Interview: Grand Rapids Artist/Producer Crossworm Discusses His New Album "Eat the Weak"
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“In my mind there has to be a certain aggression to make a song sound like it’s dirtcore. A darkness as well. Like if you took a trap song and made the lyrics a super dark social commentary, and the beat had an abrasive industrial sounding edge... people who already know dirtcore, are probably gonna identify it as that. ”
Congratulations on the release of your new album "Eat the Weak"; what does this album and song title represent to you and why did you select it to be the title?
I appreciate you. For this record, I published a 76 page book as a bundle companion to the album (buy the book HERE). It has all the song lyrics and in depth analysis and meaning of the lyrics. I end the foreword with, “for the duration of this album, a lone wolf eats its weakest pack member”.
I think overall, there are themes of finding weakness within, as well as in the opposition.
This album was an aggressive exploration of both exploiting and exterminating weakness. A means to cleanse and strengthen.
In a way it’s kind of a play on a minor literary trope of “eating the enemy”.
"Eat the Weak" is your 8th album release; how do you stay inspired to create new material and do you listen to other artists' material, specifically mainstream music?
Creating is the only thing I consistently WANT to do so for me I seldom have to stay inspired. I almost wonder if inspiration is a necessity of those who aren’t really made for doing what they’re doing.
I’m always creating and always aiming music, but to be honest, I mostly listen to music that is nostalgic to me. It helps pass time better. At least, that’s the majority of my consumption.
Despite being a niche underground artist myself, I do actually listen to a healthy portion of mainstream artists and bands.
How have the time periods of transition (move to Toronto, death of father, homelessness, touring) influenced you as an artist and producer, especially from a songwriting standpoint?
In my case I really believe they forced me into a position to conquer fear. Coming from a very tiny town with a population of around 8k, everything is difficult to overcome unless you’re thrown into it.
Not having resources or opportunities to slake the thirst for more kind of backs you into a corner in many ways. But in the end it has lead to invaluable growth.
With the album now released, what's next for you musically? Are you working on another project?
Yes definitely. In the next couple weeks I’ll be closing this album with a music video for “Like Them”. I’ll be shooting it with the same director as my last two videos “Beg”, and “It’s Okay”
It might be safe to say that for 20+ years I’ve been perpetually composing instrumentals.
Albums just happen to come out of that process. But right now I’m working on a new record tentatively titled “Legends of Autumn”. I think it might end up as a 3-5 song EP but could be more.
Tell us about the music genre and sound you coined, "Dirtcore"; how would you describe it and what makes a song dirtcore?
Back in the 90s everyone wanted to say they had their own style or genre. It was a cornball thing to do really. I did that kind of half joking but my fans gravitated to it really hard. I happen to sound unique so it caught on.
In my mind there has to be a certain aggression to make a song sound like it’s dirtcore. A darkness as well. Like if you took a trap song and made the lyrics a super dark social commentary, and the beat had an abrasive industrial sounding edge... people who already know dirtcore, are probably gonna identify it as that.
It’s almost like a third wave alternative movement. It has pieces of hip hop, punk, industrial, and goth in it, but it’s an alternative to what has been presented in those genres. Btw, I really appreciate DCWS giving me the spotlight for a min.
Buy the Eat the Weak bundle companion HERE