interviewpage
Troglodyte Dawn - May 2004 |
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This is one excellent interview I did with the ultra cool Randy of Troglodyte Dawn. Victory: Troglodyte dawn is a new name (specially for us Europeans) can you tell what it is all about? Randy: Ok, this is a bit of a long story... Victory: It's cool! Randy: I've struggled with depression for most of my life, so aside from the "spiritual darkness" I lived in prior to meeting Christ, I also had this chemical/mood darkness going on. Since I also had some limited dealings in the occult (it doesn't take much) before I got saved, the darkness got blacker and thicker... Fast forward to 1991 when I met Christ. One of the main concepts that God put in my mind after I met Christ was the whole idea of "coming out of the darkness and into the light". Simple, I know, but it has always had an incredible impact on me. In 1993/1994, I was working for Kinko's and a mutual friend of my voice teacher/choir director came in and asked me if I could give some documents to the teacher next time I saw him. I said "sure". This guy wrote a funny note to the teacher and called him a "troglodyte". At the time, I had no idea what that meant, but it sounded interesting to me so, I looked it up. A "troglodyte" is a hermit of sorts that chooses to live in the darkness of caves. I have seen it depicted as a person or a troll-like creature. (I've also heard tell of a story that there were people that were with David when he was hiding from Saul in the cave and they were called "troglodytes".) Another stop in the story was when I was receiving prayer at the altar of a Vineyard church we were attending in Coeur d'Alene, ID in 1994. My eyes were closed, and the person praying asked me if i could see anything. "I can see an image of the sun rising at dawn", I said. It was very vivid (orange and red against a black backdrop) and comforting to me because I was still struggling with depression and hoping for the "dawn". The inspiration to use this as the project name/name of the CD came when I was visiting Seattle in 1995 and I happened upon a spectacular sculpture called "The Fremont Troll". Picture a HUGE sombre creature beneath a bridge that is big enough to hold a VW bug in his hand! I was awestruck and the name/concept began to take shape at that point. I quickly remembered the "troglodyte" word I liked so much and I paired it with this cool experience. I began writing/recording shortly thereafter. The band's working name was TROGLODYTE and the debut CD's name was to be "Dawn" (this was after experimenting with the title "Light", but someone commented that "Troglodyte - Light" sounded too much like the name of a beer - and it did!) Fast forward to 1997 I was dissatisfied with the TROGLODYTE monicker because it lacked the ultimate hopefulness that I was seeking. Standing in the shower one morning, I heard God direct me to combine the band name and the title into one. Hence, TROGLODYTE DAWN was born. Shortly after that , He also gave me the scripture of Isaiah 9:2 to support it: "Those walking in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned". So those are all of the events that led me to the name! Aren't you glad you asked? Victory: Even if it was a very long story, it was cool to see what God is able to do! So, musically what can the listener expect to hear? Randy: Well, my vision is for a hybrid of doom-metal a la Black Sabbath combined with ambient music a la Tangerine Dream and worship music influenced by Kemper Crabb and my time spent as a Worship Leader in the Vineyard church. I think the begginnings of this process are evident on the first album. Victory: You did last year release your first album. Are you satiesfied with the result? Randy: For the most part, yes. I can see what changes will need to be made for the next release though. I want a bigger, fatter guitar sound and I'd like to increase the production value substantially. For the most part though, I accomplished what I set out to do, yes. Victory: I think it was a good effort of you as well. Actually I'm listening to your album right now. The song I like most is the song named "lust" can you tell the readers about the lyrical content of it? Randy: Sure. It mainly deals with the subject of pornography addiction, which is a subject that most don't like or are embarrased to talk about. It is an indictment of the spirit that causes such an addiction, the behavior and media that sustains it ans a cry to God for help in overcoming it. Victory: I think it's brave of you to deal with these matters since it seems like a major problem. If any of the readers suffer from this addiction, what advices would you give them? Randy: Well, first of all, don't kid yourself that "any amount" of this is ok. It's poison through and through and will eat away at your relationship with you family and God. Also, make up your mind that you will fight this thing until the death and rely on God to enable you to do so. Hate it as much as you can, but don't hate yourself when you fall. It's important to repent and forgive yourself and to receive God's forgiveness too - no matter how many times it happens. Also, a book that has been VERY helpful to me with this issue is called "Every Man's Battle" by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Yorkey. It lays out a very detailed plan for overcoming this problem that is very effective if you remain faithful to the process. Victory: Amen. But if a person has been trapped, like 20 years, is there still hope? Randy: I believe so, yes. All things are possible with God. Victory: Ok. over to other issues. I find it interesting to find a praise song here as well. Why did you include it? Randy: Well, as I said before, I spent some time leading worship in the Vineyard church and this expression of faith is very important to me. I want to be able to touch people where they are at and also lead them into worship afterwards. Including praise and worship songs on my releases just seems natural really. Plus, I want to express that p&w music doesn't have to just be jangly pop songs to be worshipful, you know? Victory: Yes, that's right. Now, let's take a classic quiz. Many claim that metal is from the devil and christian shouldn't use devil's tool, even if it's for good reasons. What do you answer? Randy: Hmmm...good question. As far as "Metal being from the devil", I disagree with this mentality. Victory: And your arguments are? Randy: Satan cannot give good gifts, so music is ultimately from God. The fact that Metal is a very passionate form of music does not make it "from the devil", but I think Metal's hionesty and rawness of emotion makes people uncomfortable and whenever something makes a shallow Christian uncomfortable it must be "from the devil" you know? I think that the devil has certainly "used" this form of music and a lifestyle he has tacked on to it to wreck people's lives (especially musicians) but I don't see the music itself as being evil (unless the artist intends it to be used that way). Victory: Ok,most of us can agree about this. But what about christians listening to secular metal, what do you think about it? Randy: Well, I know this is a touchy subject and I won't try to make a blanket statement that all people can fall under. I myself walked out of metal almost entirely when I got saved in 1991. Partially because I had just come out of a band that had all of the negatives about metal in it and partially because I was just sick to death of all of it anyway. But I believe the Holy Spirit led me out of it so I could get to know Jesus better without being distracted and so I could experience a new life outside of the one I had known for so many years. I feel this direction was very good for me and allowed God to renew parts of my mind that were steeped in negative patterns. As far as it being "right" for all believers to listen to "secular" metal or music in general? This is between each believer and God. I don't think there can be a hard and fast rule about this issue. Victory: Well, I think it's strange: Many believers can stand listening to secular popmusic but when it comes to metal: no! Randy: Really? I guess I haven't been back into the music scene enough to see this, but I think it comes down to prevailing Church attitudes towared metal music in general and also the honesty and rawness of emotion I mentioned. Certainly one should be familiar with one's own temperament enough to know what will be helpful and what will be hurtful and should regulate their media intake accordingly. Victory: Yes, I agree. How can you say that God exists. When we look all around us we see pure evil all over the world. Rape, murder and wars. Randy: Well, there is actually a song on my album that pretty much deals with that very subject! Victory: Ok, you're granted to have free promotion! Randy: Thanks! I think it comes down to attitude and choice. You can either choose to look for and find all of the evil that is so obviously in this world and let it own you, or you can choose to look for the good and all of the "God things" that are theree and let Him own you instead. I've done it both ways, and looking for the good is the only thing that has allowed me to survuve because I tend to be a pessimist by nature. A scripoture comes to mind about the "wheat growing up with the tares" that seems to apply here. Don't ask me for book chapter and verse though because I don't have my concordance handy! Victory: What does the future hold for T.D.? Randy: Well, I ask myself that same question every day. Victory: Hehe Randy: I started the album back in 1995, so TD as a concept/idea has been around for about 9 years now. At first, I had no thought or desire to turn this into a live unit - I was just a studio rat at the time wanting to make the best art that I could with what limited resources I had. In the last year though, I feel that God has rekindled a desire in me to be in a live working band again so I have been actively seeking people for this. So far, I have not found the right ones yet, so I am praying and waiting on God (somewhat impatiently) for this to happen. Victory: Any new songs composed? Randy: As far as musically, I currently have the next 2 albums in the works in my head and I hope to start recording again very soon.God willing.I will remain a "one man/one God act until then. As far as new songs,I have two completed lyricallly at the moment.one is called "Pharisite" and the other is called "PLOD". the music is also being developed slowly for those two. I have also received some outside lyric submissions that I am considering using though. Victory: Thank you, it has been a wonderful time talking to you! Finally, please name your 5 favourite albums: Randy: Thanks man, it has been fun for me too! And my 5 favorite albums: 1. Black Sabbath - s/t 2. Black Sabbath - Sabotage 3. Tangerine Dream - Zeit 4. ArkAngel - Warrior 5. Judas Priest - Screaming for Vengeance Today anyway! 
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