Interview: Cex
by Jeremiah Griffey
If the first few records of Rjyan Kidwell’s career were his way of playing “just the tip” with listeners and “Maryland Mansions” (Jade Tree) was the first time he slid his dick all the way into our blushing orifices, “Actual Fucking” (Automation) is the happy ending for which we’ve all been waiting. But as we lay there vulnerable, waiting for some spooning, Kidwell decides to walk out the door. After all, his climax is done, and he’s tired of getting fucked.
Cex, the persona, is dead.
“I just find the culture around music right now quite distasteful. There’s no regard at all for the big picture, the long-term, and there’s very few people whose ideals are even slightly interesting, or even existent,” Kidwell says. “I’m going to continue to make music and work on my craft. I just don’t want to be a part of the business if advertising goons are going to be running the show. They’re purposefully deceitful and manipulative and their greed knows no bounds. In a few short years, the bottom will fall out, they’ll realize they’re not going to get rich fucking around with music, and all those sorts will flee the music business like rats from a fucked-up ship. Then I’ll release all the shit I’ve finished in the interim, and everybody whose love of music has nothing to do with designs on a secure future will party with me in Baltimore. We’ll roast a whole pig and fuck openly, and just before the sun comes up we’ll torch a building. Just a random building.”
Now we’re starting to feel dirty for enjoying “Actual Fucking” so much. But how can we not? It wasn’t just Cex’s dick involved: Tim Kinsella (Joan of Arc) fooled around a little. So did Cale Parks (Aloha). Roby Newton (Milemarker) rubbed her tits in your face too. As a result, “Actual Fucking” is a gang rape of sensuality, juicy instrumentation, orgasmic vocal interplay. In short, it’s the best orgy you’ve never been to.
“It was a natural progression,” Kidwell says of turning Cex from a masturbatory exercise to a full-blown Roman bath house. “I enjoy designing songs but I’m not fond of playing instruments, and everyone who played on this record is someone whose style I admire. It’s given me a greater appreciation for what I am able to do on my own.”
Kidwell has known for a while that “Actual Fucking” would be the last Cex release and has already moved on. So when it dropped this summer there was little personal fanfare or sadness.
“I spent most of that week sweating my ass off in Baltimore,” Kidwell says. “I have so many things I want to do that I can rarely spare the time to appreciate what I’ve done. I hope that other people will take care of that for me since there’s no way I’ll finish everything I need to do before I die.”
The cover art of “Actual Fucking” contains animated silhouettes of Kidwell blowing his wad all over the arched back of Newton, his wife. The two married a few years ago and are finding married life to be an interesting adjustment.
“It’s hard,” Kidwell says. “I’ll definitely be writing a book about it one day. But I’ve learned many crucial things from her and I’d really like to see what would happen if she were pushed to put it all out on the table for you people.”
With the death of Cex, Kidwell and Newton will devote more time to Sand Cats, their new-ish Baltimore-based project. They’re in talks with Carpark to put out a debut release.
“Nothing’s been recorded yet except for a demo tape that you can hear most of on the Internet,” Kidwell says. “I think we’ll maybe try and finish a full-length in the Fall. It’s too hot here to work on an album right now.”
2006 Actual Fucking (Automation)
2005 Know Doubt (Flameshovel)
2005 Starship Galactica (Temporary Residence)
2003 Maryland Mansions (Jade Tree)
2003 Being Ridden (Allegro)
2002 Tall, Dark & Handcuffed (Tigerbeat6)
2002 Oops I Did It Again (Tigerbeat6)
2002 Role Model (Tigerbeat6)
