmonton music scene which has
produced some amazing talent from
The Pursuit of Happinessand Junior
Gone Wild to some skilled backup
musicians that have played with
Spirit of The West and Sara
McLaghlan.
Steve Monteith continues to
improve on guitar and his sounds
are more prominent on the new
material. The effect is somewhat of a
reversal of thesound of State of Mind.
In the earlier material, the rhythm
sectiondominated and the guitar was
just enhancement. Now, Monteith’s
Artiscally speaking, State of
Mind has never been better. Despite
the grey cloud of two band members
leaving , the silver lining has
contributed imeasurably toforginga
more powerfull group of artists
Preserving one’s artistic
integrity when youare writing about
some of the social issues, big and
small, that populate a song list for
State of Mind, is always important.
We talked about the almost
McCarthyist feel for musicand TV in
the states. We also discussed how
some bands have become separated
from their audience with continued
successand how this canaffectartistic
vision. Westopped midway through
our interview so that Vic could speak
to a friend who had just walked by.
She was newly married and
pregnant, and Vic was genuinely
more interested in catching up on
these significant events in her life
than he was in promoting himself to
me. It spoke volumes for how
unisolated he is despite the success
he and the entire band have begun to
enjoy and which he continues to
downplay. I have no doubt that it
will take a while for State of Mind to
lose it’s audience and it’s connection
to people.
On the topic of censorship, Vic
said that any major record label that
would pressure him not to write a
song like Cry Out Loud because it
deals with some issues about AIDS
wouldn’t understand why they
should be signed in the first place.
There isa distinct trend in music
lately. More and more music with a
message - with artistic vision - is
finding the words to express the
overwhelming angst of our
generation. The bands are diverse in
their style but they are all a Cry Out
Loud to whoever is listening. They
are the folk music of what some see
as a lost generation ,overwhelmed
by what the previous generations
have done.
I feel now, morethanever before,
that State of Mind will continue to
speak volumes through their music
and willcontinuetochallenge people
touse their heads and think about the
world in which we live. We need
State of Mind. Some of the old fans
have walkedaway from Stateof Mind
claiming that they “used to be fun”.
Truth is; State of Mind has simply
moved from being — social
consciousness you can dance to
towards consumate recording and
rforming artists who make you
think. While I enjoy the former I
prefer the latter.
The future, no doubt, holds
many more positive
changes.Advance word is that
another album, from State of Mind
may soon be arriving and ee a
major label deal to boot, if things go
well.
There is also the possibility of
tour schedules soon being arranged,
if State of Mind can avoid having to
compete with the mega tours. Look
for more of State of Mind. After a lot
of time and effort, their time has
come, evenifsomepeopledon’tknow
it yet.
To Censor or Not to Censor?
by Karen Rempel
Censorship withclout:caveman
A says “Man you are one ugly
mother”; caveman B clubs caveman
over the head. And so begins the
human race’s long and uneasy
association with censorship.
The recent controversy over
rapper Ice-T’s song, “Cop Killer”,
brings aoe to the forefront
again. Some peopleareasking recotd
companies to censor their artists’
lyrics. But the real issue is far more
basic. Today thecensorshipargument
revolves around two seemingly
opposing viewpoints. On one side,
om of expression. On the other
side, propagation of hate messages
that lead to stereotypes and possibly
to murder.
“Everyone has the right to
freedom of opinion and expression,”
So states the Cinited Nations General
Assembly in Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. This statement was made in
1948, three years after Hitler’s murder
of 25 million people. Hitler’s death-
toll is often quoted by people who
favor censorship of hate messages.
Ice-T himself used this argument in
aninterview with the Vancouver Sun:
“Who's moredangerous, who’smore
powerful, the guy out on the street
with a or the guy who talked
him into doingit? ...somebody like
Hitler.”
Ironically, Hitler gained his
power through suppression of
freedom of
speech. No one
presentiieastnat We ... acts like Madonna
opposed his own.
In fact
nogren an ve WON'T De affected, new
rappers will have a harder
likened
attempte 3
censorship of an
stated to Newsweek that while
controversialacts like Madonna won't
be affected, new rappers will havea
harder time getting. signed..The
messageisclear:ananti-black double-
standard.
The movie Terminator II
portrayed violence against
supposed that
censorship of
Hitler’s hate-messages would have
prevented the holocaust, it was
censorship of opposing views that
allowed Hitler to gain the power he
did.
Censorship of black artists like
Ice-T could be equally devastating.
During the recent clamor for music-
lyric censorship, Tim Carr, a talent
scout for Ice-I’s record company
policemen-Itreceivedlittlecriticism.
Ice-T portrays a character who is
protesting police brutality; he has
ended up withdrawing his album
because policemen feel it is an
incitement to murder.
With the focus on the song Cop
Killer, little mention was made of the
song’s warning about the dangers of
drug use and gang warfare. As Ice-
T told the Georgia Strait, heuses hard-
core imagery to attract his audience,
kids who might rob a store, steal a
car, or shoot somebody in the face.
Once he has their attention, he tells
what happens to the kids who use
that gun. He explained in Billboard
magazine that his message is, “go to
school, doesn’t end
up in jail, drugs ain’t
gonna help you...
learn through my
experience.” Andhe
told. the Vancouver
Sun thatrap musicis
breaking the
stereotypes thathave
been built between
the races, that white
kids are starting to
like and try to
understand black
kids.
If record companies use
censorship to quell an artist's
disturbing messages, our society may
lose that artist’s positive messages as
well. Inevery caseof censorship, free
expression is sacrificed. In some
cases, the consequences have been
horrifying. Maybe we haven’t come
far from the cave-man after all.