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An Interview with Jim Semonik
Posted: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
By: Zak Vaudo
Musician, Promoter, PR Rep, Radio DJ

A driving force in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania industrial scene for over 10 years, Jim Semonik's name is well-known by many in this industry as a DJ, promoter and Rein[Forced] frontman. After a heavy bout with cancer and with the help of some well-trained specialists, strong family and friends in the business, Semonik has emerged victorious, bringing forth the Electronic Saviors compilation in celebration: a five-disc, 83-track set featuring a myriad of artists from all over the genre. All proceeds to the compilation go to the Center for Cancer Research and Wellness in Harrisburg, PA. Catching up with ReGen, Semonik looks back on the process and offers a hopeful glimpse of new projects to come.

With the Electronic Saviors compilation finally released, what are your thoughts on how everything has come into place up to now?

Semonik: It is quite surreal, actually. It is like living a dream. I feel like I have worked so hard for the past 15 years to put this scene on the map and now, since being diagnosed with cancer, I feel it is educational on two levels. On one hand, I am raising awareness for the world's deadliest killer. It is important for us as humans to be aware of what can happen to us and what to do to prevent it. Cancer is taking away too many brilliant people. Enough is enough. On the other hand, our scene has so much to give. We have had a voice for so long, and I think we have forgotten how to use it. The industrial scene is full of such positivity, and I think it is about time we show that to the world.

Were you surprised by the amount of artist involvement?

Semonik: Indeed, I was. It is beautiful. I am so very thankful to each and every one of the artists who contributed the time to do their tracks and even collaborate with me on some of them. This is an honest art form, and the artists on Saviors showcase that beautifully. In many ways, I am speechless.

Tell us about the time that's gone into piecing together this compilation.

Semonik: Time...it is something we don't have much of. [Laughs.]

It is important to accomplish as much as you can while you are here. I remember when my father was dying, one night I was in the room with my great aunt, and she asked him what he was thinking about. It breaks my heart that he had all of these regrets about money and relationships that he had let go of. I learned a lot that night. I lost him a few months later. If I am to die, in my final moments, I want to know that I have made a difference. I feel that by doing this compilation, I am avenging my father and every other victim of cancer, because it spits it the face of that disease. I started working on this in the summer I was diagnosed (2008). It took a year and a half to gather everything and compile it in the best way possible. I had a lot of doubters. My friend Dave, who helped co-produce the album, initially didn't like the order of the tracks. I assured him that I knew what I was doing, and it felt right. He now knows that it was. I was fighting the disease while building the Saviors comp. As the comp got larger, the cancer disintegrated. Now I am cancer-free and Electronic Saviors is born.

Do you have any stories about putting together the compilation that you'd wish to share? What were your biggest surprises?

Semonik: I like to tell the story of the Chemlab track. In January of 2009, chemo infected my pancreas. I almost died and spent two weeks in the hospital, including three days in intensive care. It was true suffering. After I was treated and released, I returned home. There was an e-mail from Jared Louche in my in-box. He said he had heard that I was doing this comp and that he and Wade Alin (of Christ Analogue and Atomica Project) wanted to write a tune for it. Now, everyone that knows me has an idea that I am a nerd for this band, and they are responsible for putting me on this career path. After reading the e-mail, I sent a reply saying, 'Hell yes!' As far as biggest surprises? Stromkern's track is unbelievable. Christ Analogue's pumps me up. ThouShaltNot's is just very moving. Deathline International's is incredible. It is actually unfair to single out particular songs, because each song drives the next one.

How has your struggle with cancer influenced your outlook on the music you immerse yourself in?

Semonik: I always knew that this music was exceptional. It helped me cure a disease and gave me hope. The strength and power of this genre is so immense that it is a shame that more people don't recognize it. If you've never heard Suicide Commando's Axis of Evil, Chemlab's Burn Out at the Hydrogen Bar, The Azoic's Forward, Iris's Wrath or Imperative Reaction's Redemption, man, I feel bad for you, because you are missing out on some honest powerful music. I could go on and on, as I own full CD discographies by mostly every band on this comp. They are all wonderful. This union of artists gave me such amazing hope for humanity and its triumph over this sickness.

With the final stages of recovery over at last, do you see yourself back on stage, or focusing more on your role in promotion?

Semonik: I always see myself back on stage at some point, whether it is with Rein[Forced] or my new project, Borderlines, that I do with my good friends Jay and Chase. What I really want to do is collaborate and sing on other artist's albums. I am contributing a track to the new Dark Clan release. The collaboration with Cable from Encoder and Patricia Wake is exceptionally emotional, and the Prometheus Burning collaboration turned out quite well, too. It is now a full year since the reconnection of my digestive system, and I feel nearly recovered. When springtime comes, I want to run some more and get back into shape, as the chemo has ways of wearing you down.

What does the future hold for Jim Semonik?

Semonik: I would love to say great things are in store, but who knows? I'd love to be able to land a job helping cancer patients; I just don't know where to look. I have a BA in psychology from Penn State and am a survivor, so I am definitely qualified. I really think my experience would benefit countless people, and I want to share my knowledge. I'd love to do a music project with my girlfriend, Alea, at some point too. Oh, and...Saviors 2.

Is Saviors 2 in the making right now, or just a vision to be acted on?

Semonik: It is a vision. I have an artwork idea and want to do a gold color scheme. The artist, Jeff, is on board, and I already heard from a few bands that they will do it again. The goal is to do three of them, total, but I do need a break, and I won't get started on it till summertime, most likely.

Do you have any new music of your own that you're working on or that you plan to work on?

Semonik: The next Rein[Forced] album, X Amount of Stabwounds in the Back, is about 33 percent complete, so it will be a while on that one. There will be a Borderlines album this year, and hopefully more collaborations with other Saviors artists. I love that. It brings everyone together.

What song from the compilation do you think best describes this portion of your life, from your battle with cancer to this huge release?

Semonik: If I had to pick one from Saviors it would be 'The Fight' from Christ Analogue: 'You should have known who the fight was with...fucker!'