Interview with Mosaic

During a web surfing hobby duty, Duy Nguyen, a M!osaic boy, got attracted by dark mysterious sounds of Immundus, one of the few Ghost ambient artists worldwide.

So as to have more insight into the rather strange artist's life and his music, Duy Nguyen kindly asked his favor for an interview, which turns out to be a lot more than another normal talk between the artist and media.

First off, please reveal upon how Fear element comes to life in each and every song of yours? Did you find them different and unique for each song? And how do you expect your audience to really face or embrace that fear?

Well, it really depends, as fear in something that is in all of us i do not include it in each song, all music I have composed so far as always been made with a concept piece, in some songs fear comes up as a more prominent piece, but really not in all of the songs. In some ways it helps the listeners to relate to the concept albums and themselfs. When it comes to what expect from the listeners to face or embrace it, so is really not up to me, i create my music as i see it in my own head, their perception might and most likely will be different from my own, many relates very well, and others have a different approach to it, so is hard to know what to expect, but so far, as i have experienced it from reviewers and listeners, it seems this "fear" based theme as been accomplished.

Do you often relate your childhood memories or any particular past traumatic experiences to your compositions? Almost everyone single person tends to harbor something that they're really afraid of back when he or she was still a young, naive and fragile soul but as they grow up tends to overcome or even forget that fear. Do you think your music has the power to bring them back to their old and long buried fear from the past?

To be honest, no. I had a good childhood and never (not that i remember) had any traumatic experiences. The paranormal, ghosts, afterlife, misterious forces, unknown are some of the elements and subjects I have always had much interest in my life and which is why my music reflects mostly upon them. Personally i think that, past is past and should keep that way, i embrace the living on the moment and enjoy it as much as I can, rather than focus on something that is long gone and there is no way back. But one the other hand we can never exclude that perhaps the music does helps or brings back this memories or child traumas from some of the listeners, making it a more personal matter for those who listen.

You listed "The Sixth Sense" and many more paranormal films as the door key leading into the dark world of ghosts, spirits and imaginary macabre visions. I just can't resist the thought to ever relate it with the world of Tim Burton the director, wherein it is depicted as one of a dark and misty night, when a mystery creature is building his own world above the rest of the real world calling on the end of another day; nobody even knows his name, what he really feels and cares for the reason why he has to do it all alone. Yet it's kinda different from the world you show us, I could somehow found that you somehow fit in his kind of character with such these characteristic. So what's the role if any of Tim Burton in your compositions or influences or such world is but a personal perception of anyone whose common ground is darkness and fear?

I see it in a more personal level, as i recreate mostly the atmospheres that surrounds us on a everyday life, sometimes, heavy and very anxious, other times very mellow, it really depends, we can say is very moody and normally you can actually sense it around you and without even understand why it happens. So.....who knows who and where this emotions comes from...or more even...why? so is more about absorbing the surroundings and recreate them musically. Offcourse, on top of moody, I always include some of what inspires me such as horror movies, suspense, somehow which relates to this moods. Is hard to explain, but for some reason either you a film maker or a musician, we can still relate to eachothers work...most likely because we experience the same way...under other circumstances…but if I would mention some movie from Tim Burton as a example i guess I would go for a Sleepy Hollow type of, as in, they always come back for you;)

Would you consider yourself as a audio necromancer who sketches visions into music? Would you describe your inner visionary world in more details, in which its part you hooked the most time and the reason why? In any manner does it have anything to do with near death experiences or déjà vu?

I always had much interest on the paranormal and things that are misterious to mankind, also myths and different cultures, as many has different perspectives on these matters, so is good to learn about them and create my own visions upon these elements. I did and sometimes still have some experiences with the unseen and yes, they too, also inspire me to create my music…i don't recall have a near death experience, not that im aware of, perhaps in my sleep…we never know, but as for deja vu…..I do experience, i don't know why…and always hard to explain, but it tends to happen quite frequently. All these matters are very interesting and worth a good study on them.

Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality. - Edgar Allan Poe

From your profile, we also see that your were once a heavy metal bassist. What's the name of your band(s) and the actual genres you played? Your forming Immundus is a natural evolution of inner mentality developed since then or even before that participation into metal, since we can find quite a bit extreme metal acts who develop huge interest in horror, angst and melancholy, like Lifelover?

I was vocal and bass on Necrokult of Kronos a Death/Black Metal which was formed on the late 90s by me and 2 mates, prior to it i also played as bassist on other bands and projects mostly involving extreme genres, but after i moved to Norway, we had to split and each toke own path, for me, it gave the opportunity to write what i most have interest, like they say…things happens for reason…

Although you have only brought some of Edgar Allan Poe's poems to life in your 2008 album, but his influence on your music seems really solid. Since when did you fall into Poe's works and how did he affect your music as well as your perception of life? Do you plan to make music based on his great stories as well? Don't you think Poe has been overly repeated in horror-inspired works of art regardless how classy and influential his works are to us all? How about other influences which we bet are a lot more in your case?

Um….Poemia was actually a 3 song single and was released in 2010 not 2008, it happened after i got invited to participate on a compilation album based on Edgar A. Poe Works, and I found it very interesting, so decided to create a couple more songs and do a small release based on this concept. I agree, is overly repeated concept which is why i also decided to make it small, i guess, is too much done already, BUT….nevertheless is still inspiring. Im inspired by many things and, from Horror, Gothic, novels but also music and movies, that goes from these themes into more straight in your face, from Bizarre, Haunting and the misterious from the other life.

From your own experience, do you tend to order yourself to create a plan and follow thematic developments for one album/concept at one moment? For example, Haunted Memories' song titles seem to depict a journey into a mysterious yet haunting mind-maze and finally the protagonist's seemingly escape.

I normally create a story on my own head and try to add music to it, but along with the process there is always a tendency for things to change and so, sometimes goes the other way around as in the concept will have to change based on the music that is being create, i guess…in the end, the basic idea or theme is made up and then i just have to let things go their own path entwining on eachother. It has been working very well for me this way. The stories I create, does not necessarily have the same point of view as of those who listen to it, which i think is great, music is very individual and every single one ´should be able to recreate their own imagery based on my music, so far, the response from both listeners and media has been great since many does relate to the music i make in one way or another.

Your creation has been more prolific and better in quality through time, so what's your secret in balancing the classic dualism of quantity and quality? And yet, what's your pure intention in making up such music, whether it's a cathartic expression of innerworld you wanna share with others or any uplifting purpose intended originally so that people, say, may be able to transcend over their fear or accept it?

Secret? no…there is no secret, i would say is all about progress, evolution, new sounds and more experimentations, not to mention different themes. I mean, i would be disappointed with myself if i would recreate another album like on "Torments" for example. Time changes and so do we…I hope is for the better, but in the end, we all grow in music and so it should be natural that it happens in a good way. Right now im composing the new album and is a new theme as well, having the ghostly elements, though this album will have a very different approach and also explore new areas, even for me…so Im hoping this will be a good progress. I can say will be darker, much more aggressive and bizarre, incorporating some more industrial elements to it. So will definitely be much more different from any other of my previous releases. There is not hidden messages on my music at all, I most want to share what we all experience in our lifes and is something that does connects us as human beings.

It came to our quick notice that you have no tour updates, assumedly you do not do any live performance at the moment or simply your music isn't meant to be performed live? Say, we can for just once associate the nature of your works with the mutual relationship between music and actual scenes in horror movies where music plays a tremendous important role at times and images complementing to carve out the intensity into audience's mind.

No, i don't have any plans on performing life, i been asked on several occasions, but i believe my music is meant to be listened at peace on a more closed and darker environment. I don't know about the future yet, as things constantly are on the move and changing, but as for now, is just the way it is. I hoping to not only have my music available for music lovers but also, im trying to enter my music for film and tav. I only recently started this journey, so im hoping and looking forward to see the opportunities out there. I always try to keep people informed about Immundus, so is just a matter on also stopping by the official site or myspace for news and updates.

Do you ever think you're gonna perform your music one day under proper and satisfactory thematic settings both musically and visually? Peter Broderick, also a sound fanatic, once shared with us: "Mostly I was improvising, getting quieter and quieter until I hardly made any sound at all." while preparing some actual beds to accomodate the listeners. On our end, we we're now thinking your music would make a perfect nightmare to remember for all the participants given the right context and well-executed scheme.

hehehe….well….i don't know, we should never say never, but as for the time being, there is no chance for me to perform life….we will see how the future will look like on this matter though….(silent)

Everyone enjoys some spookiness and unusual music on their life, even if for five minutes. - Immundus himself

Where do you often draw inspirations, whether it's personal experiences and phobias (claustrophobia, phasmophobia and nyctophobia, mostly) or simply from movies and sensations experienced by others successfully captured and transformed into music by you?

I would say both of them, not only phobias but many other daily experiences, not only from me either but others as well….does seems is being well accomplished since many does relate to the music and concepts i create. Movies does also play a part as im a big fan of suspense and horror movies, there is always something i discover that helps in some ways to develop a theme visually or musically.

Regular questions whenever horror music artists are questioned: how do you face with your daily life? how do you leave out the haunting impressions so easily and adopt yourself to normal life or you find that task difficult enough?

oh…I don't think it is hard…I also have to also focus on my personal life…i mean, I have 2 kids, my woman, a good job and the bills to pay, so is definitely something I have to focus on and sort it out well everyday, but so far it has gone quite ok on the way I work my personal life around my artistic side.

How's your network and possible collaboration or mere intetions to collaborate with artists in your vibe like Akira Yamaoka, Mark Snow or even Danny Elfman himself? If to collaborate, you're gonna work with which artists, the ones you admire and the ones with whom you share common interest and ideas?

Right now im collaborating on a new project with Andrea Nebel (ex Aghast) but is so recent and since everything has just started to develop there is still no information regarding it, but keep your eyes open about it. Other artist I would like to collaborate….oh boy there are so many but so little time for…Both of those I admire, but also some that has the same common interests as well….i guess it would mostly depend on the occasion..but i have some names on my mind right now and hoping after this release I can send some invitations to work on some new collaborations. As for now…i have enough on my plate…...

Have you any intention to move into other fields such as making horror scores? Please reveal upon this

Difinitly something in my mind, like I mentioned above, im now looking for opportunities, for licensing my music for film and tv but also open to create scores, Im trying to work as a freelance on the side and submitting some for opportunities, so yes…the ball has now starting to roll….and if there are any film makers looking for new music, don't hesitate on taking contact with me, or visit the official site if interested on licensing, links are available for official licensing stores.

Thank you so much for this conversation.

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