1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?
Depleted started originally as just something to do while other projects I'm involved in were sitting on backburners. I listen to a lot of death/doom and funeral doom, but didn't have any projects that really delved into those styles, so that's where I went. I also come from a bit of a harsh noise background, so the original idea was to do funeral doom, but use harsh noise to fill out the sound where other bands would use organs and synths. So far I don't really think I've landed on that mark, and I'd say the Depleted releases that have come out so far are closer to death/doom. But I guess that's my North Star and what I'm working toward.
2.So far you have released 2 demos and a split, musically how do they both differ from each other?
Not a lot has changed as far as goals or influences. If anything, the progression across the demos and split has just been a matter of learning how to better execute on the ideas. And it's definitely the recording part that I'm learning as I go. As far as the composition itself goes, I like to think that the funeral doom influences are a bit more obvious on the second demo and split.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with the music?
With most of my other projects, the subject matter looks outward, while Depleted very much looks inward. The lyrics generally revolve around my own anxieties, primarily about death and mortality.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Depleted'?
It's pulled "Spent" on the first demo, which was the very first song I wrote for this project. That song imagines one's life as this reservoir of will that depletes over time.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the split cover?
The source material was an old archaeological photo of an ancient burial site. I liked how the bodies looked almost like they were positioned in some kind dead ballet, and the angle they're in reminds me of the Dance of the Dead scene from the Seventh Seal.
6.With this project you record everything by yourself but work with musicians in your other bands, how would you compare the two?
Each project operates pretty differently. But I'd say the main rule that I've imposed on myself for Depleted is that every riff or idea can't be something I'd use in one of the other projects. Obviously, when you're working with other musicians, you get their input and ways of looking at your original idea, and they offer up suggestions you never would have considered. And the satisfying part is when that new perspective makes the idea much better. But sometimes I'm not much interested in getting feedback, which is basically where I'm at with Depleted.
7.Recently you where a part of a split with 'A Vintage Death', what are your thoughts on the other solo project that participated on the recording?
Carmine and I first started corresponding with one another around the time that he put out the Acrid Death Fragrance tape. There was some talk about it coming out on Nailbat Tapes, but at the time I wasn't able to put it out. So instead I pitched the idea of us doing a split together sometime in the future, because I really liked his approach of basically doing a blackened version of the Peaceville Three.
8.You also run 'Nailbat Tapes', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?
I started it a long time ago with an old bandmate back when I lived in Nashville, TN. It's just me nowadays, and I juggle it with about a million other projects, so things move slower than I would maybe like them to. But 2020 did see the most Nailbat Tapes I've ever put out in a single year. In the really early days, the label was kind of all over the place, but in the past several years I've basically bounced back and forth between metal and noise releases. Those are just the two musical worlds I'm most interested in.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of funeral doom metal and noise?
I'd say Depleted is still flying well below most people's radars right now. But the bits of reactions I've seen so far have been good. And the first demo is supposed to be getting reissued by Harsh Productions in Indonesia sometime soon.
10.Can you tell us a little bit more about the other bands or musical projects that you are a part of?
I'm in a deathgrind band called Maltheist, which has been my primary outlet in recent years. But the three of us are all extremely busy, so being able to get together to work on new material can sometimes be a challenge. And that was before there was a pandemic. That was actually why I started Depleted. Maltheist was in one of those stretches where we wouldn't be able to work on anything for a while, so I wanted a new project to work on in the meantime. And like I was saying before, the rules I set for myself were that Depleted riffs couldn't also be used in Maltheist, so I guess I moved about as far from grindcore as I could get.
I also do vocals in Evaporated Sores, which is a cross-country project. I got connected with those guys through tape trading, and we were all on the same page on creating this very extreme mashup of death metal and harsh noise. The debut album came out earlier this year and we're close to being finished with four tracks for a split.
11.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?
I'm a fan of demos and EPs in general, so I'm pretty content to continue down that path. I've been doing this a long time at this point, so my future as a musician probably looks a lot like my present.
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?
I'm a big Mournful Congregation fan. I don't think Depleted sounds all that much like them, but they're definitely an influence. Definitely Disembowelment as well, which is probably a bit more obvious of an influence. I think I generally find myself straddling the fence between the more plodding death-doom and the more melodic funeral doom.
As for what I'm listening to nowadays, mostly the new Gorephilia and I've been on a big Bolt Thrower kick. And Sabbath. Always Sabbath.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thanks for supporting DIY artists and labels.
No comments:
Post a Comment