Exclusive Interview with 'DAMIEN'

The first single, “Nowhere,” by acclaimed Ipswich darkwave artist DAMIEN, shows influences from Billie Eilish and Siiickbrain while remaining firmly rooted in the artist’s signature “Depeche Mode meets Nine Inch Nails” sound. This suggests that the musician’s upcoming songs may have more alt-pop influences than previous works.
Through the use of Eilish-inspired harmonies and raw grit that is reminiscent of Siiickbrain, “Nowhere” splashes moments of delicate beauty while still being brimming with dark, electronic eeriness and DAMIEN’s signature vocal layers.
The first single from DAMIEN’s third album, “Nowhere,” which follows the debut album, “Girl” (2021), and most recent release, “Wrong Age. Wrong Race. Wrong Gender,” is titled “Nowhere” (2022).

The upcoming album, titled “Candidate For the Abyss,” will look to build on the foundation created by the first two records when it is released in the second half of 2023. Gyrostream will made the debut track, “Nowhere,” streamable on all major platforms since October 14, 2022. Check out the song and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

DAMIEN: I’m from Ipswich, Australia, which is located approximately 30mins west of Brisbane. It’s a great city with a strong community of alternative and neurodivergent people who are really supportive of each other.

For me, my current sound developed when I decided I wanted to do a completely solo project with high energy and a huge sound, whilst having an obvious connection to rock.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

DAMIEN: Musically, I am completely self-taught. I first picked up a guitar at age 16 and taught myself via books and listening to music. I’ve never had a formal lesson. In relation to production though, I have done a Diploma of Music Industry and Technical Production at SAE, which gave me a solid understanding of how to use ProTools.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘DAMIEN’?

DAMIEN: It’s hard to say who my first musical influences were. I remember my mother singing Simon and Garfunkel songs to me as child, so does that count? My strongest musical influences are largely bands from the 90’s. Mostly Nirvana, Metallica, Rage Against The Machine, Marilyn Manson, The Offspring, Green Day…but it’s really only the Marilyn Manson influence that people notice in my music.

As far as the name, ‘DAMIEN’, it’s a stylized version of my actual name, but I think it works because of the association with ‘The Omen’ and the idea of the name ‘Damien’ being a derivative of ‘Demon’, which leans into heavier, darker music.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

DAMIEN: My music is generally pretty simple, and so I think people will easily digest the lyrics and connect with the structure, because I tend to incorporate a lot of technics used in pop music to write my songs. However, the overall mood of my music is usually darker and rooted in existentialism, and so tends to resonate more with a deeper thinking audience than a stereotypical pop audience. I would describe my sound as ‘Depeche Mode meets Nine Inch Nails’.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as ROCK?
**DAMIEN**:
Sure, when I first started writing songs, I wanted to write like Kurt Cobain, and would often emulate his obscure metaphors and use of symbolism into my lyrics, whilst also formulating them around very simple song structures. However, in developing my own style, I moved away from guitar based music to electronic music, which then naturally led me to listen to more electronic based artists, and so my sound and songs, whilst is still largely built on a classic rock structure, is beginning to push closer to EDM in some aspects.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

DAMIEN:

I’m pretty passionate about music being a ‘spiritual’ medium. I very much baulk at the commercialization of music or the idea of a ‘music industry’. I think the idea of ‘industry’ is connected to economic activity, and, in Western Culture, economic activity is centered around capitalism. So, success in a ‘music industry’, in Western society, revolves around how well one makes capital from music. That disgusts me. For me, there is something transcendent that occurs with music that supersedes the industrial agenda. I believe music creates a portal to a collective conscience. I see my value and purpose as a musician to come from striving to become better at my craft, not for capital gain, but rather to serve and invest in the spiritual health of my community…and I think a spiritually healthy community will eventually disown capitalism, not reinforce it.

7. 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, or different in the future?

DAMIEN:

I think that it’s important to see the ‘putting in’ as a form of ‘giving back’ in itself. Every minute practicing, or dollar spent investing in my music is growing and developing me as an individual and assisting me in becoming wiser and more intentional in how I live, so that is already a payback. Of course, the most satisfying paybacks are having people come to my shows and sing along with my songs. When that occurs, I feel like I am getting back tenfold on my investment.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

DAMIEN:

At present my process will begin with a single idea: A lyric; a melody; a riff; a bassline…I’ll start with that and then literally just free associate from there. Eventually, when a structure begins to take form, I will become more intentional and nuanced in crafting out the final piece, but it’s random experimenting and just throwing sounds and ideas into the pot that I find the most fun. When I start a song, I never have an ‘end’ in mind, and so I am as excited and surprised by where it lands as anyone else.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

DAMIEN: I think the most difficult thing has been breaking away from the idea of ‘career’ and the measures of ‘success’ that usually hallmark what makes a ‘career’ notable. Learning to make the enjoyment of music the goal, has been difficult, because others will always judge you and the quality of your music by how many tickets you sell, or streams you’ve had, or festivals you’ve played at…and whilst those things are nice, they aren’t really in your control, and so placing your worth as a musician and a human on those things is a recipe for failure and self-hatred. As a person with depression, I already must battle with those feelings already. So, I need to keep reminding myself of what music is for me, and not be swayed to buy into any agendas that don’t align with my values.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

DAMIEN: It’s hard to say, but I think the most affirming thing for me was when a popular Brisbane radio station named my last album, ‘Album of the Week’ earlier this year. That was a moment where I felt really seen and heard and valued for the music I create and the spirit in which I create it.