1. First of all, are you working on anything new like a cd or remixes?
Right now I am working on new material for the next album, still in process and nothing solid, cause I am constructing the new sound. I have a few songs, but as I told you there is no definitive sound yet. Also some remix work for other bands is to be done, hope to finish it soon.

2. When can we expect a new cd from Cenobita?
Not too soon I have to say, most likely it would be for early next year. I am also planning to release the demo tapes on CD, cause I have been receiving a lot of emails about this matter, so if this happens it could be this year.

3. How did you come up with the name Cenobita? I m familiar with the Cenobites from the Hellraiser movies. Is that where the name came from and are you a fan of horror movies?
Cenobita has nothing to do with the Clive Barker's Series. Cenobita means obviously cenobite in spanish, the word itself means a person dedicated to contemplative life. A person who lives by his own principles, watching the world and establishing statements for what he sees and feels. An anchorate and a hermit. That is a cenobite, and the concept was conceived because we thought that each and everyone of us, is dedicated to that task in some way. Everybody has questions, and tries to find the answers. We are capable of explaining our ownselves what is happening. So we can be considered cenobites in a certain way, cause we live our own lives, and we like to understand life the way we feel its right. About the other question, yes I am a fan of not too new horror films. I like the classic stuff, until the early 90's movies.

4. Neo Millenio seemed to a bit more guitar-oriented than Metamorphosis. Do you find your sound evolving any different from Metamorphosis on future recordings?
I am not sure, cause I listen and enjoy so many different things this days. I might say it would be a crossroad between both albums, cause I want to sound a little bit harsher now, but not loosing the melody. It is hard to say, what will I end up doing. It would be electronic that is for sure ;)

5. Who have been the main influences for your sound? For my basics I could split it in three categories
Old school electro Skinny Puppy, Leather Strip, Front Line Assembly, Mentallo & the Fixer, etc, Industrial music Einsturzende Neubauten, Throbbing Gristle, Coil, some other death/power metal bands, and also techno pop. For later influences I listen to a lot of minimal psytrance acts like Midimiliz, Spirallianz, Wizzy Noise, etc... and some noise and IDM bands as well.

6. Mexico City seems to be spawning some excellent bands. Is the Industrial/EBM scene very popular there or is it more of an underground thing?
It is still a very underground thing, and nothing popular at all. It is not widely spread out, and people would not buy a synth or electronic gear as a first option, if you know what I mean. I think it would never be anything close to main stream or even popular music. I think that in Mexico just a few ones, are the ones who dare to cross the line of stupidity and manipulation of mainstream.

7. Which artists would you like to work with in the future?
I am a very lonely person at work, I do not enjoy working with other people when it comes to music. I think I am very strict on what I want. So I might say, that I dont want to work with anyone else, but some exeptions would be production and remix work. On the first issue I would love to work with Wizzy Noise and the second one would be Assemblage 23 or Midimiliz.

8. I had the pleasure of seeing you live at QXT s in Newark, NJ and was blown away by your performance. Who did you have playing keyboards and is he a permanent member of Cenobita? The intro to the show when he was wearing the glowing helmet and waved the lights around was really cool by the way.
For the Newark, NJ show, as well as for all U.S. shows ever happening, I have on stage Juan from L.A. band Coito. He is the one that helps me out live for all shows in U.S.A., he really understands what Cenobita means, and puts out a great performance. He is like my blood brother, he was born in Mexico as well.

9. What is the significance of the hood you wear in the beginning of the show?
During the first half of the live performance I wear the red mask of revolution. It has a insurgent meaning, and it is basically a protest garment against social concepts, it is obviously red because of revolution, and covers my whole face because I should have no identity against new eyes watching me. The only important thing is the word of mouth, the important issue is the preacher itself, no the identity of the preacher. On the second half of the performance I took off the mask, as part of a "metamorphosis" and the newer songs.....and to breath a little. ) Some people feel more comfortable watching directly on the eyes, while I sing, and the mask gives them a sense of coldness because the lack of expression of it. I think is part of the duality that Cenobita is always involved in.

10. It seemed like that show in Newark was one of the only shows in the USA. Do you look forward to coming back and are there any plans to tour soon?
Back then it was the only show planned, but it hasn't been the only U.S. show ever. I have palyed in L.A. about 4 times, and i did a small tour with Aghast View in 2001 on the West Coast. But the Newark show was the first ever East Coast appearence, and to tell you the truth I was blasted by the response. I thought the people over there (because some other artists have told me...) was cold and unexpresive, but I think everybody was super cool, and we all had a good time. I really look forward to do sometime a tour around the East Coast. Lets see how it goes with the new album, and hopefully we'll get to do it.

11. Where else have you played live besides the USA?
Obviously around Mexico, we have had a couple of gigs, and last year Cenobita played at the Wave Gothic Treffen Festival in Leipzig, Germany (...a big enthusiastic crowd, it was awesome,!!!!), and back then I did an European Tour playing in England (London), Denmark (Copenhagen), Netherlands (Tilburg), Spain (Valencia, Zaragoza and Madrid) and Portugal (Oporto). We all had a great time, and we hope to repeat the experience again in the future.

12. Do you plan on releasing any merchandise like shirts? I would have loved to have bought a shirt when I saw you.
We had some Neo Milenio T-shirts on sale on the tour, but they were sold out soon. I will put out an online store soon at my new website www.cenobita.net but dont know exactly when. I keep on receiving request for t-shirts so I think I will make them available.

13. Have you had any type of musical training?
Well, in a certain way I did. I studied classical guitar for a while with note reading and stuff. I have a guitar background, since I used to play on an alternative metal-punkish band, but it didnt quite fulfill me. Neither the classical studies, nor the other band. I really found extasis through making music through the synthesizers. I think you dont need a certain training to do what you are intended to do. In my case.

14. What Instruments do you play and what kind of equipment do you use for recording?
As I mentioned on the previous question, I have a guitar background so I play guitar, but not for Cenobita any more, since I found much more pleasure on synths. I really enjoy the possibility of new sounds on synthesizers. I found it much more creative. As for my music and the recording procedure I use a Korg Triton, Novation Supernova II, Akai S2800 sampler, Alesis D4, a few fx processors, and a some software synths and plug-ins. For recording I use Cubase basically.

Thanks for taking the time out of your schedule to answer my Questions Claus. Do you have anything else you would like to say to your fans and the readers?

Thanks for the interview, and thanx to reader for getting this far!! There is a new site for Cenobita, that needs your support. It was made basically for the fans, and it works over the fans input. Feel free to become a member on the Cenobita community at www.cenobita.net If you have pictures of any show, that you would like to share it with us, please submit the media on the website. Thank you all for your support, and expect some noise from Cenobita in the coming future....EVOLUTION IS NEEDED TO SURVIVE.

John DeLuca
http//www.wetworksezine.com
delucaj@optonline.net