As an absolute impersonality with a very personal attitude towards creativity, We Have A Ghost takes on a unique role in the music climate of today. This remarkable integrity shows in the music as well. The output of this elusive person spans across several genres, but a ghastly presence is felt in all tracks. This is something out of the ordinary.
We Have A Ghost
The artist seems to be about more than music – there seems to be a certain attitude, or philosophy, surrounding the project. Could you expand on your ideas?
This project centers around what haunts me and the notion that I was capable of doing more with my life with my passions and abilities. Turning the virtual into something tangible and meaningful. I’ve come to believe it’s a universal truth. We are all haunted by something. We Have A Ghost represents anything haunting you. It consists of many things and I am exploring all meanings and interpretations of it. It is subject matter of my debut album artwork, where I hand paint depictions of what haunts the recipient in translucent glow-in-the-dark paint.
On a related note, most of what I create (physically) glows in the dark. Not only is it ghostly, but it requires exposure in order to glow – I’ve learned exposure is an important element to the survival of an artist. Any independent musician doing this DIY style can attest to that. Through this process I’ve gotten to know some of my fans on a deeply personal level. The philosophy is to make the most out of the connections we make. I’ve found that if they like my music, chances are we have common interests. I enjoy learning about them and letting them in on my process. I try to help them get to where they want to go. It’s a symbiotic relationship. If there is an attitude, it is to actively pursue whatever you believe in by whatever means necessary. It’s not about what you look like or where you’re from, but what you do and where you want to be. As a result of my experiences, I am a passionate advocate for the emerging artist.
Your initial releases were more beat driven while your later releases are more of the soundscape kind. What will the future bring?
You can expect a return to beat driven music: Machinedrum heavy beats layered alongside live drums. The official follow-up to »debut« is »Ghost Hunter«, a concept album building on the sounds and themes I’m immersed in now. Songs inspired by real life ghost stories or hauntings, submitted by my fans and fellow musicians. Profound, heartbreaking and intensely personal stories. And a further exploration of my voice in the studio – singing, narration, samples. I’ve only sung in claustrophobic private settings up to this point and I’m looking forward to getting loud.
I am incorporating sounds and samples captured during my own paranormal investigations / exploring making music with ghost hunting equipment and field recordings. I’m hoping to feed all of that into an Octatrack, augmented by live instrumentation. I’m really looking forward to it. And I have a lot of paintings to do.
How do you make music?
It begins with whatever feeling I have brewing in me. I use whatever I happen to have in front of me, and see where it develops from there. I think in terms of layers and textures. I record everything I do, I always have. During sound design, during the writing phase. Sometimes I’ll start with a synth, other times I’ll start with the Machinedrum. Computerrok is almost entirely MD – including bass.
I’ll close my eyes and start improvising as I record and experiment. I extract the most interesting parts and build off that. At a certain point (if successful) it will take on a life of its own. I’ll throw everything I have at it, then strip it down to its essence.
Over time, I’ve developed a simple template I build from in Ableton Live: Machinedrum SPS 1-UW, FXpansion BFD2, Synthogy Ivory, an electric guitar, bass, Virus TI and a Moog, run through a chain of analog effects, through Universal Audio 610 preamps and into an Apogee Ensemble. I will then take what I have into the studio (if necessary) to record live drums or anything too loud to record at home.
Have you thought of what would happen if your identity was revealed? Do you have a plan?
(Laughs) It involves the witness protection program.