Konrad | Interview | ‘Evil,’ An Outsider Gem
Barry Konarik is a recording artist who recorded under the moniker of Konrad and released a unique homemade synth pop album in 1982.
The record was recorded in 1982 and released on his own Ethereal Sequence Records label. This New York City classic got lost in time, but thanks to record collector Mike Ascherman as he brought the album to a wider circle of collectors. Reissue of ‘Evil’ is available on Douglas Mcgowan’s label, Yoga Records. In a recent interview with Mike Ascherman, he recalls the following.
Like so many other odd and obscure records, I found it in a record store bargain bin in the mid to late 80s and bought it on speculation. Though, with a front cover like that and reading some of the lyrics on the back, I wouldn’t really say there was much speculation to it, and I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. I’ve told the story about contacting Konrad back then many times and it was included in the promotional materials for the reissue, so I’ll just give the Cliff Notes version here. The copy included a business card for the record label owned by one Barry Konarik. I called to find out more about Konrad and see if I could get more copies. Barry spoke at length about Konrad (always in the third person) and dance music and another project involving an album of dance music by Jim Morrison’s nephew. It was only after getting my order that I realized Barry was Konrad, though he spoke of him as a separate person. That only added to the mystique. After that, I started selling the copies by mail order (Goldmine ads and a mail order catalog) as well as at local record fairs. It was after selling a copy to Johan Kugelberg at an early WFMU Record Fair that the record really hit big. Johan was blown away by it and introduced it to an entirely different and larger audience. What do I think of it? The same as I thought the first time I heard it. It’s a work of real* genius. *pun painfully intended
“I will teach you about evil”
Where and when did you grow up? Was music a big part of your family life? Did the local music scene influence you or inspire you to play music?
Barry Konarik: Jackson Heights, Queens, NY – Dad had lots of records. From breakable 78s from the 40’s to all sorts of genres on LP and 45s from the 50’s and 60’s. The local scene was rock and punk. I ignored that and paved my own road into Ethereal Sequence – the sequence of the soul, my own genre.
Was there a certain moment in your life when you knew you needed to make a record?
Ten years old, got a Kent guitar (still have it!) and I knew I would record as I wrote song after song. Saw an ad in a Long Island rock magazine for PRI pressing plant in the late 70’s and decided to make records.
Tell us about New York City in the 70s. What was it like to live there?
Wild – sexually unruly – phony people in discos – real people in rock clubs. I went to Hunter College in the 70’s. The music and film teachers were actually professionals in their field, just wanted to have extra income and fun teaching at Hunter in midtown Manhattan. Beautiful girls – my steady girlfriend was Sharon. The songs on those first two 45s were inspired when she parted ways with me and went to school in Carbondale, IL.
When did you get your first keyboard? Do you also play other instruments?
First keyboard was in 1974, a Roland piano/clavinet. But… I played the piano my parents had in their house since the age of ten. Late 70’s bought a Korg MS-10 and Korg Delta and Fender Rhodes, all used on the 45’s and Konrad ‘Evil’ LP. I play guitar and a multitude of other instruments. (See my Barry Morrison ‘More Sun At Night’ CD).
Did you have any bands back in the 70s or so?
Caliber with Mark Sandor and Hot Ice with a girl singer named Zona. Thanks to Caliber, I got to meet Ian Stewart from The Rolling Stones in the studio we used, which improved my keyboard playing.
You self-released several singles before your album, ‘Evil’. I would love to talk about them. Would you mind sharing what those songs are about, where you recorded them and how many copies of those singles did you press?
‘You Walked Away From Me’ / ‘Paco’s Bolero’ (Ethereal Sequence Records – ES017)
Goodbye Sharon, my college sweetheart. Paco was a DJ at WKTU – he played it for a while, till he was told not to.
‘Ethereal Sequence’ / ‘Back To Me’ / ‘Upside Down (Like A Dreamer)’ (Ethereal Sequence Records – (Ethereal Sequence Records – ES017)
A song with the name of my record label △10 – Pyramid to the 10th power. Geometrical acceleration – at this point I knew my music would be around a long time, and… it is!
‘Back To Me’ was another Sharon lament. ‘Upside Down Like A Dreamer’ was about my reality based on my dreams.
‘You Know What I Mean, Baby’ / ‘All I Wanna Know Is Do You Love Me’ (Ethereal Sequence Records – ES-066)
Words by Sal Catalano, music by Konrad. The Catalanos were a well-known Italian family in NY. They were impressed that I would not let Sal get fucked over in music studios.
“I know I could teach human beings to not be evil”
What led to the recording of ‘Evil’? Would you say there’s a certain concept you were trying to follow?
I saw and witnessed lots of killing in NY from the places and late hours I spent in New York City. I carried small bottles of liquor with e — no one mugged or killed me — they would rather share a drink. I know I could teach human beings to not be evil. I knew John Lennon and his little boy Sean from being a New Yorker and hanging with him occasionally – when he was assassinated I knew I would “build” a non-violent record.
What’s the story behind your album? Where did you record it? What kind of equipment did you use and who was the producer? How many hours did you spend in the studio?
After Sharon left, depressed and fed up with violence, moved back to my parents’ apartment. Recorded the 45s and ‘Evil’ LP in my childhood bedroom on a $200 Akai glass head reel to reel tape machine. I wrote it, produced it, and provided the groove incandescence and performed it — ‘Evil’ took approximately one year to record, pressed at PRI in Wyandanch, Long Island, New York.
Would you share your insight on the albums’ tracks?
‘It’s Only A Matrix’ — Yes, 15 years before the movie — all humans are connected by the laws of physics and magnetics.
‘Music Scientist’ — Science is now brought into the realm of music by Konrad.
‘Don’t Want No Police’ — Sadness for the whole course of humanity — we need protection from ourselves.
‘Alien’ — There are no “wars” for higher intelligence.
‘Working Man’ — Want more from life than just your job!
How pleased was the band with the sound of the album? What, if anything, would you like to have been different from the finished product?
No band on my records — it was just me. I was sick of the attitude of NY recording studios, so I recorded on a $200 tape machine. I knew the future would provide, and it did. The great digital remastering Douglas Mcgowan accomplished proves I did the right thing. My music genre is “Konrad”. I would do nothing different.
Where did you press the album and how many copies did you press? Did you give them to any labels or radio stations? Did it get any attention?
Pressed at P.R.I. in Wyandanch, Long Island. I made a few thousand copies. Distributed by Titus Oaks Records in Brooklyn NY, which was owned by Alan Meltzer. Decades later he started Wind Up Records and discovered Creed and Evanescence. I am his first star! Album was rejected — no radio play, only lots of records sold to people in the future…
The cover artwork is really striking. What was the idea behind it?
Hunter graduation gown with hood up — message, I will teach you about evil.
Oh, and I forgot to ask. How did the name “Konrad” come to be?
It was Sharon’s nickname for me.
Did you perform any gigs before or after the gigs? If so, what was that like and what clubs did you play?
No gigs under Konrad, just played with some bands.
What followed after 1982? What occupies your life?
In the 1990’s — hooked up again with Alan Meltzer’s new company CD One Stop. We were Airborne Express #1 customer in the U.S., recording lots of (unreleased) music that Douglas Mcgowan now has.
Are you still involved with music?
I still record, and published a new Konrad ‘Evil’ recording in 2012 — ‘Human On Board’ — see iTunes. Barry Morrison CD — ‘More Sun At Night’ — see iTunes.
Which songs are you most proud of? Where and when was your most memorable gig?
Everything — my songs are my children, I’m proud of them all.
What do you think influenced you the most when thinking about ‘Evil’?
John Lennon being taken away from his child.
What currently occupies your life? What do you do for a living?
I work for a bank. I am working on a new CD.
How did you enjoy working with Douglas Mcgowan on the reissue?
Douglas Mcgowan is a true genius, right up there with all the record company presidents I met in the 1990s — Jan Holzman, Ahmet, Clive Davis — he was a pleasure to work with — brought the songs back to life… I feel the reissue is better quality then the original.
“Jim Morrison was my cousin”
I read somewhere that you mentioned you are related to Jim Morrison of The Doors?
Jim Morrison was my cousin. I met him several times at different stages in his life. I celebrate him with my Barry Morrison ‘More Sun At Night’ CD. I can send you a copy if requested. Most folks swear it’s Jim singing…
Is there any unreleased material?
Many hours, many decades. Douglas Mcgowan is now getting that material.
Let’s end this interview with some of your favourite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?
My CD collection is one of thousands. A few favorites — Beatles ‘Sgt Pepper,’ Rolling Stones ‘Let It Bleed’ & ‘Sticky Fingers,’ Ten Years After ‘A Space In Time,’ Grateful Dead ‘Aoxomoxoa,’ Black Sabbath ‘Master Of Reality,’ Emerson Lake and Palmer ‘Tarkus,’ King Crimson ‘In The Court of the Crimson King’.
Thank you for taking your time. Last word is yours.
‘Human On Board’ is my song for the future — geometrical acceleration — it’s what brought me here — I saw the cure for cancer — I saw musical advancements like a variation on ‘Gills; to help people that have breathing disorders — no one believed me about “stem cells” but yes, it exists.
Our future is our children.
Thank you, Konrad
Klemen Breznikar
Very special thanks to Douglas Mcgowan and his incredible work.
Yoga Records Official Website / Instagram / Bandcamp / YouTube
