Interview with Ken of Eargasm Zine 2014

 

EARGASM ZINE INTERVIEW

Inteviewed by: Anto of Chronicore Zine 2014

 

CHRONIC GREETINGS ! PLEASE TELL US YOUR NAME AND THE DETAILS OF YOUR ZINE

Hell-OH Anto, How are things going? My name is Ken "Hammer". I use Hammer as my pen name or should I say my code name haha. Eargasm Zine is an underground fanzine who supports TRUE UNDERGROUND music and anything that goes around with it.

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO START PUBLISHING YOUR OWN ZINE?

It all started back in 2008, during the Defiled/Hydrophobia show. I had the chance to finally meet the people from IDP Forum where most of them are zine writers (Read some of their issues back in my highschool days, so it is really something big to finally meet them in person). Same day where I had the chance to grab all the available fanzines on that show. Shared a few drinks with those people then I just told myself "Why not have my own fanzine?". The following day, Eargasm Zine was born.

HOW DID YOU COME OUT WITH THE NAME OF YOUR ZINE? My fanzine is all about noise, extreme and violent mu-SICK and culture as well. So I named it Eargasm Zine since my ears gets an ultimate pleasure whenever I listen to those kind of mu-sick.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH A THEME FOR YOUR ZINE? For me, I just want it to look raw and primitive. Same as with the music that I am listening to. I want to share that raw and primitive feel to the readers as well.

WHAT ZINES INSPIRES YOU?

There is too many to mention but I can give you the first fanzines that will CUM in to my head, same fanzines that triggered me to have my own zine. Local fanzines since these are the only available and affordable fanzines on the table during shows during my highschool days. -In Dark Purity Zine -No Bullshit Zine -Guttural Sickness Zine -Glory Eye Zine -Tripalium zine As you can see, most of them are from my home town, CAVI-tits!!! Wel-CUM to the SOUTH!!!

CAN YOU STILL REMEMBER YOUR VERY FIRST ROMANCE WITH A ZINE? WHAT ZINE WAS IT?

Actually it came all in 1 package. Again, all of them are local fanzines. No bullshit Zine, In dark Purity Zine, Guttural Sickness zine and there was compilations of news letters. That was during the hardcore fest in Cavite as well.

WHEN DID YOUR ZINE'S FIRST ISSUE COME OUT? After being

Impaled and abused by Defiled and Hydrophobia, the following day I've started to CUNT-act bands on the internet. That was back in 2008. First issue came out Early December 2008.

HOW MANY ISSUES HAVE YOU PUBLISHED SO FAR?

So far I have 3 issues.Latest is the split with Manong Zine (Check it out). I almost pulled the plug of this little project of mine since there is nothing to write about back in 2010.

IS YOUR ZINE FOR SALE/NOT FOR SALE/FOR TRADE? Donations = THANK YOU!!!! Trade = Better (Beer/fanzine/promo/demo or a pretty lady will do haha) Sometimes I just give it as a freebie whenever someone buys some stuff from my little distro. If I am in the mood I just give a copies to some random people present at a gig or show.

HOW DID YOU GET IT OUT THERE?

How did I release it or how did I get it out of the CUNT-ry??? Well I'll just answer both. How did I release it? Well, I don't have the basic needs of a modern zine writer like a computer or a printer. I don't even have a budget for this crap actually so I need to work hard for it. Spared a few bucks from my salary and allowance (since I am a working student back in those days). Rent a PC from my good old friend (sometimes he let's me use the main server for free). Had a background with our school newspaper so sometimes I sneak in and print my copies at the school. All in all it was a struggle but it was FUN!!! Out of the CUNT-ry??? Some of my old buddies attend shows outside the country. Sometimes they ask me if its ok for them to have a few copies of my fanzine that they can either trade or share with other nationalities that will be on that show. So I give them like 5 to 6 copies and it is up to them if they will re-print it or sell it.

WHO WAS THE FIRST BAND/PEOPLE YOU INTERVIEWED? HOW?

 For my first issue I featured local bands and again most of them are from our CUNT-ry. Phlegm Thrower, Toxemia, Human Mastication, Vex (Featured on Noise Attack Fanzine) Internal Torture and etc. I already know most of them before I started my fanzine since I order a lot of stuff online so asking them to be a FART of my first Issue is not a problem.

HOW DO YOU GATHER AND ROUND UP CONTRIBUTORS? About the CUNT-ributors, Well for me and the CUNT-ributors it's all just about trippin. They send me a porn review, cd review, photos or an arti-kill....I include it on my issue as long as it has sense in it or let us say a black and fiendish humor!!! hahahaha....

IT WAS A VERY LONG STRUGGLE, HOW HAVE YOUR POLICIES TOWARDS ADVERTISING AND REVIEWS CHANGED THROUGH OUT THIS YEARS?

Before, since I don't have my own computer, I just post my fanzine on myspace or send a picture of it through email to other zine editors and bands who might be interested on trading or working with me for my next issue. Then after that it will take another week for me to check my virtual mailbox. My releases will only be available at gigs however it will be very limited since I don't have a budget to produce mass copies. I also print fliers so that I can give it out during shows to new friends and bands as well for them to check out my myspace account for I also post my reviews and interviews online. Before a hard material is very important for me since my only way to listen to a band's recording was through my cd player or mini component for my cassette tapes. Now, since I have the basic needs of a modern zine writer, promotion is just a click away. I can now listen to mp3 files that they send that I can review but still the hard copy is very essential to me. I still do the basics where I print and trade fliers. Nothing BEATS the basic and primitive way of promoting something haha...

YOUR GOALS?

For the zine; to have more issues. I will keep on writing as long as there is something to write about. I will write as long as I can. For the mu-sick; let those imbeciles know that MUSIC is not for sale....It should be shared....Selling MUSIC in a very INHUMANE PRICE ain't right at all!!!

YOU ALSO HAVE YOUR OWN DISTRO, CAN YOU ALSO SHARE THE DETAILS WITH US?

It's just a little distro. Helping out fanzines and local bands spread their filth since I buy a package deal of their materials. That's it....

WHERE CAN THE READERS CONTACT YOU?

I don't have a permanent address for now since I am not staying with my parents but you can send your inquiries here: eargasmzine@yahoo.com

SALAMAT KEN !

Maraming Salamat kaibigan!!! More su-FART to your fanzine and hope to see you and share some drink and weed with you!!! Cheers!!!!

Check out http://eargasmzine.blogspot.com/