I spent the last 5 years of my life acting as my own manager, record label etc....handling all things on a bigger level than most independent label bands. Of course I am human, the fact I had to take care of web sites, promotions, web designs and all things tedious that come with the territory means I had to sacrifice a bit of my artistic self in order to see things grow and maintain it all. Recently, I have let all of that go, for the most part, as WVM has grown a great deal, now I can dig deep in my soul and find the artist inside once again. For too long I have neglected my visual work, but the last few months I have been working on both art and music more than ever before.
Quick study of my left hand.
I've been painting and drawing again making up for the time I was forced to wear a business hat, and I am now an artist once again as well as musician. I've sold some paintings in my lifetime one of which was sold to Mike Luedtke, who happened to commision 2 new works which are currently in the process of being created.
Mike also happens to be one of the biggest fans of my music out there, he's gone the extra mile of supporting my music both online and in the streets. As with last week's WVM Nation profile I wanted to have a mini interview to get into the mind of the WVM NATION.
INTRODUCING USA WVM STREETTEAM LEADER: Mike Luedtke
WVM: What are your favorite bands?
Mike: Well, Just a few of them to name some of the signifcant ones in my life have been: Nine Inch Nails, Otep, WVM, VersaEmerge and KoRn.
WVM: What is your favorite WVM song?
Mike: To date, I can't name one PARTICULAR SONG. But just to name off a few that have caught me on a glimpse of inspiration "Duel" and going back awhile "Crippled So Hard"
WVM: Mike, you've been listening to my music for quite a while and I have seen tons of videos and pics of you tagging the streets with WVM information. You also have quite an extensive history of pushing WVM into the consciousness of culture, what's the weirdest place you tagged with WVM stickers?
Mike: Well, with my time in the U.S.Army, by far the weirdest place that I would have to say was on the Generals military vehicle. From the best of my knowledge it is still on there as they deployed over to Afghanistan not to long before I left.
Mike wearing a WVM Beanie. All WVM Merch can be purchased here worldversusme.bandcamp.com/album/inversion
WVM: What are your top 5 movies?
Mike: Movies.. This is a tough one, but I want to say: Fast and The Furious, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Hannibal series, for those of you that remember them: The Aliens Trilogy, and last but not least Resident Evil series
WVM: What do you expect of WVM’s forthcoming “Vimanas” albums?
Mike: What do I expect? Oh my, Well, working with WVM since 2004 and all the hype that was brought out through "Duel" album, I am honestly expecting WVM to go above and beyond the call of duty with "Vimanas". "Duel" was a large step in WVM's history. It brought out the true intentions that David had. And I expect NOTHING DIFFERENT from "Vinamas". I've taken a look into "Black Sun" and "Inversion" and both of these are just so much more powerful then anything that I've encountered. I would compare "Inversion" to Trent Reznors "The Downward Spiral" and can easily say that they are on the same playing field.
Mike with a WVM Ikon tattoo!!!
WVM: Mike, I know you have an interest in poetry/writing is this what you want to with your life?
Mike: At the moment David, it is just a hobby of mine. Yes, I do look forward to eventually publishing my work. And eventually getting my name out there. As few people are aware of right now though, I am starting school again to attend to my #1 passion. Working on computers. As a hacker, I have to look at my priorities. Yes, I've been a writer since 2000. But I have been working with computers and have a much more distinct knowledge of them then I do the writing field. In the next 9 months, I will have both my certifications to be able to work on any computer in the country.
WVM: What do you hope becomes of World Versus Me?
Mike: What do I hope? This actually is a very tough one for me to answer. However, I will state that my hopes for WVM probably go above and beyond what you want David. I do hope that someday, WVM reaches the caliber of lets say "Nine Inch Nails" or maybe even "Nirvana". I want WVM to be able to reach a height that no other artist has been able to do before. To reach above and beyond "Kurt Cobain". To hit a height so high, that it will go down in music HISTORY. I look at this, and everyone asks me now a days, "What kind of music would you consider WVM?" I can't think of just ONE. I have to come up with my own name for it. When WVM was 'SToB' I had used the name "Sonic BooM Core" as a description of what it was. Today, I look at it as "Versus US Core"
WVM: Mike did you start a WVM Streetteam page on Facebook?
Mike: Yes I did David, It is called the World Versus Me USA Street Team. It is a street team that is ran by me. And soon after hopefully, David as well. (whenever he decides to like it.) And it basically shows support for WVM in every which way possible. I'll be posting pictures on it, and getting new videos and everything out there for the fans that are all around.
WVM: cool what is the URL of the page?
Mike: http://www.facebook.com/pages/World-Versus-Me-USA-Street-Team/127722693964680
Video of Mike preparing WVM World Domination http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyA6y8YcCdM
WVM: When "Vimanas" comes out I will arm all WVM supporters with stickers and WVM promotional materials that support WVM online.
Mike: When that time comes, the small army that I have here at US Street team home base (Wisconsin) will be preparing to launch what I call "Versus The World". What this pertains to, is those of us that support WVM from the area that I am located, once the stickers are received, we will be dropping a massive bombshell on big name places. Game Stop, Barnes and Noble, any big place that sells music, that sells any kind of music. I began this with a group that I had called the Texas Militia when I was in the military. Well, it worked perfectly. I know that a lot of the stickers i posted around Fort Hood Texas, are STILL there. "Sevas Tra" (The team that I work with out in Wisconsin, will be arming themselves with WVM gear of all kinds. Lately, I had one that asked me about shirts and supplies that can be used to support the band. Currently, she has one of my WVM shirts, and is using all of my CD's and burning them onto her Ipod. So its essential for those in the WVM "Sevas Tra" Tribe to have the materials that are needed for them to be able to move at a fast pace in the WVM era. Some of them I've worked with since before WVM. Others, I met through WVM. I have a member in Oklahoma that David knows quite well, Sammy Hill. He has begun to start phasing heavier and heavier into WVM. He has always been a big WVM supporter, even before I met him. But he continues even as time progresses. Others, on the other hand, like the person that recruited me into WVM have sense phased out. But I will be assembling all of the WVM supporters in my area for a big celebration type thing and charge the streets with gear, showing our support using the "Versus The World" concept.
Mike: Now a trick question for you David, Are YOU ready for "Vinamas" to be released?
WVM: It's getting there the drums are scheduled for the first week of March, I have spent most of this time structuring all the songs and developing the electronics which are quite elaborate. I would say that the mixdown for "Vimanas I" should be in late March, I am also looking at people like Mark Needham and Chris Vrenna among others for mixing, I have my eyes and ears open for the right person to mix this beast..
That's it for now....
I forgot to include a video of Dan Hayes rocking out to "Duel" in the last WVM Nation profile, check it out here www.youtube.com/watch
Till the next time
- David
World Versus Me
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