killtocure: Infidel Interview #32
First of, just want to thank you for participating in this edition of Infidel Interviews. Could you start off by giving a little information about yourself to the audience? Whatever you feel comfortable with, but name, age, what instruments you can play, and where you live would be pretty standard?
I'm 31 years old.
Living in San Diego, CA.
I can play piano, keys, guitar, sax.
My day gigs are spent as a UI/UX designer & Freelance artist.
Would you say that your choice to pursue music has changed your life since you started?
I've always been interested in areas where creativity could be explored. Whether that's through digital/traditional visual arts & media or music creation. Initially it was a way to deeper connect to the music I was enjoying and being inspired by. Curiosity then figuring out how to replicate it and evolve it from there. And as I got better and more comfortable, it also became a way to meet other people who had similar tastes and aspirations. Devoting time to pursue music created a new tendril/brush to work with.
Would you say that creativity has evolved you spiritually, emotionally, or logically?
It's definitely lead me down some interesting pathways. Some darker and weirder than others. Being exposed to other creative individuals often comes with as much risk as there are rewards. However, over time I would say there's a discipline that's acquired and that grows. It's taught me to never fully give up on any project, never be afraid to share anything I've created, and never stop learning. Getting over your own self doubts and internal conflicts plays a big role as well. Have confidence in what you're marking, even if you don't fully understand it. So very much emotionally & logically. I'm not much for the spirituality.
What would you say would be you short term, and long term, goals for your musical career?
Short term I would say would be to focus on new technologies/DAWS & hardware. Having the time to really focus on writing & practicing would be nice too. I don't really see this as a career per say as much as it's just another creative outlet. A hobby that could grow. I don't see myself as a professional musician.
What would you say are your favorite themes and topics to write about?
At the moment I've just stuck to instrumentals. These could be classified by Electronic, Industrial ,IDM, Glitch, Grind, Rock ,Noise genres.
Other topics would be nihilism, transhumanism, machiavellianism, war profiteering, scifi landscapes/cities, dystopian societies, isolation, drug/substance abuse, urban decay, horror, violence, technology.
I'm drawn to harder rock/metal/goth/industrial in general. Some specific music influence would be Skinny Puppy, Ministry, Ulver, Nine Inch Nails, Squarepusher, Aphex Twin, Blut Aus Nord, Swans, Godflesh, Neurosis, Coil.
Visually the themes I would be drawn to or imagining when I'm writing would be works created by H.R Giger or Beksinski.
What draws you to those themes?
Something about things in flux/change, things in states of chaos or manipulation. Things that are grimier and harder to sit with or understand fascinate me. As well as themes that promote progress and improvement are just as as important to me as well. However,
I haven't really found a voice to express things vocally for it, or to come up with anything to add that's already been said.
I like a lot of the textures and tonal elements found in black metal/death metal and industrial rock. But I also appreciate the expansive ethereal elements found in other genres.
When you make music are you primarily a hardware or software oriented musician? Or do you do a fusion of both?
It's definitely a fusion of both and whatever sounds seem to work in the moment. I don't much hardware wise but I do record directly into DAWs via an interface or midi. Other times I'll just keep continually tweaking VST instruments or manipulating my own samples until I get what I'm looking for.
Do you participate in the analog versus digital debate, vouching for the purity of analog sound?
Not at all. Nothing is pure. Sometimes one element can easily be transformed or recycled into another. It's all just instruments and tools that ultimately further the creative process.
I feel the same way about visual media the digital vs traditional debate.
Or do you find it negligent with the advances of technology nowadays?
Even with all the advances made to technology it still requires a thoughtful and determined hand to wield it. Through all the drudgery, monotony, and automation there will always be the real deal that shines through.
Do you spend a lot of time crafting your own sounds? Or do you value song crafting and effects tweaking more? Or do you find it's a balance between the two? What's your relationships with presets?
I really enjoy just writing things out with very simple sounds, even just straight MIDI if I don't have a texture/tonal objective in my mind. It all depends on where the process starts. If it's at a DAW like ableton, or I'm sitting in front of my piano, or tweaking knobs on my microbrute.
Sometimes you can hear and feel it.
And other times it's just some notes and percussive elements I'm not sure where they will lead.
When it comes to influence and inspiration, and creativity, there is often a fine line. It's been said that all the sounds have been created, and all the notes played. Do you find it important and/or difficult to come up with "original" sounds? Or do you focus more on what sounds good over trying to find a so-called "original" sound?
I don't think much about this at all. I try to avoid repeating anything blatantly. I'm not too concerned with trends. I try to be as original as I can to myself. I do like experimenting and manipulating textures/sounds/presets.
Other than what you currently produce, what other sorts of genres, instruments, and sounds would you like to use in the future? Are there any people you would like to collaborate with in the future artistically, musically, or socially?
I'd love to create more complex and proficient writing in the future. I just need the time. I don't consider myself a master of my current tool set or palette. I'd say anyone that would want to collaborate is welcome to ask. I don't have anyone or anything else particular in my mind at the moment. Too many to list really.
What are your thoughts on genres in general? Do you find them creatively helpful as a template to work with? Or do you find them restricting? Or possibly somewhere in between? Now that the internet has caused so much crossover in music, would you even say genre labels are relevant any more?
Genres are helpful in some instances but not all. There's definitely a lot of bleedthrough/crossover in music now to where a lot of blurs together. Ultimately it's all up for interpretation that's always evolving anyway.
Is collaboration something that is actively important to you? Do you have any individuals you are particularly successful, or unsuccessful, in collaboration with? Has there been any collaborative based songs that you would say stand out to you?
Actively important? No. Collaboration can be great as a learning experience and will take things in directions you wouldn't have necessarily achieved on your own. But everyone has to be passionate about the project and on the same page. Otherwise you could misplace energy in someone that may not particularly care one way or another.
Have you had any particular moment(s) that you would like to share, that you would consider to be a crowning achievement in your musical career so far, or moments that you would say truly continue to inspire you to pursue your artistic path?
I've just enjoyed getting to share what I've created with an audience and being surprised that there was an audience in general. It's great to get feedback and hear what people think of it.
When it comes to non-musical media, what do you find yourself most inspired by, and what about it draws you to it as a source of inspiration?
I'm inspired by Horror & Sci Fi films. Comics.
Surreal & art with a darker bend in general. Day to day events in the world.
Personal experiences, accomplishments and failures.
Book wise I’d say work by Cormac McCarthy, Chuck Palahniuk, Robert A. Heinlein, Phillip K. Dick.
Thank you so much for participating in this episode of Infidel Interview. Any parting words for your fans, or my audience?
Thank you for reading and check out my work:
- http://sean-krinsky.deviantart.com/
- https://killtocure1.bandcamp.com/releases
- https://soundcloud.com/killtocure
Keep exploring, keep trying, delete nothing.
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