Interviews
Atticus Dean – We Will Endure the Long Nights
By: Jennifer Vintzileos
Q) How would you best describe your sound?
A) My sound could be best described as cinematic in scope and intimate in nature. Big ideas played in little environments. Alternative music for folks who hate lyrics.
Q) Who are your Top 3 musical influences?
A) I would have to go with Radiohead, Sigur Ros and Max Richter. Those guys know how to pull just about every emotion out of ya.
Q) Tell us how you came up with the composition for “We Will Endure the Long Nights.”
A) “We Will Endure the Long Nights” was the first track recorded as part of this project. I suppose you could pin this album down as one borne out of emotional turmoil, as I usually tend to find musical expression the best way to get a feeling across. But really, I think this one is just more of an experiment in orchestral-type music. With feeling.
Q) I absolutely love “We Will Endure the Long Nights,” especially as it paints such a beautiful picture solely through instruments. What challenges do you feel you face in creating music that has no words?
A) Thank you! I think the biggest challenge probably lies in really communicating the journey that you want to take the listener on. A lot of the time when I’m recording, it’s hard to fully flesh out an idea and discern if it’s actually good, or just sounds good to me specifically. I kinda see my job as one that’s all about opening a door for the listener and presenting them with a piece that they want to live in and give themselves to for a brief period of time.
Q) You are a part of social media. What kind of fan feedback have you been receiving to the song?
A) People seem to like it, which is really nice! Will be interesting to see what they think of the album as a whole. It’s wacky.
Q) “We Will Endure the Long Nights” is part of an upcoming album you have coming out. What are some themes you will be exploring on it?
A) Thematically the album is just a series of ruminations on grief and love and loss and everything that comes with those feelings, but at the same time it’s really up to whoever is listening to imprint whatever themes make sense for them. I might be in a specific headspace while recording the album, but once it’s all done it’s entirely open to everybody else’s interpretation.
Q) Prior to your music career you were in movies such as My Babysitter’s A Vampire and Radio Rebel. What inspired you to pursue a career with music after having success in movies and television?
A) I really just wanted to sink my teeth into something that was really mine. Acting is a largely collaborative activity, and working those muscles is an absolute blast and very rewarding but being able to produce something deeply personal that’s entirely my own scratches a completely different itch. Equally as rewarding if not a little more so.
Q) Having experience in two different parts of the entertainment industry, how has your acting career helped you in your music career and vice-versa?
A) Essentially the two just help each other breathe a bit. They work as perfect counterweights to each other, when one is maybe taking up a bit too much real estate in your head for the wrong reasons, you have the other one to lean on and express yourself through. They’re a good team.
Q) With the release of “We Will Endure the Long Nights” and your upcoming album, is there a potential tour or live shows in the works?
A) No set plans for any touring, acting currently has me pretty booked up timing-wise but I’m hoping to get back out there as soon as possible.
Q) If you could collaborate with anyone on a new project, who would you like to work with and why?
A) I’d love to just work with my friends on stuff. My buddy Adam DiMarco is a very talented musician himself and we’ve been working on a couple things together, but you meet so many talented folks in this line of business that it’s hard to pick just one. My brothers are very musically gifted as well, and I’d love to team up with them on something.
Q) What are the upcoming on-screen projects you have in the works?
A) Season Three of “The Hardy Boys” is due out on Disney+ and Hulu next year, and a wild little movie called Fixation I shot a little bit ago has been doing a festival run recently, that should be out soon as well.
Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters of your music?
A) I’m just endlessly grateful and touched that there are people out there who have enjoyed and connected with the music I make. Feels quite special and I count myself very lucky.
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