They previously made waves as
worriedaboutsatan, but duo
Gavin Miller and Thomas Ragsdale are back with a darker and more beat driven sound. Part of a new wave of dark, atmospheric and bass heavy experimental electronica wave,
Ghosting Season bring the dark wave ethos in abundance through an intricate blend of instruments, electronics and emotional clarity. It's an extension of their previous, more instrumental focused sound - but laps up the qualities of Brian Eno, Trentmoller and mixes them with the bass heavy prominence of DJ / Producers such as
Shackleton and more recent experimentalists such as
Becoming Real. They've just released their brand new EP '
Far End of The Graveyard' so we thought it good idea to chat to them further about their sound.
How and when were you first infected by electronic / dance music?Gavin: I think the big shift for me was
back in about 2005/06, as I was really into post rock at the time, and I think
I saw electronica and techno as the logical extension of that atmospheric stuff
- I remember hearing Trentemoller's 'Take Me Into Your Skin' and just thinking
that this was totally the music I wanted to make now! No more drum kits!
Although I think I'd always harboured a love for the weird and wonderful, but
never really known why. When I first started exploring dance and electronica,
everything suddenly made a lot of sense!
When did you start making music / producing, and how long was it before you
started making tracks that you were really happy with?
Tom: I was 17 when I first had a go at
computer based music. I had a midi keyboard and a naughty copy of Cubase (I
don't have it now!). I was totally blown away. I'd been messing around on four
tracks since I was 13 though. My first project was re-recording ‘Nevermind’ by
Nirvana. It ended up sounding awful.
What have been your personal favourite tracks / productions so far?
Gavin: Of ours? There’s too many! They’re
all good! Sorry, I know that's such a copout answer, but I do really like all
our stuff too much to start making favourites!!
Who would you most like to work with?
Tom: We love Underworld (the band), so
those guys would be a dream. Also Chris Cunningham would be pretty special.
Anyone have Trent Reznor's number?
What have you got in store for the coming months?
Gavin: Well, the EP is just about to be
released (or just out, depending on when this interview goes up!), and we're
going to be touring in August and October, which we're just putting the
finishing touches to. We have an album coming out later this year too, and
hopefully plenty more remixes and stuff too!
What can we expect from one of your DJ sets or live sets?
Tom: Both brutal and beautiful sounds and
visuals. We’re not really ones to just stand and look like we're checking
emails! We play drums, guitars, keys, and sing live.
If you weren’t a DJ/producer/artist, what would you be?
Gavin: Erm, well my Grandad was a test
driver for Rover back in the '30s, so I'd probably try and follow in his
footsteps, even though I'm a pretty crap driver!
Which other producers, DJs and artists do you really rate?
Tom: Surgeon, Shackleton, and Robert
Lippock. Those guys really know their stuff. Second to none.