MONTREAL | FEBURARY 2019

Projekt F escapes ordinary classification. That being said, if the particular aesthetic of this group has opened doors for them during their ten years of existence, it has also closed several others. Marginal among the marginalized, this “industrial rock” band surely does not lack assurance and consistency, down to the smallest aesthetic details. Their strength? To focus on the singularity and complementarity of its members to create multidimensional artistic worlds that everyone can make their own, which makes their art all the more fascinating to explore.

“Projekt F is a group which takes shape in the way you want to listen to it and feel it,” says Jonh. “I think my art is very personal, but I’ve always loved that people can take ownership of it. I do not want to impose feelings on the music or the visual aspects of the band. The themes of the songs are left open to interpretation, just like the « F » from Projekt F.” This mentality is also reflected in the group’s visual appearance which allows them to make an impact wherever they go while also illustrating the raw and emotional nature of their music. “I’ve always loved bands that bring more than just their music to the stage,” says William. “For me, having a group is an opportunity to express myself on every level.”

Initially, the group was born out of a teenage dream Jonh M. Miller had to find a medium that would allow him to express himself freely. Pillar of the group since its inception, the singer is now surrounded by William Hicks on bass (since 2010) and Fred Linx on drums (since 2014). Despite the differences in their personalities and their respective styles, they have always relied on their complementarity to create a consistent and coherent product. They have been particularly influenced by filmmaking, especially William, who has been working in this field for over ten years. “Jonh and I are always on the same page when it comes to the band. I trust him with the music, and he trusts me with the visual aspects. I also take care of putting together the photoshoots, the cover of the albums and I direct the music videos.”

The strength of the group is also their great authenticity. “I remember a contest we registered for in order to participate in a metal festival. We thought we should play a solely heavy set to be certain to fit in a bit more. We quickly realized that it did not represent us and that we should always stay true to ourselves and do things for ourselves in the future,” recalls William. This is why their artistic choices always seem to have this organic and very spontaneous feel, which allows them not to compromise on the originality of their work.

An essential element for grasping the creative process of this uncommon group is that of evolution, a fatality that they completely embrace and which they even feed on to create. “Everything we do reflects where we are at that time in our lives,” says William. “We always try to explore different musical styles and try as many things as possible to avoid repeating ourselves.” On this subject, he adds that the influences of Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie and Marilyn Manson were paramount for him. “They showed me that the reinvention and the evolution of a group is essential. Barriers are our worst enemies.”

That says a lot about the content of their next EP, 1986, which will deviate from their usual sound without distorting their style. This unexpected project took shape while they were working on the composition of the next album, which will be quite dark. To lighten his mood, Jonh had fun composing synthwave music in parallel, an 80s touch that pleased the rest of the band. “We decided to make it an EP for fun and not to keep the fans waiting too long for new material.” However, the band assures that finishing the next album remains their main goal, to which will be added a new series of shows by the end of 2019.

To learn more about Projekt F’s work and music, visit their Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp pages, or their official website.