Last Updated on 12/11/2023 by Rock For Disability
In our latest music interview, we speak to the metal band Cthulhu Dreamt who creates music based on grief, loss and depression.
Band Name: Cthulhu Dreamt
Members: Reed Reimer (Arrange, Guitar & Vocals), Jake Myslinski (Guitar), Nate Berntson (Guitar), Ben Larson (Keyboard) & Chris Durston (Keyboard)
Genre: Metal
Founded: April 2020
Originated From: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Discography: Cthulhu Dreamt (2021), Liminality (2022), “I Don’t Know What”, “Call From the Void – Bardcore remix”, “TRACE Amounts of Death”, Precursor EP (coming 2022)
How would you describe your music?
A mix of different genres of metal and other styles of music that creates a soundtrack of music to fill the world of Cthulhu Dreamt.
What is your musical creative process like?
We’re all kind of scattered around the globe, so we’ll all write stuff and then it’ll get sent to Reed where he’ll take either the riff that’s been written or the bones of the composition and flesh it out, arrange it, build a song around it, whatever until we get a finished arrangement. From there he’ll write lyrics, record vocals and then go to the mix/master stage.
How did the band form?
Reed wanted to do a project based on metal that he could use to tell a story and pay homage to his late daughter, Ripley. He asked a few of his friends to join him and that’s pretty much how it started.
How did you come up with your band name?
Because the back-story and universe of Cthulhu Dreamt are based on a Cthulhu Mythos, we wanted something related to that, so we boiled down the Lovecraft quote, “In His House at R’Lyeh Dead Cthulhu waits Dreaming…” to Cthulhu Dreamt.
Who influenced you within the music industry?
There are so many influences within the music scene, especially since our sound isn’t locked into any specific genre or subgenre, so some current influences include Gojira, Opeth, Hans Zimmer, Igorrr and Mick Gordon.
Have you performed live much and what was your favourite gig to play at?
We haven’t performed live yet but are always discussing that possibility. We have a logistical hurdle in the way because we’re all scattered around the globe. A few of us are in different parts of the US and Chris is in the UK.
What is the best thing about being in a band?
Creating and telling a story.
What’s the biggest problem you’ve had to overcome so far as a musician(s)?
We’ve been pretty lucky so far and have been able to create asynchronously, however that can take time sometimes and when schedules start to get pushed, that can make it a bit difficult.
What plans have you got coming up this year?
We’ve teamed up with game company Action Fiction to bring to life the next chapter in the Cthulhu Dreamt story: The TTRPG (tabletop role-playing game). Our Precursor EP will be released within the next couple of months that’ll help run up into the announcements for the game, so we’re getting pretty excited about that.
What is your ultimate dream as a band?
To have people identify with the subject matter we talk about and have it help them in some way. With Cthulhu as a proxy for grief, loss and depression, there’s a depth for us in the stuff we’re writing.
You can find out more about Cthulhu Dreamt by visiting their website and following them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
If you’re in a band or a musician and would like to appear on this blog, please contact me and I’ll forward you an interview template.
Also, check out my other Music Interview roundups from 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021.
