Interview by Gothgirl
GG=Gothgirl
JW=THE UNQUIET VOID's Jason Wallach
GG-Many of us may have not heard of your music before, When and where did you start The Unquietvoid?
JW- I began TUQV in the basement of my mother's house when I was about 15 and still in highschool back in 1989. I had this little Casio keyboard that I could tweak the sounds on and I was always experimenting with it. I began writing songs and lyrics (most of which were not used or at least not again) and making really primitive recordings. I began developing my emotions into sound which is, I'm happy to say, a huge part of what TUQV is today... that's the whole point of the thing really. So that is when and where I started it all.
GG-What is the goth scene like in Florida?
JW- In all honesty I haven't had anything to do with the goth scene since the summer of 1996 which was by no means the best of times for me. I honestly cannot give you an informed insight on it. However, one thing I really thought was silly is that there were people here that were literally fighting with each other for a really stupid reason. This reason I mention is that this one guy who is supposedly the king of the goths was pissed off at and ready to do bodily harm to a girl who copied the address of Isolation Tank. God forbid anyone else should have access to music they like. This guy was in his mid to late twenties for crying out loud!! Besides, if it weren't for people like that guy I think that underground artists might have a better shot at making a little money to put back into their passion. I simply disconcern myself with all of that nonsense, I myself am not a "goth" and my philosophy on the matter is this... I'm not making music to fit into any scene. I make music because I can't refrain from it, it is something that I absolutely must do. I have so much inside me to express and that is what TUQV is, it is the expression of my life and of my dreams and my desires and thoughts. My music is a reflection of the world I live in as I experience it, it is simply my take on things. Where I was going with this is that I'm simply making the music for only one person and that's me and anyone else who likes it or can relate to it is more than welcome to embrace it.
GG-How does the title of The Unquiet Void represent your music?
JW- Well, sometimes I feel like I live in an unquiet void... this world, universe, etc. Sometimes I think that maybe there's this void inside of me that all my discoveries and triumphs in life fill up along the way. I see life as a journey from point A to point B and sort of an in between worlds type of thing. Where and what were we before we entered this world and where and what will we be after leaving it? The representation is that in between part that I'm experiencing now, in this life. TUQV is the journal of my life and that is the collection of stories that it tells of. The bottom line is that I'm just as confused and scared as anybody else is deep down about the things we don't know to be real and familiar and I'm just trying to make sense of it all along the way.
GG-How has Mike of Lycia influenced your music over the years while writing the new album?
JW- The only way Mike has influenced me is by believing in me and what I was doing. At one point I had gotten so frustrated with the whole concept and everything about it that I just about called it quits for good. Mike encouraged me to stick with it and that things will eventually happen and that he thought I was deserving of that. To hear that from one of your favorite musicians is pretty intense and I listened to him and he was absolutely right, things are now beginning to happen.
GG-Do you think that the type of music you play is hard to promote and sell? How would you change the way Goth music is promoted?
JW- I don't think that any kind of music is hard to promote or sell once you have a target audience. I often sit and think that if one day someone decided that they were tired of playing Hootie and the Blowfish and started playing Trance to the Sun that it would catch on. The big business end of music is geared to the getting drunk and laid wannabe happy people, that could all easily change but noone wants it, some people are afraid to explore I think... I could be wrong. Also, I wouldn't change the way gothic music is promoted, these days it really promotes itself in a way.
GG-How come there are no vocals used? Unless I missed them?
JW- I have vocals to a few of my songs, I haven't yet released those songs but they are there. I did sing on "The Glass Is Shattered" on OF THESE REMINDERS and I sang on my forthcoming version of David Bowie's "Ashes To Ashes" which will appear on the cd sequel to A GOTH ODDITY called DARK VISION which is due out in the fall. I honestly feel that words, more often than not, are insignificant. I believe that the music is the true force. In my writings there are no words for these raw and powerful feelings I endure, words couldn't even begin to describe them. There are a few times when lyrics have been written that really complimented the music I had written and that's when I use them.
GG-What would be another good name to call your music besides ethereal or Goth? Describe your sound that your trying to create?
JW-I hear people refer to it as darkwave or (if I had to choose a classification that I didn't mind too much) darkambient. I'm not overly concerned with how people classify TUQV, I care about being true to myself and my emotions to make the best recording I can make and, in my opinion, as long as it is honest and pure it will be a good recording and not just in my case... in any. I think people will know the difference as well. The sound I create really speaks for itself where SCORPIO is concerned and the sound of the next release (which will be different from that of Scorpio) will speak for itself and so on. If anyone wants a description they should check out the disc or visit the website to hear clips of some of the songs.
GG-What makes your music sound different than other artists in the genre? What gives your music the dark touch or music from a horror movie?
JW-I wasn't aware that it was that different, thank you. All I can tell you is that no matter what I have always and will always do whatever I want to and however I want to do it. If you begin crafting your music in order to meet some pre established goal you'll end up sounding like everything else in the genre and I refuse to go that route. As far as what makes the music have the horror film quality? Scorpio has that quality because of the anger, frustration and uncertainty I was experiencing as I created most of it. Everyone has a dark side and Scorpio is a glimpse at mine.
GG-What has been the biggest challenge while making your new album?
JW- The biggest challenge about creating Scorpio was dealing honestly with some feelings that I was dealing with at the time. Sometimes it's not easy to admit to yourself that you're wrong and that you need to change but that is an obstacle I've gotten past... it wasn't easy at all!
GG-Have you achieved your goal with your music?
JW- I'm achieving my goals slowly but surely, it may be a steady climb but it is one that I'm very comfortable with. I think that with each release will come another goal and eventually I'd like to play live and then think about a possible tour or something but it all depends on the response to this debut release and of releases to come. Personally, I also need to get over being frightened by it. It will happen one day for sure but right now isn't a great time for me to be touring or anything like that, I don't want to be away from my daughter like that while she's a little over a year old.
GG-What can we expect from you in the future?
JW- Well, in June I will begin recording the second release entitled "Between The Twilights" which is not only about the process of dreaming but will submerge the listener in the dreaming. It will be a different release, no two UQV releases will be alike, I think that defeats the purpose of creating if you're only going to create the same exact thing over and over. But that is in the near future as well as some other compilation appearances that will be surfacing this year. The website has all of the current news.
GG-Do you feel it is hard to make the music that you do? What would you tell new artists in the genre about making this form of music?
JW- It's not hard for me to create what I create at all, I just need to slow down and really focus on what's going on inside me. I do have advice for new artists: I've been struggling to get even this far for ten years, no shit. Do not give up, if you have the desire and the passion follow it, push it, make people aware of it. It will be difficult and that's a character builder... accept it and continue on. Be true and honest to your heart and your art. Remember that a slow and steady climb is a secure spot when you get to where you're wanting to go, if it happens quickly you'll more than likely burn out. Stick with it, you will be glad you did.
GG-Where can we find the new album " Scorpio"?
JW- Scorpio will be distributed by Metropolis, Middle Pillar, KSM Records & Projekt / Darkwave. I'm sure that Digital Underground and Isolation Tank will have it as well as other various stores that carry releases from these companies. Projekt only distributes label releases on their ADA distribution source, Scorpio will be available in the Darkwave catalog. Also, you can order the disc from Alterculture Records as well at
[email protected]
http://alterculture.hypermart.net
     
GG-What are your plans for the Album? Tour?
JW-I'm not sure I understand what you mean by asking what my plans are for the album... I just hope that people like it and that it does fairly well. I just want to be able to do the next one, I have a day job that pays the bills but making some money from the cd so that I can add more equipment to my project would be great also. As for a tour, not just yet... I'm building up to live shows let alone live shows all over the country.
     
GG-Any final thoughts about your music or Goth that you would like to pass along to new fans?
JW-Hmmm, I think I've said everything I wanted to say in the previous questions. As far as new fans go... they can really learn all they want to know from the website:
http://listen.to/TheUnquietVoid
[email protected]
I hope to hear from people that do like it, feedback is always welcome.
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