Interview with Michael Ball.
Hi there! How are you doing these days?
I'm doing just fine, I appreciate you asking!
How would you classify your music? Do you agree with the reviewers who are trying to describe your musical genre?
It's difficult for us to classify our sound because we cover so much ground. I employ a lot of genre crossover for the purpose of telling a story. At the moment we classify ourselves as Cosmic Progressive Metal, which I like to think affords us room to explore different ideas/not get pigeon-holed into one genre. A majority of reviewers so far roll with it and refer to us as a prog band. On the other hand, we often get classified as a Tech Death band because we wear our Death Metal influences on our sleeves. The one thing that reviewers pick up on is how chaotic the music is, which often opens the door to a deeper discussion about the underlying themes. The "Cosmic" part of our genre refers to this running cosmic horror story that our albums have been centered around. I use the story as an allegory for my struggles with depression. My emotional challenges can often be unknowable and scary, much like cosmic horror. I can't think of a better representation for it than that.
Who are your top five musical influences?
I found that the artists I gravitate towards have in some way accomplished what I hope to accomplish with my music! Lots of crossover, and dabbling in different moods to paint a bigger picture. Top five for me have to be:
1.) Anomalous: My favorite tech death band of all time. They are a big reason why I chase such a chaotic sound. As much as they are classified as Tech Death, they often do so much more with their music by boldy exploring different moods/genres.
2.) Strapping Young Lad: Metal is inherently aggressive, but this band was the first that truly struck me as belligerently angry. Pure unadulterated fury. Their album, "Alien" is still one of my favorite records.
3.) Ion Dissonance: There was something really special about the era of Mathcore bands that was so raw, and Ion Dissonance has always been a standout for me. Their record, "Minus The Herd" is still in rotation. It's too bad they aren't really active anymore, but we at least got one more killer record from them in 2016 called, "Cast the First Stone."
4.) Josh Travis: A majority of his work I really dig and am inspired by. His frenetic style makes him special in the djent landscape. He has all of the same sensibilities as other djent bands, but his attitude in his writing/playing is what makes him so recognizable. I'm especially fond of the record he produced for his band Glass Cloud called, "The Royal Thousand." The vocals aren't my cup of tea, but the amount of emotion that exists on this record is phenomenal. Between the lyrics and the bipolar nature of the music, it gives me this impression that I'm listening to someone who is caught in the grip of obsession. His style is plenty aggressive, but with the right amount of weirdness.
5.) Pathogen: This band is a recent find! It was recommended to me by a friend, and I've been obsessed with their album, "Null Space." It's such an impressive display of technical facility, groove, and great songwriting.
What do you want fans to take away from your music? Is it just a mood, or do you hope to communicate specific ideas?
Up to this point, I have wanted to communicate specific ideas with my music, namely my pursuit to find emotional balance. I've struggled to really know who I am and how I fit into the world. Because of the nature of my environment growing up, it's been a struggle for me to find my identity. I communicate this in my music as best as I can; I want to musically represent the process of discovering one's identity. The subject matter tends to be very heavy emotionally, so it is my hope that the lyrical content of the songs in "Evolvement" can validate anyone else who may struggle with similar emotional challenges.
Can you tell us about Evolvement?
Absolutely! The best way that I can summarize Evolvement succinctly is by discussing the personal angle from which it was written. It's funny, though, because I often don't know what something is about until it's finished. I'm not entirely aware of what headspace I'm in while writing until I have the work completed and can inspect its deeper meaning.
Evolvement represents a time when I had all of this momentum in my life (newly acquired independence, finding love with my now wife, my college degree, my artistic endeavours going well), and I wanted to believe that my past traumas weren't relevant to my circumstances anymore. Whenever intrusive thoughts or cognitive distortions would occur, I would get frustrated and dismiss those thoughts as invalid. I would emotionally suppress them instead. It was hard to see the deeper implications of my behavior while experiencing it, and it was only until I was in a bad place emotionally did I come to understand how destructive this behavior is. As much as I tried to ignore my underlying issues, they would only get stronger and take up more mental real estate the longer I did. Before I knew it, I was plunged back into isolation, feeling trapped in this endless cycle of starting over.
In short, Evolvement represents what it feels like to experience a manic episode. It is a very misleading symptom of depression because of how I feel encouraged to indulge in the euphoria of mania, only for that bliss to dissipate and reveal dark depression underneath. It's a vicious cycle, and you could listen to this album on a loop for that reason.
What do you love and hate about the music business?
I think I've developed a passionate dislike for modern "music marketing gurus." It comes off as such a grift. They inundate you with all of this tedious logistical BS that's hard to keep track of, and it comes off as its own kind of hazing ("well if you can't keep track of this, then maybe you're just not cut out for this industry, bud.") They essentially are selling the idea of cracking the science of LUCK. It'd be the same if they were trying to sell courses on playing slot machines "correctly."
All of these responsibilities around marketing that usually have teams of people dedicated to managing them are all rolled up into one person in this modern day. It's overwhelming, and these marketing gurus know that. So after you've had your panic attack over the massive amount of information you need to keep track of to market your single/album/EP, what better time for a music guru to sell you their services where they can handle ALL OF IT for you.
I don't really know if this has anything to do with the industry, but what I really LOVE is the creative process. I especially love collaborating with other artists to create something! The whole process of starting small, building out and realizing a vision from start to end gives me life. I do it for no reason other than loving the feeling of doing a good job. It also allows people to get to know me on a more personal level which is great considering how much I struggle to be socially successful. I'm fortunate to have creative outlets to help regulate some of my emotional challenges.
What is the best concert you have ever been to? What do you enjoy most about playing live?
Favorite concert is split between Summer Slaughter 2009 when Necrophagist headlined and All Shall Perish at the DNA Lounge where they filmed their music video for their single, "Royalty Into Exile." A bunch of my friends went there in the hope of making it into the music video, and I actually made the cut!
I'm still trying to figure out what I like about playing live. I think what I've found liking is feeling a connection with my band on stage. When we're locked in, looking at each other, having fun. That's the best.
How have you evolved as an artist or band over the past year?
I think I've come to a place where I don't believe I have something to prove as a guitarist anymore. The 2010's were a helluva time for guitarists, and it also set the bar really high in terms of what "good" guitar playing was. I'm far from being one of the best, but I've always tried to push myself to do more. Now in this new decade, I want to prioritize purely good songwriting. I don't necessarily need to include loads of guitar gymnastics for me to feel valid as a guitarist now.
If you could meet, play a gig, co-write a song, have dinner, or get drunk with any band or artist (dead or alive), who would it be?
Hands down, it would be Devin Townsend. The music scene can be hard for me to navigate socially, and from what I can tell about Devin he's an accessible guy. He seems very self-aware, and to have a chance for a 1:1 where I can just listen and reflect on what he has to share would be so cool.
What's next for Tegmentum?
We have our new record, "Evolvement" out August 25, 2023 through M-Theory Audio! Before that, we have a new single coming out August 23 called, "Genetic Assimilation," and I'm particularly excited for that! It will have a guitar playthrough to accompany it, as well. Apart from that, the band is gonna shift gears and focus on writing more music after this album releases :)