Raise The Black Flag is the debut EP from bass music artist Dead Weight, and we interviewed him about his new music and the message behind his project.
Dead Weight is a DJ/producer from the Chicago area known for his dubstep and deathstep-inspired bass music. He just released his debut EP Raise The Black Flag, and we interviewed him about the new EP and his one-of-a-kind project.
Dead Weight’s music has been supported by Riot Ten, Nitti Gritti, INHUMAN, and more. His sound is a mix of dubstep from the likes of Marauda and vocals from metal bands like Slipknot and Napalm Death. The resulting style is a unique brand of aggressive, in-your-face bass music that has been referred to as deathstep.
Following the release of Raise The Black Flag on February 16, 2023, we sat down with Dead Weight to discuss the influences behind his music and his debut EP. Read our interview with Dead Weight and stream Raise The Black Flag below!
Tell us a little bit about the inspirations behind Raise The Black Flag. What kind of message were you trying to convey on this release?
I love all types of electronic music. So many different genres inspire me to sit down and recapture that feeling. With Raise The Black Flag, I tried recreating those same emotions I feel through bass music.
Your music combines dubstep, death metal, and more genres for a one-of-a-kind sound. What do you love most about combining the genres you’re passionate about?
To me, the combination of genres just comes with my workflow. I don’t have a certain mindset going into a writing session about how I’m going to make a dubstep track sound “metal”. It’s a true sound of who I am, the best representation of my everyday thoughts and emotions. It’s hard for me to speak openly about that, so I do my best to translate it into music.
“All Is Fair With Nick Conser” is a collaboration with guitarist Nick Conser formerly from Oceano, a deathcore band that has been around since 2006. How did you end up collaborating with him, and what was that experience like?
You could say I knew Nick ever since I came out of the womb. Collaboration with Nick is always extremely smooth. Neither of us are afraid to be honest with each other and try new ideas. Most of the music I write with Nick is very vulnerable, which we both enjoy. Nick and I have many songs in the vault that are just waiting to see the light of day.
Raise The Black Flag also has songs like “Here We Stand” and “Contagion”. When did you produce most of these songs, and what do they mean to you on a personal level?
“Here We Stand” was one of the most recent songs I wrote before the EP dropped. On that tune in particular, I wanted to showcase my diversity in production, winding in and out of different drops and flows that could be aligned with different bass genres.
“Contagion” is probably the oldest song on the EP. I wrote that on blown MacBook speakers in my parents basement about 3 years ago. Back then, my Dad had many posters up in our studio room, one of them being Oceano’s Contagion Album. I loved the artwork and the name, so I ended up dedicating a song to it. Still one of the best Deathcore albums in my opinion.
Dead Weight is instantly recognizable for the full makeup you put on for each show. You call this character “Ollie” when you’re performing. Describe Ollie for me and how he is represented through the music.
Ollie is a being that shows up in and out of my personal life. It’s a friend we all wish we had, there when you’re down and there when you’re up. The main relation between Ollie and my music is that they are the “poster boy” for aggressive catharsis. We are here to take the brunt of your highs and lows. You’re never alone with Ollie.
Finally, now that your first EP is officially released, what are some of the next goals that you hope to achieve as an artist?
I hope that my family, friends and fans stay healthy and wise. We will continue to push the boundaries of music and stay leveled with our equilibrium. That’s all I could wish for this upcoming year.
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