Time to play the game with Joystixx. A thought-projected choose-your-own virtual reality romance serial put to music. This energetic and highly exciting Sydney based duo is a truely amazing videogame-inspired musical outfit, and this is their manifesto:
“LEAVE YOUR JOYSTICKS AT THE DOOR… WE R YOUR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM TONIGHT. JOYSTIXX R IN CONTROL… EJECT YOURSELF!!!”
Playmaker got in touch with them for an interview and we're pleased to offer some of their music aswell!
PM-Who are you, what do you do, and what do you stand for?
D-Bot-O: I am Video, the Dead Beat D-Bot, Manek Deboto or D-Bot-O as I am known in 64 bit version… I am Player Zero.
Joystixx deals with all aspects of control – taking hold, being outta control and controlling others who sort to control you! But also having a fun and intense time doing so. We are player$ in the game of life and death… and we are going beyond to the next level. Plus! I get bonus points saving this girl Nuke in the end.
N u k e 3 D : M a n e k i s t h e b l u e a n d i a m t h e r e d , M a n e k i s t h e v i d e o a n d i a m t h e c a s s e t t e . I a m P l a y e r O n e . T o g e t h e r i n a 3 D f o l d w e a r e J o y s t i x x ! ! ! !
PM-You're obviousley inspired video games. What are your favourite ones and how often do you play them?
D-Bot-O: I've always been inspired by the story-telling and nature of video games… like comic book life taken to the next level… its really the whole William Gibson side of things… we are living in cyberpunk times… I Started off on a ColecoVision… didn't really play the Atari that much… although I love Atari Teenage Riot… then got into Nintendo and Sega Master System… Now I love Wii – to people outside it must look like I'm having a wank… or maybe I blame the fact that I'm having a wank on Wii… haha… I hear they are making a thought-controlled Wii out next! I love Legend of Zelda best… all versions… from 8-bit to 128 bit… also Resident Evil… Old school stuff - We love Strider, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe… Been getting into the evil Microsoft's X-Box – just completed Dead Space, working on GTA…
Nuke working for the Electronic Boutique Games corporation has been handy in giving us access to more and more gaming… Nuke what u into apart from all that?
N u k e 3 D : I ' v e b e e n p l a y i n g g a m e s s i n c e i c a n r e m e m b e r , m y f a v o u r i t e i s d e f i n i n a t l y s t r e e t f i g h t e r 2 . . . i c a n ' t w a i t f o r t h e n e w o n e t o c o m e o u t ! M a n e k , w e h a v e t o g o a n d p l a y i t a t t h e a r c a d e ! . . . B u t w e l o v e s i l e n t h i l l , S a n A n d r e a s , O u t r u n , R a d R a c e r , M a r i o Ga l a x y a s w e l l . . . . . t h e r e ' s s o m a n y m o r e a n d i ' l l r e m e m b e r t h e m a f t e r t h i s i n t e r v i e w a n d i ' l l b e s o p i s s e d o f f . . . . B u t i f u l i s t e n t o o u r m u s i c a n d c h e c k o u t o u r m y s p a c e u ' l l g e t w h a t w e ' r e i n t o .
PM-What inspires you to be Joystixx?
D-Bot-O: Eachother. We are Counterparts - the male and female aspects of all things. Separately we are just red and blue holograms but together we become 3D. It's a very romantic notion. Its like Voltron, and the Super Friends characters, Firestorm and the Wonder Twins! Just for the heck of it, its also like Tron and Ulysses 31!
We are the 2 controllers in the Joystixx entertainment system…
N u k e 3 D : d e f i n a t l y e a c h o t h e r ! U m m m n K a v i n s k y , D e a d s y , s o m a n y m o v i e s , f o r e x a m p l e: K i l l e r K l o w n s F r o m O u t e r S p a c e a n d L i c e n c e T o D r i v e , J e m , R a i n b o w B r i t e , T r a n s f o r m e r s a n d I c o u l d k e e p g o i n g . . . . . b u t i ' m n o t . . . .
PM-You have a track named 'Surf Nazis Must DJ' - please explain?
D-Bot-O: We are big time fans and inspired by Troma movies – they truly are Movies of the Future and also the home of the Toxic Avenger (the character that is, not the artist who basically took his name and wore Sgt KabukiMan's mask). Its like Har Mar Superstar modelled himself on porno-star and Troma star, Ron Jeremy… anyway, Surf Nazis Must Die is one of the many classic titles from Troma… we changed Die to DJ and voila… its free promotion for Troma! It gives us a chance to give back to those who gave so much to us and also just get word out about Troma… Nuke and I want to be Troma's Official DJ team ! Nuke can you ask Lloyd if we can be? Have I said Troma enough? Seriously you all need to go to Troma.com and tell them Joystixx sent u!
N u k e 3 D : Y e s , i t ' s i n t h e h a p p e n i n g , J o y s t i x x w i l l b e T r o m a ' s o f f i c i a l D J - t e a m b e c a u s e i j u s t m e s s a g e d L l o y d t h e n . I ' m a p i n - u p g i r l f o r T r o m a , a l s o k n o w n a s a T r o m e t t e , s o g o t o T r o m a . c o m a n d c l i c k o n t h e T r o m e t t e ' l i n k a n d c h e c k o u t m y p i x u n d e r ' N u k e P u k e ' E m , T r o m e t t e o f t h e C a n n e s f i l m f e s t i v a l ' .
PM-Are you involved in any other bands or projects?
D-Bot-O: Yes. Dead Inside the Chrysalis, DITC On Dex, Citizen Clone… scope 'em out on our myspace pages. Also working on comic book featuring myself and Nuke with long time friend and Sniff This magazine collaborator Spewy Chunks. You'll be hearing more about all these in the future.
N u k e 3 D : D e a d I n s i d e t h e C h r y s a l i s a n d D I T C O n D E X w i t h M a n e k a n d s o m e m o d e l l i n g .
PM-What's your favourite 4 o'clock snack?
D-Bot-O: Its mostly virtual food like Health Bars, a leg of ham, hamburgers, soda-pop…
N u k e 3 D : M e x i c a n f o o d , c h i p s , c o l a , b o a r , t u r k e y , a p p l e s , g h o s t s , c o i n s .
PM-Any releases planned?
We will have a Joystixx EP called 'Outta Control' out this
year sometime– we are looking for labels at the moment. Our pals, Power Glove are working on a kick arse cyberpunk version of our track 'Body Parts' … We also be on the Masters of the Universe compilation.
PM-Any last words?
D-Bot-O grabs his pocket knife and etches these words into a nearby tree - "Video 4 Cassette...
E J E C T Y O U R S E L F ! Joystixx waz 'ere!"
N u k e 3 D : N - J o y!
This ain't over yet... It's only just beginning! ;D
N u k e 3 D : N - J o y!
This ain't over yet... It's only just beginning! ;D
We got some music of Joystixx for you to listen, enjoy and share with all your cool friends. We're presenting you 2 original Joystixx tracks + a remix they did of 'Woah' by GRUM!
LISTEN AND DOWNLOAD HERE: (zshare)
Joystixx - D-Beat
Joystixx - Surf Nazis Must DJ
Grum - Woah (Joystixx Remix)
LISTEN AND DOWNLOAD HERE: (zshare)
Joystixx - D-Beat
Joystixx - Surf Nazis Must DJ
Grum - Woah (Joystixx Remix)
...and as mentioned before in the interview by Joystixx, they will also be on highly anticipated second release of the Masters Of The Universe compilation, set to be released on Januari 27th!