Interview: Drift Into Black

Recently, DutchMetalManiac’s Tim van Velthuysen interviewed Drift Into Black.

Hey, how are you?

I’m doing great! Just taking it day by day in the apocalypse haha.

Can you tell us something about the history of Drift Into Black?

So I got the idea of starting a solo project back in 2016. I spent most of that year writing music which ultimately turned out to be my first EP entitled Shadow People.

It was a digital release. From that point on I just kept writing music. I kept in contact with many people in the metal scene from when I was in my previous band to help with some promo and what not. I think after my first full length Dead Suns under the Forever Moon I began to take it more seriously……well as serious I can take it considering I have a day job haha.

For people not knowing Drift Into Black (yet), how would you describe your music yourself?

I would say it’s dark, melodic and somber. I like to touch on other genres a bit but never stray too far from the doom sound. So when you listen to a Drift into Black album you know you’re bound to hear something different. 

There are bands out there where all you need to do is pick up one album and you’ve basically heard their entire discography already. I try to reinvent my sound every time while introducing something new each time.

When someone doesn’t know Drift Into Black yet and you can choose one of your songs to present yourself, which song would that be?

I would say a good track that would define all of Drift into Black would be The Burial Gown from the new record. It’s got the guttural vocals, clean vocals, melodic guitars, and keyboards throughout.

What makes Drift Into Black unique?

I think what makes Drift into Black unique is what I touched on before. Drift into Black doesn’t stick to just one genre. 

There’s a lot of different sounds happening and there’s something for everyone. I enjoy that freedom of creativity.

Any future plans you can already tell us something about?

I am currently writing new songs. Patterns of Light has been finished since September 2020 so I have been writing new songs since November. 

Hopefully I can have a single out by the end of 2021 and an early 2022 release date for my 4th album.

Any upcoming gigs for Drift Into Black? Maybe coming to The Netherlands?

No current plans for gigs just yet but hopefully in the future for sure. I would love to come to The Netherlands!!

How do you think your life would be without music?

Every so often you meet someone that doesn’t listen to music. It’s rare, but I have met people that do not listen to music and it just boggles the mind. 

How do you go through life and not listen to music? Music is super important for the soul and without it there would be a void within me. 

What advice would you give to young and starting bands?

Go to school and learn a trade. Struggling is no fun. When you struggle you suffer and so does your music. Even if you’re on a major label treat it as a hobby because they will chew you up, spit you out, and you will owe them in the end.

Playing music is enjoyable to me because I make enough money so that I can record and release albums every year. At a young age I wasn’t stupid. I worked small IT helpdesk jobs and now I work on a trade floor in Times Square in NYC.

If you focus on a career first then you will get the best of both worlds and trust me you will enjoy music much more. Even the biggest underground bands on major labels struggle and that’s all you need to know. Jesus I sound like an old man haha.

Thanks for your answers! Is there anything you want to say to DutchMetalManiac’s readers?

Thank you for the interview and I want to thank the readers for taking the time to read it!! Have a happy and safe 2021!

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