Dr. Steel: I’m well, thank you and indeed they do. Those tasty, squishy puffs manufactured from the collagen of livestock and formed into fun shapes do pack a punch first thing in the morning.
Tina : 2. Have you produced any new albums in your lab since your last interview with VMU?
Dr. Steel: Well, I have successfully released a great deal of work that had been waiting in the wings for quite some time. Through digital distributors such as iTunes, Amazon.com, Rhapsody and others, my audio experimentation is now available in MP3 form. I have been able to provide three albums, “Dr. Steel”, “Dr. Steel II: Eclectic Boogaloo” and “People of Earth” this way. I have re-imagined a few of my older works by upgrading them for this new release as well as providing some new artwork for the albums.
Tina : 3. What is your game plan to make the world a better place?
Dr. Steel: Oh, goodness. Well there would be far too much to go into in this interview, considering the allotted space and time. You will have to wait until my completed manifesto is published to read my plans in their entirety. However, I can touch on a key focus and that is to give the world a new perspective…or rather, to awaken a perspective of vision in people. We are a species with great potential, yet we are confined by fear. Some of this fear is the result of our human programming and the rest is manufactured by The System in an effort to keep us under control. The human being is a creative being, but its creativity is stifled by fear. My vision is to unlock this creativity in mankind. To encourage the sincere passion of the individual and build a support system to bring out the phenomenal talents which each of us holds. To this end, mankind must evolve past the primal, fear drenched program while also becoming aware of the manufactured reality around us. To live in a world driven by innovation, creativity, talent and vision is my goal for the future.
Tina : 4. How do you plan to administer your medicine to feed the hungry masses who starve for happiness?
Dr. Steel: The media is certainly the most powerful platform to administer any idea. Ever since I was a boy, I found myself interested in a wide variety of mediums be it illustration, animation, film, performance, music or simply building strange things…it all interested me. Today I am just as interested in such various mediums and I now realize that I can utilize such various platforms to present my ideas. To this end, World Domination Toys was born. This think-tank enables me to touch on all categories of entertainment through which I route my imagination and my message.
Tina : 5. What frustrated you the most in the entertainment industry explain the code red for lack of originality and the code blue for wanting to change?
Dr. Steel: Much of the entertainment industry is now being run by people who have no passion in entertaining people. That is, they aren’t interested in presenting the imaginative ideas that made the entertainment industry appealing. The people who run these corporations are people who are interested in money. They would be doctors or lawyers if there was more money to be made in these areas, but instead they run film studios and entertainment franchises. It has nothing to do with creativity, it has to do with profit margins. In tandem with this, The System has been able to utilize the entertainment industry as a drug to keep the increasing pressures it applies on its citizens, somewhat tolerable. Entertainment is now a distraction rather than a showcase of creative passion. To this end, the bar of quality has been continually lowered as we are fed a stream of uninspired, recycled garbage. All the while, social pressures are intensified, freedoms are taken away and choices made for us. The uneducated begin to demand less quality in larger quantities in order to tolerate these increasing injustice. This is precisely what The System has been working towards for a long time and it’s doing a very good job.
There is a great desire for change, and we see this desire reflected when we encounter sincere inspiration. I believe that mankind’s purpose, or rather the very essence of life’s purpose, is to create and to reach beyond our assumed limitations. To settle for the lowest common denominator is to surrender life itself. The System wants us to surrender, for this serves their agenda for control over the masses. We must showcase our own passions and cease to tolerate mediocrity. We must explode with life.
Tina : 6. What can you tell us about Dr. Steel the mastermind as a doctor, musician, and entertainer?
Dr. Steel: Why thank you ever so much for bestowing upon me the title of “mastermind”. That is very kind of you. In regards to such various titles, I find that they all fall under one singular goal, which is to create. Creation is my one, true love. Everyone is an artist in their own way. Their medium doesn’t have to be canvas or clay, it can blossom in a variety of forms but it must come from a sincere, inborn passion. I do believe that each person has a spark and a talent that burns inside them. The unfortunate reality is that many of these sparks are extinguished early on in most people’s lives by outside forces. The key is to hold on, for dear life, to these passions and to master them. It is then that a human being can truly reach greatness.
Tina : 7. What motivates and inspires you for your song writing or what are your major themes and topics for your songs?
Dr. Steel: I’m interested in a great deal of different subjects, however I often find it interesting to see that no matter how diverse these varied interests might seem to be, they continually find their way towards a convergence. Be it ancient history, politics, the universe, mathematics or technology I find myself experiencing the sublime interconnectivity in all such subjects. I enjoy research and I use knowledge as inspiration for my works. After all, one is the product of their experiences and what I end up creating is the result of who I am and how I interpret, or experience, reality.
I’m very interested in the ideas of Ray Kurzweil and his expansive vision of The Singularity as well as the works of the scholar Zecharia Sitchin. Likewise, I also enjoy the odd reference to pop culture. Be it my song about the television show Land of The Lost, or “Slapped By Moe” which is my ode to Larry Fine of The Three Stooges. Both variety and contrast is important.
Tina : 8. Can you tell us some of your Philosophy and Theories mentioned in Paranoia?
Dr. Steel: Ah yes, you are referring to Multi-Media Symbiosis and The Evolution of Electronic Life. This focuses mainly on the curve of technology. We see this happening all around us. It is very exciting indeed. Multi-Media Symbiosis is the reflection of technology in the media, where we see various forms of entertainment merging into other platforms. A prime example is the increase of video now experienced on the internet. Where before we depended solely on television for such a medium, we are now going online. In this world a variety of other sources of information are also available. Eventually, all mediums will become one. This idea of fusing various forms of technology into one, points to the idea that we ourselves are merging into one as well. The concept behind The Singularity is an evolution of electronic life within the human existence. Now, Mr. Kurzweil can explain this far better than I, but the basic concept is to transcend biology through technology. This isn’t a surrendering of humanity, it is a voluntary and necessary upgrade in existence.
Tina : 9. Why do you consider yourself a madman for wanting to cure the world and make it a better place?
Dr. Steel: I must be a madman. Being mad is the only way to survive in a world if you want to evolve and gain perspective outside of the box provided. The human mind desires definitive answers, and it makes all kinds of excuses in order to put everything it experiences into nice, tidy little folders. Reality is an opinion. Sanity is generally the agreement with these opinions. I seek to look beyond the curtain and to forever challenge my perception of reality. I aim to extend my reach into the great unknown as far as it may go. To this, I have no interest in accepting the rules for the lowest common denominator. I embrace my own madness and the crazy road I continue to forge. One thing I can be certain of is that many an observer will indeed agree that I am out of my mind.
Tina : 10. When do you plan to run for President and save America from corruption and sickness lol?
Dr. Steel: Ah yes, many people have asked about my campaign for president. Though I am not interested in running for president, I have been promoting my campaign for World Emperor. I figure there’s no sense in starting at the bottom when I can aim for the top.
Tina : 11. How is the internet working for marketing (selling) your music and recruiting toy soldiers world wide to infect others with the Dr. Steel Sound?
Dr. Steel: The internet is a phenomenal tool. It’s an exciting age to be living in when such a distribution tool can be used by the average man. The internet allows me to present my work to the masses while also remaining in direct contact with my fans and the members of my Army. It is a truly amazing tool and one that points to the digital, collective consciousness of the future.
Tina : 12. Do you have a constant changing approach to recording and mixing your music in your lab?
Dr. Steel: I am always learning new techniques and looking to improve upon my work, though my equipment is fairly modest. I have developed a way of recording and mixing and it has served me well thus far. I look forward to expanding my audio arsenal in the future as there are indeed many wonderful toys being created for the digital musician. Again, it is an amazing time to be an artist, for such technological advancements are now available to individuals rather than remaining exclusive to a studio. I am delighted to have been able to create all that I do from my own laboratory.
Tina : 13. What is your criteria for a well mixed or engineered song?
Dr. Steel: I certainly do not consider myself to be a professional audio mixer or expert sound engineer. I am competent, but far from being on par with those who do such things for a living. I simply do my best as I am responsible for taking all of my music from conception to the final stages at this time. I simply do the best that I can until I feel it sounds right.
Tina : 14. Do you have any advice for any aspiring doctors that want to break into the music scene?
Dr. Steel: Passion is key and passion must come from a sincere place. Just as important to passion is dedication. One must be focused on their work in order to complete anything. There is a careful balance of fun-to-work to be maintained. However, you will find that if you are doing what you want to do out of passion, much of the work ceases to be “work”.
Tina : 15. What is your opinion on the music industry today the pros and cons of the business?
Dr. Steel: As with much of the entertainment business, the majority of the mainstream music is the result of pie-charts and demographic metadata rather than a sincere representation of creative interests in the community. However, with the advent of technology and the internet we are seeing many more independent artists producing work from passion with the ability to distribute it to the world. It is far from an easy thing to do, correctly at least, and requires one’s determination and focus. What is unfortunate, is the fact that those who have the ability to distribute and promote widely, with a large amount of resources and capital behind them, are often to afraid to “take a chance” on anything too different. To this end, the majority of what you see is recycled material with only a fringe of true creativity floating on the outskirts. I have faith, however that quality will indeed rise to the top through technology and the increasing, digital, collective movement.
Tina : 16. Are you playing any live shows or recruiting musical henchman world wide for world domination of Dr. Steels sound for tours?
Dr. Steel: At this time, touring is not on the agenda as there is simply too much to be done here in the laboratory. I wear a great number of hats and because of this I find my schedule full and my responsibilities numerous. I look forward to many more live performances in the future, filled with exciting new content. ‘Tis only a matter of time. Likewise, I am always accepting applications for musical henchmen as my robots are still under construction.
Tina : 17. Before we close our interview do you have any shout outs or last words?
Dr. Steel: Yes, I would like to thank my The Army of Toy Soldiers for their continued, inspired support. To know that so many creative and visionary people are out there in the world is truly fantastic. You are building the foundations for a Utopian Playland and the world of tomorrow looks very bright indeed!
Tina : Thank You Dr. Steel for taking the time to complete VMU Eteams Interview Questions. Visiting your lab was fun and I learned a great deal.
Thank you for having me.
~Dr. Phineas Waldolf Steel
You Rock
