interview with The Black Moriah
Have any of you played in other bands? Yes quite a few actually; Absu,Bleed the Son,Infernal Oak, Philip Anselmo and the Illegals ,Rape Pillage & Burn, Superjoint and many more I'm sure.
How is it that you started playing music? I grew up in a musical family. It was always something important to me.
What are your names? / Who plays what? / How old are you?
TBM's currently consists of
Zawicizuz guitars/vox
The Mad Arab Lead Vox
Plus a horde of session musicians ready to ride!!!!
We are as old as time itself.
Have you had other previous members? Yes countless members have ridden with this horde.
Did you make music even when you were young? Yes it's been something that has been a part of me as long as I can remember
Where are you from? Originally New York, I've been in Texas for a long spell now.
What year did the band form? 2009
What's your style of genre? Blackened thrash for a desert funeral
What inspires you? The lawless past of our land, and the tails of our forefathers infamous acts.
How often and where do you rehearse? As much as humanly possible. We jam at my home studio #woodenhorsestudios
How have you developed since you started with the music? I'm always searching out new inspirations and techniques to ad to our musical vocabulary.
Do you have other interests of work outside the band? I am a pro-audio technician and enjoy repairing, modding, and hoarding music gear.
Are you looking for a booking agency, and what are your thoughts around that? We are always looking for new contacts to help spread our audio plague. We do have our own booking company #SouthernCasketProductions and we are open to helping other bands set up tours.
Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that? We have sealed a pact with Folter Records for our sophomore release "Road Agents of the Blast Furnace"
What made you decide to make this music? It is in my blood. I can not walk away from it or I would go mad.
What are your songs about? With TBM we wanted to focus on the history of our home. And the possibility of what is to come.
Who does the composing and writes the lyrics? The Mad Arab and I have discussed themes and directions of the tracks for the album. He has written the bulk of the lyrics and I have composed the bulk of the music.
Do you start with the music or the lyrics? We start with an idea of mood of the album. We paint a picture in our minds and then set forth on composing those pictures in sound.
Do you compose in a certain environment? Mostly in the rehearsal space. If possible out in the middle of the woods where no humans could distract me.
Have you done any covers live? Yes Dark Throne and Gorgoroth.
What language do you sing in? English.
What are the least and most people to attend one of your gigs? Smallest was probably just the members of the bands we played with on a rainy Sunday night and most would probably be 300-500 at the 1st #HousecoreHorrorFest in 2013. We are hoping to match or surpass that next week at the 3rd annual #hhf
What ages are most of your concert attendants? Guessing 16-45
Do you always play the same songs live, or do you vary? depends on the set time and length. We have a few songs the audience expects to hear so they are a staple.
Do you have a regular place you play live often? No Dallas is quite good for live music so we have many options.
What was your first gig like? Amazing energy. It was at a dyi venue and we were a bit of a surprise addition to the bill.
What was your latest gig? Too long ago, last September in Dallas. We are about to embark on a tour in May
Have you had to cancel a gig? We were going to play a festival in September #shadowwoodsfesival however we had scheduling issues and 1500 miles to contend with. So yes unfortunately we have had to cancel a gig.
Where do you plan to gig the coming year? We have aspirations to tour the majority of USA and Canada this coming year. And if any promoters can get us overseas hit us up!!!! Show Quoted Content
Have you had to cancel a gig? We were going to play a festival in September #shadowwoodsfesival however we had scheduling issues and 1500 miles to contend with. So yes unfortunately we have had to cancel a gig.
Where do you plan to gig the coming year? We have aspirations to tour the majority of USA and Canada this coming year. And if any promoters can get us overseas hit us up!!!!
When did you start to sell merchandise, and what do you have for sale? We had our logo done by the lord of logos and found it to match us very well so we had a simple logo shirt made by our 1st gig. We currently have our 1st album on cd and vinyl, 2nd album on digipack and Vinyl will be available this coming June.
Where can people buy your merchandise? http://theblackmoriah.com/merch.html
What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying records now a days? It is the way of the future. Collectors will always be there but the majority of music is being played on people's phones. I like the art and being able to hold the album in my hand, but the most important part goes in the ear holes not the eye holes.
How do you think the music industry have changed because of this? It has given the power back to the artist. It also floods the "market" with mediocrity. Anyone can buy a $100 set up and record their band and have it online in a matter of hours.
What do you think of my work? Well to be honest this is the first I've heard of you. So I have some homework to do.
How do you think and know that this interview will help you in the music business? It is the artist's job to spread their music. Every avenue available should at least be investigated.
Do you have any role models or idols? Alfred Schnittke, Andres Segovia, Gustav Mahler.
Why do you think that they exist? They had a passion and followed it.
Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are more active today? Well the older bands have the benefit of being ingrained into my greymatter for all these years. However a well executed live assault can be very inspiring.
What have been your biggest obstacles? Scheduling conflicts.
What advice would you give other bands or artists? Play what you love, or else it better pay very well!!!
How do you get psyched for a gig? That just happens naturally. If it ever stops then it's time to quit.
Do you have any new material? Road Agents of the Blast Furnace was just released via Folter Records March 29th. It is now available on our website and on iTunes Bandcamp Spotify ect...
What are your web sites? www.theblackmoriah.com
How can people reach you?
www.facebook.com/Theblackmoriah
http://www.reverbnation.com/theblackmoriah
www.theblackmoriah.bandcamp.com
Press/management contact: email
What are your plans for the future? Many shows coming up this summer!!!!
