The Ghost has been created by the artist who has gone through hardships, both physical and emotional. Having experienced a severe car accident, he survived the accident but his recovery process was long and his body and mind were impacted. During this difficult time, music turned out to be one of the things that kept him alive.
It helped him to cope and overcome his trauma, re-discover and establish some stability in his life. He continued to make music even when he was staying in nursing homes. He made beats on his laptop and attempted to use AI vocals before returning to the musical genre he is most fond of, and that is drum and bass.
The Ghost is his most recent album, which is representative of those hard times. It is a set of songs that is haunting and yet optimistic. The music reflects the pangs of sadness, power and the struggle to seek tranquility when all things are in a state of turmoil. The sounds of half of the album are fast and energetic, drum and bass, and the rest of the album is the experimentation with deep house, techno and experimentation music.
It is recorded that an artist is open to change and innovation. He is also inspired by electronic music pioneers such as 808 State and The Chemical Brothers and he never stops playing around with new sounds. Electronic music is a therapy to him and also a means of experimenting with his emotions and thoughts.
This interview focuses on the creation of The Ghost, the feelings and emotions he put into it, and how music still aids him in his healing and personal change.
Listen to The Ghost below
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What inspired the concept and title of your new album, “The Ghost”?
I feel like a ghost now. I spent a year and a half mending from a serious automobile accident in which I incurred a shattered hip, 7 broken ribs, a TBI and the loss of my smile. Never mind the seven months I spent battling deep depression and mind boggling amounts of anxiety due to poor medication management and post traumatic stress disorder.
My primary therapy was music and in it I instilled all of my emotions but after the catharsis of that creation, I was left feeling numb. Also, I thought it appropriate to name the album, The Ghost, because of its Halloween release.
How does “The Ghost” differ from your previous work in terms of style and message?
Half the album is rooted in drum and bass influence, while tthe other half has me exploring territories I normally don’t. Deep house, hard techno, industrial rock. This album is somewhat all over the place but I hope I pulled it off. If there’s any message to be had in this album it is rooted in the emotion of melancholy. I think there’s something sad in most of these songs. Its not depressing, I hope. Quite the opposite. There’s something about overcoming odds in these songs-hope.
Are there any personal experiences or stories that influenced the songs on this album?
This album is a summary of all the emotions I felt over the past year. Everything from frustration to longing to grief. This album frames a state of mind where I was suffering from the vestiges of my mental illness. Maybe the battle to calm my mind. I really went bonkers this year. I escaped real madness and finally found a place of calm, albeit a calm like a still pond with tension on the surface.
Did you collaborate with any other artists, producers, or songwriters on this album? How did they influence the final product?
On the track Alone, I collaborated with Veronica Brunnbauer. She wrote the lyrics. To capture them I used AI to render the vocals, so I guess I collaborated with the robot too. Alley also appears on a couple tracks.
How did you decide which songs made it onto the album?
Honestly, I was on a streak, I felt. I made these songs and was, like, all of these are good, they deserve an album. I have periods where I feel all of my output is worthy of recognition. Other times, not so much. I was really on a roll with the drum and bass. I have a long standing affair with dnb, having produced it since 1998 when my first dnb remix was released on the legendary New Vision Recordings, which is now defunct.
Prior to this album I had been screwing around with AI and remixing old tunes, adding vocals and such. I got away from drum and bass for a bit, but the itch returned and I started making fresh cuts influenced by that genre. My previous album, “Time Equation”, shows some of that return to my roots.
Did you experiment with any new instruments, genres, or production techniques on this record?
The track Aligning is way out of what I normally produce but its the best track on the album. But nothing was really out of the norm for me production wise. Their are some influences displayed that I never delved into before, like the hard techno of “The Ghost Aghast” and whatever genre “Aligning” fits into.. I also sang on “Water” which I don’t normally do.
What tracks on the album are you most proud of, and why?
“Aligning” and”Stay Right By My side”. “Aligning” really gets to me. It was as if I reached into my chest and pulled out the perfect part of my heart. “Stay Right By My side” because I succesfully melded hardstyle and drum and bass and created an urgent plea. I also dig the production on it. Gotta love the saxophone…
What do you hope listeners take away from “The Ghost”?
I hope they ride the rollercoaster of moods captured on the album and come away with a sense of hope.
How have your fans reacted so far to the new album?
Not a lot have heard it. “Stay Right By My Side” seems to be popular.
Are there any live performances or tours planned to support “The Ghost”?
Right now my health is such that I can’t support a tour. I’d love to but I’m on the mend and its enough for me to just get this out online in some form or another.
