Mordian
Interview conducted on July 1, 2021
By Dan Locke
‘January Moon’ follows her debut EP ‘Romance in Disguise’ which released in May 2019 and contains three distinctive sections which explore contrasting moods and atmospheres. Opening with serene entwining of vocal harmonies and clean guitar chords, this section has a personal feel with a strong uplifting atmosphere. Soulful vocals produce a beautiful sound before thundering into heavily distorted metal instrumentation and melodic elements. Emerging from the depths, the concluding passage brings a delicate melody performed on classical guitar with a haunting spoken narrative.
You are from Chicago. What is your upbringing?
I come from a family of 6, overall, I had a vivid childhood and spent much time in nature.
How did you discover music?
My mom always had music on around the house, same with my siblings.
How did you start to write music?
I began composing on the piano as a child, and it grew from there!
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
My parents got me a used baby Taylor when I took lessons for a short time back in 08’. I do still have it somewhere, and now that I’m thinking about it, I’ll have to find it.
What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model?
LTD Alexi-600 Black & White Sawtooth.
How did you get your name?
It was given to me by the gods.
Describe your music.
Dark, Different, Romantic.
What was your first performance at like?
The first public performance I can remember was at Barnes & Noble in 2008. The first performance performing my original material was at The Forge in Joliet, IL in October 2019. Many of my close friends and family came out to see me so that made the night.
What makes a good songwriter?
Everyone would answer this differently, but I’d say someone who isn’t afraid to push boundaries and write from the heart.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
There are a lot that was never recorded, one was titled “My Heart Would Be Healed” or something cheesy like that, it was more operatic sounding.
What is the process of writing your music?
That depends on the song, sometimes lyrics come to me first, sometimes melody. I’m not always in control of it. I can write a whole song lyrically in one go every once in a while, other songs are bits and pieces compiled over the years that end up working together.
Tell me about your new single January Moon?
The single is meant to carve the path for my new material, those who enjoy the sound of ‘January Moon’ will hopefully also dig what is planned for the future.
Why 2 years since your debuted EP which was released May 2019?
Personal reasons, busy creating, and just livin’ life! I hope to make up for that lost time with more music!
What is the Red Opera?
The Red Opera is the 2018 Album by the Symphonic Metal project I’m a part of, DiAmorte.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I think it’s great when music becomes more widely accessible, but I believe streaming has brought the music industry downhill.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Mostly digital since I can listen anytime, anywhere. But I also enjoy Vinyl for the collection. It’s way cooler to pick out a vinyl and put it on the player than it is to click a button on your phone.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Silhouettes by The Rays, haven’t heard it in forever, but it came on in the car today. To me it means being a kid, baking cookies, and not having a care in those moments.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Covid has affected lives and artists everywhere, but I think within the next year or two, shows will be back and hopefully better than ever, I think people will appreciate the live experience much more now, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Do you think that Covid-19 has been a plus to an artist career?
Besides possibly having more time to work on music, No.
I see you are a part of Red Opera RPG. Can you tell me about it?
The Red Opera: Last Days of the Warlock is the RPG made by Apotheosis Studios to accompany the DiAmorte world.
What is the different between The Red Opera Orchestra vs. The Red Opera Classical?
There is an Orchestral version of the original Red Opera album that is the soundtrack to the RPG.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Writing, Baking, Reading, not too much outside of the usual.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
Get healthy amounts of sunshine (sometimes a struggle for a vampiric creature) & eating right.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I’ve rediscovered Woodburning, Leatherworks & Soapmaking.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
I hope it changes and people move their music and livestreams to a different platform. It’s unfortunate they’d try to hold musicians back, especially now.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
A fan such as I would continue to support them because I love their music. As you’ve seen, bands and artists are taking online routes to keep fans engaged, of course, that’s nothing like a real, live show, but shows are on their way back!
What do you think about Holographic concerts in our living room?
I’m sure that’s the way of the future, not that I’m excited about it.
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.” Do you think this will save music venues?
It may help, but ultimately shows is what will save them.
In the past if a musician stop doing music, they find a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
Something else in art, or anything really unorthodox. I guess I’ll cross that bridge if I ever get there.
What is your happy place?
The forest.
Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million. In the past year a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million), Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Neil Young song 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180-song catalogue to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
At this point in my career, no. Having control of my art is very important to me.
Spotify’s ‘Stream On’ event on (February 22), the company confirmed that more than 60,000 new tracks are now being ingested by its platform every single day. This means people are added new tracks uploaded to its platform every 1.4 seconds.
The figure, announced by Spotify’s Co-Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, means that across the course of this year, approximately 22 million tracks will be added to Spotify’s catalog. Spotify confirmed in November last year that its platform now played host to around 70 million tracks.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time.
But still back at the beginning of the year Spotify deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. What do you think what that could mean to independent artist?
Given advancements in technology, I don’t think there’s a reason anyone’s contributions should be deleted
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
I don’t have TikTok, but maybe in the future if more metal artists are enjoying the platform.
Breaking news: TikTok is launching TikTok Radio, a full-time SiriusXM music channel going live this summer. The station will be available in vehicles and as a streaming channel on the SiriusXM App, desktop, and all connected devices.
The station will be part of a new TikTok collaboration with SiriusXM and its subsidiary, Pandora, to jointly promote emerging talent. Do you think this platform could became a force in the future of streaming music?
TikTok is a very popular platform, so I think it’s likely that it’s radio station will grow. I would be happy with any new streaming services, as long as artists are treated fairly.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Thank you for your time and interest in interviewing me!
