1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the solo project?
Hapless Wretch is a project I started this year, it's a passion project, really. I just love making heavy, extreme music. Recording, mixing and seeing what disgusting sounds I can make are some of my favourite things to do. Apart from the drums, everything is recorded at home. I like using real amps and micing cabs, and just sculpting sounds. I mix and master everything myself.
2.So far you have released an ep, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?
It's interesting because I never set out to make music of any specific genre, I like the fact that Hapless Wretch is a mix of styles. There are elements of death metal, black metal, grindcore and also some sludgy bits. I just whirl all my influences together and see what comes out. The vocals on the EP are high pitched screams, as that's the only type I can do! I guess I prefer them sonically to the low death metal growls, to me it just sounds more pleasing. I've used programmed drums as I didn't have a drummer or a drum kit when I recorded it during lockdown.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects that you have explored so far with the music so far?
Mental Illness. Misanthropy. Anger at the death and destruction we cause on this planet towards humans and animals. Hapless Wretch isn't a distinctly political band but I couldn't help but bleed some of the anger I've held towards the UK government into the songs.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Hapless Wretch'?
Partly a reference to myself being hapless and wretched. But I actually took it from a book, it was either in The Devils Elixirs or Le Bas or some other gothic novel, but it was used to describe a group of horrible witches and I just thought it was perfect. It described the music better than I could have myself.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the ep cover?
It was created by Primitive Print. I was looking for some art to complete the release and I reached out to Dan and he made that for me, it was just perfect from the start. I like working with artists, I would only reach out if I truly felt their work represented what I was doing.
6.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?
I often work solo as I prefer being able to do everything myself, but it's not about control necessarily, it's more that I work very spontaneously and I just can't wait around for other people. I have been collaborating with a drummer in America who reached out to me. He's recorded some live drums and I'm really liking them so I'm definitely going to use them on a future release I have planned. I'm also collaborating with two other guys Nick (bass) and Louis (drums) to perform Hapless Wretch live in the future, it's just a slow process.
7.The ep was released on 'Cursed Monk Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?
Yeah, sure, Cursed Monk Records are a label from Ireland, they specialise in releasing underground, heavy, esoteric and experimental records. They reached out to me out of the blue after hearing one of my tracks on a playlist and I jumped at the chance to release a CD with them, they have been great to work with. I'm also releasing Vol.1 on tape with Life After Death in America, so look out for that, too.
8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black, sludge and death metal?
When I made Vol.1 I really didn't expect anyone to listen to it or be interested in it. I sent it around on a whim on the off chance somebody might hear it. It's mad to me that people have listened to it and labels want to release it. When you make music you just want people who get it to hear it, so I'm really pleased with the reaction so far, and I hope that people see how the project grows with each further release.
9.Are you involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?
I have played in some bands in the past, I also help Nick by playing bass on some of his compositions. But apart from that not really, I've always found it extremely difficult to find musicians to play music with in the UK.
10.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?
I have a second EP already recorded and ready to go, I'm just waiting for everything to come into place to put that out later in the year. But right now I'm concentrating on Vol.1. I want Hapless Wretch to keep growing with each release and get more and more disgusting. Hopefully, Hapless Wretch will be a live band in the near future.
11.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?
This is a hard question as there's so much music! I put out a monthly playlist on Spotify of all the things I've been listening to that month, so check that out if you're interested. When recording Vol.1 I would say, a lot of Grindcore such as Deterioration, Internal Rot, Triac, Cloudrat, Chepang, Death Toll 80k, Fluoride. Classic Death metal too, Bolt Thrower, Morbid Angel, Carcass, Asphyx, Entombed, Cryptopsy.
Some newer bands I'm really digging are 200 Stab Wounds, Blemish, Ossuary, Coffin Mulch, Blood Incantation, Fleshrot, Afterbirth, Faceless Burial, Gravesend, Greenwitch, Pissgrave... the list could go on and on... there's too many...
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far and know that Hapless Wretch will always be: Fucking wretched music, for fucking wretched people.
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