I was born into a family of musicians; both my mother & father encouraged me to study music at a young age. I'm multi-instrumentalist and I began performing professionally at the age of 13. Thru the years I've performed with symphony orchestras, as well as jazz, World beat, Goth. and Metal bands on tours through Europe, Canada, and the United States. I've recorded as a session musician, and I'm a studio engineer also. I'm an unapologetic horror/Sci-Fi/Fantasy film junkie, which pretty much makes me quite the nerd I suppose. Oh well, I embraced my inner-geek a long time ago.
Are you scheduled to appear at any of the upcoming festivals?
I'll be a featured guest speaker at this year's Eerie Horror Fest., and the super-groovy "It Came From Lake Michigan" film festival as well. Both of these events happen in October of this year.
I'll be speaking (along with my good mate Scott Goldberg) about the craft of genre/low budget film scoring, technology, and collaboration.
I'll share a stage with genre Legends like Lloyd Kaufman; Fred Olen Ray, and George Romero...("Night Of The Living Dead", ...Oh my god...gulp...) so that alone should be worth the flight...ha!
Tell me about Dead House Music?
I took a break from being a touring/session musician and began turning my attention towards composing film scores in late 2004. Soon after, I decided to combine my two greatest loves: music and independent film. Thus, was born Dead House Music; a company dedicated to providing high quality, original scores to indie-films and most notably horror films. I've had a lifelong love affair with things that go bump in the night. I remember being captivated by monster movies at a very young age. I saw all the classic Universal horror films on late-night television, and I was hooked. The appreciation of that gothic aesthetic has endured into my adult life, and helped shape the person I have become. It really came as no surprise to people that know me when horror films became my first choice genre wise when it came to doing soundtrack work.
Regarding the film "Temple" I see that you are providing the music for this film, could you tell me alittle about the film?
"TEMPLE" is a short horror film set in a haunted theatre. When the doors mysteriously lock themselves, the stage crew are trapped inside. From that point on; some BIG evil starts taking names. It's a student film project that was written and directed by the talented Matt Vrtiska who is a student at the University of Nebraska. I'm always into working with new talent. I didn't score this film, but I did let Matt use a few of my compositions, and I was really pleased with the results. For example, there is a very effective use of the DEAD HOUSE track "Hell Choir" in this death scene
When is your interview with UK Horror Channel? Will the interview be on your web site?
I'm not sure what happened over at The Horror Channel, but they recently went thru a very big overhaul with the staff. And my interview was one of the casualties...However, the good news is that the same interview has been brought back to life (how appropriate considering its subject matter) over at the AWESOME Dread Central .
And of course what horror film is your favorite?
So many to choose from....But I will say that the film I can watch over & over again is the original "Wicker Man."
I just love it so much. Yes, I can see how it can come across as a bit silly, but I believe it has persevered because it is a brave film effort. Not true horror, or suspense, or even bloody. In truth, they cut themselves off from several die-hard audiences when the director & producers decided to take the road less traveled. Yet, those of us who love it, truly love it for exactly those same reasons.
The film doesn't play for obvious laughs, or for scares per se. I think it adds to the surreality of the situation all the more. Same with the singing. It is like a twisted, primitive musical that this modern person has stepped into. Not our world at all, and each of these film devices are there to make us feel just as uneasy. I really must say that the film has aged more gracefully than many other genre pictures of that same time period. I think good art endures the test of time.
