Check out my interview with black metal artist Ezra Gilgeours following the recent release of his new EP, ‘Depressive Suicidal Piano Songs’.

1) What’s the story behind the Ezra Gilgeours Project? What inspired you to create it?

I always wanted to start a one-man-band. So one day, I just started recording songs and it is something I enjoy due to many inspirations from one man black metal/DSBM bands. I don’t really wanna think of a name for my project because I feel like I will not to be true to myself. So I just named it Ezra Gilgeours Project. Better than naming it another Burzum… You know…

2) Which bands and artists inspire your music?

Quite a lot to name but I will say: Burzum, Xasthur, Leviathan, Happy Days, Trist… But I would say Ulver inspired me due to there wide range of experimentation casting aside their black metal roots into something avant-garde/dark ambient and even synth-pop.

3) What’s your song writing process?

Well, for my song writing process, I don’t even think about it as much. When I write songs, I don’t really think about whether it would start in this key, chord or having an intro, verse-chorus-verse kinda thing. For me, it’s like writing a story. In that case, it has a lot of repetition, experimentation and build ups. It’s also creating something how I feel it should be done.

4) How do people react to your music when they hear it?

They are often surprised on what they heard. But they seem to enjoy ‘Slowly fading into the city’ which is my latest full length for example, due to the heavy experimentation. Even I was surprised people actually like it because I was going out of my comfort zone. Due to my influences and interest in other types of music such as post-rock, trip-hop, shoegaze and electronic/experimental ambient. On the other hand, I tend to come across a lot of dishonest people. They pretend to like my music but they do not. I’m not afraid of being criticised, or being put-down because they don’t like it. Nothing is more annoying than a fucking total dishonest! I need negative feedback to help me improve as an individual.

5) You recently released a new EP, did you do anything differently from your previous releases e.g. recording or song writing?

Yes absolutely! First of all. I stopped making music because I felt like I have done everything. I don’t want my project to sound “too generic”. I love The so-called Depressive Suicidal Black Metal scene due to taking a more darker and sadder approach to black metal (plus it reflects my daily mundane life). I wanted to release an EP that sounded more DSBM than my 1st and 2nd album whilst incorporating the heavy experimentation on my 3rd album. This EP is not entirely a “metal” record but it’s still part of the DSBM scene. I ditched my guitar away because my house was a mess so we needed to clear some junk out. Except for the keyboard… It was there laying around. So I put it to a good use. I never knew that I was going to be satisfied with the outcome despite not playing any music for over a year.

6) Is the pandemic impacting your music and if so, how?

Not at all! In fact, it gave me inspiration. The only good thing about lockdown is I get to lock myself in my room and just record. But if I want to buy any instruments then yes, it will be a problem.

7) The first track on the new EP ‘Global Pandemic’ is, of course, inspired by these current times. How did you go about taking these events and producing something creative with them?

You could say that 2020/2021 pushed me back into the creative process. Without music, I could have gone a lot more insane. I needed to get it all out of my system. All the anxiety of Covid, loneliness of not being able to see friends/relatives. And the shitty government you know. As for DSBM pandemic is definitely a yes as a theme.

8) What does the future hold for your project?

Well, I can’t say what awaits for my project in the future but for me the travel is more important than the destination. I’m in no rush to creating new music. But I’m always open to collaborate or do a split with other artist. They don’t have to be Black metal or DSBM… For now, I’m slowly learning to play my keyboard properly, as I’m still a novice.

Check out Ezra’s music on Bandcamp: https://ezragilgeoursproject.bandcamp.com

Follow Ezra on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ezragilgeoursproject