Interview with The KillerHertz (Denmark) Drummer Kent Rassmussan
The Cosmick View: Hello, Kent and welcome to The Cosmick View/MBM Ten Pounder! Thanks for taking some time to chat with us!
CV: Describe your definition of the band’s sound and style and how does that definition uniquely describe the music?
Kent Rassmussan: We wanted a bit of that old school sound, blended with a more Modern Rock approach - and with Flemming Rasmussen (Metallica, Morbid Angel etc.) mastering our first two albums back in 2014 and 2017, we got exactly that sound we were looking for. Our new album has a more modern, polished sound to it, if you compare it with our first two releases. More layers of sound and adding keys and percussion to the process. We’re a mix of new and old, and as Rock Lifestyle describe us: “The KillerHertz is like Volbeat had a baby with Megadeth,” which is quite funny, but not completely wrong from an influential point of view.
CV: Today, everyone talks about artist and audience connection. Is such a level of connection actually achievable for an artist and if so, how have you made the connection to your fans?
KR: A lot of thick books have been written on that subject - the technology today, like the Internet, has evolved into a closer relationship between the artist and the audience. We’ve read that Crowdsourcing could be a way to interact more with audience/fans, by involving them more into the creative process. We haven’t tried it out, perhaps in the future, but for now we just give away free stuff to the audience, like CDs and other merch haha…and occasionally a competition where you could win some merch or a day with the band perhaps. There are lots of opportunities.
CV: Is fan interaction an important part of the band’s inner culture?
KR: In order to stay relevant, its important to interact with the fans in general - without them…well you know… But it has always been an important factor to us as a band, being able to interact with the fans. We have had fans in the rehearsal room, for an example, who gave their opinion to the creative process. But if you become an important part of an inner culture, well perhaps it’s more a friendship, than being on a fan base level…never actually thought about it.
CV: Can a band truly interact with its fans and still maintain a level of personal privacy without crossing the line and giving up their “personal space” in your opinion?
The Killer Hertz: It depends which kind of band we’re talking about, and of course by its popularity. With us it would be no problem at all - we don’t use terms like personal space at all in the band, haha. But if we were a band with a fan base in the millions, well perhaps it would be a different story.
CV: Is music, and its value, viewed differently around the world in your opinion? If so, what do you see as the biggest difference in such multiple views among various cultures?
KR: Hope so… Music speaks a universal language, in both genre and across culture…at the same time it’s highly diverse. There are so various of cultures, that it would be difficult to navigate in all of them, but the biggest difference could be because of religious views, ritual performance, solitary listening, it can be by race, gender, sexual orientation or cultural differences and definitions.
CV: Do you feel that a band that has an international appeal, will tend to connect more so to American audiences? Would they be more enticed or intrigued to see the band over indigenous acts because of the foreign flavor?
KR: The American globalization of music has had a big influence around the world, everything from Jazz to Rock n Roll were developed in the States, so yes. We don’t know the American people enough to give a proper answer, but some may be more intrigued than others. We will know the answer, when we hopefully, in the future, would be able to perform in the States.
CV: Has modern-day digital technology made everyone an artist on some level in your opinion? Have the actual lines of what really is an artist been blurred?
KR: Well we have so many channels today, that everyone nowadays has an opportunity to let their inner artist out…we have reality stars, influencers, Youtubers etc.… We would rather see ourselves as being somebody, than a nobody. Most people want that fame; they’ll almost do anything for it. But you forced me to look up reality stars like The Kardashians for the first time, haha. So if you took Phil Collins for example and The Kardashians, nothing is blurred at all…Mr. Collins is an artist, The Kardashians are not.
KR: The difference between being influential to others or being influenced by those who sets the trend. It’s the difference between being an icon or a super star, and then being a follower.
CV: Has music overall been splintered into too many sub-genres in an effort to appease fan tastes in your opinion? And has such fan appeasements, in actuality, weakened music’s impact as a whole by dividing audiences?
KR: There are so many sub-genres today, and it can be very challenging to navigate through all of them, but I don’t think creating a sub-genre is an effort to appease fans, or perhaps even weakened the impact.
CV: What can fan’s except to see coming next from you?
KR: We will release our EP album the 29th of May.At the same time, it’s all about rehearsals, we need to get in shape for the summer...and hopefully start playing some concerts in the near future.
CV: Thanks again Kent for taking some time and talking. It is greatly appreciated.
KR: Thanks for having us - stay safe and don’t forget to Rock n’ Roll.
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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.
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