Interview with IAMX – Part 1/4

“I was sure that my life would not be normal.” (Chris Corner)

“Fault Lines²”, a new album by IAMX, was released on 30.08.2024. In the midst of his current tour preparations, Chris Corner allowed us to delve deep into the world of IAMX in a fascinating conversation …

Parallel world?

Orkus: IAMX deliberately don’t fit into any pigeonhole. You are a true artist with all the facets that go with it. Were you already following your own path when you were growing up?
Chris Corner: You said that beautifully, thank you. I’ve been very withdrawn all my life. Even at my most sociable times I felt uncomfortable, which led to me taking drugs and drinking to feel comfortable in groups. I spent most of my childhood in my room, in my own mind. I’m on the autism spectrum, and one of the challenges that comes with that is problems with social interaction. However, this isolation has helped me spend a lot of time exploring my craft, failing, succeeding and learning. What may be a deficit for some is an advantage for me. My youth was filled with intense visual and aural fantasies and dreams. But the one thing I was sure of was that my life would not be normal. I also grew up working class with no money. This financial instability drove me to become more independent in my art. The moment my art started making money and I realized this was a possibility for me, I held on to it and never let go. I am very lucky to be able to live like this.

Is vacation an illusion?

O: Can you also take a break from your creative work? When was the last time you went on vacation?
CC: I never understood the concept of vacation. It would just make me anxious and depressed. I would want to travel to a beautiful place and live there immediately. I can’t just come and go. I’ve tried to organize my life so that nature and beautiful places are an integral part of it. If I fell in love with a city, I would move there. When I moved to the US, I fell in love with the desert, so I converted an old trailer into a music studio, bought some land and ended up staying here. Vacations are for escaping a life you’re not completely in love with. However, I want to be in love with my life. My life is the vacation.

Work and pleasure?

O: Have you ever developed a friendship with one of your fans over the years?
CC: Yes, I have a few close friendships that have developed through IAMX. It may start with business or work related issues, but it can develop into a friendship. The project is a huge part of my life, so people can really only know and accept me through the art. I can’t separate that, so if someone already loves my work, I feel like they understand me on a deep level. It’s often easier for me to communicate through music than verbally. I write in an intimate, personal way, and it’s important to me that this gets noticed and gets through to those close to me. I don’t understand how artists can stop themselves from getting close to their fans!

Animal soul balm

O: You mentioned your five pets in the current booklet. You once talked about your dog in an interview. What other pets do you have?
CC: I recently lost a dog called Minty. She was a beautiful, life-scarred street dog who had been abused but was full of love. That was damn hard. I lost my first dog, Polar, a few years ago, and now I have three small dogs and a big black cat. All are rescued animals. I love them more than anything. They bring me so much joy. It takes energy to care for them, but the number of involuntary smiles I have on an average day now is amazing compared to before. They are my mental medicine.

In the next part, we talk to Chris Corner about light reflections, desert life, idols at eye level and the fall of masks.

Interview: Nadine Kloppert

Watch the clip for “Neurosymphony” here:

Experience IAMX live:
April 25, 2025 SE-Gothenburg, Monument
April 26, 2025 SE-Stockholm, Kollektivet Livet
April 28, 2025 UK-Manchester, Academy3
April 29, 2025 UK-London, Electric Ballroom
May 01, 2025 DE-Munich, Ampere
May 02, 2025 DE-Oberhausen, Kulttempel
May 03, 2025 NL-Utrecht, De Helling
May 05, 2025 PL-Kraków, Kwadrat
May 06, 2025 PL-Warsaw, Progresja
May 09, 2025 DE-Berlin, Columbia Theater
May 10, 2025 DE-Hamburg, Markthalle
May 12, 2025 CZ-Prague, Lucerna
May 14, 2025 AT-Graz, PPC
May 16, 2025 AT-Vienna, SIMM City
May 17, 2025 CH-St. Gallen, Grabenhalle
May 18, 2025 DE-Frankfurt, Das Bett
May 20, 2025 BE-Brussels, Ancienne Belgique
May 21, 2025 FR-Paris, Trabendo
May 23, 2025 ES-Barcelona, Apolo 2
May 24, 2025 ES-Madrid, Sala Mon

Do you already have your tickets?

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