Der Abt ‘’Between sunset and sunrise, nothing as it seems... In terms of creativity, that’s when it hits. I’ve been a night owl forever, so everything related to my music— from conceiving the first idea to the final product—happens in the late hours, between sunset and sunrise. This album, and even this project as a whole, is deeply experiential. Its themes and content are inspired directly by my experiences and hard times, especially over the last couple of years. So, it only felt right to name this project after my obsession with staying up late and creating music while the city sleeps. I live on a busy road in a somewhat-busy area in London, and during the day, it’s hectic. But at night, it’s like a ghost town, especially mid-week. Sometimes I stare out the window while composing or producing, just to remind myself to keep going—even though the whole city is asleep.
How do you define darkness?
‘’Darkness comes in many forms, and it means something different to each person. To me, darkness is the absence of hope, the absence of light, and a strong feeling that everything is heavy. In musical terms, darkness comes in the form of desperate harmonies and melancholic melodies.
‘’Darkness is definitely a part of "Half Empty Nightmares." Since nightmares are by default unpleasant, the darkness in my music is symbolised by the feelings a nightmare creates.
Is it something to be embraced or feared?
Darkness should be embraced. There’s no better way to make peace with our demons than by befriending them and understanding the purpose of their presence. We need to embrace the darkness to eventually find the light.
Is there any light to cast away the shadows?
‘’In my music, there’s a touch of brightness amid the chaos, which I believe gives an interesting flair to the sound. It’s more symbolic than just a musical twist, providing just the right amount of light in the middle of chaos. Is "Reconstruction From Within" part of the healing/rebuilding process? Sometimes we have to watch our lives fall apart in order to rise again. It’s part of the process. We need to look deep inside, address the issue, and resolve it. Of course, reconstruction from within is a crucial part of the healing process.
The deep emotional connection to your music: Is it the only source of release?
‘’It’s the only way I can channel my emotions and thoughts. I communicate better through music than words—unless they’re lyrics, in which case, I can express myself. But still, music is my strong suit. There’s a deep connection to my music; it’s not just writing a song for the sake of it. It’s my voice, my way of speaking up, and my means of communicating thoughts and feelings. It’s the most important source of release and relief.
Is it also a deep wellspring of inspiration?
‘’Every day, every moment of living can serve as inspiration. Like I said, “In The Middle Of Chaos” is an experiential album, and this is most evident in the lyrics. From the album title to the song titles and deep into the lyrics, one can find the message being communicated. Specifically, for this album, the inspiration came from recent personal experiences, which I won’t disclose. This led me to the dark emotional direction the album has taken. It addresses themes of depression, sadness, regret, and guilt.
How do you recall your dreams?
‘’I’m a daydreamer; I’m not even sure what’s real and what’s not anymore. This very moment I’m writing this interview could be a dream. So, there’s no need to recall dreams when there’s this kind of uncertainty. You know, I sometimes forget that this world is not real.
Are dreams an escape or a solution?
‘’I think dreams can serve both as an escape and a solution. However, lyrically on this album, the direction I’ve taken is more focused on healing. In dreams, the soul speaks what the mouth cannot say…
The haunting Echoes of Sorrow?
‘’The echoes of sorrow are neither an escape nor a solution. They are the result of despair.
How do you accurately express loss in your music?
The sense of loss in my music comes primarily from the melancholic harmonic progressions I tend to compose. To be honest, these progressions come naturally to me—it’s always been easier to write something melancholic and depressive than something happy and uplifting. Additionally, the deep atmosphere and ambiance in this album add a special kind of sadness, contributing to the overall sense of loss and despair. Hidden and deep, where fears and desires in silence do sleep…
What led you to the extreme side of music and the embrace of DSBM?
DSBM is deeply emotional and genuine music—some might even say beautiful. Of course, there’s a dark side to it, considering it mainly focuses on self-harm, depression, and sadness, but these are real-life feelings and circumstances that exist every day, everywhere. The dark side of it doesn’t diminish its quality. The two main reasons I chose this direction for my music are, first, my personal appreciation for DSBM, and second, how well it fits with the lyrical content of the project called “Between Sunset And Sunrise”.
How do you define "uncompromising?"
‘’To me, uncompromising means no second thoughts, no filters, and no genre-led composition. Yes, my initial direction was DSBM because I’m inspired by this music and am a huge fan of the genre’s pioneers. It felt right to serve my lyrical content in that manner. However, composing is a dynamic process—you can’t exclude musical elements just because “they don’t fit the genre.” If it sounds good, just go for it. That’s how this album ended up being not-so-DSBM, with more ambient and atmospheric touches, along with a brightness usually lacking in classic DSBM. That’s how I define uncompromising—no compromise whatsoever while creating, exactly as happened with “In The Middle Of Chaos”.
Comments