Werewolves in Siberia stopped by Punk Globe to chat about music. Don’t worry; no werewolves were harmed in our visit. Lets go!

First off, wow. You have created one of the most unique sounds in music. What sparked the idea for this project!

Thank you. It's cool that people are getting behind it. This project actually started by accident. I've had it in mind for years but the timing was never right. I was working on some solo acoustic stuff and got a recording program to help with demoing stuff. Just to get the feel for the recording thing, I was messing with synth sounds. That first night I had half a song written and The Rising was done in two weeks. It's just a lot of fun so I kept going with it. The other project has been put on the back burner.

Tell us about your new ep:

It's sort of homage to some of the great horror movies and their soundtracks from the 70's and 80's. Updated a bit, but still keeping that throwback feel. If you're looking for something super scary, this isn't it. There are tense moments but some of the music that inspired this was just cool synth rock and that's what the aim was here.

Your music is so unique and so intriguing. Quite Refreshing to hear such a rich new Sound. Was this what you were aiming for? Shocking and pleasing audiences at the same time?

To be honest, I was afraid I was completely ripping off Zombi at first. I think the sound took it's own turn but it's fairly similar. Although, Werewolves in Siberia is nowhere near as genius as Zombi. I'm more looking to please myself and have fun with this than worrying too much about what others are thinking. It has been really great having people from all over the world getting behind it though. I think with any sort of art form, doing what you want makes for a more rewarding experience. Not to mention, it feels that much better when others appreciate it.

What is on your mind while creating songs?

I start by clearing my head, actually. I've always had a habit of over-thinking music. I find my best results come from just shutting off my brain and going. From there, I experiment with different sounds and ideas, finding what works. That's when I start getting a picture of what might be happening in a movie while this song is playing. That's where the title comes from and a little inspiration for finding the last couple missing pieces for the song.

What made you to decide on the name werewolves in Siberia?

I had this name in mind for a project for a while. It's kind of dorky but the name came to me while watching Destination Truth and having a couple beers. Josh Gates is always going to these crazy, remote places and searching for these creatures. I, somehow, came to the conclusion that Werewolves in Siberia would be a great band name. When I started this, I knew that was the perfect name for it.

What horror monster would you like to be?

Monster?... Probably the Creature from the Black Lagoon. I'm not really sure why. I just really like the movie and the creature itself.

Clearly you love horror, what films really stuck with you?

There are so many I really like. Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Zombie, Halloween, The Fog, The Wolfman, Creature from the Black Lagoon, 28 Days Later... I'd say those are some of my all time favorites.

What horror films do you recommend readers view?

All of them. The music in the movies is an often-overlooked part of what makes a movie feel the way it does. Some of my favorites are The Fog, Halloween, Zombie, City of the Living Dead, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. TCM doesn't necessarily have a soundtrack, but a series of weird, obnoxious noises that set the tense tone.

To date, what is your favorite song you have created?

That's a tough one. I really like all the stuff I've done. I might say "Sludge, Slime and Slugs" off of the split with Serengeti Yeti.

What is your favorite film horror anthem?

Probably the theme from The Fog.

What has been some of the greatest feedback from listeners?

Pretty much any positive feedback has been great. ZombieHamster.com and UKhorrorscene.com both had some completely awesome things to say. I can't pick any one comment though. It means a lot when people tell me they like it.

In response to your music, what have been the weirdest responses?

You know, I'm sure plenty of people think it's completely stupid music and just don't say anything, but I've only had one person pretty much say he really hated it. It was a review and he said something about how it wasn't scary at all and he just imagined ewoks jumping around, celebrating at the end of a movie. That was a pretty funny comment.

What are you currently listening to?

I listen to music all day so I change up genres a lot. The stuff I'm currently coming back to a lot is The Bronx, Calabrese, Sick of it All, Charles Bradley, Tears for Fears, INXS, The People Under the Stairs, Municipal Waste, Jay-Z, Foo Fighters, Black Flag, Darkest Hour, Serengeti Yeti and, of course, tons of soundtrack stuff.

Do you feel others like Rob zombie master the sound of "horror"!

No. Others have done some cool horror-inspired stuff, but Rob Zombie really just isn't my thing. It suits its purpose and I still really like White Zombie's "Thunderkiss '65" but that's about it. I absolutely loved Hellbilly Deluxe when it came out but I think it had a lot to do with the brilliant packaging. All of the art and pictures were really well laid out and just had a great look, overall. Listening now, though, it just doesn't do anything for me. On the other hand, he'd probably listen to Werewolves in Siberia and think it's complete shit...

If your music were to be featured in any horror movie, what director would you like to see in charge?

I'd generally say John Carpenter but he composes the best music for his movies already. I think it would be cool to work with smaller film companies who are doing what they want to do and not worrying about a big studio looking over their shoulder. I've talked with Mark Robins from Monkey Puzzle Cinema quite a bit lately about working together in the future. I'm pretty excited about the possibility of that because he "gets" different styles of horror movies and sees what type Werewolves in Siberia fits into. Big name/big budget could be cool if they didn't cater to the lowest common denominator but I think indie is the way to go these days.

Are horror and punk two side of the same coin?

Not necessarily. People from all walks of life like horror movies. I think people into punk and metal tend to be more into horror but it's not JUST for them.

How do you feel about the evolution of today's music industry?

It sucks. There isn't much new music I like. Let me explain that there are exceptions to this but, in general, new music sucks. The only stuff coming out that I like seems to be from bands and artists who have been at it for a long time. It seems to be that way for all genres for me these days. It's probably a case of me turning into that old guy that doesn't understand what the next generation is listening to. I have, however, noticed that a lot of music I used to hate has grown on me because it's so much better than what's going on in music these days.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I have no idea. My family will always be my number one priority. The great thing about this project, though, is that I can do it no matter where I am. I don't need to worry about what's going to happen with my band if my wife and I decide to move. It's all me. I hope I'll have more albums out and a soundtrack or two under my belt. It's pretty safe to say I'll have splintered off into multiple other projects but I'm hoping this one never falls by the wayside.

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