Stefan St. John [a.k.a. Voytek Den Ouden] began working with electronics and obscure musical concepts in the summer of 2001. By experimenting with synthesis and sampling noises, he created his own effects through keyboards and other electronic devices. When he developed his sound, in 2004, Force.is.Machine was born - an old school, industrial sound combined with unique, self-made percussion and style. Unique is an understatement when it comes to his music and him as a person.
By 2007 Stefan and Force.is.Machine was quickly making a name for himself in the industrial genre. Though the music was well received, the project struggled under the small Florida scene. The band went on a hiatus in 2008. Stefan continued working on material that, to this day, has not been released.
In March of 2010, St. John and two of his friends took a day trip to Cocoa Beach, FL. Stefan became separated from his friends at some point during the night and he hitchhiked 15 miles from the beach. The gracious driver dropped him off as close to "home" as they were able to take him. He phoned a friend and she was on the way to pick him up. As he waited, he walked down the unlit highway. She was nearing the area where he was and spoke with Stefan on the phone to try and find him. According to the girl he was speaking with, the call dropped and would go straight to voicemail when she called back. She never found him and drove back to Orlando. It was later revealed that the call was dropped because that was the moment Stefan had been struck by a passing vehicle. The person who hit him called emergency services and waited until they arrived. Sadly, Stefan had passed on before the paramedics arrived.
Stefan was an unparalleled composer, artist, and performer. It's a shame that his music didn't reach as many people as it should have. This is why we, his best friends and band mates, have chosen to continue playing his music live. We, too, are in love with the music he created and believe it shouldn't go unheard. We plan on infecting the world with his music....be prepared.
May Stefan St. John rest in peace. As for the rest of us, it's our job to make sure his name lives on and his music gets heard.
Nitzer Ebb + Frontline Assembly + Front 242 + Fix8:Sed8
Influences
Frontline Assembly, Panzer Division, Nitzer Ebb, KMFDM, Die Warzau, In Strict Confidence, Skinny Puppy, Das Ich, Einsturzende Neubauten, Front 242, Ministry, Haujobb, Suicide Commando, Death and Horror Inc, VAC, Grendel, Razed In Black, Funker Vogt, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Fixmer/McCarthy, Depeche Mode, Throbbing Gristle, Slick Idiot, DFECT, Bolt.E.D, Volt [.EXE]
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