Great to have you on Xttrawave. Please, introduce yourself.
I am from Louisiana and even though the weather here is primarily humid and warm, I have always been influenced by the silvery beauty of a rare snowfall. Silver Carpet, a perennial, also has this velvety, snowy appearance, and the name just stuck with me.
What got you into music and made you realize that it was your chosen path?
I loved opera as a teenager and studied music in college. However, I did not fit in with other classical musicians/singers and wished to navigate the more alternative side of music. My first software studio only cost five dollars, and my first recorded piece was an experimental nightmare!
What instruments do you play?
Celtic harp, piano/keyboards, recorder, fretted dulcimer, and glockenspiel.
Which one do you enjoy playing the most?
Harp, hands down.
Tell us about your new music? And what’s the story behind it?
Arctic Whispers represents the isolation of winter while offering a glimpse of hope amid so much poverty, disease, and depression.
Do you have a track that is a personal favorite?
Lithophane will always be my favorite since it was the first track I recorded and produced under Silver Carpet.
What makes your music unique? How would you describe it?
My involvement in neoclassical, ambient, metal, and industrial projects helps to diversify my overall sound. It is like creating a piece of visual art, where each color in the painting evokes a different mood or feeling. Even trap and R&B find their way into my mixes periodically. However, precision is critical; it takes trial and error to determine what works and what doesn’t.
The only drawback is not knowing exactly how to classify my music.
Who are your biggest music influences?
Assemblage 23, VNV Nation, Megadeth, Solitary Experiments, Depeche Mode, Loreena McKennitt.
And any particular artist/band you would like to collaborate with in the future?
I would love to create a track with Sigur Ros. Their music brightens my life, and it is so much fun to play on the harp.
Which is the best moment in your musical career that you’re most proud of?
Last year, I collaborated with Kevin Keller on a track for his album Shimmer. I have been a fan of his music since I was a teenager, so this was a huge honor.
How do you balance your music with other obligations – family, friends or work?
I carve out a space in the day to do SOMETHING music-related, even if it is only singing a few notes or banging out a few chords on the piano. I do my best work at night after clocking out from my job. A social life keeps me from burning out from studio work.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
Music is 10 percent talent and 90 percent labor. The path will not always be easy, but it will pay off if you are willing to burn the midnight oil.
If you had one message to give to your fans, what would it be?
I appreciate your support and look forward to sharing more music with you!
What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects?
My new EP eclipse: illusion will be out in the next month or so. The cover art is by Peter Vaughn of Jacket (a synthwave project). I am also making plans for a full-length album and a new music video. I will rest when I am dead!
Stream on BandCamp