I have sung for as long as I’ve been alive, first in the choir, then in R&B, then in death metal, then rap, then regular metal, and finally in Goth, suffice to say, I have a wide vocal range. I’ve been in several bands and projects over the decades, most notably, Dying Eden and D-Lux, and currently Red in Obscura and Cities in Ruin. My favorite genres to sing in are Goth and Death metal, two genres that are diametrically opposite, yet equally enjoyable for me to belt out songs.
In goth music, I can express my disdain, my sadness, and my regrets, and I can tell tales of the macabre and horrific nature. In death metal, I can express my anger, and my rage and I can tell tales of a more monstrous setting. Both genres have a very dark aesthetic and in both lies a very anti-establishment undertone.
My lyrical content is expressive and even when I’m saying something horrific or fantastical, there is a hint of truth or reality behind it psychologically speaking. Every monster, every horror, every fantasy I sing about, is real inside of my head, to the point of sometimes frightening even myself. Music has always been an outlet for me, to constructively express my innermost shadows and deepest depths of darkness, which is often left to hide and fester into worse horrors if left unexplored.
Most of those acceptable bands, the ones who sing about joy, and women, and who sit among the mainstream, band members are often found to be the most detestable of individuals. They maintain a squeaky-clean image until the proverbial mask slips and they are found to be vile and grotesque abominations, distortions of what a human being is. Whereas I want listeners to think the worst of me, I want them to say, “This guy is fucked up,” and should they get to know me, learn that I like kitties and ice cream… lol