Front 242 is a legendary Belgium electronic music group that came into prominence during the 1980s. Pioneering the style they called electronic body music, they profoundly influenced generations of electronic music.

While developing their own independent recording and graphic units, along with a unique presentation on stage, the band progressively reaches a larger audience in Europe, touring and releasing records of its brand new genre they soon labeled “Electronic Body Music” (aka EBM). EBM being a collage and synthesis of music and sounds, recycled from the media or TV, often reflecting or enriched by other artistic disciplines.

Having re-released their back catalogue in newer, enriched versions, and breaking from the idea that every live campaign must necessarily be preceded by a new album, Front 242 currently continue playing throughout the world with the same level of intensity, with the same success as ever, followed and cheered by crowds of loyal fans celebrating the band’s uniqueness and renowned integrity.

“Electronic music can also be very mental, even conceptual”

How’s this last year under lockdown been for you? Have you found the isolation creatively challenging or freeing?

Patrick Codenys: Lockdown was quite busy as the concerts sector was the first to close and last to open. I’ve spent most of my time postponing concerts, canceling plane tickets, car rentals, et cetera, but I also had a lot of time with my dog.

It’s almost been 20 years since ‘Pulse,’ but we all know that you have new songs available, like for instance ‘Generator,’ ‘Fix It,’ and ‘Deeply Asleep,’ are they part of a possible upcoming album?

We experiment with these new songs live, seeing how we can improve the sound, lyrics and see how people respond. Trying to find an organic way to work with more human feelings than in a studio. When ready, these new tracks will be released in the form of an EP or album.

We are all excited to know more, can you reveal some further details about it?

We need to find time between touring, et cetera … to finalize these songs. ‘Generator’ is already finished.

You have been busy with re-releasing your back catalogue, how involved were you in the process?

Well this was complicated as vinyl came back strongly on the market. People were complaining that they could not find our albums on vinyl anymore. At the same time, we needed to interest those who already had albums on CD, vinyl, et cetera as collectors. So, we needed to renew the records a bit. We are always involved in the making products we put on the market (records, merchandising, photos, et cetera). Alfa Matrix – the record label – is in charge of promo and distribution.

“Technology seems so easy these days, maybe too easy, could it make us more lazy?”

Now that we’re talking about the reissues; what are some fond memories from listening to your albums again?

Yes, sometimes it is even hard to remember how we could have created that kind of music at the time. Technology seems so easy these days, maybe too easy, could it make us more lazy? No, in fact we are wanting to come back to those hard days where programming personal sound design, doing sound research, et cetera … was important.

Your music has a timeless quality to it. Is that quality important to you?

Use your human abilities, your senses, thinking about what you want to achieve, construct before you are taken by the technology. Electronic music can also be very mental, even conceptual. Each album needs almost a philosophy. Like mentioned above, research, programing is also a big part of how you will use the creative tools like synth, production, et cetera to serve your artistic ideas.

What else currently occupies your life? Any active side-projects going on at this point?

Traveling, scuba diving, going to small concerts, discovering new bands, watching series when I have time (some series have great soundtracks).