Valley resident Michael Barrett wears a great many hats: musician, producer, visual artist, promoter, producer and DJ. His current musical focus is noise outfit Belltonesuicide, a band now entering its second decade. The group, inspired by ultra-prolific experimental noise merchants like Merzbow, Muslimgauze and Nurse With Wound, features—in addition to other sundry sometime-collaborators—Barrett on electronics, four strings and "metal," Andy Kivela on electronics and "the boom-takka-takka," and Brett Robinson on four strings, microphone and delay.

In addition to this and other sound-related projects, Barrett paints, makes prints, curates shows and festivals, releases CDRs on his own imprint, and hosts an envelope-pushing experimental radio program 10 p.m. to midnight each Friday on 91.1 WMUA.

Barrett took time out recently from his hectic schedule to talk to the Advocate about his stack of interests.

Valley Advocate: What's it like being in a band for a full decade?

Michael Barrett: Second nature. At this point I pretty much constantly think about making sounds, where sounds come from, how to arrange my gear—it's my creative output. I guess I would have stopped the band if I ever stopped having new ideas or the desire to play. Even when I have little to no time to jam or practice, I'm thinking about sound work, installations, incorporating new instruments, recording methods. To quote Genesis P-Orridge, "Thee Process is Thee Product." The process is unending. As far as success goes, well, it's not about that, really. I'd love to have a bigger fan base, a label releasing my music and the ability to tour three months out of the year, but I'm bad at self-promotion.

What is the ultimate setting for a Belltonesuicide show?

I'll play anywhere, any time, with anyone. Less at hardcore shows now since hardcore kids seem more close-minded than other audiences nowadays. I like outdoor gigs, but the last two have seen my sets ended by thunderstorms. I like art galleries. I like house shows. We haven't played anywhere really big yet. I wonder how that would work out. I'd love to do more outdoor festivals. But really, the best setting is where we can get to full volume.

How did the band name come about?

Summer '98 was when I really started recording in my basement, and I had the TV news on one night. It was during the Connecticut Bell strike, or AT&T or some phone company. I just started thinking about strikes and line breakers and what if someone on strike got to the point where he or she committed suicide. Bell tone suicide. I wrote it on a tape I'd been recording onto, and changed that to the band name a few months later.

You are very active in promoting local and like-minded music. What do you feel your role is in the "scene," as a band and individual?

There's a lot of free-form experimental music happening everywhere, more now than there was 10 years ago when I started, at least in the Valley. When I got into the scene, I'd maybe get to see Squidlaunch or Series play once every couple of months. That was before Flywheel opened. Community Chest Records in Easthampton used to do monthly in-stores. Dan Bodah of Voice and Salt Broadcast on WMUA would throw something [in] occasionally. But the loop was small. Not every one had email then, either. It was all phone lists and making sure you saw a flier or remembered to tell people yourself. Growing up through the punk scene, I always wanted to be involved, so as soon as I could do something, I did.

I'm an enthusiast, really. That's why I started doing a radio show again this year after having left WMUA in 2006. It's no longer about what the press and promoters feed us as cool and trendy, but what I'm passionate about in new DIY music. I've done house shows as much as I can, though I rarely seem to end up living in places that house shows work in. As a band, this is all just courtesy. If I were to email someone out of the blue and ask for help with a show, I do so expecting a little help, at least to be pointed in the right direction. So I do the same here. That's how the DIY underground works. There are no promoters or managers—it's just people doing house shows and running places like Flywheel. Passionate people in it for the love of art and music, not money.

Is there a working philosophy or credo for the band?

Yes and no. On one hand, I'm a total Dadaist. On the other, I have a specific idea of what kind of spiritual, psychedelic space I'm trying to create. Then I go and collaborate with like-minded individuals, but I really have no idea what their mindset is going into our performance. We don't do any real psych-up before our sets. We show up, say hi—most of the time—talk about music and books, then jump on stage. There's no pre-game rah-rah bullshit. We don't cleanse our minds before playing, we do it through playing. That's what I do. I think that's what Andy does, but he always seems angrier after playing, and I've no idea what's going on in Brett's head. It's nothing and everything all at once. But there's always an exposition of power, subverting it, co-opting it, deprogramming the listener. I don't think people that watch a lot of TV really like my band.

Could you guess how many releases there have been over the years?

I think I lost track at 15. I actually started a discography notebook only two years ago: 28 as Belltonesuicide, including splits, collaborations and compilation tracks, 2001 to the present.

How does your approach to painting and printmaking differ from your music—or is it the same?

My method for both is completely intuitive, focusing on layers of color, tone, texture and movement. Only the tools are different. Even to the extent that I use samples and found tapes like I use found objects for collaging and relief prints.

Your shows can be confrontational at times, and sometimes destructive. What are some of the stranger or more colorful reactions you've gotten?

Getting punched in the nuts and told by that person he can't unsee what I just put in his head. And that's from one of my best friends."

For more info on all things Barrett, visit myspace.com/belltonesuicide.