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This past week, Dimitri Pike took the time to visit and profile Dennis Donohue / Der Mercenary for the 313tm website. I am going to post this in it's entirety on our website but I would like to encourage you to visit http://313tm.blogspot.com/ for tons of detroit techno related information. Dennis Donohue aka Der Mercenary
Hello Dennis, to start this interview I'd like to remind 313tm readers that you are known as 'Der Mercenary', a member of the Detroit Techno Militia, but also a producer of excellent techno tracks and a fuckin great illustrator/designer ! You're from Detroit actually, living in Belgium and always very active in the underground worldwide techno scene.  313 TM : How did this all start for you? What were the initial elements that made music and design a passion and a way to communicate your emotions ?
Dennis D. : It all started with life in general. I was always the kid in school that saw things just a fraction of an angle differently than the majority of people. It separated me from my peers very early in life, and that separation allowed me to follow unique paths in creativity and basic thoughts about life in general. I've always been a lover of nature, and natural process. Nature is raw, non-discriminate. Fire doesn't differentiate between what it burns. These types of things always consumed me as an adolescent, and allowed me to study the ways in which nature influences us, even today (with our large separation from nature as a global society). 313 TM : As a former Detroiter, explain how the city influenced you in your first works for both illustration/design and music ? Dennis D. : Well, the city of Detroit is a good representation of a future that never happened. One could liken it to cities in classic 50s "dystopian future" books and movies. It always wears such a grim disposition, no matter how you see it, yet the people of Detroit and the surrounding areas are survivors. They have an embodied spirit and character that allows one to see their place in life. These things become a part of you when you experience them first-hand on a day-to-day basis. All of my first experience with artwork was heavily influenced by comic books. I used to read comic books that depicted settings and cities close to Detroit; a conglomeration of corruption and hopelessness. The forgotten city of humanity. Such comics had been drawn in ways to reflect the gloomy feeling, and I was instantly drawn to that. As for music, I was drawn to the quirky noises and freedom from "traditional" sounds at the time. I have since grown to love the almost classical approach to composition (at times), that allows for innovations over standards and formulas that have been created to merely "sell" music...
 313 TM : How has the city of Detroit influenced your whole life ?
Dennis D. : It's hard to say. I compare it to frequent questions when I was younger. I used to study the Korean martial arts known as Tae-Kwan-Do, and people would frequently tell me things like, "I could beat you up, if you don't ‘use' your Tae-Kwon-Do..." It always made me laugh. That training was more than just a weapon that I could attach to my hands or feet. It was a mentality that opened up self-discipline, enabling better self-defense etc. I feel the same about being influenced by things I've done, or places I've been/lived/encountered. They have become foundations of discipline and learning. A lot of what happens in and around Detroit gets filed in the "don't try this at home" category, and those are just as important as the "this works well" files... Sometimes, you can even be heavily influenced by things that you are completely unaware of.  313 TM : Now that you are living in Belgium, is Detroit always having an impact on yourself or your work ?
Dennis D. : Definitely. There are some definite influences in terms of detail orientation in my illustrations, or musical influences (Motown, Soul, Funk). It's hard for me to really distinguish which things are specifically due to being raised in close proximity to Detroit and its various movements... 313 TM : Your design creations show us very complex ways to use elements and ideas, have you learned these techniques in school or simply on your own, experimenting with various techniques ? Dennis D. : Well, I think it goes back to seeing the world just a slightly different shade. Experiencing life somehow always improved my artwork. The more my experiences, the more I could reflect on them through my artwork. I originally attended university with an intention of getting a degree in art for use in graphic design or something similar. Less than two years into that, I became extremely upset with the various fashions and lingo that I found from a percentage of the "art students." I took that course of study because I thought I'd finally find a group of people that I could relate to/with, and that would understand me. It more or less was even more isolating, as most of these people had been "big fish in a little pond," and upon entering a university program, were afraid they weren't going to be "the bery best artist" or something similar. I changed my major, and really stopped illustrating/drawing at that point. I had been going to raves at that point, and had a major interest in techno already, so I concentrated my creative energy on the music.  313 TM : For those who are not familiar with this style of work, can you describe us the whole thing behind your creations ? What is this melting pot of darkness, futurism, mechanical elements sometimes in opposition to organic elements, forms making letters making words ? Please give us the key !
Dennis D. : I don't know that there is a "key," so to speak. I can give you my philosophy of art, though, from which I relate most of my works to others.
I like to think of the artist as the "gatekeeper" of the artwork. In my eyes, the artist is less the creator or owner of artwork, but more of a guide. When the pencil touches the paper for the last time, when the last note is written and recorded in the song, when the brush touches the canvas for the very last time, I find the relevant art to be only half completed. I like to think that through the talent and creative energy, the artist has created something that requires engagement from a viewer before it becomes completed. In this example, each viewer is entitled to their own unique experience based on their own personal experiences/memories/thoughts. Some of the very best artwork (for me) can inspire a completely unique experience through each engagement, allowing the same viewer to experience something fresh and new each time. For that purpose, I create symbols of feelings or emotions in my artwork that in unison describe an intangible thing, but singularly allow the viewer to extrapolate different themes and purposes.
As I've previously stated. I am in love with Mother Nature. The most impressive aspects of life, for me, are the interaction between natural and organic things, and technological marvels that have been created in the image of such organic substances and organisms. It always hearkens back to Frankenstein's monster or something like that...  313 TM : By the way, these designs would work really well for cinema purposes, and I can only imagine that you certainly have some good references in this domain. Are there any futuristic movies that influenced you these last years and that you'd like to advise to 313 tm readers ?
Dennis D. : I am a huge Sci-Fi buff, but that's easier with books, I find. Some movies of the last years that I find to be similar to my artistic style or that have influenced me greatly: Donnie Darko Fight Club Final Fantasy: Spirits Within The Matrix Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Le Voyage de Chihiro Princess Mononoke Neon Genesis Evangelion (the entire series) Six Feet Under (television series)
Classics: Alien/Aliens Predator Terminator/T2 Solaris 2001 Clockwork Orange THX 1138
Kung Fu/Wire-Fu/Asian cinema: 313 TM : Maybe some books ? Dennis D. : I've been recently re-reading my favorites from adolescence, so I have mostly a list of classics: Fahrenheit 451 Martian Chronicles Flowers for Algernon Caves of Steel + lots of Asimov Anything by Chuck Palahniuk (author of Fight Club) Kurt Vonegut (Slaughterhouse five, Cat in the Cradle) Doulgas Adams' Hitchhikers "trilogy"
And I've just purchased the Ender's Game trilogy, which, I've been promised, is amazing...  313 TM : Back to the music, you're a member of one of the most representative crew from Detroit, the Detroit Techno Militia. What was your first contact with them and what the militia is for you?
Dennis D. : Like most, I met Tom at a party where we exchanged music talk. I found him to be such a wealth of knowledge about the music. Even things that I knew well, he knew them better. It was always so fun to listen to him, and exchange music with him. Throughout the years in Detroit, people came and left, tempers flared and cooled off, but Tom and Angie have always stood straight up, and never fronted on anything. I find them to be true friends, and with such a connection through music, I just had to be a part of their movement. 313 TM : I was reading recently that you were in love with the Richie Hawtin concept 'Decks, EFX and 909.' Can you describe how this influenced your own mixing and how you'd like to see mixing/dj's evolve ?  Dennis D. : I loved the freedom of being in between a live show, but still using records. I love to "paint a tapestry" of music through different records, but I found the extensive use of effects and differing sound sources to be extremely interesting in the combination between performances.
I like the concept of "live remixing" whereby a dj uses records or a computer to play songs, along with personal edits, and even using something like Ableton Live to make unique "songs" at every performance. As a man loving future and technology, what do you think about the battle running between vinyl dj's and laptop dj's ? I think that it is great that we have different methods. I think it can only inspire people to create their own creative ways to perform the music. Competition can lead to innovation, and innovation is something that I'm very interested in. It should be fun to watch and see what happens in the next few years. 313 TM : You produce techno tracks and I have to say that they are really good ! Can you describe to us your influences when producing music ? Dennis D. : Stevie Wonder, Four Tops, Smokie, Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, P-funk/Parliament/George Clinton, Underground Resistance (*****), Carl Craig, Bill Withers, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Kraftwerk, Brian Zentz, Old Definitive records, War...  313 TM : You also produced a very limited edition of a vinyl using a sample like an 'opera', can you talk us a bit more about ?
Dennis D. : In all honestly, I really don't remember what you're talking about. It's very possible that I wasn't clear on what I was talking about. I have made a few "limited edition" dubplates and such. I was introduced to Ron Murphy (of NSC), and he was able to make some dubplates for me a few times. I've recorded some unlicensed remixes, and some fun tracks so that I can perform them live... 313 TM : The major detail of your productions is that they sounds really good, do you use a lot of compressors or sound tools to expand the fat vibe of your tracks ? Dennis D. : I use a lot of effects on most of my sounds. I find most synthesizer noises to sound quite thin or weak, so I like to give them some boost. I also love the feeling of compressed drums in a mix. Maybe not as the only component of a song, but I find a healthy dose of well-placed compression to give a track that extra "edge"...  313 TM : Is there any equipment that you particularly like to produce ? Like a favorite synth, sampler or software ?
Dennis D. : Well, I used to own a Nord Lead 3, and I found that to be my mechanical counterpoint to musical production. I could create almost anything on that machine. I also had a pair of (alpha) Juno 2s that were so much fun to play with. The VCFs had such a unique character to them. These days I just use a bunch of VST instruments along with Ableton, and record through ProTools on my Digi 002. I love my Digi. 313 TM : What can we expect from 'The Mercenary' in a near future ? Dennis D. : I have a few music projects that are culminating right now, so those should see the light of day soon. I'm in the middle of a new illustration that deals with appreciation of influence, especially pertaining to nature the difference between appreciation through imitation, as opposed to vindictiveness appearing as imitation. I have included some subtle hints of musical taste and influence as well... 313 TM : By the way, where does the name 'Der mercenary' come from? Dennis D. : I used to consider myself a "techno mercenary," soldier for hire, in terms of music. No particular style or fashion could win my musical loyalty over any other. I like to try and keep a very objective view of music through mixing... 313 TM : Have you got a message for our readers and more generally for people who like techno music worldwide ? Dennis D. : I will just recite something that I wrote about UR/Mad Mike a few years ago, that I feel still has an application in our underground music: A submarine seldom can be discovered from the surface of the water. The deeper you go, however, the stronger its wake becomes... Thanks Dennis 313 TM advise you to visit the Dennis webpage at : http://dennisdonohue.deviantart.com/ where you will find some more details about his designs/illustrations and of course http://www.detroittechnomilitia.com where Dennis provides eclectic and dance floor techno mixes. Dimitri Pike
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