Interview with Reed Reimer from the Metal Band Cthulhu Dreamt



By Mick Michaels

 



The Cosmick View: Hello, Reed and welcome to The Cosmick View/MBM Ten Pounder! Thanks for taking some time to chat with us! 
Reed Reimer: Hey Mick!

CV: Describe your definition of the band’s sound and style and how does that definition uniquely describe the music?
RR: So, yeah…Cthulhu Dreamt’s music is definitely based in metal, but it doesn’t really fit into any one genre, and even then we go outside metal and explore other styles. I guess I’d say it’s ‘melting pot metal’ and I think that probably describes the sound pretty well.

CV: Today, everyone talks about artist and audience connection. Is such a level of connection actually achievable for an artist and if so, how have you made the connection to your fans?
RR: I do think that this level of connection is possible, though I think it probably becomes more difficult the bigger the artist becomes. I think the more ‘in the studio’ or personal content the artist releases, the easier it is to get to know them and feel like you’re there with them and along for the ride. And if it’s possible, direct contact, whether through social media interaction or at shows is a great way to make direct connections.

CV: Is fan interaction an important part of the band’s inner culture?
RR: Always. The project is so much more fun when you know there are people out there who identify with what you’re doing, and taking joy in that. So, when it’s possible, we love fostering relationships with people who like and listen to what we’re making.

CV: Can a band truly interact with its fans and still maintain a level of personal privacy without crossing the line and giving up their “personal space” in your opinion?
RR: That’s a hard question to answer from a personal perspective, because I’ve never had the opportunity to be so big as to have my privacy breached. I would guess that it’s totally possible, especially if the artist in question is very low drama.

CV: Is music, and its value, viewed differently around the world in your opinion?  If so, what do you see as the biggest difference in such multiple views among various cultures?
RR: I don’t have enough knowledge of other cultures to give a good answer, though I can speak to the value of music overall, which is very low. Obviously it’s meaningful to us who create it, and the people we find who are touched by that creation. But, when there’s so much being produced and released on a daily basis…one recent statistic I read says 24,000 songs are uploaded every day, it’s very low value overall, and quite discouraging if you enter the shouting match in an attempt to cut through the noise. The flip side of this, is that we’re at a point in time where there are more people living off their music than ever before, and the democratization and open set-up of music distribution has helped that grow.

CV: Do you feel that a band that has an international appeal, will tend to connect more so to American audiences? Would they be more enticed or intrigued to see the band over indigenous acts because of the foreign flavor?
Reed: I would hope that regardless of who the band is, if they’re creating something that speaks to people, they’d be well regarded wherever they’re playing, and that the audience, American or not, would appreciate them for what they’re doing.

CV: Has modern-day digital technology made everyone an artist on some level in your opinion? Have the actual lines of what really is an artist been blurred?
RR: I think the distinction here is how you quantify artist. If releasing something means you’re an artist, then yes, anyone with a few bucks can release something and be an artist. After that, it’ll come down to the quality of their production, and the audience they can reach. More people are releasing more stuff, which is great. There are more opportunities now than ever before to succeed, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be easy.



CV: How would you describe the difference between an artist who follows trends and one who sets them?
RR: The difference isn’t usually something one can quantify immediately. Over time, when you look back, you can draw lines how we got somewhere and where that trend started. As an example, after decades, Messhuggah has been credited with inventing/defining djent, but when they started playing that style, it was special enough to enough people that they were able to continue, and other bands were influenced and incorporated that into their sound.

CV: Has music overall been splintered into too many sub-genres in an effort to appease fan tastes in your opinion? And has such fan appeasements, in actuality, weakened music’s impact as a whole by dividing audiences?
RR: That’s an interesting question, because it’s a trend we’re passively swimming against. Cthulhu Dreamt didn’t set out to mix genres and not easily fit into any one thing, we just wrote what spoke to us, and helped us to tell our story. I don’t think it’s a bad thing that there are so many sub-genres, what I DO think is bad, is the gatekeepers and others who champion their sub-genre over others. Here’s the cool thing: they all have something to offer and appreciate, AND they can all exist in the same universe!!!

CV: What can fans expect to see coming next from you?
RR: We’re releasing a couple singles before the release of our upcoming EP Precursor, which should see the light of day early 2023. Immediately after that, we begin the full court press of the release of the Cthulhu Dreamt TTRPG, a game, novel, soundtrack, and massively sprawling chapter in the Cthulhu Dreamt world. Anyone interested in checking out some early stuff should head over to our official site.

CV: Thanks again Reed for taking some time and talking. It is greatly appreciated.
RR: Thanks for having us!

Check out Cthulhu Dreamt at:
Official: https://cthulhudreamt.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/cthulhu.dreamt
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CthulhuDreamt
Twitter: www.twitter.com/CthulhuDreamt
Bandcamp: https://cthulhudreamt.bandcamp.com
https://ampl.ink/CthulhuDreamt

 

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word.  Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.




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