Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: I was originally born/raised in Germany and moved to the US in 2000. Coming from a musical family, I was introduced very early on to artists such as Frank Zappa and Toto which were my first foray into the world of Rock and Jazz music. This influenced me to want to learn the guitar. From there, I began to gravitate towards the heavier Rock/Metal bands such as Opeth, Cynic, Death, etc. On the Jazz Fusion side of things, I really became influenced by Chick Corea, Greg Howe, Magma, and many more. I played in several bands throughout High School and College, one being a Progressive Death Metal band and the other an Indie Power Pop band. I have always have been intrigued by challenging music and that is what gave me the drive to continually practice and become a better musician.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: On the Jazz side of things, it has been a lot of Massive Attack, Morcheeba, Jamiroquai, Nubiyan Twist, Snarky Puppy, and Valerie Stepanov.
From the Metal perspective I would say, Soreption, Fallujah, The Zenith Passage, Archspire, Entheos, and Rivers of Nihil.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘DÆmons’?
A: I think the artists who I come back to the most would be Mike Patton/Mr. Bungle, Devin Townsend, Dream Theater, Björk, Portishead, and William Orbit. The name Dæmons comes from the computing term, daemon, which is a program that runs as a background process and handles requests without user interaction. The reason this name appealed to me is because I realize that the music I write is geared towards more of a niche audience and my goal was to pack in elements that would stand out to the average listener, getting them thinking about it or having it stuck in their head. More of it hanging around in the back of their mind without them having to really think about it much. My objective has always been to write at least one catchy section per song.
Q: You have just released your new album ‘Corporeality (Une folie partagee par un)’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Yes, there is quite an ambitious story behind this album. It is a concept album about learning to let go and the grieving process. The tricky thing about writing a concept album is that often times it is a very specific story. I attempted to write a story that can be relatable to anyone who listens to it, meaning, it could be something different for everyone as most people have experienced a sense of loss or have had a grieving period. This is the reason why I did not give any names to the characters in my story. Also, at the time I was heavily influenced by the films of Michael Haneke, Lars Von Trier, and Gaspar Noé which added a sense of bleakness to my story.
Q: What is the message of your music?
A: I feel like the main message that I would like people to take from my music/project is to not be confined by limitations. Step outside of your comfort zone and try different things, especially when it comes to music. There are very few music genres that I don’t listen to and that was one of the main drivers behind this album. I wrote each section with however I felt at the moment. It didn’t matter if it started off as a Death Metal song, I would still throw in a Jazz part. I always say the sky is the limit because once you rip the Band-Aid off, it opens so many more doors.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: Fully enabling yourself to embrace all components of each song, whether it is the drums, guitar, and bass. Putting on your headphones and taking the full journey. As far as my sound, I always jokingly say it would be “If Toto wrote Metal songs”. There really is a lot of influence going back to the beginning of my musical journey so in a way, it comes full circle for me.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: Overall, I am just beyond excited to have my music available on most major streaming platforms. It is surreal for me to see my project out there and so far the response has been quite positive. My goal is to reach more listeners and receive feedback or thoughts that they may have.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: I normally start off by thinking about a certain vibe I’m trying to create and begin to build from there. I tend to weave in and out of the style that I originally started off with. Other times I am determined to just write a straight Death Metal or a straight Jazz fusion song. It really depends on the mood that I am in at that time. Funny enough, I have noticed that whenever I am listening to strictly Jazz I tend to write more Metal centric songs and vice versa.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: When speaking strictly from a musical aspect, there was a period of about 10 years in which I hardly even touched any instruments. With my primary instrument being guitar, it was definitely tossed aside once I started my career after college. Not having enough time to dedicate towards playing music and learning how to use any of the DAW’s like ProTools or Reaper. This was always the most daunting piece for me, learning how to record your music including drum programming, etc.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: I would say a major accomplishment was the release of my album – Corporeality (Une folie partagee par un). The fact that I took the time to build the story, compose, and perform all the instruments is quite overwhelming in the most positive way. I would say it also helped that I had about 10 years of pent up ideas that seemed to release once I started this project. I am already working on my next album and am almost in the final stages. I think each release will be a significant point in my life as it reflects all the influences that I am having at that time. Always pushing myself and attempting new things will keep things fun and interesting.
