A Dirty Dozen with DRIFT INTO BLACK – May 2021

We get Drift Into Black to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

The latest release is a concept album. At the first few couple of listens they might not expect it to be a concept album but if you listen to the lyrics there are some names and phrases repeated quite a few times. There absolutely no hidden nuggets. If you read the lyrics It’s pretty much cut and dry.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Underground metal is what got me into music. The moment I listened to Amorphis Tales from the Thousand Lakes was the moment I wanted to be a musician.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

The song “Drowned Maid” off of Amorphis Tales from the Thousand Lakes just absolutely blew me away the first time I heard it. At that time I never heard melodies like that before. I was a huge fan of the Doors and Amorphis incorporated those type of synths into their music. That’s when I wanted to start playing the keyboards.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Pink Floyd, The Doors, Amorphis, Paradise Lost, and My Dying Bride.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

David Gilmour from Pink Floyd. His vocals are amazing and his guitar style is always filled with beautiful melodies. He just plays with a lot of feeling.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I usually tell them that Drift into Black is a cross between Paradise Lost, Tiamat, and My Dying Bride. I  tell them that if they are into dark melodic music then they’ll like Drift into Black. The comparison that I always get is that I sound like Tobias Forge from Ghost.  Now I don’t see that as a bad thing. I do like Tobias and I do like what he’s done with Ghost. I don’t mind being compared once but when you read it in every other review then I’m thinking of ways to change that because it was never my intention in the first place.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Well I do cook for myself, I do get my own drinks and I am the one who grabs the acoustic for a singalong while my cats watch. Drift into Black is a solo one man band haha.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I don’t get starstruck by anyone. To me everyone is human. I respect people’s space as I would want them to respect mine. 

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part of being a musician is being able to have that outlet. That break from life. It’s so healthy to have a creative outlet especially during a pandemic. I think my dream job would for me to be an actor or a film director.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I have always wanted an interviewer to ask what foods do I like to pour ketchup on. My answer is Burgers, chicken, and French fries. Ketchup on eggs is an act of terrorism.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Ha! You said “career”. I think if I can go back I would have changed a lot about “Shadow People” which is on the Drift into Black debut EP.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Most certainly Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon. To me, lyrically that record is the meaning of life.

BONUS QUESTION – Due to the current world situation with COVID-19 / quarantine / shelter in place, what have you discovered you miss the most from your life before the pandemic struck?

I miss being at the beach sitting at the tiki bar sipping on drinks in the sun.

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Category: Interviews