Photo by Uber D

by Matt Dixon, April '07

1. How and when did D/A A/D come together?
Just over 2 years ago I started what would become D/A A/D, I had been making noise for around 10 years under my own name prior to that. The project really came to life when I moved to Halifax from Saint John N.B., as I saw there was a bit of a scene on the cusp here it gave me the motivation to jump right in. After making noise in New Brunswick for that length of time, Halifax might as well be San Francisco!

2. What does D/A A/D mean to you?
Intense psychedelic noise blasts, if you are asking about the name itself - it has whatever meaning you care to have it be for you. The project was originally called D/A/D but after some confusion with a certain 80's hair metal band from Sweden, it was changed to D/A A/D.

3. What inspires you to play as D/A A/D?
I live to play live, I enjoy it much more than recording. One of the interesting things about noise is the extremes of peoples reactions that it can invoke, I love that shit! I have had it all, people screaming obscenities at me, people screaming in joy, Taliban war cries, looks of disgust, and big Cheshire cat smiles. That's the shit that keeps me going, a recent experience definitely backed all that up, at the opening show for the Obey Fest here in Halifax Eric Wood and Bill Nelson from Bastard Noise saw me play. After my set Eric (the man that is partially responsible for me playing noise) came up to me and grabbed my arm, looked intensely into my eyes and said "That was fucking awesome! Thanks dude!". Then for a few minutes whilst still holding my arm, rattled off what he liked about what I was doing - all the time my knees shaking like a little school girl after meeting mr. joe q. popstar. Now anytime I am down on what I am doing I can remember that, that's my happy place.

4. Yehonala tapes in Germany is carrying D/A A/D releases. How did this come about?
Myspace, plain and simple. They found me on myspace, they told me they liked my stuff - I really liked what they where doing especially with bran bu tapes (their noise/drone sublabel). I just asked Tom if he would like to distro some D/A A/D stuff and he was all for it. The stuff that they are putting out over there is fucking amazing, some of the best spazzcore, noisegrind I have heard in a long time. Both Tom and Rich are amazing guys, everyone should check out what they are doing (www.yehonalatapes.de).

5. What's coming up next for D/A A/D?
I am going on tour in August to support my new full length release that is coming out on angel'sblood in San Diego, the album was mastered by Kelly Churko (he has mastered Bastard Noise, Fire In The Head, Guilty Connector, Tabata) at Gravity Swarm in Japan and it sounds like the end of the world - like a bomb going off in your speakers. So that should be out late May early June. I also have a split tape coming out with The Two-Year Curse from Santa Monica on Blastbeats For Freedom, and snapped in half is putting out a D/A A/D / Suburbia Melting split. That's it for the short term.

6. Please introduce Snapped In Half records.
Snapped In Half is my noise, drone, doom, and power electronics tape label. We release small runs of cassettes, and we try to keep it as DIY as possible.

7. What are some things you try to communicate through the music Snapped In Half releases / will release?
That's a tough one... When I am looking for artist's to release I am looking for people who are dedicated to their art, try to push the boundaries of their genre, and are damn good at what they do. I also try and accommodate the artist's wishes as far as artwork and the final product as much as possible, to many fucking noise labels have an visual aesthetic to their releases. I want people to know it's a snapped in half tape because of the quality on the product, not just the fucking cover that's on it.

8. What made you want to start a label? And how did you get the motivation and cash to get it going?
I am in a collective here in Halifax called Radiator Collective, but I was tired of waiting for things to happen. I was putting radiator collective on the back of all my releases but I was getting nothing back in return, so snapped in half was born. I still love everyone involved with Radiator and I will continue to be a part, I guess it was one of those "if you want shit done right, do it yourself" sort of situations. The first step was to get some tape duplicators, as if anyone has ever had to dub 100 tapes with a dual tape deck they can tell you it sucks. I bought a set of Japanese made Pentagon duplicators that allow me to duplicate 3 tapes simultaneously at 16x, so a 60 minute tape takes just over 2 minuets! The downside was that they were mono machines, but hey who needs stereo when you have pure unadulterated raw power? As for money I sold a bicycle that I had built the year prior, and one of my favorite synths - now that is dedication! I hooked up with a tape supplier down in the states with help from Adam Bowes from the Crimson Tides (a great punk band here in Halifax), the rest is the future.

9. Where does Snapped In Half fit in the grand scheme of things?
I want snapped in half to be everywhere, a slap in the face as well as a helpful hand.

10. What does the future hold for Snapped In Half?
I hope to build up a solid roster, we already have Lexes (from Italy), Suburbia Melting (from Portland), The Sunken (from Washington), Loveletters (from New Jersey and loveless tapes fame), and the amazing Riververb (from San Diego). I want to expand our list of distributors, and well as get the distro out on the road with touring acts. Between this and a few other projects I have on the go I hope to not have to do the awful 9-5 routine within the next 2 years. The only way to be free is to work for yourself!

11. How can ppl contact you?
D/A A/D:
daad.noise@gmail.com,
myspace.com/dadmakesnoise
Snapped In Half:
snappedinhalf@gmail.com,
snappedinhalf.blogspot.com,
myspace.com/snappedinhalf

12. Final thoughts?
Thanks for the opportunity to answer some great questions, and for everyone out there to remember not to buy major label music.