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Your name:
Rob.
Where
are you from?
Sykesville, Maryland - USA.
Name of band:
How To Avoid Art.
Who else is in your band?
No
one, currently - but this is subject to change as needs arise (such that
machines can't replicate.
How would you describe yourself?
Musically,
I believe the work falls under "industrial" or
"electronic", but there are many other genres embraced and utilized
(or exploited, as the case may be).
I would describe myself as pretty cool seeing
how I just recently got a Castle Grayskull (for the Masters Of The Universe
Classics line) and none of my friends have one...so I'd be the "cool
kid" on the block. :)
That aside - mainly because no one except me
thinks having such a huge playset is cool or even a thing to be mentioned at my
age - I am a husband, toy collector, and a Christian with a background in
apologetics which I began studying twenty-some years ago.
Who are your main influences musically?
I
don't really listen to much music these days. I primarily listen to podcasts
(Stand To Reason, Unbelievable, Let My People Think, Reasonable Faith, and a
few others). Oddly enough, I do draw from these talks. Mark Driscoll said
something in one of his sermons and at that instant, I KNEW I had to get that
in musical form (more or less...the piece is called "Sponge" and you
can decide whether it's music or not).
When I do listen to music, it's typically
classical. That said, I would cite things from my youth which stay with me to
this day: The Art Of Noise, Juluka (Johnny Clegg), Kraftwerk, Celtic Frost,
Controlled Bleeding, Xymox, Misfits, Front 242, Nuclear Assault, Fear, The
Police, The Smiths, Stan Ridgway, Minor Threat, U2, and Peter Gabriel (at least
that's what comes to mind now, trying to think on these things). I listen to
jazz - from Big Band to the "smooth jazz" (which I'm told "isn't
jazz at all"). There's just something classy and cool about blasting Tony
Bennett or Frank Sinatra. I love African music as well - the closer to it's
roots (meaning the less like pop it is), the more I like it. What I'm not
trying to say is "I have no influence", but I've seen
"influence" construed to "outright imitation" and that I
take umbrage with - not that you intended the question this way, but the
philosopher in me requires this distinction be made for your readers. I have a
great deal of distaste for a lack of originality and complete disdain for copycat
sounds.
This might be a way to illustrate the
difference. Let's say a person drinks a couple bottles of scotch and goes out
for a drive. One thing leads to another and the car ends up crashing into
someone's living room. Now, when the authorities arrive, the person is not
under suspicion of "Paying A Surprise Visit", but rather
"Driving Under The Influence Of Alcohol". In this light, I see
influence as a doing something you wouldn’t do otherwise had you not that
influence at all.
So it's hard for me to cite relevant influences
when (external) music plays so little a part of my day to day life. The music I
listen to the most is my own - I'll mix something at night, and find all the
faults the next morning on my commute to work, take notes, and repeat the process
until it's "good enough" or I tired of correction (whichever comes
first).
What do you hope to achieve in music?
It's
two-fold and has little to do with me. My management company, TishKi
Productions, is personally and deeply involved with helping the poorest of the
poor around the world and they are also partnered with World Vision and
Compassion International. Whatever I can do to further their efforts, is great
by me. Secondly, I hope to give people something to think about with the
lyrics.
Music with a message is on the
forefront...whether I succeed or not. Trying and failing is not the same as not
trying. One thing I've got going for me is that I will often lift sections of
The Bible for my lyrics (Fro instance; "Monk Q" is from Proverbs 3,
and "Sons Of Hell" is from Matthew 23). God's Word never fails. I
attempt to bring these concepts to a different audience that wouldn't consider
stepping foot in a church. The truth doesn't get any truer when someone
important, attractive or famous says it. So, if people can relate better to a
strange fellow in dressed in black with New Rock boots screaming the same
things spoken from a pulpit, then so be it. I'd be happy to be here for that
sole purpose.
What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Oddly
enough, it was back in the days of Myspace when my friend Megan (whom I've
never personally met) responded to a song a posted with "Holy &%$#,
Rob!" (in praise) and made my song her profile song. THAT legitimized my
work.
And what’s the moment you want to forget?
Fallout
3. All the time I spent playing that game, when I had specifically taken off
work for the express purpose of working in the studio and all I did was play
that game non-stop. This happened more than once. Yeah, it was fun, but soooo
much time wasted...and it (the game) never crossed my mind again until just
now. A massive time sink.
If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would
it be and why?
"Sons
of Hell (Blind Guide Remix)". I am extremely happy with the drums. As
well, it has moments that very-well represent (at least to some degree) the
rest of the body of my work: found sounds, processed voice, thrash guitar, fast
sequenced synths, atmosphere, obtuse breaks, and a bold message. As well, I had
several other artists remix this track and I was the only one that changed the
time signature (or BPM). The first time I did change the BPM was
"Sons Of Hell (Eternal Weight Mix)" and it lacked the upbeat
dance-floor-readiness that the other artists were putting forth...and I didn't
want to be outdone when I wrote the song...so, the Blind Guides remix was my
answer to changing the BPM (down from 140 to 120) and making the song more
pounding and bashing. I've always liked the power and presence of the
kick and snare of the Art of Noises' "Beatbox"...and I think I came
close to that power this go around.
Where can we listen to it?
Where can we find out more about your music?
Anything else you’d like to say that I forgot to ask?
Thank
you very much for this opportunity!
