Interview with Xastur
By Lucifera
1)Xastur, tell us a little about your role with Endemoniada Fanzine and how you became co-editor? How do you feel about Endemoniada Fanzine?
I am co-editor of Endemoniada Zine. I became co-editor when my older sister Blacky left the zine. I basically took over her responsibilities and so on. I love End. Zine. It’s my baby. I love doing it cause its fun and it supports the underground. I also have the opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people and bands. My favorite so far is definitely Thomas Thorn of the Electric Hellfire Club. (Check out his interview at www.endemoniada666.com)
2) What type of music do you enjoy listening to and name a few bands you like?
That’s a hard one. I’m basically into anything and everything as long as it sounds good to me and it moves me. Right now, as I write my responses to these questions I’m listening to Dead Can Dance. I think their fucking unbelievable. I listen to classical music like Chopin, Mozart, and Bach to your everyday commercial music like Bush, Sade, and U2. All types of thrash metal, some doom/black metal, definitely underground bands like Crisis, Hellbound, Abazagorath, and Candiria, I could go on forever.
3)What is your opinion of the metal scene in NYC? What do you love and hate about the scene?
Unfortunately, it seems like the NYC metal scene is dying and the hardcore scene reviving. I can’t explain what it is but it seems to me like people are tired of the same shit, I know I am. I think its time for a change or at least something new and its up to all of us to do this. We can’t just seat around hoping for something to come along.
4) Tell us about your interest in S/M, Vampirism, erotica. I also know you have a love for mythology, why such a keen interest? What other interesting hobbies do you enjoy (if you consider it a hobby)?
YES I’M A PERVERT!! There, I said it! Are you happy now! I’m not as innocent as I look! Hmm, S/M, let me see. Well what can I say; I love pain (some pain) but prefer to give it. I also find blood very sensual and sexual and love the taste of it. Erotica? Lucifera, there are children reading this, I cant get into it! (ha, ha ha, ha). I am extremely fascinated with ancient mythology whether it’s Greek, Incas, Mayan, Sumerian all types you name it. Why such an interest? I honestly do not know. I’ve always been fond of reading, for some reason I used to love reading mythologies when I was little. Hobbies, I use to Fence, very exciting having a huge, long sword and trying to stab your opponent. I have a huge book collection, which is actually getting on my nerves; I have no more room in my bedroom because of the stupid books. I also like learning new things and facts.
5) What is your view on Satanism? Why is it such a driving force in your life and in the zine? Do many people try to put you down because of your dark interests? Many ask me I you employ the use of rituals being that you are a Satanist and if so do you find them effective?
Where do I begin? Satanism to me is freedom of will. It’s non-confinement of my animal/humanistic instincts. I feel other religions and beliefs to be ridiculous in its persecution of self-righteousness by denying its flock of its own sense of self. Satanism lets me be me and do what I want and take responsibilities for my own actions instead of hiding behind a cross and letting it be God’s will. The zine came to be because of the common interest in Satanism and music shared between the family or as I call us 'The Luciferian Circle'. Luckily I don’t get harassed in the streets by mindless preaching, but occasionally I get the old 'Jesus loves you' to which I respond 'I know, he showed me that last night!' Nasty, but it shuts them up. I also have friends who don’t understand it but accept it as part of me, just as I accept theirs. You want to know something funny, I have two best friends, one is Wiccan and the other a Santera and we get along perfectly fine. (Freaky ain’t it)
As far as rituals go, I unfortunately do not have much privacy in my house, so I usually don’t do rituals as others may. But I have found that the best rituals as well as best results can be done internally with the mind and will power. After all, that is, in my opinion what a ritual is. Using one’s will and energy to get the results desired. Of course actions must also follow. You have to make it happen yourself instead of sitting there waiting for it to come to you.
6) Why did you choose the name Xastur? What significance does it have for you?
I was actually dubbed Xastur by a guy I used to know called Chemosh. We were discussing the Necro-nomicon one-day and he just decided to call me Xastur and even drew a picture of what I’d look like as Xastur. I took to the name, because I liked what she represented, female dominance. To visit men in their sleep and devour them and take what she will sounds like fun to me.
7) What is your relationship to J.D. of Hellbound? How did you guys meet? Can you tell us how you and your sisters (Blacky and Jeda) got the name The 3 Witches? And can you tell us a little about Jeda and Blacky, do your view ever conflict with theirs?
J.D. of Hellbound is like my brother in law. I say like because he and my sister Jeda aren’t married but they have a child together. I think it was 4 years ago when we met him around where we live. Since then we’ve been friends, more like family. Of course like all families we’ve had our ups and downs, but then again those are the ties that bind, right J.D? The 3 Witches, hmm, friends in school use to call us that, they knew the kind of stuff we were into. Hell yes our views conflict with each others. That’s what makes it so much fun between us, killing each other on certain subjects. But for the most part we agree on a lot of things.
Let me see, Jeda is more, how should I say, hyper then Blacky and I. She jumps without looking ahead. At time it’s good to be brave like that but it has it’s consequences. Blacky is more reserved because she’s older, and hardly takes chances unless provoked, usually by me. I on the other hand have a bit of both of them in me. At times I jump on things but usually with an idea of what’s to come, good or bad. Then at times I prefer to watch others instead of interacting with them. {I’m the Watcher}
8) What was it like being the hostess of several shows Endemoniada put together in NYC?
Pain in my behind sums it all up. It was fun helping out with the bands and the flyers, but the best part was the support we got from the people that came to the shows, the familiar faces made it all worth while. But I have to admit the hardest show was our last at the Batcave (brought to you by Lethal Wear, Zone 13 and us). Holy Shit, talk about one fucked up thing after another. First Acheron and Destroyer 666 Canceled, then Dark Funeral got there late and couldn’t get a sound check. Then Taz (of Zone 13) and I had to get Dark Funeral and Usurper to Lethal Wear for their signing. Now imagine about 10 people, long hair, leather jackets, looking like a bunch of murderers trying to pick up a couple of cabs in mid town Manhattan, during rush hour. It was hilarious, the way the cab drivers would just take one look at us and speed away.
So finally we get everybody down to Lethal Wear, there was a good crowd of supporters I’ll admit. Then, and this is where I got fucked, the bands are taken out to dinner. Of course it’s my job to go back to the Batcave and take control of people waiting at the door. Stupid me, I didn’t notice the time, it was almost time to let the people in. So I get there, and there was this line of people waiting very patiently in the freezing cold and the stupid acoustic show before ours hadn’t finished yet, meaning our show was getting pushed back. Forty-five minutes later the owner tells us to get our guest in waiting ready to go in.
By this time, the other bands on the bill that night were running around without a clue of where to put their equipment, what time they were going on blah, blah, blah. (I apologize to you guys for putting up with me; I was as confused as you were.) But I did my best in helping them out, the crowd went in everything was o.k. for now. But wait a minute, where was Usurper and Dark Funeral, still eating I supposed, but the show had to go on, and it did. They finally arrived, I got my interview from Dark Funeral, and I was so dead tired I stayed upstairs the whole night and missed the entire show. (Sorry guys! I heard you kicked ass!) So that’s what it’s like playing fucking hostess, satisfied!
9) What’s your favorite part about doing the zine? What’s the most tedious task?
I love doing the interviews because I get a chance to meet the band members, but I hate converting it from tape to paper, it totally sucks. One of my favorite things about the zine is when people you’ve never met know you as the Endemoniada girl. Best example was at the GWAR/Electric Hellfire Club show in November 97’. Hellfire had just gotten off and I was hoping to catch Thomas Thorn to give him a flyer of our upcoming Satanic Mass show at The Bank. When I saw him, I innocently gave him a flyer told him how great they were. He looked at the flyer for a second, looked at me and said, 'Hey, your that girl from that zine, Endemoniada. I’ve been meaning to write to you but I’ve been busy with the tour….' My mouth dropped, I could not believe it, I was about to have a heart attack. Very cool experience. We’re best friends now, well no not really, but at least he recognizes me, so there.
(Oh Tom, if your reading this , my sister Jeda wants you to stop whipping her at your shows, even though she enjoys it, it kinda hurts. And I know you do it on purpose cause you always have the smirk on your face when you whip her. Try whipping me next time!)
10) I mentioned your musical background; do you care to elaborate? What would you like to do with all this knowledge in the near future?
I’ve loved music all my life. As of now I’m a Music major in Baruch College, and will hopefully graduate in year with a B.A. in Music and Management. I was thinking about promotion or maybe A&R, I’m not sure yet.
11) Do you see a rise or fall of females in the underground scene? Why? Do you know any admirable females in the underground scene you can recommend to our readers?
I see a bit of a fall of females in the underground scene. I don’t hear much news on female bands in NYC. I’m still trying to figure out what happened to 13 and Demonic Christ. The Great Kat should definitely be checked out, fastest guitar playing I’ve ever heard. But of course, I can not forget my girl Karyn Crisis of Crisis, whose been here longer than any of us and still kicking ass. Definitely, definitely check out their new album, The Hollowing it’s awesome.
12) Is Xastur planning on doing a separate issue of her own in the near future? What will it be about? Are you accepting any kind of submissions?
Could be! Maybe something naughty, maybe nice, guess you’ll have to wait and see. I would except any kind of submissions, dreams, fantasies whatever your little hearts desire.
13) Before ending with a few words, what type of mail do you like and what type of men catch your attention?
I love praises, then again who doesn’t. I also like weird stories or fanzines. Scorpios. I have a weak heart for Scorpios, preferably brunette, and dark eyes. They’re the only type of guys I get nervous around, right Gelal? Lucifera thank you for this interview and our readers for supporting the craziness that is Endemoniada Zine.
