Interview with Godmachine!!!

I recently had a chance to interview the international artist simply known as Godmachine. Bottom line this dude rules, unnerving design work which is truly a sight to behold.


Click here to get familiar with his work.





Introduce yourself to the unfamiliar avatars of the internet.


I’m an artist that goes by the name of Godmachine. I draw lots of stuff like skateboards, posters, album artwork but its mostly t-shirts for bands and clothing companies.


Typically I get frustrated when I follow people on twitter who post incessantly. You on the other hand separate yourself by actually bringing social and political commentary as well as horror stories from the life of a designer to the table. Do you look at twitter as a soapbox of sorts or a means to let off steam from a frustrating day?


Oh wow- thats a great way of putting it. Twitter…its like my bucket I keep by the side of my head and when I feel queasy and something is about to come up I lean over and do a word chuck up on there. I suppose its a form of me reaching out to make a noise and say ‘I’m here’ to everyone, its gets lonely as a designer; they didnt tell you this in school: being a designer means being alone for long periods of time. Twitter is my way to blow of steam. I suppose its just nonesense, I am always suprised when I get comments back. Recently I used a youtube video on my blog and of course youtube tells you how many times the video has been played; untill then I didnt really think anyone looked at my blog- the video count stunned me frankly. It’s the same with twitter, I dont really know whats going on but I suppose people like car crashes etc, so it pays to follow me haha.


Extremely well put, i feel the same way. I just appreciate you putting a cog in system by posting things other than “washing my face lol.” Nails on a chalkboard.





Lets put the reader in your artist chair, describe your set up, music you like to listen to, general ambience (quiet, loud) etc.


i have a sensitive ear from being in a band for thirteen years so I don’t rock it too loud any more. I like all sorts of music really- from Donovan to Weedeater to the Police to film soundtracks- I really am quite eclectic that way- I suppose as an artist you need to be open to draw inspiration from everywhere- if you stay in one place you become stagnant…maybe? I like to work in the kitchen when I am at home- its the hub of a house I make some coffee and turn on the lamp and fluster and avoid drawing by scouring the web for nonsense and then at twelve at night comitt to some work. I sit infront of a twenty-two inch screen in a dark warm room with the window open in the middle of a town and liten to the fights at night and the seagulls in the morning- they are the bookends to my working day/night. Inbetween that is cats, coffee, photoshop and a wacom.


Most excellent set up, its nice to have the contrast of the world outside of your window coming in while you work.





(artwork for the band “Ignominus Incarcer”)


Since you design some of the most ghastly and frightful creatures/monsters out there today, what would your plan of attack be to destroy them if they ever came to life? Since the creators are the ones who typically hold the key to their demise, would you know what to do or would you just say “fuck it” and curl up into a ball?


Haha I have heard that a lot recently: I design scary stuff. I never really thought I did. I have recently been introduced to all those famous black and white ink artists that do sicker stuff than me- they are brilliant- all mutated bodies and …welll I cant wont go into it. But they are sicker than me. Odd thing is I am totally into cute things too- one of my favourite artists is greg abbott some seventeen year old kid from the UK who does simple cartoon like cute creatures/cats/monkeys etc… I love all that stuff. I suppose a man who works in a car factory may ride a bike to work.


If I was to meet a monster I would be too happy to fight- as humans in this new world where old religions are waining terribly and we look for new things like vampires, x-files aliens, monsters the supernatural like Lost etc. I would be happy that there is more, that there is ‘the unknown’. nah- thats bollox- I would dump in my undercrackers and cry.


Well played! I feel like there is so much we have yet to unfurl in our known surroundings and beyond. I’m sure some of your designs have given the world a preview of what is to come.





Lets talk Blade Runner, I have noticed you are a fan of perhaps one of my favorite all time movies. What do you think of the new transfers, extended scenes etc. and what draws you so much to this film?


It’s weird that the film should come back into my life recently. I havent thought about it since I was a kid- I loved the film then but I left it there in my past. I think as you get to a certain age you slow down enough to not only be able to look back but you want to look back- almost as if you are taking stock. One of the things I got into recently was to retrace all the films I loved from back in the day. I have also become a big fan of soundtracks, been listening to Dark City soundtrack and Krull. So I went into town to see that dusty section in the record store of film soundtracks - saw Blade Runner and it all came flooding back. The people in the know…know. The soundtrack is genius. It’s great when you meet people that ‘know’ about Blade Runner and the soundtrack and its equally entertaining when a young wipper-snapper is looking at you puzzles as you praise a film sountrack haha. I’m all about the 1994 version of the soundtrack though. I went and bought the 3 disk special but its all a cash cow- stick with the original. If anyone has a copy of the film with the overdub- I will buy it- I cant find it anywhere.


I bought the 4 disc collectors dvd with the toys etc. it felt worth it as a collectors tool but not the dvd’s themselves…the original version of the film is the best by far.


Tru dat.





Are there any pieces in your vast catalogue that you are most proud? if so, explain your reasoning.


Haha I do have 3 favourits at the moment: one for Weedeater, one for Kylesa and an album cover for Speedblow. I like them because it was something I did for myself. I recently took time of to do some work in my own ’style’ for myself. The problem is i became known for one style that I enjoyed doing but became popular really fast and was copied vastly so I wanted to stear away from the crowd. The problem is when you are well known for one style people are unsure about the new style, it took me ages to sell them to the right people. I wanted them to go to the right homes. I am in a quandry whether to show them to the public, I want to do a whole back catalogue before i do.


You touch on a very valid point about artists catching up to what you do. Its frustrating from a brand standpoint as well when we have carved a niche in something we like then all of a sudden everyone else is doing it because its a proven seller and safe. This ultimately leads back to the artists we use. How do you tackle staying ahead of the game and moving foward in your work?


Rockett has to be one of my favourite clothing companies, I love the way you aren’t afraid to put your knob under the hammer…Jesus where did that term come from? Haha. But its true- always something different and new- but then you do have some amazing artists working for you guys, I am proud to know some of them and from the whispers on the web-vine I have heard you have some more killer stuff coming out in the future.


For me I want to try everything, I see a picture or a colour and I want to try and work it into what I do. I thinks its easy to stay ahead of the game in some ways- you just got to love art in all its forms. Saying that- not having a dedicated style you run the risk of producing something a client is unsure of. Shit. Yes you do have the people who want safety and sales, and its those same people that come back months later and ask for the thing they turned down originaly. It took me ages to find someone willing to buy the piece the Architects took, they saw that and nearly took my fingers off. The ‘A Day to Remember’ tee of a women eating some brains- I had to battle a little with the boys to let me do that if I remember- (i think they are used to em giving them shit now- they are awesome guys to work for ) but since then it has been said that the tee defined a style and I get asked to replicate those two tees loads. Same with the Red Shore wolf- I get sick of people asking me for another version of that- and I turn them all down. I bet there are a lot of artists making good dollar off what I reject haha.


I definitely hear you on that. It must be beyond infuriating when other companies ask you to rip off your own artwork. At the end of the day you can hold your artistic integrity in tact though, which counts in the long run.


I think this about wraps things up, I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to do this. Great interview. Any last words, shout outs, etc. you want to throw out there?


yep, I hope I didnt come across as a pleb or anything and send me rockett t-shirts! And hello Derek Deal.