Hello, and thank you for participating in this edition of Infidel Interviews. First off can we start off with some basics about yourself including name, age, where you live, and what musical skills you have / instruments you play?
I am Elvis Einstein, I am Thirty Two years of age, and I am originally from Shubenacadie Nova Scotia, now presiding in Windsor Nova Scotia. I play several Instruments… Guitar, bass, Drums (basic), the Ocarina, and most important to my music specifically, keyboards and piano. I Also produce, record and engineer, all of my own work…
How do you enjoy where you live? Is there a vibrant music community for you to indulge? Would you say you find that your local scene influences your attitude and/or creativity?
I have mixed feeling about where I live…. I challenge any to find a place in the world that could rival the natural and very well preserved beauty of Nova Scotia. However cultural and artistic diversity are not common place here… there is not much of a music or multi-cultural scene in Nova Scotia, outside of the capitol of Halifax, unless you are one who enjoys Country Music, East Coast Rock, or East Coast Music (Folk)… Even in Halifax there would not be much of a scene for Elvis Einstein, despite the odd “Industrial Night” at some dank pub… So, absolutely not… My Community has nothing to do with my inspiration or my musical influence….
Your music bridges on a lot of different styles, from electronica, to hip-hop, to metal, to blues. Do you find it difficult to manage all your influences into one cohesive package? Or is the fun in the beauty of trying to make all the elements work in the project?
I do not find it very difficult at all, I simply write as I desire to write, or play as I desire to play… my creative process is very natural and organic. I simply pick up my guitar, or a keyboard, and just let the music flow through me. Once I write something that I love, I record it. The specific style is rarely thought of at the time I write the piece. I usually start off with a melody that is in my head, and purge it through instrumentation… Sometimes it’s a rock song, sometimes it’s bluesy, or more metal, or gothic, or industrial ect…
Your image harks back to the days of Mercyful Fate and KISS. Would you say 70's and 80's rock/metal played a huge influence into your style and image? What about the painted face and dark imagery attracted you to your current aesthetic?
I am glad that you mentioned Mercyful Fate, because King Diamond has had a huge influence on my image. I have always thought about presence when it comes to image…. If a performer plays a guitar, and sings you a song, you might remember him/her if you really enjoyed their music… however, if said performer scared the unholy shit out of you, you’re going to remember them either way! Though it is not my goal to frighten people, it is my goal to have people not just remember or think about my music, but to think about me, my face, my very presence and existence… My goal is to have Elvis Einstein stay in your head… I think the dark Imagery is very affective at this, though I’m not sure that my image does stay with everyone who is presented with it… I am sure it has helped to make Elvis Einstein more memorable to those it has…
I can see that throughout your lyrics there is a persistent theme that is extremely critical of the world around you. This sort of rhetoric often comes with dark imagery that I have seen. Would you say that your image has been built on that of the outcast? And if so, where would you say your story of alienation and perseverance begins?
The truth is, I do not mean to be so critical of the world around me, I just see a lot of Dark and ugly things in the world in which I exist, and that is what I choose to write about. I also see a great deal of beauty, but as an artist I am less inclined to express myself in a light hearted manner. I would not say that my music or image has been built on that of an outcast, more so as an individual who chose a different path. Though I have been alienated at times, I believe this is common place for anyone… none of us fit perfectly… I have never had trouble being social, and easily get along with most anyone… However adversity is no stranger to me, and I am a rather eccentric person… My life has been trying, and I have faced a fair deal… and not everyone understands me… but I would like to think that the larger percentage at least accept me.
You are a very profilic musician. You have released over 50 tracks in the last 3 years, with most of it being produced by yourself. How did you get into the role of being a songwriter/singer/producer? Which part of the composition process do you feel like you enjoy the most?
I actually produce 100% of my own work… Other than the odd vocal track I receive or Re-mix that I do. As for how I got into the songwriter/singer/producer trifecta, it came out of necessity. In my early years of playing music, I often tried to play in bands, and rather enjoyed it, but it would not be long before creative differences would come up, or something else would not work out… I always wanted to write a solo album, so after a long musical hiatus, I purchased some gear, and a recording program, and slowly started to work at the craft of recording and producing music. I had been writing music for years, but making quality recordings was a whole new art form, but seemingly the only route to my goal of full musical creative control and freedom.
I would have to say the process of writing music if the part I enjoy the most, something about the excitement that takes place when you write a new song and really appreciate it!
Your musical inspiration seems quite varied? What major bands or artists have inspired you to pursue music the way you do today, and why?
The most influential artists that have had an impact on my music would have to be “Marilyn Manson”, and “Alice Cooper”… When I was thirteen years old, the very first album I ever officially bought was “Antichrist Superstar”, and what a huge impact that album had on me… I was going through one of the toughest periods of my young life at the time, and the album really spoke to me. Though I would not personally say that my music emulates that of Manson’s (though the accusation has been made), his work has definitely made a lasting impression on me and the way that I create music… and vocally, “Alice Cooper” would be an obvious influence… I always loved falsetto vocals, but try as I might, I just could not sing well enough… but I did have a “raspy as fuck” singing voice, and behold, Alice showed me that an unconventional raspy voice could also be a powerful way to deliver a potent message… Other influences would include “King Diamond”, “Ronnie James Dio”, “Judas Priest”, “Rage Against the Machine” just to name a few…
Would you say that your choice to pursue music has changed your life since you started? Would you say that creativity has evolved you spiritually, emotionally, or logically? What are some of the biggest challenges you have had to overcome in your musical career?
I think it would be better suited to ask me if my life would have been different if I had never gotten into music… I started to write, and take part in music at the age of 12 when I received my first Casio Keyboard. I was at a developmental point in my life, and was just discovering who I was when music became a part of me. I literally don’t know who I would have become without music being in my life. I’m not sure if creativity has caused any spiritual, emotional or logical evolution for the same reason… but I have evolved creatively. Creativity has been, and continues to be an emotional and spiritual part of my life, but has always been as a natural process for me. It’s sort of like asking if having a circulatory system has changed my life, or if breathing has evolved me spiritually, emotionally, or logically…
The biggest challenge I have had to overcome was seriously poor attitude toward my own musical creativity, I at one point for several years became extremely critical of the music I was writing, and nothing was good enough. The time signatures where too basic, the songs did not have enough verses, it was not progressive enough, I became a real prick about what a song should be. I thought that each song had to be a monument of my journey, as opposed to just writing music to express myself, and that people could enjoy… it took several years for me to eventually come out of this stage, but it was something I had to go through.
Are there any particular instruments, programs, or effects that you would say are vital to you making music?
Absolutely, for instruments, Keyboards/midi triggers are extremely vital, as well as guitars. The two most important programs that I use are “Mixcraft”, and “Izotope Ozone”. As for effects, Chorus and Delay, I rarely record a song without at least one of these effects or both.
Is collaboration something that is actively important to you? Do you have any individuals you are particularly successful, or unsuccessful, in collaboration with? Have there been any collaborative based songs that you would say stand out to you?
Collaboration is very important to me. I feel that at this level on the music scene, artists really need to stand beside and support one another. So many wonderful musicians fade away into complete obscurity, but collaboration helps us to find new audiences through the fans of other artists.
My greatest collaborative successes would definitely be the work I have done with “Kriistal ann” and “Venus de Vilo”. The song “Masters of the Broken” with Kriistal ann, is still among the most popular songs I have ever released, and still remains as one of the most downloaded. Kriisal ann is an amazing performer and vocalist, and I will forever hold dear the work that we have done, and I hope to work with her again in the future..
Venus de Vilo is to me, one of the greatest female vocalist and artists in the world today, period! Every time I work with any of her music it always brings out the best in me, and something wonderful is created. I Love the idea that two artists on different sides of an ocean, who have never met, can combine their music to create something so powerful… and a sound to me, which is like no other. Venus and I will also be putting out an album in the near future presently titled “Necrodance”, it will be a collection of Re-mixes, some of which have never been heard. I can only hope the world will be ready!!!
You can check out these Amazing Artists here. Kriistal Ann - https://soundcloud.com/kriistal-ann
Venus de Vilo - https://soundcloud.com/venusdevilo
When it comes to your live show, how would you describe yourself thematically and visually? Are you an energy, and audience driven band in the live atmosphere? Or would you consider yourself to be more thematic or presentation oriented?
My dearest new friend, unfortunately, due to my present lifestyle of husband and father of four, the complete lack of a music scene which would welcome me in my present geographical location, and a lack of the resources available to me to put on the type of show I would like to put on, for the time being live show are out of the question… though I can tell you that when the times does finally come (and hopefully in the not so distant future) my shows will be far more thematic and presentation oriented… I would only put on a show that would do justice for the music that I create…
If you could play any anywhere, with anyone, in the world, dead or alive, who and where would it be?
I would have to say Venus de Vilo, and it doesn’t matter where, as long as it was in front of a very large appreciative audience. It sounds like an odd choice I’m sure, what with so many other legendary performers. But I just feel as if it would make a bigger impact on the listeners, than anything I could ever do with anyone else…
Thank you so much for participating in this episode of Infidel Interview. Any parting words for your fans, or my audience?
You are very welcome, and thank you for taking the time to ask me such engaging questions. I appreciate your genuine interest. I would like to take this time to tell everyone reading, that as well as the “Necrodance” album with Venus, I will also be releasing another album of my own titled “Future Neverwas”, to be released in the near future… no release date has been set as of yet… but you will be one of the first to know… Thank you to all of my listeners, and thank you to all who supported my journey, I am extremely grateful.
Check out Elvis Einstein on
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/elvis_einstein
Bandcamp: https://elviseinstein.bandcamp.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elviseinstein1
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/elviseinstein