- Paths Of The Eternal is a branch off of my vaporwave/vapor project, PATHS, started back in 2016. In 2017, I released a split album with Mythril Spectre called Once Through An Ancient Archway. This was my first real attempt at making dungeon synth style music. After that, I felt like I wanted to do more with the genre, but I felt like it didn't make much sense to keep releasing under the PATHS moniker, as the other material released under that name was so stylistically different. And so, Paths Of The Eternal was born. A project dedicated solely to the release of dungeon synth style recordings.
2.So far you have released a demo and also have been a part of a split, musically how do both recordings differ from each other?
- I'd say the Paths Of The Eternal demo is much more lofi and grimier. This was intentional. I wanted something that sounded like it was found in the deepest corner of a dark, murky abandoned castle or cathedral. The demo was also written entirely in one day and mixed later on. I wanted it to feel very minimal. Whereas my tracks for the split I wrote over the course of two or three months. I think you can tell the same person made both, but I don't think they sound very similar production wise. I'm very happy with both!
3.What are some of the themes and images you bring into your musical style?
- When I started my PATHS project, the goal was to bring listeners to a place that never existed, to create an atmosphere or mood. To uncover some kind of great secret, or feel like you're wandering into some kind of mystical territory that no one else has experienced. I'm really inspired by the idea of divinity and mysticism in the sense that it's something humans will never truly understand, but will always be fascinated by and curious about. The difference between PATHS and Paths Of The Eternal is simply all in the aesthetic. Paths Of The Eternal takes place in castles, cathedrals, mysterious caves, graveyards, or other realms that cannot be described verbally, only aurally.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Paths Of the Eternal?
- Again, I think it plays on the idea of spirituality and mysticism. With both of my dungeon synth releases, to me, there is a feeling of death in the air of the recordings. Not sad or evil or angry or spiteful, just simply dead or not "alive" in the sense that human beings are alive. I think it evokes a sense of wonder and mystery, but the name is up for the listener's interpretation, as is the name PATHS.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the demo cover?
- It's a picture I took while playing one of my all time favorite video games. A game that had a major influence on this whole project and all of my dungeon synth material.
6.With this project you record everything by yourself, do you feel you are able to express yourself musically a lot better this way?
- Yeah, you could say that. I've always been kind of a loner artistically. I haven't really met many people who are like minded artistically, so that kind of forced me to just learn how to do everything myself. I don't mind it, someday I'd love to collaborate with someone, but it would have to make sense. I'm also kind of a control freak, I know what I want and want what I want haha.
7.You also shared a split with 'Mythril Spectre', what are your thoughts on the other musical project that had participated on the recording?
- Mythril Spectre did a fantastic job! Really unique tracks, I loved it. The vocaloid was a bold choice, but I think it only benefited their material. I remember talking to them and bringing up the idea to do a split, because both of us at the time were a little unsure if we could pull the dungeon synth thing off, at least I was. So doing the split together really helped give both of us the confidence to dive into the genre. It couldn't have worked out better.
8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
- If by unsigned you mean restricted to working with a single label, then yes I am unsigned. However, both of my releases so far have had label releases. Once Through An Ancient Archway was released on Aurawire and the Paths Of The Eternal demo is being released on tape by Black House Industries, run by the frontman of one of my all time favorite black metal bands, Krieg. The tape is available for preorder now, here's the link to that:
https://blackhouseindustries.bigcartel.com/product/paths-of-the-eternal-preorder-bhi-002
I also am currently working with another label on a Paths Of The Eternal full length that is coming later this year.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of dungeon synth?
- The reaction has been great! I've only heard positive things about my dungeon synth material and I couldn't be happier about it! Just great to see people get what I'm doing, really encouraging.
10.Are you also involved with any other bands or musical projects?
- I have a ton of old projects and projects that are currently in the works. Some current projects of note is of course my vaporwave/vapor project, PATHS. But I also have a horror industrial project called Digital Anger, which I've now done 3 releases for, heavily influenced by artists like Ministry and Skinny Puppy. Just put out a Digital Anger album last year called Firewalker, which is available on CD via Hellscape Recordings. Very metal friendly and very abrasive. As far as projects in the works, The only thing I'll mention is that I have a solo black metal project that will be surfacing soon. Actually just finished mixing it this week. Irreverent Witness, remember that name.
11.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?
- I'll continue doing electronic synth stuff, but I see myself heading more and more towards black and death metal, experimental rock, industrial. Hard to say because there's so much stuff I'm working on, but don't know when it will surface. I'm not tied down to any genre. I don't want to be seen as a beat producer/dungeon synth artist/vaporwave artist/black metal artist, I want to make it clear that I'm gonna do whatever style I feel like doing. Just feels natural to me. I actually have been working on an experimental pop album, which is so far away from anything else I've ever made. I fear being pigeonholed to one thing, so I try to do a lot of different things because of that. I like the freedom to do whatever, I would get bored if I could only do one style.
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
- Oh man, too many to list. As far as artists that have had the biggest influence on me overall I'd have to say Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy, Deftones, Darkthrone, Angelo Badalamenti, Morbid Angel, Blood Incantation, Pink Floyd, Goblin, Mayhem, Oneohtrix Point Never, Trans Am. That's just the tip of the iceberg in terms of my influences, I'm kind of all over the place. Lately I've been really into Old Tower and war metal bands like Black Witchery, Blasphemy, and Beherit. Also anything Caligari Records, 20 Buck Spin and Dark Descent put out I'm all over.
13.What are some of your non musical interests?
- I'm a huge film and video game nerd. I also started my career as a filmmaker this year by putting out my first two short films. "The One (Before The Next)" is a stylish noir drama with a Carpenter esque soundtrack and "CHAINS" is a Lynchian Surrealistic horror film. I'm proud of both but, I think CHAINS is the one I'm most proud of. I wouldn't say music is my favorite and film is next, they kind of go back and forth. Sometimes I'm all about music, sometimes I'm all about film. My favorite directors include David Lynch, Stanley Kubrick, John Carpenter, David Cronenburg, Stuart Gordon, Robert Eggers and Ari Aster. If you're interested in my films you can check them out here: https://vimeo.com/drewspenny
14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
- Thank you to anyone who has supported Paths Of The Eternal so far. Means the world to me, I have a lot more in store for the project so expect to hear from me again soon. For now, check out the Paths Of The Eternal Demo and if you like it preorder the tape from Black House Industries here: https://blackhouseindustries.bigcartel.com/product/paths-of-the-eternal-preorder-bhi-002
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