Twice Dark's upcoming album Telekinetic explores supernatural abilities like telekinesis, pyrokinesis, and time travel, blending gothic and post-punk influences with darkwave and industrial soundscapes.
1.
"Telekinetic" is the first single off your upcoming album of the same
name. Could you tell us more about the themes behind this song and how it
reflects the overall message of the album?
Telekinetic the
album is about using supernatural powers to change your life for good or bad.
Telekinetic the song uses telekinesis as a way to realize your dreams, getting
beyond the habitual ways of doing things that may be more negative than
positive to do something new to meet your goals. Insanity is doing the same
thing over and over expecting a different result so telekinetic is doing
something different to get a different result. The album uses these kinds of
metaphors in different ways throughout the album. Pyrokinesis, the ability to
Time Travel, necromancy, and Telepathy are other themes used throughout the
album.
2. Your music
is heavily influenced by 80s genres like goth rock, post-punk, darkwave, and
industrial. What draws you to these particular styles, and how do you put your
own modern twist on them?
I’ve wanted to
make goth / post punk style music since the early 2000s when I was in college.
I was always in punk and indie rock bands but I always liked bands like the
Misfits, Sisters of Mercy, New Order, the Cure, Bauhaus, etc and I wanted to
use those themes in the music I made. The groups of friends I had were never
interested in that music beyond interest in sounding like David Bowie. I
eventually made my own music and started my own band when I couldn’t find
enough like minded people to play that music with. I was first drawn to
electronic music, Industrial music when I saw Nine Inch Nails in concert in
1994. It changed my perspective on music and made me want to use electronic
elements in my music. I think those electronic influences like Detroit Techno,
EBM, Italo Disco really helped me to create something that may not sound like
your standard goth rock.
3. In addition
to musical influences, you've mentioned art movements like Art Nouveau and
literary genres like Magic Realism and Splatterpunk. How do these non-musical
inspirations shape your songwriting and overall aesthetic?
I’ve always read
a lot, and horror novels have been my go to when I need something to read. As
an art school grad, I’m also drawn to the visual arts. Some of my hobbies are
writing short horror stories and creating visual art. As a busy adult I end up
only having time for one hobby and making music won out over the others. I look
for inspiration in everything I read and see as it’s a constant struggle to
have something to say as an artist so it helps to have influences.
4. The concept
of "Telekinetic" revolves around taking control of one's fears and
manifesting dreams through force of will. What inspired this concept, and how
does it resonate with your own life experiences?
I first wrote the song Telekinetic in October 2023 and realized I could write an entire album around extra sensory powers. I always liked the idea of rock operas or having a theme to an entire album. Storytelling is huge in music creation and it’s helpful when trying to come up with a cohesive body of work. I’m also influenced with Dada and Brian Eno and bands like Wire who end up singing about nonsensical topics and use lyrics as a way to create more texture in the music rather than meaning. I like that too but I tend to be better at storytelling in my music.
5. You started
Twice Dark in 2020, and since then, you've developed a unique sound blending
multiple genres. How has your sound evolved from your earlier days in punk and
indie rock to the more eclectic and dark style you have now?
When I first
started Twice Dark I wasn’t very confident, I didn't know if I could pull it
off. I always had the help of other musicians to create music and I was almost
never the lead singer. When I wrote the self titled album Twice Dark, I was
still learning who I was as a Goth artist. It took me a few EPs to figure out
exactly what I wanted to make. I think I finally got it right with Telekinetic.
As an artist in other bands, I was 1 of a few musicians making decisions on the
final product so I didn't have to try as hard. Once I made the decision to do
everything myself, I had a huge learning curve. From recording the music, to
promoting it, to getting shows, I had to learn a lot.
6.
"Midwest Gothic," your 2022 compilation, highlighted the talent
within the regional music scene. How important is community and regional
identity to you as an artist, and do you see that influence coming through in
your new album?
The Community is
huge, none of the bands in the scene could do it on their own, they do it with
the help of all the bands and venues and promoters in the region. Also, we’re
lucky we have such ease of communication these days. We planned the whole comp
over FB Messenger because we were all busy and we all lived in different
cities. We couldn’t have done it without cooperation and mutual respect for
each other. I learn tips and tricks from all the musicians I know. Even if it’s
just watching them while they play and deciding I like their lighting set up or
the way they set up their merch or the equipment they use. Other bands in the
region are a huge influence on me. We all struggle, together and alone, to get
our voices heard so in that sense we are connected as well.
7. As someone
who earned a degree in sculpture and art history, does your background in
visual arts play a role in how you approach creating music? Do you find any
parallels between your work in those fields and music production?
I got a BFA in
Sculpture and video was a huge medium for sculpture when I was a student and
probably still is. Video could be the art in and of itself or it could be a
component of the art. Video is a part of
my live show because I’m just one person, I want to offer more for the audience
to look at while I perform. Other things from school that helped me were
frequent critiques which gave me a thicker skin when I’m getting feedback (or
lack of feedback) from other artists, venues, or sometimes in reviews. Visuals
are always also a part of the music I create so in that sense there is
certainly a parallel from school. Lastly sculpture can literally be anything
these days so in that sense I could say that the entire Twice Dark project is a
sculpture project.
8. You’ve been
described as weaving 'haunting elegance' into your music, with an aesthetic of
'decaying industrial spaces.' Could you tell us more about your creative
process when capturing these eerie yet beautiful soundscapes?
I’m very influenced by bands like Yello, DR Calculus, Detroit Techno, YMO, Telex, Art of Noise and those bands use random noises as the basis for their music. I like to use samples in my music, like a pipe being hit together rather than having a cymbal, things like that. A lot of times I’m emulating parts of other bands songs. I may just sample the Kick and Snare from a Tom Tom Club song if it’s already perfect for what I’m trying to create. I love the sound of cold machinery but I also love melody so I’m always trying to fuse them, like a washing machine and a harp.
9. What was it
like curating the "Midwest Gothic" compilation? Did working with
other artists in that project inspire any elements of your upcoming album,
"Telekinetic"?
Midwest Gothic
was hard to pull together. I did it by myself as a way to promote Twice Dark.
From getting the musicians to send me their music, to finding the money to
print the CDs, to organizing a show, and creating the art work. I might do
another if I find the right bands. Some of the artists on the Midwest Gothic
Comp had a hand in Telekinetic from backup vocals to doing a remix for me so in
that sense I couldn’t have done it without them.
10. Horror
movies and novels from the 80s are listed as one of your influences. Do you
have any favorite films or books from that era, and do you draw on their
imagery or storytelling techniques when creating music?
Some of my
favorites books are Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons, the Damnation Game by Clive
Barker, Swan Song by Robert McCammon, the Cypher by Kathe Koja, Exquisite
Corpse by (formerly) Poppy Z Brite, and anything by Haruki Murakami.
Some of my
favorite movies from the time are Jacobs Ladder, the Thing (Carpenter),
Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser, Return of the Living Dead.
Yes absolutely,
especially my first album. That one was much more about monsters and horror
themes than my others have been. Slowly over time I started using monsters as
metaphors for the human condition and for the idea of death and the unknowing
of what comes next.
11. Your sound
touches on a variety of dark and atmospheric genres. Is there a specific
message or feeling that you hope listeners take away from the
"Telekinetic" album?
My music is dark
at times but usually my message is light. I write about my own feelings and the
things I’ve gone through in an abstract way. I like using dark imagery because
I love goth imagery but I don’t want to convey anything necessarily negative. I
generally like to sing about hope and the possibility of getting over one's
demons to meet one's dreams. The concept of Death in my songs is used as an
excuse to live not to give up.
12. Lastly,
with "Telekinetic" set to release in early 2025, what are your plans
for promoting the album? Can we expect any live performances, collaborations,
or visual elements to accompany the release?
I’ll have 3 more
singles coming out (Time Traveller, Invisible Man and Necromantic) with Remixes
for all 4 singles. I’ll have canvases, reels, visualizers, lyric videos for
each of them and yes, I play a lot of shows and I plan on going on an east
coast tour in Spring of 2025. Each single has a guest vocalist as well. I’m
excited for the future of Twice Dark.
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