"Emotional manifestation represented through music"

Bedroom black metal. It's like bacteria; growing at an astonishing rate across the darkest cornest of the music world—basically some dude's bedroom. Here we have the entity masquerading as Buer giving us a glimpse into his life, music, and favorite TV programs. And a split album too. Varg would be proud!

AM: Hello Buer. How does it feel to have your music out in the (underground) market with the new split album you released this February?

Buer: I have to say that it really feels good. The past year I have been creating album after album and never have had anything physically released. I made the split with Dark Metamorphosis and we were planning to have it released on Beneath The Fog, but he had just released a full length on them and they weren't planning on releasing anything else from him for a while. It was then when I stumbled upon Thorn Laceration and its owner who was a real pleasure to work with who agreed to release it. I am very excited about having some physical copies out there.

AM: How's that EP of yours coming along? 'Nihil' is it?

Buer:Yes, it's 'Nihil'. I have to say it's coming along well, but not as good as I hoped. A lot of recording issues, not to mention a VERY slow computer, are really hindering me. But music wise, I would say that some of my personal favorite Buer songs are on this.

AM: You play depressive/ambient black metal. What attracted you to this particular branch of the genre?

Buer: That's a difficult question for me to answer. In the beginning I was planning to play some Windir-like music, but I never had any equipment for recording or anything, so I just made ambient songs, like you can see in my first couple albums. I think working with ambient music had a real influence on my change-of-heart. I also realized that life was not all it's cracked up to be, and I needed an outlet for depression. Depressive black metal is really my own emotional manifestation represented through music.

AM: There are just so many bedroom projects out there, it's almost impossible to REALLY be unique. Who are the artists that guide and inspire you in your musical aspirations?

Buer: There are many bedroom projects out there, but when you are a solo musician, what else can you be? Recently I have been listening to a lot of Fen, but my main four are; Nocturnal Depression, Agalloch, Xasthur, and Wolves in the Throne Room. The question you asked me is very vast and hard to answer, but there are also a lot of underground artists that influence me including a lot of stuff on Hypnotic Dirge like The Foetal Mind and Funeral Fornication. The list goes on forever...

AM: Since everything rests on your shoulders, is the task of multi-instrumentalist a grueling one for you? How do your guitar skills compare to your drum programming (if you call that a skill at all) or songwriting?

Buer: I wouldn't say it's a "grueling" task. I actually enjoy everything. I would say that my guitar skills surpass my drum skills by far. I actually write the whole song down on notation software, and then export it into FL Studio, where I change the drums and strings and everything else that I can't physically record. Just the frustrations of recording can get to me sometimes.

AM: What's practice like for you? You ever get a full band together and just jam?

Buer: Practice for me is sitting in front of my computer, playing the MIDI version of my song, and playing and singing along with it. I have another four person band that I jam with often, but I don't do this with Buer. I have been thinking of putting together a live group and playing some shows though.

AM: Is the work involved with putting together an album hard? When you're getting a headache, how do you chill?

Buer: It can get very hard, but it's also a lot of fun. It's what I enjoy doing and what I spend most of my time doing. Like I have said, there are many complications with recording on my very slow computer and I can't get the full sound quality that I want, and it's hard to keep everything timed right with everything skipping around. Getting a final product that satisfies me can be hard, but it is definitely worth it when I listen to it. Chilling for me would either be eating or watching TV. I like to spend time outside, or jamming with my friends in my downtime.

AM: I believe 'Nihil' and its follow up ('Ruins of a Dying Empire')are your first forays into recording, right? What software did you use to get your shit recorded and how did you learn the finer points of being your own producer?

Buer: First of all, 'Ruins of a Dying Empire' was an ambient album and there were no recordings on there. The software that I use is a Line 6 UX2 POD Studio that I run through POD Farm and Reaper. The UX2 is a great interface because it doesn't require any pre-amps or anything, it's just plug-and-play. POD Farm is the program I use to get effects, it's great for virtual sounds but most of the time I'll just plug my amp into the interface instead of using the computer effects. Reaper is my DAW. It's not Pro-Tools or Cakewalk or anything fancy like that, but it's enough to get by with. The second part of your question is a good one. Recently, since I started recording my own stuff with a friend back it 2006-07, I discovered that recording was really something I would love to do. Now I'm really looking into getting a degree in Audio Engineering, I would love to have my own studio in the future and making a living through that. I have been through a few books about producing as well.

AM: Do you now believe that having a home studio is the way to go?

Buer: Absolutely, I have no money whatsoever, so spending valuable money in a studio seems a waste to me, especially when I am very capable of doing it myself.

AM: As an independent musician, what resources or equipment do you want to possess/own in order to realize your musical ambitions?

Buer: First of all, as I have mentioned before, I need a faster computer because this one doesn't cut it for recording, hahahahaha! I would love to have the full setup, a great mixer, enough mics for everything, a drum set especially. I sometimes feel ashamed of myself for having to use a machine. I have also mentioned two programs that I would like to have, especially Pro Tools. A mixer is also an object on my wish list. Of course to get any of this, I need money, which I don't have, so it seems what I will now have to cut it. But it's always okay to dream.

AM: Let's delve into a little past history now. When did extreme metal infect your brain and ruin your life? Outside your own project(s), was 2009 a good year for you musically? How's 2010 shaping up on metal?

Buer: Very good question. When I was a kid (I know somebody's going to laugh at this)I was a huge fan of Linkin Park. The screaming just fascinated me, and I loved how they could incorporate that into music and sound great. After I grew out of that, I think I was listening to a lot of old Slipknot, Trivium and Avenged Sevenfold, Marilyn Manson was another one of my favorites, the dark versus the loud really attracted me. I saw Iron Maiden in 2006 and I think it was then that I decided that I had enough of that other bullshit. That's when I stumbled across Cradle Of Filth. Of course that was the portal that led me into darker and more underground music, getting me more involved in extreme music until I ended up where I am today. I can't really answer your second question as detailed. I would say that the underground has revealed itself (at least to me) more in the past two years. As I stumbled across underground labels I then realized how vast the underground metal scene was. However, before that, I mostly kept to myself, and didn't know much about the underground, so I really don't have a basis. I think for bigger bands, there was a dry phase, but I think some of them are really starting to play better stuff in this recent year. I think that 1349's new album is terrific, along with other new releases.

AM: Metal has found a means to promote itself through a vast online network that connects the fans, labels, and bands. What do you think is wrong with the whole webzine culture we have today?

Buer: Honestly, yes. I absolutely support internet networking and the such. I wouldn't be where I am today without it. I live in Southern Virginia, and there is nobody here who gives a fuck about DSBM. If it wasn't for the internet and webzines I would be sitting in my room with so many ideas, and nobody to share them with. Many people criticize things like Myspace, but I think they should ask themselves where they would be without these helpful tools. They certainly wouldn't have all the connections that they have today.

AM: How much music is in your hard drive? Do you still buy albums on a regular basis?

Buer: A lot. I have previously brought up two different situations that hinder me from doing that. First of all, I rarely have money, I am trying to find a job, but it's tough out there. Secondly, living in Chesapeake, Virginia it's hard to find any good CDs. The entertainment store at the mall has some good ones, I got Evil Genius by Abruptum and the Sunn 0))) and Boris CD 'Alter' there. In the long run, it really depends on the artists status whether or not I buy their albums, if they're struggling to make their music alive I am happy to pay for it, but If they are a big band that has enough money I will sometimes get it through other means.

AM: Do you still watch shows often? Any recent favorites?

Buer: TV shows? Well if that's the case then yes.You may not be familiar with Adult Swim since you are from the Philippines, but that's what I watch primarily. I like Family Guy, especially with the whole Sarah Palin controversy that happened recently. I also like the stupid 15 minute shows like Deathklok (which recently turned into a 30 minute show I believe), Squidbillies, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Harvey Birdman, and Superjail. I like History and Discovery Channel shows too, especially the more depressing ones.

AM: Uh, I actually meant live concerts.

Buer: Yes. Of course in Chesapeake, Virginia not many bands come, but I go when there are decent bands. The last show that I saw was with Nile, Immolation, Krisiun, and some other great bands. Before that I had seen Amon Amarth with Skeletonwitch, Lazarus A.D. and Goatwhore, and before that was Cradle of Filth, Satyricon, and Septicflesh, I really like all of those bands, except Satyricon didn't play anything pre-Volcano, which was disappointing. Other than that I like to go to local shows.

AM: When I'm feeling angry or depressed, I do self therapy by cleaning my gun collection. And you?

Buer: Sounds like a great outlet. I play music mostly, write stuff. A lot of times I'll just go into my room, turn off all the lights, and play along with some Xasthur songs or something. It's a really good way, I guess getting in the shower can help too. I prefer to face the problem when I have one. The one thing I can't do is put on a sad face in public and talk to others about it. I hate that, especially all those teenagers who pretend to have problems for attention, it's hard to tell who's really sad these days and who's just faking it. I also like to go on long walks with my dog when I'm sad, that really gives me time to think about what's going on.

AM: Why are there so many forum trolls who post stupid things on discussion boards?

Buer: Why? I think it's because so many people crave attention, and when they don't get it from those around them, they have to rely on the internet to get it. I mentioned before that I think things like Myspace are great for networking, and I used to love Youtube. I thought comments were a great way to have intellectual conversations with people across the globe about the video being played. I learned that too many people are incapable of intellectual conversations and just post stupid remarks.

AM: When I was barely a year old, I remember lying in my mother's arms and watching an eagle take off from its perch. What is your earliest memory in life?

Buer: That sounds like a great experience. I was born in Naples, Italy and lived in Istanbul, Turkey for a while. I remember going to Ephesus as a child and playing with a frog that I found. I also remember going to an Italian Catholic school where the nun would hit me because I never wanted to eat, hahahaha! I guess most of my memories are very international. I believe I have lived abroad longer than I have lived in America.

AM: Can you give me a good reason why American popular culture should be destroyed? If I were asked this question, it would be because of the volume of useless "products" it feeds humanity, like dumb movies and cookie-cutter rock albums. Lady Gaga is fabulous though.

Buer: It's not only American pop culture, it goes far beyond these borders. It's hard for me to find a great reason though, because there are some reasons that it shouldn't be destroyed. I don't know if you are aware of the Hollywood movie Lords Of Chaos that is supposed to be coming out in theaters this year, but if this happens, I believe all the beauty that is left in black betal will be destroyed. All these emo kids will start listening to it and my shirts will be a mainstream item. There's already enough posers in this scene. If it wasn't for pop culture, they wouldn't have anything to feed on themselves, and more people would start listening to BM, it's a good distraction. I can remember that one time I saw a group of emo kids who thought that my Darkthrone shirt said Dark Funeral, haha, I could only imagine if that happened daily. If you think Lady Gaga is fabulous though, I won't blame you, we all have our little weaknesses, I think Muse is a great band. Hahahaha!

AM: Alright, just a simple yes or no would do. Do you ever wonder about the complexities of life?

Buer: Of course, what would be the point in life if you couldn't wonder about it's complexities?

AM: I believe our interview must end. Aside from just thanking me and the reader, you might want to explain your answer for the previous question. Adios.

Buer: Thank you for taking the time to support the underground and making this interview, and thanks to the people who are reading it. There's not much more to say about my previous question.

Interviewed by Miguel Miranda

04/08/2010 21:04