The Mosaic Window Interview

 

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the solo project?

Sure. I started The Mosaic Window in 2021 out of a need to express grief and an uncontrollable desire to return to playing extreme music. I grew up obsessively listening to metal and its many subgenres, and even had a death metal band in the late 2000's/early 2010's. But it's been years since that became defunct and I've grown to miss it. This time around is different, though. During the pandemic, I lost my father and grandmother. I had a lot of emotion that I never felt before, and I needed an output. The Mosaic Window was meant to be (and still is) a solo project so I could explore those emotions and put 100% of my honest and true self into it. Right now, it happens to be in the form of melodic black/death metal.

2.So far you have released an ep and full length, musically how do they both differ from each other?

Musically, the 'Hollow' EP was more rushed and "thrown together" (for lack of a better term). I wrote, recorded, and mixed the whole thing over a weekend. I just needed to get the project started and get some songs out there for my own cathartic release. I think there's a bit more openness throughout the EP compared to the album. I was listening to Ihsahn's 'After' a lot that week I guess. It was also my first go at vocals, so they're admittedly a bit rough. I spent far more time working on 'Plight of Acceptance' - over the course of a year. With 'Plight' I focused more on songwriting and being intentional with every riff. There's also more guitar solos on 'Plight' and I had the help of Damian Herring (Horrendous) for the mix and master. 

3.Your lyrics cover a lot of esoteric, mythological and existential topics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

The 'Hollow' EP and 'Plight of Acceptance' both have their similarities and differences in the lyrics. They both rely heavy on existentialism, death, and the afterlife (or lack thereof). Many of the songs on 'Plight' have double 'esoteric' meanings that people may or may not figure out. I try to write lyrics that can be read and taken as-is, but also if you look a little deeper you may find a hidden meaning. Mythology is not as obvious in the lyrics - it's more of an inspiration. I studied anthropology in college and have a fascination with how different cultures operated throughout history. Specifically, I think the polytheistic beliefs of Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome are really interesting. Some of that stuff will influence what I write.

4.Lyrically you also cover horror themes, which aspects of this genre do you cover with your songwriting?

As mentioned above, my lyrics will sometimes have double meanings. Face-value and something deeper. A lot of the face-value lyrics are inspired by hauntings and ghost stories. I listen to a lot of podcasts surrounding that topic and find it all super entertaining. For example, the song 'Demon' was written as a Mercyful Fate-type spooky track talking about a possession but the deeper meaning has to do with my own mental health struggles.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'The Mosaic Window'?

The name originally came to me while out on a walk at night. I passed by a church and imagined the stain-glassed windows depicting an evil scene that serves as a doorway to another world. Later on, I realized mosaic art is something beautiful made from broken pieces of something else. So again, double meanings.

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

Yeah, it's 'Le Desespoir' by French artist Marcel Roux (1905). I knew I wanted an oil painting for the cover and felt this one captures the album's mood pretty well.

7.With this project you record everything by yourself but have worked with musicians in other bands and projects, do you prefer to work solo?

Yes, I prefer to have creative control. I love jamming with friends and playing live can be awesome, but ultimately The Mosaic Window is just too personal to allow collaboration with writing at the moment. I'm not opposed to working with other musicians in other projects, though.

8.Willowtip Records are releasing the physical version of the new album in November, can you tell us a little bit more about the newer version?

When I released "Plight of Acceptance' on Bandcamp in June, I had so many requests for physical copies. I teamed up with Wilt-Shine from Wisconsin for a small tape run (which are available on their Bandcamp) but eventually got in touch with Willowtip. They had heard the record and wanted to reissue it on vinyl and cd, which I totally agreed to as I really wanted to get some physical copies out there and I couldn't do it alone. The mock-ups look awesome and I can't wait to grab a copy.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of melodic black and death metal?

So far the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. I've been sending merch all over the globe and that's something that I still can't wrap my head around. I've even had several people tell me 'Plight' is an AOTY contender for them, which is insane. I'm just so happy people are connecting with the music. It really gives me inspiration to keep doing it.

10.What is going on with 'Mauled' these days?

Wow you've done your homework! For those who don't know, Mauled is a messy death metal/hardcore project my good friend Jett and I started for fun one day over the pandemic. We only have the debut EP out on Bandcamp and streaming right now, but we do have some other songs that may see the light of day sometime in the future. No plans, really. Just all fun, when we have the time.

11.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

I definitely see myself continuing to write and record music under The Mosaic Window. In fact, a large amount of the next album is being written already. I'm shooting for a slightly longer album than the debut. It's definitely the same black/death metal vibe as 'Plight' but I think even more extreme in different ways. I'll probably always write stuff in that area, but I'd like to experiment more with funeral doom, sludge, and post-metal too. 

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Tough question! I have a lot of influences, but specifically for The Mosaic Window I think King Diamond/Mercyful Fate, Emperor, Wolves in the Throne Room, Dead Congregation, Cradle of Filth, Les Discrets, Altar of Plagues, Dissection, and Dark Tranquillity are the main influences right now. My other current obsessions include Hypocrisy, Ascended Dead, Krigsgrav, Ulthar, Lamp of Murmuur, Abduction, Mizmor, and Jupiterian. Oh, the new Voidceremony and Thantifaxanth albums are wild too.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thank you so much, and thank you to everyone who has taken the time to listen to The Mosaic Window. Check out the album stream at https://themosaicwindow.bandcamp.com/album/plight-of-acceptance