Scott Monteith aka Deadbeat, is a Canadian transplanted to Berlin (as a musical technology educator) via the US techno scene. A veteran of the North American techno scene soon after the release of his album Primordia (Intr_version, 2001)he quickly became a known operator in select circles. His mixture of deep dub and electronics brings an organic feel to a genre often miscast as soulless. His latest release is a team up with The Mole can be found on his Bandcamp page.
Realizing how selfish we are as a society
Igloo :: What was life like before the pandemic? What was going on for you? What have you lost, or has been curtailed, since then?
Scott / Deadbeat :: Well, I had loads of gigs lined up through the end of the year that have all vanished or are up in the air. I mean to be perfectly honest it’s about $15 – $20,000 in gigs gone. And it’s not like 2005 to 2010 where I was self-releasing stuff or people were buying more CDs and LPs. Now with streaming people are listening—albeit digitally—and a stream pays out 0.0000000001th of a cent so I’m out a great deal of income.
What were you working on before the pandemic that has been interrupted or put on hold indefinitely?
I’ve got an album with Tikiman and more stuff with The Mole that will be coming out eventually.
What’s been the general impact on your life since the pandemic began?
Mostly the work stoppage. Not having gigs has severely impacted my income and livelihood. I’m lucky that I live in Germany, specifically Berlin, where the arts are seen as a vital part of the life of the city. They’re offering a 5,000 euro loan to people in the arts with no interest and lifetime payback. If you compare it to what’s being offered in the US or back in Canada where people are waiting weeks for a measly check it’s amazing. Even more amazing is that they pulled this together in three days.
What has the psychological impact of it?
My major take away from this and what I think will have an impact on society is realizing how selfish I am and how we are as a society. Like how I get annoyed when I’m asked something by my wife or daughters when I’m reading The Guardian on my phone. Like what the hell is wrong with me? How is that more important than these beautiful kids before me or my wonderful wife asking me a question? So that’s what I’m really aware of is my, and everyone’s else’s quite honestly, selfishness.
What’s been the hardest part of the pandemic? Was that an unexpected thing?
It’s the loss of work, definitely. The government loan is nice but without having a clear end in sight it’s hard to gauge the full impact of this.
What’s been an unexpected silver lining? Both personally and professionally?
Being able to spend more time with my kids. That’s been such a blessing. It may sound cheezy but it really is wonderful. I’m also spending the time making loads and loads of music and not giving a crap about what people might think about it or how it sounds. Just enjoying that.
What’s come out of the pandemic and quarantine either creatively or professionally that you didn’t expect?
Like I said, the thing about selfishness. And the loan’s nice, too! (Laughs)
What’s your take home from this experience? What will stay with you going forward from this?
I hate to sound like a broken record but that selfishness thing. It’s really made a huge impact on me and how I’m relating to everyone else in my life. That’s what I’m also hoping the world sees and works on after this is all over.
Deadbeat and Paul St. Hilaire return with second collaborative album, 4 Quarters Of Love And Modern Lash on June 12, 2020 on Another Moon. Trinity Remixed (Deadbeat & Camera) is available on Bandcamp. Trinity Remixed is a bonus EP that is available as a free download with the purchase of Deadbeat & Camara’s album Trinity Thirty (Constellation, 2019).
