Twice Dark, known for his signature goth and electro-industrial sound, continues to captivate audiences with his dark yet rhythmic storytelling. His latest single, Necromantic, offers a vivid journey into the underworld, blending themes of grief, loss, and danceable energy. In this exclusive interview with Apricot Magazine, Twice Dark opens up about his musical journey, the creation of Necromantic, and his upcoming album Telekinetic.
We had the opportunity to speak with Twice Dark about his creative process, inspirations, and what’s next for his evolving artistry.
Interview with Twice Dark
Twice Dark: Goth and industrial, and now synth pop, slowly became my favorite genre over many years. They’ve been the driving force in my music since the early 2000s when I was in college. Seeing Nine Inch Nails on the Downward Spiral tour in 1994 cemented goth and industrial as a major influence for me. Also, going to raves in the late ’90s was eye-opening—many techno DJs were into Nitzer Ebb before they started making techno, which led me to explore their influences. It took a long time to get to Twice Dark. I had a lot of life to live and mistakes to make before I was ready to fully embrace dark music as my serious passion.
Twice Dark: I write about what I know and experience. Writing about things I haven’t lived through feels phony. Goth is perfect for expressing dark emotions, and it’s my outlet for inner struggles. I used to journal daily, which evolved into lyric writing over the years. I also incorporate elements like monsters or telepathic abilities to convey deeper emotions. At the core, all my songs are about the human condition, which is terminal—perfect for goth lyrics.
Diving Into “Necromantic“
Twice Dark: Necromantic is just a short horror story, unlike most of my tracks that delve into personal experiences. It’s about a guy pulled into the underworld by a grieving ghost—kind of like Corpse Bride. Other tracks like this from past albums include Ghosts in the Graveyard and Fathoms Deep.
Twice Dark: Scott reached out to me while I was writing the Telekinetic album, wanting to collaborate. We initially worked on a different track, but I asked him to participate in Necromantic. He sang backup and did a remix of the track that will be out on Valentine’s Day. We collaborated entirely via email since he’s in New York, and I’m in Indiana. Scott brought a more traditional goth flavor and his seasoned perspective to the song, which I truly valued.
Exploring Telekinetic
5. The track blends themes of grief and loss with a danceable energy. How did you strike that balance to create something cathartic yet rhythmic?
Twice Dark: While writing Telekinetic, I embraced my love for synth pop, Italo disco, and electro-industrial. I focused on using unique samples and incorporating synth pop rhythms, even as my lyrical content remained rooted in dark themes.
Twice Dark: Telekinetic explores using supernatural abilities as metaphors for life’s challenges. Most tracks are deeply personal, but Necromantic is a supernatural outlier. It fits well enough because of its eerie elements, even though it’s less introspective than the rest.
Twice Dark: The album explores themes like grief, death, change, and love. Musically, it’s cohesive, with harmonically connected beats and melodies. I tend to get stuck on three or four chords, which end up forming the foundation for multiple songs.
Twice Dark: Postal has played a role in all my releases. They contributed to the album’s atmosphere, though less so on Telekinetic since much of it was recorded beforehand. They’re a reliable and creative space.
Looking Ahead
Twice Dark: Yes! I’ll be touring the Midwest and East Coast from March 7th to March 30th to promote Telekinetic. I’ll also have CDs available, featuring the album and seven remixes of the singles—a total of 14 tracks. You can find them on my Bandcamp and possibly my website.
Twice Dark: I’ve just completed four new tracks that I’ll be performing at upcoming shows. They might form my next EP since they’re musically and thematically distinct from Telekinetic. I plan to continue collaborating with other musicians and having remixes done by artists I admire. My long-term goal is to play more dark music festivals and, hopefully, tour Europe.
Stay tuned for Twice Dark‘s journey as he continues to push the boundaries of dark music and captivate listeners with his haunting yet rhythmic creations.
