»Be nice to people who deserve it and mean to pricks please!«

An Interview with Atom and His Package. By Lehni

Some people describe your music as »weird sesam-street-style« or
»synthie-pop-punk«. Can you give our readers your own definition of your style? And how did it all begin?
I don’t really get too caught up in describing the music because the songs that i write still sound the same whether one calls them Opera or Free Jazz. Know what I mean? But I supposed if I were pressed, I have never minded the label ‘Eddie Van Human League Core’.
It began, because my old band broke up, and a friend played me a song that he wrote on a music sequencer, which was attractive to me because you can write, record, and arrange entire songs all by yourself, and because I had no one to play with at the time, I started to do just this.

How does it work when you record a song. Do you play all instruments, by yourself? Partly, there are some other people singing, is that right?
Mostly, I program in most of the instruments on the sequencer, and then play guitar along and sing along, recording each piece. Every once in a while, a friend or sibling will sing a particular part if I think it will sound good.

In which way are you involved in music, apart from Atom and his Package, any other bands or projects? And what is the background of A&P, I mean, what influenced your way of playing and writing, the most?
I am an avid music listener and record buyer. I am playing with a few friends here in philadelphia in a ‘real’ band. I’m playing guitar and singing. It’s really fun. I missed writing music with other people. As for Atom And His Package, i started doing it when my old band fracture broke up. A friend of mine had played me a song that he wrote on a music sequencer, and it was attractive to me because you can write, record and arrange entire songs on the sequencer by yourself. And since i had no one to play with, I started writing songs by myself, and since I felt comfortable in the punk rock scene, I started playing shows within it. It was fun, so i kept doing it. As for influencing the way i play? I imagine that any song that i’ve ever liked has somehow influenced the way that i write music.

It seems that your music taste is quite varying. On one photo, you are posing in front of a Wu Tang Clan graffiti. Do you know these guys and do you also listen to Hip Hop? Unfortunately, I don’t know all of your records, so, did you already write your own Package-Hip Hop interpretation?
I do like a whole lot of different kinds of music. I do not know the Wu Tang Clan. I do listen to some Hip Hop. I like a lot of the stuff a label called anticon releases. Also, grand buffet from Pittsburgh, PA are totally excellent and endorsed heavily by me.

You just finished your european tour. Where else did/do you travel around with your package? I heard you even played in Israel.
Over the last 6 years, I’ve traveled pretty extensively and played in tons of places that I otherwise would not have been able to visit. I’ve been all over europe (Spain, France, England, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia), Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Israel & all over the United States and Canada.

Most of us beatpunks are not that 100 % Punkrock dudes and it was by pure chance that a friend showed me your records . Do you already have »a name« in Europe yet? My impression is that you are quite »famous« in the US.
I’ve certainly had more success with Atom And His Package than I would have ever imagined. I’ve been able to travel and see places and meet wonderful people that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to meet. I wouldn’t consider myself ‘famous’ anywhere, but I have been surprised by how many people do like what I do.

Two weeks after your show in Leipzig a »neighbour« of you, Scott Beibin, presented his Lost Film Festival, also in Zoro.
Oooh… lucky you. .

I think he is living in the same area of Philadelphia like you and I hope that no one feels insulted if I mention that my first impression was that you are brothers. What do you think about that no/low budget movie festival?
We are certainly not brothers. I have very mixed feelings about beibin. I’m not entirely sure whether he means badly, but I’ve certainly had really annoying experiences having to depend and rely on him. He can be very frustrating. Every once in a while, he seems to get his shit together and produces something really cool. I’ve seen parts of the lost film festival that have been great, and I’ve been involved with him for one of them that was run really poorly and totally disorganized, which has generally been my experiences with beibin… so I don’t feel like i can completely write him off, as he certainly has potential for doing some cool stuff, but he also totally has potential to be a big asshole.

Apart from some funny anarchist clips, there were shown some really annoying films. In one of them, they brought together the pictures of »lord of the rings« and a quite funny »anti-capitalistic« controversion like »fight the game not the players’. But the final sequence showed the suicide-attack on the WTC as the ultimate anticapitalistic action which made the audience shout with joy. I recognized the reactions of some of the american guests and it told me that they didn’t feel misunderstood by the shouting german crowd.
Do you think that people (should) think about the fact that a bad joke in the US can be a dangerous and reactionary statement in Europe, if the topic is such serious?
I certainly think it’s pretty fucked up to cheer such a horrible act. I think it’s really scary how distanced, whether it’s through TV, or actual kilometers, people are from horrible acts. Those are real people who were killed in the WTC. People with real families. It was 90 minutes from where I live, and it could have just as easily been me or people that I care about who were in the building. I certainly don’t think that I or my family or friends deserve that sort of fate. Also, it’s pretty ridiculous to think that the folks who perpetrated the suicide attack had the progressive, and noble gripes that the leftist folks have with the USA in mind. I think it’s destructive to the often valid points and criticisms of the usa that these folks have when they cheer on obvious horrible acts. Very pathetic.

Scott talked a little bit about Philadelphia which sounded very interesting. Tell us a about the »place were the Mummers are weird« and its alternative scene. Any must-have-seens?
Philadelphia is a really wonderful city, I think. It’s been my home for almost my entire life, so not only does it feel very comfortable for me to be around, with friends and family nearby, but it’s very affordable, and diverse. There’s lots of great food, and it’s a big city so there are tons of people doing interesting and productive things, whether it’s politically or musically.

Would you call yourself political? I found a reference to »The Philadelphia Direct Action Group« on your single. Are you involved in that project?
I have strong opinions about a lot of different things, and many of those things are political. No, I was not involved with the philadelphia direct action group, but I think that they have an important role.

After your song »hats off to halford« in which you give respect to the only heavy metal star (rob halford, singer of judas priest) who had his homosexual coming out, you received a lot of hatemails by brainless metalheads. Did you ever get any reaction by the Judas Priest members, themselves, or any positive reaction by the heavy metal scene?
Actually, a fellow from germany hosted a metal radio show where rob halford was a guest, and he played the song for mr. Halford, who had an excellent reaction. I have an mp3 of the interview on my website if you’re interested in hearing it.
I have received some positive emails from brainful metal doods too. I love metal, and consider myself one of the brainful metal folks, although I didn’t email myself.

How would you explain all that negative reactions on your lyrics? I mean, do you think it would be different for these critcs if you would have a »regular« band formation or is it the combination of humour and criticism which makes people writing you such strange hatemails?
I honestly don’t know. Some of the criticism comes from people with really poor listening and reading comprehension skills who don’t understand the lyrics of the songs. I’ve received many emails from folks who like metal that say stuff like ‘why are you calling us fags?’ I think it’s pretty obvious from the song that there is certainly no homophobic sentiment from the song.

One of my first impressions on your music was that you are breaking up that punkrock stereotype of either being political (and awfully serious) or trying to be funny which often means using an incorrect or insulting ’humor’. How do you see that?
I don’t know. I just write songs about things that i think about. I certainly didn’t try to do anything except write songs that i thought sounded good, and are about things i think about. I have a lot of strong opinions and tend to be pretty sarcastic, so that does come through. I certainly didn’t intend on breaking a punk rock stereotype. I just wrote songs that sounded good to me and did things within the punk rock world, where i mostly feel pretty comfortable.

Can you tell us a little bit about that »shopping spree coup«? Did the Dali Llamas already try to sue you?
I did get a threatening email from someone claiming to be them, but I think it was most likely a joke. I can’t imagine that anyone would think that there’s any money that one can make off suing me for that kind of thing. The story is too long to tell right here… please consult liner notes of the record ‘redefining music’ if interested.

One of your serious topics in your lyrics in »the palestinians are not the same as the rebel alliance jackass« or »what we do on christmas« is antisemitism and antizionism especially within the left scene. In Berlin, for example, their were marching black bloc anarchists next to neonazis, members of any parties next to hamas supporters against bush and the war on the fascist regime in Iraq.
Their unifying moment was and is their hatred towards the USA and Israel which could be seen and heard by their awful anti-zionist/antisemitic leaflets and slogans. In Europe you are usually playing in squats or alternative youth centers where this attitude is often a kind of consensus.
Are you aware of that scary and rising antisemitism and hostility towards Israel and the US within the radical left in Europe? In your tour diary I read about some antisemitic remarks by some germans. How do you get along with that?
I’ve certainly been told about the rising anti-semitism in europe, and talked to a lot of people while recently in europe about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. That’s really scary that the supposed ‘left’ folks who i always imagined were supposed to be the ones who were more in touch with human rights were marching with hamas supporters. That’s really frightening. As for the places that I played… being supporters of that kind of thing… it’s hard to tell often. When there were traces of stupid (as opposed to non-stupid leftist stuff) leftist garbage, I would certainly talk to people about it. I’m not one who’s shy about stating my opinion. However… I think that a lot of the places that I played on the most recent trip to europe, are important spaces, with a lot of people involved who produce excellent stuff and are a great resource for a lot of folks. Of course, it’s impossible for me to go through the political views of everyone who is involved with a particular place before i play there. I address issues when I come into contact with them, or when I’m moved to.
Certainly, as you know, there is still anti-semitism in europe, and I dealt with it according to the situation that I was presented with. Most of the time it was just really drunk people saying stupid shit.

Are their situations in the US, that people are coming along and try to blame you, as a Jew, for the israel/palestinian conflict(like »what are your people doing there ,in israel«)? We made the terrible experience, here, that our former »comrades« where the ones who articulated anti-semitism (what they call Anti-Imperialism), very openly since 9/11. In which way is that present in the US left scene and how is anti-semitism/anti-zionism articulated, there?
I have not run into folks who hold me personally responsible for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict thankfully. More commonly, I run into people who spout catch phrases and slogans about the conflict, and don’t really know too much in reality. First hand, I witness a lot of this stuff, though it’s impossible for me to state that this is clearly anti-semetic. There are certainly folks who blindly support Israel as well. I’m not quite certain I understand the ‘terrible experience’ that you speak of, so I’m not sure I can tell you analagous experiences here in the United States.

The ’terrible experience’ was the fact that great parts of the radical left show solidarity with islamistic-fascist killer gangs that are telling that their aim is to kill all jews, very openly.
I conclude that, against the background of Auschwitz, such a »solidarity«, no matter if it calls itself left or right, is anti-semitic, especially but not only in Germany. The line of argumentation of the radical left and radical right is almost the same regarding 9/11, the two last ’american wars’ or the conflict in Israel.
Don’t you think that there is a clear partisanship on the side of anti-semitism, in all these (decisive)cases?
Certainly folks aligning themselves with groups that openly aim to ‘kill all jews’ would be considered anti-semitic by me. I think that unfortunately, often aren’t able to think beyond black and white, and have kneejerk reactions, that often result in ‘Israel does things that I don’t agree with, therefore, their enemies Hamas are good’, which is certainly an overlysimplistic, dangerous way of thinking.

With the beginning of the war in Iraq many bands from the US came along with very confuse statements about war, world politics and the role of the USA.
Usually they call themselves anti-capitalists although it seems they still don’t understand capitalism as an economic system but the result of a few evil persons. They refuse war on principle (what means for me they would have rejected the war against nazi-germany) and are branding Israel as a fascist/racist state. The dangerous background of those attitudes could be seen in the statement of the singer of Boy sets Fire on the stage of Berlinova Festival when he said there would be no difference between the suicide bombers of 9/11 and »bombing innocent countries«. (of course, and that’s the real problem, the european/german audience always gives a great applause to such a nonsense)
Is it some kind of radical fashion for artists in the US (too) to deny the antisemitic and fascist background of the islamistic movement and the suicide attacks on the WTC?
I hate to tell you that there are dopey people everywhere, and there is a contingent of the left here that thinks of things in black and white, and doesn’t think too critically about what they’re told, or read on pieces of paper, so here too, there are plenty of leftist folks who either aren’t educated about the current world situation or are incapable of thinking critically and think of things in terms of ‘USA = bad, enemies of USA must be good’. This is obviously ridiculously overly simplistic and a huge bummer, especially keeping in mind that the leftist folks are supposed to be the folks who do think about stuff and don’t swallow bullshit blindly, no matter who it’s coming from.

Did their take place any serious discussion about the meaning and background of 9/11 in the american left scene? In Germany, the result of 9/11 was the complete split of the scene (in short, between those who see now the necessity to fight against anti-americanism, anti-zionism and anti-semitism, and those who, well, don’t think so). How about that, are their leftist groups or persons who bring/brouht clear statements against anti-americanism and anti-Semitism in connexion with 9/11 and the conflict in Israel?
I certainly cannot act as a mouthpiece for the american left scene. I can only speak for myself and what I’ve witnessed. Of course, there was wide discussion of the event, and continues to be. There are certainly lunatics who think that 9–11 was a jewish conspiracy, and that jews called out sick on the 11th and other nonsense. However, I hope, and like to think that this is a myth and seen as that to folks outside of the world where that kind of thing is reported on state tv as fact. I haven’t come into contact with that blatant anti-semitism from the left, though sympathy and support of horrible groups like Hamas unfortunately, I have run into from folks who supposedly support human rights.

What will come after the punk rock career. Will you go back to High School (I read you are a teacher) or did you already sign any contract for the hockey team of the Philadelphia Flyers? I have the impression that you aren’t really trained out for your goalie career (there are, at least, 200 pounds missing). Isn’t that frustrating?
I’m actually not exactly sure what my plans are now. I do need to get a job with health insurance (health insurance in the states is a huge mess). I am certified to teach high school chemistry or biology, and I may do that, but I may go back to school for something else.

But you will definitely put an end to Atom and his Package?
I’m playing my last show as atom and his package on august 29th 2003 in philadelphia. I imagine that I’ll always write and record my own music, and I’m playing in a ‘real’ band with a few friends.

Any last words to beatpunk.org? And can you give us your top 5 album chart?
This list is ever changing, but right now, I’m totally into:

1. Guided By Voices – Under The Bushes, Under The Stars
2. Meshuggah – Nothing
3. Need New Body – Ufo
4. Les Savy Fav – Go Forth
5. Radiohead – Hail To The Thief

Thanks very much for the interest, and wanting my opinions. I’m flattered.

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