09/06/2020
An interview from Nightmare Sonata front man Benjamin Samedi for Lost in the Static, just published yesterday!
Benjamin Samedi- Nightmare Sonata
1. If you had the chance to pick 4 bands to play a show alongside, which artists/bands would you like the share the stage with?
-Type O Negative
-GWAR w/ original singer, Oderus Urungus
-Alice Cooper
-The original Black Sabbath
2. What influenced you to start playing music?
I heard the song “Basket Case” by Green Day and loved the song. I later saw the music video, and thought it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. I wanted to do that. I wanted to express myself through lyrics and everything that being in a band can be. I later got into things like Marilyn Manson and his whole concept of “ascension” as the Antichrist Superstar. Rock music being a pathway to outgrowing humble beginnings, a way for the underdog to succeed and prove the status quo they had it all wrong.
3. Are there any artists that you particularly feel influence you?
Peter Steele had a huge influence on how I sing and arrange lyrics. I had a hard time finding my voice when I first got started. Then I heard him sing, and it gave me a direction for crafting my vocal sound. Mike Ness is one of my favorite song writers, and I love the way he plays guitar. Tony Iommi is another prominent influence in terms of tuning down my strings and some of his solo licks.
4. What other projects have you been in, if any?
Nightmare Sonata is my main project. I’ve been doing it since 2005. I also have my solo performance project, which got seriously stifled as a result of the pandemic.
5. Amongst the Coronavirus pandemic, what have you been doing to cope?
I keep lifting weights. Still practicing acoustic guitar a lot. I’ve been doing sessions in the practice space for release on facebook, focusing mostly on my solo type work. But I’ll be starting another pandemic project called “The Bat Cave Sessions”, which will feature the old death rock style performances of the original Nightmare Sonata canon .
6. What's your idea of a perfect Friday night?
A three way with two milfs, both with stupid big breast implants. I mean- judo class. Wait- did I say that out loud? Sometimes my inside words get out…
7. Why the style of music you play?
Nightmare Sonata is rock’n’roll. Some have dubbed it “southern voodoo death punk”. My solo project is more acoustic-southern gothic a la Tom Waits a la Nick Cave.
8. What's one of the most memorable moments from a live show you've played?
The first time I opened for Wednesday 13 at the now defunct Volume 11 in Raleigh, NC. We were the first band on, and we used to walk out to the theme from “A Nightmare On Elm St”. When the lights went down and the overture came on the crowd popped so loud we could hear it back stage like a thunderstorm. It was really awesome.
9. Is there a song from another artist you wish you'd written first? If so, what song and why?
“Brand New Disease” by Savage Remains. I love that song. I love the melody and I love the lyrics. It has awesome attitude.
10. Any advice for anyone trying to get into the music scene?
Remember that there’s no money in rock music. If you’re lucky, you’ll break even. You have to do this because you love it. For the end goal of making an impact. The love of the art is the most important thing.
