Bill Leeb Talks Debut Solo Album, His Hometown And More

Bill Leeb is the Vancouver-based musician and mastermind behind electro-industrial scene mainstays Front Line Assembly and ambient-pop duo Delerium, as well as a key member of recording projects that include Noise Unit, Intermix and Cyberaktif. His debut solo album ‘Model Kollapse’ is out now on Metropolis Records and he kindly chatted to us:

When did you begin songwriting?

Songwriting for me started with Skinny Puppy. It was a big learning curve at that time….and has never really stopped. As an artist, you never really feel like you have a total handle on it. ‘Work in progress’ is probably the best description.

What is your earliest musical memory?

That would have been being raised in a convent in Vienna as a young boy. We were all made to learn how to play an instrument and a violin was thrown into my hands. Also, being part of a boys choir sent me off on a musical journey through life. Viennese culture is engulfed with tradition in music and art.

Your new single is ‘Muted Obsession’ is out now. What was the inspiration/story behind the track?

This song is about when does obsession with someone or something go from fantasy to reality and how do you deal with that. With social media ruling the waves in so many different ways, it’s becoming harder and harder to navigate your way through everyday life.

In addition, your debut solo album ‘Model Kollapse’ was released on 13th September 2024. How did you want to approach the making of the album?

How ironic that the release date of this album is Friday 13th! Good luck or an omen conveying its mood?!

Where did you record the album and who produced it?

Myself and Dream Bullet produced the album. One of them is Jared Slingerland who used to be in my group Front Line Assembly and with whom I recorded classic albums such as ‘Echogenetic’ and ‘Improvised Electronic Device’. Greg Reely also played a huge part in making the album. He recorded my vocals and mixing and mastered it to perfection.

Did you use any specific instruments, effects, pieces of recording equipment during the album recording sessions?

Greg Reely has a great mixing studio and Pro Tools is the main weapon of choice for mixing, plus reverbs, delays, vocoders and more. We use a lot of analog gear, including Pro One’s, MiniMoogs, drum machines, a lot of Roland gear, virtual synths, Oberheim Matrix 12….the list goes on.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

Leaving the audience wanting more. As a performer, you can tell pretty quickly how well the gig is going and how the crowd is responding. Every performance has its own flavour and some will stay in your mind forever. It is the final stage after creating a new song and then playing it live to see how the audience responds. It gives you that final reaction as to how music moves people.

‘Muted Obssession’ is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it?

Tim Rim Hill produced the new video, as well as the two prior to it. I told Tim that I wanted the video to convey the thoughts that one’s mind conjures when confronted by a stalker or the images of being followed via social media and all the paranoia that comes with it. Everyone’s vision will differ, of course, but the paranoia will be there, whether it is mentally or just virtually through a data stream. Paranoia feels a bit like a normal state of existence in our present time!

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

I only sing these days and prefer to use a cordless microphone as I like to move around a lot. I hate being tangled up in mic cables and trying to avoid tripping over them (LOL). I do also use a floor tom during certain drum breaks.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Vancouver is home for now. It is very expensive, crowded, awful traffic, too much rain, but nature is also here in full force, with clean air, surrounded by mountains and with pristine rivers.

How do you look after your voice?

A healthy lifestyle is important as we age, so that would be my only thought on that….plus not screaming too much!

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

In 1984, London is a grim city in the totalitarian state of Oceania where Big Brother is always watching you and the Thought Police can practically read your mind. This would be my pick. I think we are already there, with AI and all that is happening. A new movie of this classic should be made as it is more relevant than ever.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

I have a varied taste in music and like to keep an open mind. There is so much out there from across the decades that is of great importance. From classical composers like Chopin to Kraftwerk, it is all relevant on its own terms and has inspired me over time.

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2024?

We have eight concerts planned in Europe in late November and early December, but no UK dates at this time.

Who created/designed the album cover?

Allen Jaeger designed and created all the artwork for ‘Model Kollapse’. He also did the artwork for a recent album by the Cyberaktif project that I am involved with and does a lot of work for Skinny Puppy. We love his work and he is the nicest person to work with. I don’t know how he does it, but he comes up with exactly what we are looking for. A genius in his own right!

Was it a difficult album to write?

Actually not. It was a lot of fun reconnecting with old friends. With all the Skinny Puppy energy generated from their farewell tour and myself and cEvin Key reconnecting on our Cyberactif album, I was writing and working on that as well as my own ‘Model Kollapse’ album. Having just come off a tour with Front Line Assembly where we were part of a triple bill with Gary Numan and Ministry that was my absolute favourite ever, I felt especially motivated and inspired to be creative. Life can surprise you sometimes.

What makes Bill Leeb happy and what makes you unhappy?

Discovering new things in life, art, music, people and science that helps humanity in moving forward will always bring a smile. Knowing how little time is left can bring a pondering frown, wondering how to make every moment count.