Electric Cake Salad

Two days ago the cover of „Subdiffusion“, the new album Electric Cake Salad spread to Bulgarian internet space for very short time due to their choice for the cover – monument of Buzludza  – place with lots of history and importance to modern Bulgarians. Many questions have been raised  – who are the Electric Cake Salad, what is the reason to choose Buzludza for their cover, who is the author of the photo. For answers to those questions we contacted directly the band. You can read our interview with Electric Cake Salad below.

May you, please, present yourself for Bulgarian audience in few words? How you would describe your style?

We describe our style as alternative electronica – basically electronic music with loud and heavy guitar riffs!

On 18th of April you released your second album “Subdiffusion”. What is the idea behind this album and its name? What is “subdiffusion”?

The Urban Dictionary describes ‘Subdiffuion’ as diffusing the level of consciousness of another person – basically, they don’t know you’re doing something. The fitted in well with some of our lyrical content which is based around conspiracy, strange forces and governments having secrets in how they manage their civilians without the people knowing whats going on.

You gained popularity in a short time in Bulgaria with the cover of your new album. On the cover there is a monument with huge importance for communist Bulgaria before 1989. Will you tell us more about your idea? Do you know the history and meaning of this monument? What do you know about the communist era in Bulgaria?

Yes, we saw that. We didn’t know anything about the monument before Michel (our album photographer) showed us this amazing building, so at the time we did not know it’s history. We were looking for monuments or places with an abandoned feel about it and when he showed us this, we instantly knew it was right. We did our homework and found out about the monument at Buzludzha and its history; the money it cost and the people who spent a long time building in the early 80’s only for it to fall into disrepair after Communism. We understand it was built to commemorate the events in the 1890’s when the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party was organised. In the UK, history teaches us about the UK and the World Wars but not about what has happened in typical European countries, so this was history new to us in the UK and has subsequently got others interested in it too. It’s an unfortunate chapter in history, but that’s what it is – history.

The author of this picture is Michel Schmitt (Mornix). He is taking pictures of abandoned monuments and houses. How you decided to take exactly Buzludzha for your cover? Do you know the story behind taking this picture?

As I said, Michel is an expert in photographing abandoned places and he gave us quite a few to look at, which were great. However, he told us of his journey to Bulgaria to visit the monument. The first time he went there, the whole area was covered in mist and fog, so he couldn’t take any photographs. I understand that when he returned he was able to get the pictures including the one you see. We instantly wanted to find out more through the usual YouTube channels, including a documentary on why the monument was there and how it was built.

Have you ever been in Bulgaria or you may know Bulgarians? What are your impressions?

We haven’t yet been to Bulgaria, although I know plenty of people who have been for holidays. We of course know Stiliyan Petrov as we are Aston Villa fans and we obviously know of Dimitar Berbatov.

Do you think that UK has such type of monument reminding you of a dark moments in the history? If you had to choose a monument in UK, what would you choose and what is its history?

Great question. The UK has plenty! Think of all the involvement in slavery, in taking over colonies – the Tower of London etc – this is a building with a rich history of abuse, murder and incarceration, but tourists love it, especially the waxwork models of the tortures being carried out. The UK demolishes its architectural history unfortunately to make way for modern buildings. Far worse would be the Houses of Parliament, more atrocities carried out and delivered from there than any other building, and yet it still stands and tourists visit and take their photographs.

What is the story behind the band’s name? How it is linked to the Sanskrit writing?

The band name explains the mix oElectric Cake Salad 2f music we are – a mix of very different elements to form the unique music we play. The Sanskrit writing is from Rob our bass player who has a love of all things Indian which seemed to fit.

Your lyrics is mostly related to personal feelings and experience, whoever in the new album you have some more social-oriented texts. What is is the link between the individual and society in your new album?

Lyrically, I draw on my past experiences – not personally but through my work working with people with disabilities, mental health problems and how life can seem through their eyes – in not too many years past, these people were shunned and hidden from society, now people are helping them to have a voice, vote, marry, have sexual relationships.

Most of those songs and lyrics are now a few years old and in writing newer material for the album, I wanted to branch out further to include tracks about films I like – ‘Baby Firefly’ (from Rob Zombie‘s House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects and ‘1408’ which is based on a Stephen King novel and film. ‘Over The Wall’ is about crossing the line, making a break for freedom and achieving it – something more akin to our daily news and troubles today.

Your 2014 single Baby Firefly was nominated for best song in 2014. What are your expectations for “Subdiffusion”? What is the response of the fans and critics 2 days after its release?

Yes, it was nominated for best song by TBFM Radio who generally play a much heavier, harder rock and metal but their audience loves us and continually asked for our songs to be played. Subsequently, we also had the most played track in 2015. We owe those guys a lot and this led to our record deal with Flicknife Records in London.

You have listed huge amount of influences in your biography, some of them are a lot harder than your music. How did it come to exactly this mix of styles?

Very true. Our background is metal and hard rock. Particularly myself and Rob (bass) were big fans of thrash, death metal and hardcore in the 1980’s – VoiVod, Kreator, Anthrax, Slayer, DRI etc. Whilst Mick (guitar) was more into AC/DC and System of a Down. We still love and play this music. However, we also have a big love for dance, trance and rave music as well as modern dubstep, ska, electronica, reggae and psychedelia. We didn’t set out for our sound to be such a mix like this, but with these influences it naturally became like it.

If you would have to name the three most important artists for your development as musicians and a band of all times, who it would be?

Definitely Hawkwind. Rob has always been a big Hawkwind fan and some of our psychedelia comes from this. W have been fortunate to play with Hawkwind a couple of times and have formed a great allegiance with their fan base for this reason.

Secondly, Metallica. I was always a big Metallica fan and some of my playing style can be similar as well as how some of the songs are constructed.

Finally, it has to be The Prodigy. The Prodigy are really the only bands who can give off electronica riffs as hard as a full metal, in your face guitar riff. Totally gets us.

You are playing long before you establish Electric Cake Salad as a permanent style and sound, since 2005. Why did not this happen earlier?

Yes, we have been quite slow at things. We started really as a two-piece with drum machines and synthesizers and as a hobby, not really looking to do much more than get out of the house. Then Rob came along which gave us an extra push with quality, better sounds and tracks. Then along with us doing some relatively prehistoric recording, we managed to get airplay on the radio and things took off from there.

You had a long period before you succeeded. What kept your faith live, what makes you believe you will succeed during your tough moments?

I think its because we love to play music so much. We rehearse in the same studio as Napalm Death amongst others. If we want a little bit of a push we put our heads outside the door and listen to what they’re doing and their energy. Also we have played live with the Crazy World of Arthur Brown. He’s over 70 years old and still crazy onstage with so much energy and enthusiasm. It rubs off and you look at that and think – I wanna do that, I wanna still be as alive as that when I’m his age.

Would you tell us who are you outside Electric Cake Salad?

I’m Steve and a Manager supporting people with disabilities.

Mick, our guitarist is a gardener and Rob is a delivery driver. 3 normal guys who are now great friends through our love of music.

Back to “Subdiffusion” – where our fans can hear the album? What are your plans for touring? Would you consider performance in Bulgaria? Would you consider a visit to Buzludzha?

The album is available everywhere on iTunes, Amazon and from Flicknife Records at www.flickniferecords.co.uk

We are currently setting up dates throughout the UK and plenty of festivals too. Currently, our only European dates are in Italy in July at the Spirit of Woodstock Festival. We would of course relish playing in Bulgaria if we were asked. Our friend, Blaze (Bayley) is often in Bulgaria (normally Sofia) and loves it, so it would be a pleasure!

Visiting Buzludzha would be on our list, although I hear its not easy to get to, it would be worth it, but obviously give it the respect it deserves.