AMMO Fills The Darkenin Heart Questionnaire

Darkenin Heart

What do you consider to be the darkest piece of music you’ve ever heard?
Rowland S Howard digs deep into my heart. Maybe it’s not the darkest music I’ve ever heard, but it’s the first artist that comes to mind and one that has stuck with me over the years. When I listen to his music I feel like I am right there with him experiencing what he is experiencing.

How would you characterize your own music?
My music is complicated, moody and facetious. It’s dark, but it doesn’t have that traditional “goth” sound in my opinion, so it’s always interesting to hear the thoughts of others about the music and art that I create. I am a fairly moody person, so the only consistency is being honest with myself about how I am feeling. I go with my mood and let things flow naturally and that’s sometimes difficult to pin down. Often I feel misunderstood and wonder if some have a hard time categorizing my music… I personally tend to feel the same, so maybe it’s a projection, I’m not quite sure where I fit in exactly.

The music I create can sometimes be the complete opposite of my in person demeanor, I’m a bit more lively and have a dry sarcastic wit in person, but the music comes across as heavy and serious, so I feel as though I can be confusing. Regardless, my creations are an outlet for the darkness I feel inside. A cathartic release, a healthy way to get out all the things hidden inside of me. Like a purging of the soul.

What are your musical aspirations?
To be able to have the time and resources to continue creating, although I assume that’s similar to most artists goals. Not having to worry about mundane life duties would be lovely. Eventually I would like to have a team to work with. Someone to handle the business dealings as well as collaborators to create more visual content that way I can increase my time writing music.

What are your main musical inspirations?
Dead Can Dance, Rowland S Howard, Richard Hell, The Sound, Brian Eno, Magazine, TSOL, The Damned, Subhumans, Dead Kennedys, Love and Rockets and of course Bauhaus… A lot of LA and NY punk. Anarcho-punk, so anything on Crass records. So much music from the 70s and 80s. Kate Bush, Enya… Some things from the early 90s like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, and Bjork to name a few. I also listen to modern bands and like to see how they’re evolving with their sound over the years. This is where you get to see them live and in an intimate setting so you really get to dive into their sound. Sacred Bones, Dais, Felte, are some modern labels I’ve been into for some time. I like a variety and all for different feelings and occasions.

What are your main goals in life?
Falls in line with my musical aspirations… Not having to worry about mundane life duties and having the ability to create as I please. I like to explore and see how far I can push myself. Living in a flesh body is complicated and uncomfortable. And life is absurd, goals are just a means to an end, so I enjoy being ridiculous.

What motivates you to create?
A burning dark desire deep inside. There is no specific reason I can verbally explain. I just have to or I feel like I have no purpose and will die (sooner).

Are you more of an early bird or a night owl?
I don’t have much of a schedule. I do find writing late at night is more productive when the mind starts to wander outside the confines of its own invention and crosses over into lesser explored territory. My best work is when I am a bit delirious, exhausted and in a dreamlike state… the inspiration and ideas tend to flow with ease. During the day I do better with practical tasks such as editing photos and videos, business dealings, and all the other aspects that go along with releasing music.

Besides music, what other art forms would you like to explore?
Music has always been my number one, but I also love visual art. I have a BFA in photography and I’m also an art director. For this current music project I’ve done all of the creative direction, music videos, album covers and much of the photography on my own. Same with my previous band Brass Box. I would like to open things up for more collaborations in the future. It’s challenging to do all of this on your own, the quality begins to go downhill eventually or things just take too long to complete.

Which is the very first record that had a big impact on you?
I was given a cassette tape in my early teens. One side was Dead Kennedys Frankenchrist and Subhumans EP/LP on the other. That tape changed everything for me, not just music, but a way of life. It was something that finally felt real to me and I could completely relate to. Before then, I was casually dancing around to Madonna, Paula Abdul and Gloria Estefan as a kid. I still enjoy them for nostalgia reasons, but music like Madonna didn’t give me the same feeling that I got from DK or Subhumans.

What is the best decade for music?
The first decade that comes to mind is the 70s or 80s. I used to listen to a lot of classical music from the baroque and romantic eras, but not lately as I’ve gotten more into ambient music. In my opinion every decade is innovative and instrumental in contributing something important. I tend to flow through different eras depending on how I feel or what’s going on in my personal life.

What do your future plans include?
I just released my new song ‘A Cold War City’ and will have a music video out for it in January. I’m working on finishing up a full length to be released in 2022. I also plan on putting together a live show once I have the LP is ready. I relocated to NYC from LA this year, so hoping to play some shows out here and maybe do a bit of touring, but we shall see. The future has been a bit more ambiguous these days.

The Great Chaos releases in 2022



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AMMO
Artist photo by Kristin Cofer
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