I’ve have been writing quite a bit of Industrial music lately. I am known for House, Techno, and dance music with an 80’s vibe. I am not known for Industrial music. I have been asking myself why I am writing so much in this genre lately, and think I have come up with the answer. The answer is I am angry! I am angry at the environment that we as a country are living in. I am angry at the way we are treating one another. I am angry at the politicians on both sides of the isle who are treating us like idiots. One day I sat down and started writing a song, the next thing I knew, I had an Industrial song.
I grew up in the late 80’s and early 90’s, so I was exposed to many different genres of music growing up. Some of the heavier bands I gravitated towards were Ministry, NIN, Front 242, Nitzer Ebb, Gary Numan, and Public Image Limited. There was something about these bands that spoke to me. They taught me that being angry is ok. After all, it was John Lydon who said “Anger is an energy.” They taught me that I didn’t have to stick to a traditional song structure (I’m looking at you Ministry). These bands made it ok to be myself and not worry about what other people thought of me.
Before I go any further I want you to know that I don’t care who you voted for in the last election. I am just happy you voted. If you didn’t vote, that is ok too. I don’t care who you support or don’t support politically. That is the great thing about America, we can disagree.
If you are curious, I am neither a Republican or Democrat. Hell, I voted for Gary Johnson in 2016 election, (that worked out well). I am a Constitutionalist. I believe in this document and what it stands for. I do not think it is perfect, but do think it has proven its worth since its founding. I love reading about the Constitution and reading scholars interpretations of it. (I am a nerd, and am okay with that!)
For the last couple of years I have been feeling deflated, angry, scared, and uncertain where we stand as a nation. I wake up wondering if today is the day that the bombs start falling. I wake up wondering if today is the day that the Constitution officially ceases to exist. I wake up wondering if today is the day I get sent to the reeducation camp. I go to bed wondering the same things. I needed a way to get my feelings out and music is the only way that I know how.
My Industrial songs are angry, politically charged, and use sound clips of the former President Of The United States and other public officials. When I started writing these songs I wondered if people would think that I was a raging lunatic who just didn’t like the former President. I wondered if people would be offended by my music and not want to listen to my other music. It was then that I remembered what my friend and mentor Dave Pensado told me. He told me that if I sent a song to 9 people and they all liked it or they all hated it then I had a bad song. He said that if 3 people love the song, 3 people could care less, and 3 people got violently angry at me, then I might be onto something. Those words really resonate with me when I make any type of music.
Music is the only way that I know how to express emotion. I am sure that it drives my wife crazy. When I write music, I am getting all of the pent up emotion that I have bottled up out of my system. It is a form of therapy for me. I don’t know how long I will write in this genre, but for now it is what feels right.
