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Writer's pictureEryk The Strange

Interview with Craven!

Q: Introduce yourself to the readers

My name is Craven, I am 148 years old. I was raised in the circus and now play Darksynth & spooky industrial rock music.


Q:Is there much of a market in Ireland for your music, or is your audience mostly found elsewhere?

I think in recent years it’s been getting better for sure but mainland Europe seems to be where the majority of people like listening to a weird old man with a bag on his head play spooky music.


Q:What was the first darksynth artist you ever encountered? 

I remember it clearly. It was 2016, I had recently just figured out how to steal my neighbours internet connection and stumbled onto a website called the Youtube. It was there in a little suggestion box in the corner between a video on polynesian wasps mating habits and a video about how to train your dog to answer the phone was the latest single from Carpenter Brut.



Q: What made you want to start making your own music?

So all my life I have always made music to some degree, back in the olden days I would bang two cans together while chewing on an elastic band.


In 1907, I was lead drum banger when the clowns were doing their tightrope walk. The clowns used to get mad at me when I would bang it out of time to try to make them fall off the wire. I did this all in the name of entertainment, because the grim reality is, everyone really wants to see them fall off the wire. Like when the Romans went to the colosseum on a Saturday to watch lads baiting the heads off each other. Same thing. But yeah, after the clowns fired me I was set on a solo career where I didn't have to answer to anyone.



Q:Which horror movies inspire you the most?

A Nightmare on Elm street has a special place in my heart. Freddy with his big melted head and pointy hands. Love him. Most people don't know that Elm Street is actually a documentary about fire safety & sleep apnea. I feel like me and Art the clown from Terrifier would get along great too.



Q:You haven't released anything since "Crust" back in February. Is there anything coming up that you can tell us about?

I've got a new single called ‘’Skin Suit Dinner’’ coming out on Friday the 13th. It’s a bit of a change in sound to what people might be used to from me but I was just having a blast writing a more rock orientated tune.

Shooting the music video for this was a whole lot of fun. I just set up a camera and recorded my usual daily routine of playing with my stuffed animals, dismembering my dolls with hacksaws, dressing up in different costumes and dancing in front of the mirror.. it was pretty simple until Cardiac the giant heart came in and ruined things


Q: What is "Crust" supposed to make me feel? Why did you decide to have it be instrumental?

Crust is supposed to feel like an ending credit song to a movie where the bad guy won. Most of my songs are instrumental because when playing live I cut my tongue off during the show so it's sort of hard to sing when your tongue is on the floor of the stage.



Q:Have you got any shows coming up that you are able to talk about?

I’ve got a few headline shows here in Ireland coming up in October and then I’m opening for Evil Scarecrow in November. The headline shows are going to be an all out Halloween party. Costumes are encouraged, there's gonna be magic tricks, banging tunes, pyro and cheese platters so go buy a ticket.



Q: I noticed in your bio that you've shared the stage with bands as big as Priest and Dance With The Dead. Was that at all intimidating?

Opening for Dance with the Dead was a bit intimidating but only for the fact that it was my first time back on the stage again since 1983 and I had only recently started using a laptop to play music. I didn't want to have to call Microsoft tech support mid show. The Priesty boys are a bunch of absolute sweethearts, don't let the tight leather and spiky masks fool you. Great bunch.


Q:What thoughts went through your head the first time you stepped onto stage?

The very first time I stepped on stage properly was when I was 8 years old. I was doing a juggling act. I was so nervous that I forgot to bring the balls I was supposed to juggle. So I just stood there trying to make some jokes about the weather. The audience hated me and I was bombarded by boos and projectiles.



Q:If you were an animal, what kind would you be and why?

I would be one of those mad looking yellow and blue spiders that you see underneath a pot in your garden. Know the ones that chew on peoples ankles?



Q:Where can people find you and your music? Plug your socials.

You can find me all across the internet. Creep in touch.



Q:What message do you have for whoever reads this?

If you've read all the way down here then you owe me forty five cent. Send it in a stamped addressed envelope to Cravens Crack den 669, Ireland. Or come to a show and give it to me there.

Thanks,

love you xoxo

Your ol crusty pal Craven

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