1. Can you tell us a little bit about the project for those that have never heard of you before?
Not really. I suppose, if anything, there is nothing but the music that I've put out there. There is no political agenda, no ideas or ideal touched upon lyrically. The point of what I wish to achieve is nothing more than to put out some music that I've made and, in turn, would wish to listen to myself.
2. How would you describe your musical sound?
Open. Or, at least I tried to make it sound open in an atmospheric way. The problem I have with the overall sound is that I'm never happy with what I have just released, so I'm constantly trying to tweak it. And that covers everything. Over time even my vocal style has changed - at first I wanted to use a very distinct high pitched gargling sort of style, but then I decided upon more of a traditional scream...sooner or later that will probably change too. I guess I'm never really happy with one particular thing and, as a result, most other things end up changing in the sound too....so, in a detrimental sort of way...there's never a distinct sound.
3. The lyrics cover nature, mysticism and mythology, can you tell us a little bit more about your views on these topics?
The lyrics are an extension of my own beliefs and interests. I'm 100% atheist so there's no satanism or anything in there. However, spirituality and the like do interest me, more so spirituality through nature. There is a cosmic element to some of the songs due to the fact that we're an offshoot of the universe, and there is nothing more natural than the universe, and there's nothing more to life than just being an extension of this universe. I try to mix those elements with myths and folk tales, the end results are usually epic in scope but few in actual lyrics. I try not to write too many lyrics because I think that continuous vocals detract from the feel of certain songs....sometimes that doesn't go to plan though, much to my annoyance.
4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the project's name?
Originally the project was named Within The Woods, (because I'm a sucker for Evil Dead), When Woods Make Graves was just a song I wrote about Aokigahara, which is a forest in Japan, at the foot of Mount Fuji. I read a lot about the forest after discovering that a lot of people go there just to kill themselves. I ended up dropping the Within The Woods moniker after realising it wasn't very original...nor even epic in scope. When Woods Make Graves sounds more sinister too.
5. Currently, there is only 1 member in the band, are you planning on expanding the line up in the future or do you choose to remain solo?
WWMG will always remain as it is, despite whatever projects I have lined up in the future. I even hold this opinion with regards to performing live...ostensibly I don't want to do it. This project is a personal extension of myself...and I don't want anyone else intruding upon it.
6. Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or received any interest?
I've had contact from a few underground labels...but nothing that I would call serious, or in at least it's nothing that I take seriously. It's nothing that I really care about it to be honest. I have an option to produce stuff the way I want and not be a yes man and adhere to deadlines, underground label or not. This is something that will be nothing but my own and the people who wish to listen to it....nothing more.
7. Over the last 3 years you have put out alot of material is this going to continue in the future?
I hope so. Whilst recording "Whispers From The Black Lake" I was in the middle of a move that, with regards to WWMG, I should've planned for recording wise. I'm lucky though as we still own the house we had moved from and are currently renting it out. Whenever the current tenants are out and about I have my own personal space in the attic to carry on recording. So, the writing will continue...especially with WWMG. And the recording whenever I am afforded the availability. But I do have plans to branch out with other people under different monikers.
8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal?
I couldn't tell you. Well, I could but it would only be negative. I tend to focus on the negative feedback to see what I can do to alter things. I suppose that's another reason I'm constantly tweaking the sounds.
9.What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
This is the only thing I couldn't give you a definite answer to. There's loads of stuff I wish to explore...and have only touched upon really....stuff like drone and doom and even noise. I used to write a lot of stuff in the vein of Venetian Snares but even then I tried to form my own offshoot of that type of writing. I think WWMG will always remain black metal...but in what way I don't know....
10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Carcass, At The Gates, Dissection. I spent my early adolescence listening to those types of bands and writing riffs in those styles. I toyed with black metal, but I found that the more thrashy elements to the riffs to be boring, both to write and play. It wasn't upon discovering bands like weakling, paysage d'hiver and the like that I started writing stuff on a more epic scale. Wolves In The Throne Room, and the sound that they have was basically the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.
(I spent 20 minutes writing this answer out before whittling it down to this....I had to stop myself from going David Copperfield on yers)
(I spent 20 minutes writing this answer out before whittling it down to this....I had to stop myself from going David Copperfield on yers)
11.Outside of music what are some of your interests?
By some unfortunate mix up I've ended up being nothing more than a nerd. I'm a sucker for the consoles I grew up on, nes, snes, megadrive etc.etc. I was also brought up on 80/90s tv and films. Foreign films, computing, gaming, biking....all the usual crap you would associate with a nerd really. I do get a hard on for anyone who speaks WW2 also. Porn is also a staple part of my spare time.
12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
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