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Klayton Scott is no stranger to the industrial scene. In the 1990s, he fronted the underground sensation Circle of Dust, as well as the side project Argyle Park, which included contributions from some industrial heavyweights such as Tommy Victor of Prong and Jim Thirlwell of Foetus. After disbanding Circle of Dust in 1997 (closing out their legacy with the brilliant Disengage ), collaborating with C.o.D. guitarist Darren Diolosa on his first Klank album, and a stint writing music for New York illusionist Criss Angel, Klayton focused all his energies on a new project that would be the ultimate extension of his musical vision. Thus, Celldweller was born. Keeping fans up to date with Celldweller's progress via MP3.com, the debut album was released in January of 2003, with The Beta Cessions following earlier this year. ReGen speaks with Klayton on his battles with record label hypocrisy, past mistakes, and future endeavors.

Your debut album was released in January 2003. How pleased are you with the way fans and critics have received it?

Klayton : I don't pay attention. It is too easy to get caught up in people's opinions. Opinions are said to be like assholes ? everyone's got one and they all stink. It is impossible to please everyone and chasing that is the end of true art. I completely appreciate when people let me know that they relate or enjoy my art. I'm still a little unsure how to handle it, but I appreciate it nonetheless. My thing is that I ultimately have to live with everything I create ? that is my only focus when I am committing to a final product. Will I hate it in a month? Probably. Oh well, on to something new.

You've just released The Beta Cessions , which features alternate versions and demos, instrumentals, and remixes. Why release such a collection so soon after the debut?

Klayton : The debut CD is coming around to its 2-year anniversary, so it's not all that soon. There were a multitude of reasons for releasing The Beta Cessions . One main reason is because so many Cellmates wanted this material. The instrumental mixes that have been used in the movies and video games etc, the original mixes of some of the songs on the debut CD and some unreleased material that people heard was floating around. This CD has not been released commercially?it is strictly for the Cellmates and only available at Celldweller.com. I don't want this perceived as ?the new Celldweller CD' and have done as much as I can to make that perfectly clear.

Moby, another genre-bending artist, faced the sell-out argument after licensing a great deal of his music. Plus, Celldweller's music seems to possess a wider appeal than the underground sensibility Circle of Dust had. How does Celldweller avoid being labeled sell-out compared to Circle of Dust?

Klayton : I don't particularly care if people call me a sellout or not and I'm not trying to acquire or avoid the tag. I am here doing what I do for me and that is my only focus. My attitude has never changed?if you don't like it, don't buy my music, go see my shows and wear my t-shirts. I am not going to cry over it. I just don't see where someone ever gets off telling an artist they are ?selling out' because they are starting to make money or gain notoriety. What do you know about that person's life? Probably nothing, so kindly keep your conjecture to yourself. Let the real fans, the people who appreciate your art continue to support it. That doesn't mean there aren't artists who intentionally ?sell out.' To me a sellout is someone who chases trends and does whatever they can to further themselves, usually at the expense of their art. If that's what they want to do, go for it. It has nothing to do with me and certainly doesn't reflect my position on the subject. For me writing is a vital catharsis. I need to create or I will destroy.

The Celldweller Web site reveals ?The Last Firstborn? to be the live band's favorite song to perform, yet the video was done for ?Switchback.? Why this song as opposed to any other song on the album?

Klayton : It is the most licensed track and the most immediate. The video and the choosing of that song were deliberate. Although I'd love to have the video made the way I saw it and have it just be a complete piece of art, I am an ?independent artist'. That means I have nobody's big money behind me to help gain exposure for the project. We needed a video for promotional reasons more than to just create my complete vision. I chose to take the path that might allow me to continue making my art by creating a video that could get airplay and expose Celldweller to new fans. What a sellout.

Like Circle of Dust, Celldweller has been primarily you, Klayton, alone in the studio with occasional help from other musicians. As Dale and Kemikal have been part of your live band, what are the chances of them making an appearance on the next Celldweller album?

Klayton : There could be a pretty good chance. I'm rather non-committal when it comes to making promises, but we'll see how the process unfolds. There's always the outside chance I'll buy a $10 Casio keyboard off eBay and write the whole CD with that.

You've been making music for well over a decade with Circle of Dust, and now Celldweller, and you've collaborated with some big names in the scene such as Prong and Foetus, yet you remain relatively obscure and independent. Why is this?

Klayton : I guess I suck.

You've always been at the cutting edge of technology. How difficult is it to stay ahead of the game and keep coming up with fresh ideas?

Klayton : I don't get caught up in that game. I love technology so I am constantly trying new software because I love the possibilities it creates. But first and foremost for me it's about the song. I had a laughable amount of gear for my first three full-length Circle of Dust CDs?almost nothing. I work around the confines I have as opposed to feeling limited by them. If you desire something badly enough you'll make it happen somehow, even if at the end of the day it is merely a representation of what you really wanted. A prototype.

While the music incorporates a wider range of genres, from rave to alternative to even classical, Celldweller seems to be associated with the industrial rock scene. What do you think of Celldweller's place in the music scene?

Klayton : Again, I don't pay attention. I have never strived to be something specific or to fit into a certain genre musically. I listen to so many different types of music so how could I possibly limit what I create to be limited only one style? I would bore myself to death if that were the case. Again, human nature is to label and categorize things into something more tangible or palatable, so if people choose to label it, what can I do? Celldweller sounds like Celldweller to me. Hopefully people will simply perceive it that way as well.

Having contributed a great deal to Criss Angel's musical output in the interim between Circle of Dust and Celldweller, what are the chances of a future collaboration with him?

Klayton : None.

Your conflicts with your record label during Circle of Dust have become the stuff of underground lore. Has this played any part in Celldweller not being signed to a major label?

Klayton : Not at all. I did have some serious issues at the end of Circle of Dust with my former label, but that is long over and done with and has nothing to do with Celldweller.

You've been known in the past for having multiple projects at once (Circle of Dust, Argyle Park , etc.). What other projects do you have now besides Celldweller?

Klayton : None. I am done spreading myself thin. The beauty about Celldweller is there are no musical limitations so I feel free to create anything I desire as Celldweller. I've confused people enough in the past with my pseudonyms and myriads of projects. I give my fans props for keeping up?they absolutely deserve medals for it and If I get time I might even bake them some cookies. Celldweller is my only focus.

You've licensed ?Switchback? for several Web sites and film trailers. How pleased are you with the amount of exposure this has gained for Celldweller?

Klayton : Again, I stay detached. I don't want to get caught up in recreating the same song because people like that track specifically. It's cool to see people signing up on our mailing list because of ?Enter the Matrix? or ?Spiderman 2,? etc. At least I know it's having some effect.

You've performed primarily in the USA . What are the chances that Celldweller will tour Europe ?

Klayton : It's not a matter of whether or not we want to play there but I can promise that I am not going to lose my ass funding a tour overseas. When the demand is obvious and we get a serious offer from someone to bring us there, we're going. I have always felt Europe is much more open-minded musically than the USA and Celldweller would be understood a lot easier over there. Most of my electronic influences are from European artists and musical styles. Go figure.

When can we expect to hear any new material from Celldweller?

Klayton : I'm hoping the first quarter of 2005 but that is me being overly optimistic.