#but veronika's pretty much done i just need to post her (which will happen very soon!)

[glasshcvse]

we gotta give it back.. what’s the moral alignment of YOUR ocs? 🤗

AINE  ! ⠀ › ⠀ SAYS.   hehe, now that gives me time to think about most of my ocs <3

CHESKA ⸺ NEUTRAL GOOD. she demonstrates traits of compassion, resilience, and a desire to do good within her circumstances. she balances her personal goals with a sense of responsibility and empathy, fitting well within the NEUTRAL GOOD alignment, which is characterised by doing what is right and good without rigid adherence to rules or expectations.

AIMEE ⸺ NEUTRAL EVIL. AIMEE's background, motivations, and actions suggest a personality that is primarily self-serving and willing to navigate societal expectations pragmatically to achieve personal goals. this aligns well with the NEUTRAL EVIL alignment, which is characterised by a focus on personal gain, manipulation, and a lack of concern for others’ well-being.

TOMIE ⸺ TRUE NEUTRAL. she navigates challenges and opportunities based on what benefits her most, without a strong inclination towards good, evil, law, or chaos, fitting the characteristics of a TRUE NEUTRAL alignment.

JEANNE ⸺ CHAOTIC NEUTRAL. while not inherently malicious or altruistic, her actions are driven by a desire for personal autonomy and individuality rather than adherence to any strict moral or ethical code. this aligns well with the CHAOTIC NEUTRAL alignment, characterised by a rejection of authority and a pursuit of personal freedom without a strong commitment to either good or evil.

VIVA ⸺ CHAOTIC GOOD. while she may challenge authority and societal norms, her intentions are ultimately driven by a desire to do what she believes is right and to pursue her dreams. this aligns well with the CHAOTIC GOOD alignment, characterised by a belief in personal freedom, individuality, and the pursuit of altruistic goals, even if they involve breaking rules or challenging authority.

EUIWOONG ⸺ SOCIAL IMPURE. he resists conformity and is unafraid to challenge the status quo, whether it's by pursuing his dreams despite setbacks or refusing to apologise conventionally when proven wrong. his loyalty to his friends and protective nature illustrate his commitment to those he cares about, even if it means going against societal expectations or norms.

( more under the cut ! )

MARIE ⸺ REBEL NEUTRAL. her actions are not driven by a particular moral code or ideology. she follows her own path, making decisions based on personal desires and convictions rather than adhering to a strict moral framework. she may act in ways that are unpredictable and unconventional, but not necessarily for the sake of causing chaos or harm.

MILA ⸺ CHAOTIC EVIL. she revels in chaos and destruction, often causing harm to others for her own amusement or personal gain. her actions are driven by selfishness and a desire for power, with little concern for the well-being of others. MILA's chaotic nature is coupled with malicious intent, making her a dangerous and unpredictable member of the group.

JUNKO ⸺ CHAOTIC IMPURE. she may engage in rebellious or disruptive behaviour, but her actions are not necessarily driven by malevolence. instead, JUNKO's impure alignment reflects a certain moral ambiguity or inconsistency in her decision-making process. she may prioritise her own interests or desires at the expense of others but without a deliberate intention to cause harm or destruction.

FRENI ⸺ REBEL MORAL. she engages in rebellious behaviour to fight against injustice or oppression, seeking to create positive change in the world. FRENI's moral alignment sets her apart from other rebels in the group, as she strives to uphold ethical principles even in her defiance of authority.

DEE ⸺ REBEL IMPURE. she may engage in rebellious behaviour for personal gain or gratification without necessarily considering the ethical implications of her actions. DEE's impure alignment reflects a willingness to break the rules without a clear sense of moral responsibility, making her a more unpredictable and potentially dangerous member of the group.

YAOYAO ⸺ CHAOTIC MORAL. she may challenge authority and societal norms in pursuit of greater freedom or justice, but her intentions are ultimately benevolent. YAOYAO's moral alignment sets her apart from other chaotic members of the group, as she seeks to create positive change in the world despite her disruptive tendencies.

SOONYI ⸺ TRUE NEUTRAL. she tends to act in her own self-interest without being swayed by notions of good or evil. SOONYI's neutral alignment makes her a neutralising force within the group, often serving as a mediator or voice of reason during conflicts between members with more extreme moral alignments.

( spoiler for new oc ! )

VERONIKA ⸺ CHAOTIC GOOD. she embodies the CHAOTIC GOOD alignment through her unwavering commitment to personal freedom, her defiance against oppressive control, and her desire to make a positive impact through her music. she is a complex and multifaceted character, whose actions are guided by a strong sense of individuality and a deep-rooted belief in doing what is right, even if it means challenging the status quo. her journey from a sheltered, controlled childhood to a powerful, self-expressive artist highlights the core principles of the CHAOTIC GOOD alignment.

[demodraws0606]

Hu and Nico culprit+accomplice Theory (Also Eden was tricked into helping)

Okay, I know I've been extremely inconcistent with who I think the culprit is, however I think I've locked in who it is mainly through looking at Youtube comments and piecing out what works the most. Again I feel like it's a good thing to consider all of your options here.

I think Hu is the culprit and Nico is the accomplice.

The main point for this would be, that we know 100 pourcent now that attempted murder of Ace and the murder of Arei are connected without a doubt.

This means the person HAD to know exactly how Ace was killed, and considering how the crime scene was set out when Teruko and Eden enterred the room. I'd argue hte only person that could be responsible is the person that is behind the murder of Ace.

Because I mean if it was Eden why even try to do a murder similar to how Ace was killed and how would she exactly know how the murder worked.

(I'll explain why Eden took the tape later)

However it can't just be Nico because otherwise the trial would just be over, so that means that we have to find out who else could've been responsible for Ace's almost death.

I've already made a theory about how the murder of Ace wasn't actually done by Nico, mostly because how we see Nico with Ace's body VS how the crime had to have been done just doesn't match.

But I was honestly kinda lost on the motivation especially because Nico admitted to it so it would mean that, either, they gave up on trying to make themselves innocent OR they are covering up for someone else.

And with everything that's happened, I think it's the ladder.

Now, who else could've been responsible for Ace's murder ? Well, I don't think this is much of a headscratcher but it has to be Hu.

Why ? Well, because of the murder weapon

Unless you could argue that anyone could've gotten hold of Hu's weapon, which I personally pretty much doubt, unless it's Nico but we've gotten right back to the start. I don't think Hu would be stupid enough to just leave her weapon hanging there, joke very much intended.

So this mean, likely, that Hu ended up trying to kill Ace with Nico perhaps even being aware of Hu's intentions, although it's possible they had second thoughts (as we see Nico removing the string from Ace's neck).

Now, I don't know how to really structure this theory so I'll just write a couple bullet points and explain how Nico and Hu killing Arei happened before I get into the forsaken "Eden taking the tape and clothes" thing.

How would both of them get the water ? :

Hu has an alibi for taking the water as she was with Eden the entire time, however Nico had complete access over the water as they were hanging out in the relaxation room a lot. Meaning they'd have the most access to the water.

What about Nico and Hu's alibi ? :

I'd argue their alibis make both of them more suspicious, the first batch of people who have alibis were pointed out by J which are David, Veronika and J herself. There was no mention of Hu and Nico there.

However Hu then comes out a while later as soon as Ace accuses Nico, that actually both her and them have alibis. Which if they're the culprit and accomplice it would be really easy for them to vouch for each other's alibi, especially considering it doesn't seem like J noticed Hu and Nico waking up early which is very suspicious.

Why the hanging ? :

I think it's an important point because why would the murderer be so hung up, pun very much intended again, on such a specific murder tactic.

Now this might sound dark but depending on how Hu tried to kill herself it's very possible she has a lot of knowledge about it. In fact Whit's long and suspicious rant about how hangings work makes me think the murderer knows a lot about hanging as well.

The Turpentine ? (I FORGOT TO FINISH THIS PART WHEN I POSTED THE THEORY HOW DID NO ONE TELL ME) :

I've talked about in my "Nico didn't actually try to kill Ace" theory that the murder of Arei would need her to be incipacitated, especially since it would be impossible to really get Arei into any sort of mechanism with her concious. This means the culprit for both murders used Rose's Turpentine, as we know it was used in Ace's attempted murder. This again hints heavily that the culprits are the same.

Let's now get to the elephant in the room

The ball of clothes and the tape... clearly this has to mean Eden has to have done it right ??

Unless she took it for other reasons.

Hu asked her for it

I mean, Hu was the one to tell Eden about the clothes and we know for a fact that Hu was with Eden the entire nighttime, the day before hte murder was committed. They were also conversing a lot.

It would make a lot of sense for Hu to ask Eden to give her the clothes and the tape. I mean the murderer clearly wanted to frame Eden, so how likely would it be that they would set things up in a way that would make Eden look extremely bad.

We know Eden and Hu have a close relationship, Eden admitted they talk often about how to stop the killing game which makes Hu manipulating Eden make a lot of sense personally.

I also want to talk about the thing that now makes Eden innocent now that we know about the murder method pretty much entirely.

The rules of the BDA announcement

Now you might say, and I've used this argument before, the murder could have just looked away and it wouldn't count right ?

But I mean....why ? At this point there doesn't seem to be any grounds that the murder was done to avoid this rule and it's such a situational rule especially since Teruko decided to pick two people out of the blue that it's just... why would the murder think about that ? Especially with how we're seeing the murder being committed, there would be no moment where the murderer really had any reason to look away.

It's just bad luck from Hu's part that Teruko picked Eden to test out this rule.

For the conclusion, why the fuck would Hu and Nico do this ?

While, I don't fully know, I think I'm starting to realize the secrets might not actually be part of the motive. Which I think the running gag is gonna be that every murder is not gonna involve the motive or it involves it in a way different from the motive (Charles fake motive thing).

Hu's whole thing seems to be about wanting to live, she was depressed in the past and wanted to end her life however now she's got a new taste for life. This would be a huge motivation to want to get out of this killing game, especially with how intense the cast has been towards each other it would make sense to want to get out Now.

And also if she's the culprit, this line would make a lot of sense.

For Nico, it's a lot more complicated as to why they'd be an accomplice. Again however I'd argue their secret line would make sense with this theory.

It's possible Hu ended up somehow convincing Nico to do it, I don't think that they were threatened but it was possible they just really weren't in a good mindset especially with how things happened with them in chapter 2.

Anyways, yeah this is my final theory that I'm locking in right now

[tied-ash]

DRDT ROLE SWAP: CHAPTER 1 SUMMARY - DAILY LIFE

Since me and the friend I've been watching DRDT with have finished Chapter 1 not too long ago, I've decided to think about the thoughts of that one DRDT AU I have (Not DRRT, but the Role Swap AU).

If you need a rundown of the AU, you can look at this post:

With that in mind, this obviously has spoilers for all of Chapter 1! If I get any of the events wrong, let me know!

Also... this is long :,) I've underlined & bolded the important parts.

After the killing game was announced, the students were left speechless. They eventually decide to investigate the facility in hopes of finding anything useful. Veronika, the ultimate horror fanatic, was used to this. She was content with being alone. However, Xander quickly perked up and offered to go with her. With other's encouragement, she decided to accept his offer.

The investigation was pretty standard... if not a wee bit swapped. Veronika was the one who made most of the informative comments, while Xander commented on other things. However, he was able to get a list of the other participants' weapons.

During their investigation, they ran into many of the others. This included J in the infirmary with Rose, patching up the latter's wounds (though J kept commenting on how she really was not fit for this, and Arturo should be the one to be doing this), as well as Ace and Min in the bathrooms - Ace seeming bored out of his mind as Min rambled about something that neither Veronika or Xander cared about.

Eventually, the investigation came to a close. Nobody was able to find an exit, unfortunately. That aside, everyone decided to split up and do their own thing. Before doing so, however, Levi had mentioned that the elevator was probably something to look at.

As such, Veronika chose to do just that. There, she met up with Arei and Rose. They get into a small scrabble about talents, with Veronika explaining that she has been destined to be, what she likes to call, a "typical horror movie final girl". Why else would she be so interested in horror? VERONIKA: "Ever since I can remember, I've been put through very interesting experiences. Many people who even dared to walk into my life are met with an unfortunate end. I just find it interesting to see people who are like me... you know?" Arei calls bullshit on that, but Veronika insists that it's true. Regardless, she talks about herself as well, claiming that she never really wanted to get into bowling. Well- she did, but she quickly lost interest after lots of "sleepless nights", though she does not elaborate. She comments about having to want to prove someone wrong, but once again, refuses to elaborate. Even though they were unable to open the elevator, at least they have something to bring to the rest of the class.

With that in mind, they do just that! And Ace has the perfect solution to see who's strongest; an arm wrestling competition. He was originally just gonna have a fist fight, but quickly realized he'd have to partake in that. And quickly changed his mind. The arm wrestling competition goes as the same in canon, with Xander winning it. Upon opening the elevator... the same thing happens. It's out of order.

Without much else to do, Veronika finds three people in the kitchen; Nico, Whit, and Levi. The three of them explain that they were planning to bake some stuff, which was admittedly Whit's idea. Veronika very excitedly joins in. While they bake the cake, Whit is quick to make a bunch of baking puns (I would specify, but staring at the 113 baking puns list is giving me a headache) while Nico and Veronika tend to the actual baking. Also ignore Levi, he's totally not just eating straight up sugar. That's not a thing he's doing. Totally. Anyway, after the baking is done, they decide to frost the cookies! They turn out... um... Nico's are certainly the best, being animals that they feel represent the others (Golden retriever - seeing as Whit is very... well... I don't think I have to explain, Siamese Cat - for their supposed chill nature, and Parrot - for their very talkative nature). Veronika's is of various horror characters. They're amazing works of art, but the cookies look inedible. Whit's are mainly just hearts. Nothing special, to be honest. And... Levi... Let's just say that it barely looks edible with the mass amount of sprinkles he put on it.

But, of course, the cake is ruined after they decorate it. It was certainly fun while it lasted. There's better things to worry about, anyway. The fact that Veronika seemed to sprain her knee! Due to that injury, Nico decides to take Veronika to the infirmary.

At the infirmary, they meet up with (or, rather, literally run into) Xander. He looks very out of it. However, before either of them could ask him what's going on, he stumbles away, leaning on the wall for support. Brushing off that strange interaction, they enter and see Charles in an almost similar stance. Upon closer inspection, Veronika realizes that he had removed his mask (In case I forgot to mention it, RoleSwap! Charles wears a mask to conceal his wound. It's like a mask that painters would use, but more... chemist...y. If that makes any sense.) The horror fanatic helps him calm down, and thanks to that, Charles orders Nico to leave. With them gone, the chemist shows Veronika his weapon: Some sort of chemical mixture. It's definitely not deadly, which he emphasizes greatly. VERONIKA: "Why are you showing this to me, Charles?" CHARLES: "..." VERONIKA: "Aww, do you trust me?" CHARLES: "...I'm not going to elaborate." VERONIKA: "You DO trust me~!" Alas, that couldn't be further from the truth.

Hearing some commotion in the dining hall, Veronika and Charles discover that Ace is causing a ruckus. He seems really petty about the whole baking situation. Like... really, REALLY damn petty. So petty that David has to shut him up. However, after a half-assed apology, MonoTV announces that a motive is to be held! And just before the class goes to sleep, Charles instructs Veronika to meet him in the computer lab. According to him, he found something on the computers that could be of use.

The next day is laundry day! Min and Xander are there! As the three of them discuss various things, Xander suddenly brings up parents. He mentions that his family was very nice- they're the reason why he's so motivated. Min is reluctant to engage, claiming that her family was... average. Veronika (I don't know anything about Canon! Veronika's family, so this is just an educated guess) explains how her family was... not exactly the healthiest. With all of the horrible incidents Veronika nearly caused by accident, her family is very weary of her. Xander promises Veronika that they'll try their best to make her comfortable and safe.

Surprisingly enough, Arturo had gotten Veronika to walk around with him. However, despite her excitement, Veronika quickly comes to realize that it's only so Arturo can complain about his special weapon. Levi hears the commotion and tags along, trying to see how a scalpel can be useful. However, Levi gets distracted, mentioning how they might be able to discern what kind of paint was used for the walls. He has slight knowledge about that kind of thing, as you have to take into account of the fabric dye when making a costume (ignore the fact I'm pulling this out of my ahh). However, without the right materials, it's close to impossible to figure it out.

Later, in the computer lab, Veronika runs into Teruko and J. They seem to be having a civil discussion... until Teruko starts talking about her misfortune again. After hearing so much about it, J gets fed up and leaves. And... That's all that happens there. Yup.

At lunch (dinner?), Charles and Veronika talk to Eden. It's a nice conversation, honestly. Even if nothing important happens, it's nice to hear about the hours of work Eden spends on clocks. However, they're interrupted by Arei, who mocks them. This causes Eden to quickly retreat, annoying Charles. However, nothing is really done about Arei. It's not like Charles or Veronika feel any extreme compulsion to confront the bowler.

They also talk to Hu! Now, I haven't mentioned it yet, but in this AU, Charles is actually very fond of the zither player. She's the person who he treats with the most respect. In fact, he's listened to her music whenever he needs a break, or is studying... or... well, he listens to her music a lot. So it's very nice to hear sweet nothings words of encouragement coming from his idol. In this AU, there's a good chance that Charles/Hu will be a ship. I love rarepairs. Feel free to put down ship names in the comments. Please.

Finally, they show the cookies! And... the cake... ...We don't talk about the cake.

BUT IT TASTES GOOD SO NO WORRIES.

After that mess, Veronika keeps her promise to Charles and meets him in the computer lab. He's acting horribly suspicious...

VERONIKA: "...Charles? What are you doing?" CHARLES: "...I'm... I'm sorry, Veronika."

She suddenly felt a rush of pain in her stomach. As the blood dripped from her mouth, she could only stare up at Charles and watch his reaction. The way he stumbled back, almost drunkenly. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. It was as if something possessed him to stab her.

VERONIKA: “Why… did you…?”

But Charles didn’t respond. He only stared at the blood, his breathing increasing. He couldn’t bring himself to articulate any words for a long time. There was only silence filled with Veronika’s sharp breaths. Finally, he spoke.

CHARLES: “I… I was told to… V-Veroni—ka—“

Then, there was silence again. The chemist was surprised that she hadn’t fallen yet. Then, suddenly…

She began to laugh.

VERONIKA: “Kagh… hah… This… you failed.”

CHARLES: “…??”

VERONIKA: “Y… You can’t kill me. Over and over… I’ve gone through this same thing… horrible events that left my friends dead… left me… in pain… haha…”

She gave him a terrifying smile.

VERONIKA: “…you’re nothing more than another antagonist in my story…”

Charles shut his eyes. Those were the last things Veronika remembers before passing out. As the world grew dark, she could still hear her distant laughter.

[santiagostyle]

U kno what plot twist ill only ask u for all the even numbers this time!!! Unless any of the odd ones involve music bc i know those are the ones u rly wanna answer so

MARK THE DAY KIDS JO IS BEING NICE TO ME

anyway this is a hella long post lmao s o r r y

2. name your favourite books; why are they your favourite books and do they affect your writing?

my all time favourite is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee which like,, I feel like it doesn’t really affect my writing but it definitely reignited my love for literature which I guess consequently led to me getting back into writing??

also the A to Z of You and Me by James Hannah literally ripped out my heart and stomped on it and I’m seriously pretty sure I finished it within a few hours of starting it. That one probably does affect my writing because it’s very angsty but also in terms of style it’s pretty fragmented which is kinda the direction I tend to go in so!!!

I’m yet to make it past the first chapter but the style of Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy is,,, everything 

not technically a book but I’m a theatre major so ofc i’m gonna include a play!!! 4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane ripped my heart out, tore it to pieces, threw it on the ground and stomped on it (also side note it took me a solid week and a half to recover from watching it performed live). the style is so abstract and disjointed and strange and fragmented but it’s so so perfect and absolutely heartbreaking (also big ass trigger warning if you’re thinking about looking it up)

ALSO i got about halfway through before life got in the way so I didn’t get the chance to finish it but I absolutely adore the style of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and like,,, fun fact I’m actually related to him so ???? i guess writing runs in the family ????? and yeah there are some small parts of that book that I read and thought ‘this sounds like something i would write’ just because i feel like we have pretty similar styles4. why do you like writing? what inspired you to put paper to pen?

I guess I haven’t ever really been happy just living one life or doing one thing at a time so,,,, I write 6. tag any writers that you want to collab with!

hoooooo boy um ?? literally ?? everyone??? but specifically @elsaclack @startofamoment @kasuchi @peraltiagoisland and my girl @johnnydora but for real i wanna write with EVERYONE 8. how many wip do you currently have? which one is your favourite as of the moment?

HA HA HA HA HA for real I literally have like,,, 4 Big Major Fics in the works and then like 11-12 little drabble things also in progress (and by in progress I mean I’ve thought about them and done absolutely nothing else)10. describe your writing in five sentences or less.

sentences suck imma do dot points

- I can’t write chronologically and the beginning of a story is usually the last thing I do

- I have a tendency to write ‘moments’ as opposed to actual full fledged stories if that makes sense? like I find it so much easier to write little ‘scenes’ or slices of life so i often use quite a few time jumps because i find it so difficult to write the stuff that occurs in between big moments

- i always spend so much time and so many words describing the littlest details because those are what i think are most important 

- literally everything i write has a song associated with it and i can’t write without music 

- i either use really long super flowery descriptive sentences, or sentences with like 3 words in them. there is no in between 

12. what do you associate with each of your stories? with your writing in general?

I mean I’ve only published two (2) things on here/ao3 so far but like I mentioned before the music thing so I suppose i associate particular songs with each of my stories?

but also like in general all of my writing comes from a really intense emotional place and like, even if I’m unsure of how my?? mental state?? is doing at a particular time, it comes through in my writing. so if i suddenly only wanna write fluff i know i’m doing okay, whereas i kinda have to be sad to write something angsty like the hellfic14. write a personal history/mini autobiography/author description that you don’t mind sharing.

smol anxious tina fey wannabe spends too much time crying in her room thinking about so many stories while putting off actually writing 16. three pieces of other’s writing that people need to read to understand your inspirations and you?

alright i know like everyone and their dog has already read it but foR REAL @elsaclack‘s sleepwalking changed my goddamn life alright it was literally everything i had ever wanted in a fic and i am still Shooktd to this day okay frick

Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho is also a book that is very important to me and I think everyone should read it 

Neighbourhood Watch by Lally Katz is the first play that actually made me cry just by reading it (like, I didn’t see it live, I cried reading the actual text) because god there’s so much emotion and so many issues that it deals with that are very close to my heart and it reminded me a lot of some people I’m very close to so!!!!18. make a playlist for people to listen to if they want to understand you.

AIGHT I DON’T HAVE TIME TO DO AN ACTUAL PLAYLIST RN BUT I’M GONNA EDIT THIS LATER AND ADD A LINK BUT FOR NOW HERE ARE SOME OF MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE SONGS:

America - XYLØ

Young Blood - The Naked and Famous

Go Bang - PNAU

Sucker - Peaches

Raspberry Beret - Prince

Salvation - The Cranberries

Hero - Regina Spektor

Caught - Florence + The Machine

Time (Video Version) - Stray Dogg & Devendra Banhart

Leaving the City - Joanna Newsom

September 22nd - Brock Berrigan

Havana - Camila Cabello

Queen of Peace - Florence + The Machine

Regular Touch - Vera Blue

Here I Lie - Marika Hackman

Maneater - Nelly Furtado 

Kiwi - Harry Styles

Shut Up and Dance - WALK THE MOON

Baby I Call Hell - Deap Vally

Motel - Meg Myers20. describe your writing life in one sentence. 

I have been writing since I could hold a pen, and telling stories since before then22. your favourite characters to write and why.

oBVIOUSLY JAKE AND AMY but like I think I find Jake just a tiiiiiny bit easier to write because I’m always talking about Amy, like, externally??24. name one fact about yourself that you want your readers to know about you.

for real i’ve literally been writing since i could hold a pen. my mum still has ‘books’ i wrote when i was 3 about the adventures of my teddy bear lmfao26. what are your writing goals for the week? for the month? for the year? how many words/poems do you write per week?

HAHAHAHH WELLLLLL i was meant to be doing nanowrimo this month but then some Things happened so it hasn’t really gotten done. my biggest writing goal at the moment is to make some soliddddd progress on the hellfic (it’s all planned and a lot of the next chapter is written i just,,, can’t make the words work atm) so!!!

also i pretty much write when i have ideas?? which is,,, not often unfortunately

[noiseartists]

OUTWARD, introverted Shoegaze from Kentucky

Outward is the one man music project from Corey Philpot. It includes influences from Shoegaze, Indie, Dream Pop, Synth Pop and other similar genres that Corey grew up loving.

His last Album, ‘That’s life’, will be released on 15th February 2019 by our friends of Somewherecold records. Corey and Noise Artists collaborated to introduce you to his music and understand his motivations and persona thanks to a really good and detailed interview.

The music and feelings are vastly drawn from the topic of depression and isolation as you will discover. We are delighted that Corey speaks freely of this mental state that many people experience, without always seeking the support that would make their life better. The more we talk about it, the better.

Without further ado, discover Outward’s music and Corey Philpot.

Musical Work

Outward’s musical work to date is:

That's Life, Album, February 2019

Reverie Remedy, Album, May 2017

Hypnagogic Calibrations, EP, April 13, 2015

Inside the Tremble, EP, October 2014

The King's Ascension, EP, August 5, 2013

The best introduction to the coming album is to ask the artist the story behind the music. And this is a great one.

“My name is Corey Philpot, and I go musically under the name Outward. I am a one-man-band but with a full band sound. I have a new album called That’s Life which is releasing on February 15th on digital and physical disc under Somewherecold Records.

The album itself I would describe along the lines of ripping out pages from within a diary my soul has tried to keep inside hiding from all eyes. It’s my attempt at digging into every outlet of dark and light that I carry inside, to make it audible and visible outwardly.

I began recording it while living in Austin, TX. A few different things had fallen through, and I somehow was lucky enough to land a gig with the great band SUPER THIEF of ATX, and I didn’t have any new material. I wrote a handful of tracks from the album within a span of a week just so that I would have a live set to perform.

The very day of the gig, my wife was robbed at gunpoint at her job. Needless to say, we didn’t go through with the gig and this became the concrete starting point for That’s Life. A few more incidents happened after that are more on the personal side of things which dealt in life and death as well.

We ultimately decided to leave ATX, and return to my hometown in London, Kentucky; a place where if you feel like being left alone, you truly can be. Over the span of the next year and a half, I recorded more and more songs. They were my way of addressing what my wife and I had been through and were going through. We were facing everything together. Living in the depths of darkness, while hoping to see a light to shine on the world and make it better. We eventually found our own light to shine on ourselves.

The concept of the album lies completely in its name. We all face so many struggles every day, and the weight of those struggles can sometimes be all too consuming. Sometimes it often leads to depression, which can lead to addiction and ultimately even suicide.

I think most people have experienced some form of depression and suicidal thoughts. I feel its something common, yet as a society, we fear it so much and view it as a weakness so much; we immediately shut it down when someone confronts us about it.

I’ve experienced and witnessed so many moments where people are on the edge of taking their life, reached out to someone to talk, and that someone responds with the phrase “That’s life,” shrugging them aside; basically making it a point that because everyone has issues and seems to get over them, that you must get over them as well. There’s a few tracks that I feel standout to this. The most obvious for me are Rainface and Post-RPG Depression.

Each of those tracks, the vocals and lyrics were improvised in one take; as I felt they needed to have that real stream of consciousness feeling as if your mind and heart must vent or you’re going to drown from the inside. Other tracks deal with certain subjects, mostly between accepting life as it is (both good and bad), drug addiction, suicide, isolation, dreams, hopes, fear, love, hate, and drug overdose.

I feel that we as a society are quick to judge and condemn anyone experiencing these darker issues and often time say these individuals do it to themselves and don’t deserve help. I stand strongly against that. I think anyone reaching out for help deserves to have a hand stretched to them. These are the people that often need the most help or someone to just listen.

My songs as a whole dig through this concept; such as the track Nothing Much. It is basically reflecting on when you feel that your life is over and that suicide is the only answer left; just to free yourself and the burden you feel exists on others by you existing. “They say it’s fine, all in time. I think they lie to feel fine”; it reflects when people say to you everything will be okay in time and will eventually pass. Sometimes that’s not true, and things won’t be fine.

Tracks like Crash, Codeine Dreams, and Can’t Care reflect on drug addictions and the mental spiral they can create or leave. How a drug can be a crutch to feel like it can fix everything, yet it remains pointless as it will never end in anything but more harm to yourself. However, sometimes it feels its all you have left for life, even though you know it’s not a positive thing. You feel trapped with no defence or way out. Then sometimes, it feels like it’s a will to personal self-destruction; a way to slowly take means into your own hands and decide how you want your life to end. A weird awareness of self-control and lack of self-control at the same time.

 Other tracks deal with hopes and dreams. Swear to Me is like a waking day dream. You picture everyone being okay, life being alright, everyone being peaceful, and that it can all rise above the darkness. Ultimately, life will be what life is, but you can’t stop from dreaming of things being better.  Though, at the end of the day, you will always wake up from that dream. A lot of the tracks on this album can fit into the same category of this song; meaning striving and hoping for a better life for yourself and for others, regardless of the obstacles life seems to constantly throw at you.

I tried to make every song feel as if it had its own identity. I won’t put out an album unless I feel every song has its own sound and doesn’t necessarily sound like something that’s already been done before. If it does, it’s by pure accident; as with every song I try to go in completely open minded with no goal but to follow what my heart tells me and what resonates in sound to my ears.

This being the case, I don’t think my sound really fits exactly into a genre like a puzzle piece. Rather, it’s a cherry-picking of multiple genres and sounds I love all into one cohesive thing. Because I grew up in a small town in the middle of nowhere mountains; music and film were my only obsessions that kept me going.

My music is a combination of all my favorite genres since I was a kid: shoegaze, grunge, industrial, slowcore, 80s synthpop, noise rock, retrowave, dreampop, and more. I combine my favorite things and whatever comes out, comes out basically.  Because it’s so noisy, melty, and loud I think it lends itself to the shoegaze side more than anything. Jason Lamoreaux of Somewherecold Records has coined the term Sludgegaze to describe the sound; which I think is actually pretty great and it made me excited like a little kid when he said it.

 This album is an extension of me; into my heart, mind, body, and soul. It’s me trying to deal with everything life is/was/will be. It’s an attempt to approach life and death in so many different forms. And it’s ultimately my attempt to reach out to people in the world struggling with their life and fighting to keep going. I want it to be a message that says you’re not alone in feeling these things, and you’re not alone in this world. It may be hard, but as long as we keep fighting, we can make of life what we will. There’s no pro-drug or pro-suicide song on this album and I hope no one comes away with that sort of message. It’s more of an “I understand and wish I could give you a hug,” message.”

Tell us about the artists you have worked with

I actually haven’t worked with that many artists. In terms of Outward, I’ve never worked with any other artists on tracks. It’s always been only me; even when it comes to recording, mixing, and mastering.

 I have two different two-piece shoegaze projects though. One is with my wife Perla called June in Bliss; the other with a best friend named Veronika called Augra Nowhere. We as Augra shot and made a music video for the noise rock band SUPER THIEF however down in ATX.

THE INTERVIEW

Can you tell us more how you came to have the band’s name?

Outward came to me because I wanted something to signify in the simplest effort of what my music entails. The entire point I feel is to take what is most inward and to make it outward; to project the internal outwardly.

Where are you from? Where are you living now?

I’m from London, Kentucky and also presently residing here now too. I’ve lived in both Winston-Salem, North Caroline (while attending film school) and in Austin, Texas for a few years pursuing music and film.  After hardships, my wife and I decided to get some air and come back here.

Could you give us the history of the band, how the members came together and have done music together since?

I started recording music by myself in high school. I had gotten electric drum kit and mixer for Christmas one year and that kicked me off. I had been inspired by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails since I was five years old and decided if one man could do that and make such cool music, I could too. I wouldn’t dub myself Outward for a handful of years later though.

 Could you tell me more on the band composition? Do you have plans to add new members, or is there possible departure scheduled from existing band members?

It’s only myself and has been since the beginning, which probably now stands as a decade. There’s no plan to add any additional members currently. The only thing I could see possibly in the future is touring musicians.

 Can you tell me the inspiration behind your band?

The inspiration for me at the start was a way to deal with and/or escape my life. It was a way to deal with depression and living in a town where I couldn’t really relate to many people on many subjects or things. It kept me alive and allowed me to deal with my emotions in a non-harmful way; while also hopefully connecting to others in those same head-spaces.

 Was there a vision of sorts or did you know what you wanted to do when you started up?

I’ve always wanted to be able to just make a living of any sort doing this. The dream for me is to be able to make music and connect with people, while being able to just afford daily life bills. I don’t care about being stupid rich. I only want to be able to survive and do something I genuinely love and that’s part of my soul.

In terms of styling, I want Outward to feel nostalgic more than anything; like playing video games growing up, watching vhs, and cartoons. I try to incorporate those things and the feelings into the image of it all.

 Can you tell us about some of your favourite bands, the music you listen now, some you may want to bring the attention from the reader to?

 I’d be happy to list older and current bands I love: Nothing, Lantlos, Alcest, My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Type O Negative, Failure, HUM, Nine Inch Nails, Deadsy, Alice in Chains (my first cassette tape at four y.o. was Jar of Flies),  Cult Leader, Acid Bath, Barkmarket, SUPER THIEF, Exhalents, Blaze Foley, Urban Voodoo, Unsane, U2, Townes Van Zandt, XTC, Tears for Fears, Talk Talk, Jesu, Mazzy Star, The Alarm, The Wedding Present, Red House Painters, Seam, Low, Codeine, Sebadoh, Skinny Puppy, Ohgr, Medicine,  Dir en grey, The Plimsouls,  Devo, Alice Cooper, The Cure, Clan of Xymox, Lush, The Opposition, Anakin, Skydiggers, Helmet, Gojira, Devin Townsend, SYL, Godflesh, JAMC, Cocteau Twins, Richard Buckner, Grivo, Gleemer, Malice Mizer, My Dad is Dead, Machines of Loving Grace, God Lives Underwater,  Placebo, Naked Eyes, General Public, Book of Love, ABC, Duran Duran, Adam Ant, China Crisis, Lycia, Red Rockers, Smashing Pumpkins, Local H, Sugar, Bethany Curve, Whimsical, Beatastic, Should, Cheatahs, Coalters of the Deepers, Roku Music, Iris, Iroha, Deafcult, Duster, Two Inch Astronaut, Chapterhouse, Thompson Twins, Tricky, Pale Saints, Nirvana (I’d be lying if I didn’t say there wasn’t an influence. My mom has a video of me at 2-3 yo hitting a snare drum singing lyrics to All Apologies), Miami Nights 1984, Hollow Sunshine, Newmoon, Prefab Sprout, Deafheaven, Drab Majesty, Soulwhirlingsomewhere, Revolver, Prick, Lift to Experience, OLD (Old Lady Drivers), David Bowie, Swallow, Quicksand, and Emma Ruth Rundle.

 Do you have any other musical side projects apart from this band?

I have two at the moment. Both are somewhat similar to Outward, mixing genres while mostly leaning to shoegaze. They’re called June in Bliss and Augra Nowhere.

The Creative process

Who writes the song and the music and how do you get to the final song? Is it a community process, do you have leaders in composing or arranging music?

I write and record everything myself; from start to finish. I usually start with a drum track, synth track, or guitar riff. Whichever one leads first. After that I begin going through an endless amount of synths and find one that resonates and I start building layers. I continue doing this over and over until basically it sounds full or has exactly enough to what the track feels it calls for. I then decide if that part is verse or chorus, and then proceed to make the next verse or chorus. I’ve had a song reach 78 layers of synths, guitars, basses, and drums before. Once the music feels finished, then I begin working on lyrics and vocals. After those are laid I begin the mastering process.

 Do you listen to the advice of your band mates? What would you do if they said a song was shit but you liked it?

Since I don’t have any bandmates, I have a select circle of friends and family I’ll send tracks to for feedback. Some are aware of shoegaze and the other genres, while others aren’t, so it helps me get a wide view of how people both familiar and unfamiliar with react to them.

If someone said a song was shit, I’d listen to them and try to understand their view and why they’ve reached that conclusion. It would depend on if it’s out of spite or if they’re genuinely being honest.

If it’s constructive criticism and ultimately can make the song work better, then I have no troubles taking that criticism. However if it’s someone being a dick, well, then they can fuck off. And ultimately, if it’s a track I love and feel is pure honesty, then I will keep it as-is no matter what. I think it’s very situational.

 Talking about the lyrics: who write them? Is there a common thread in them, a theme? Who chose the songs’ name

I write them completely and choose everything about them from words, subject, to titles. There’s no common theme other than they must reflect a since of sincerity and honesty to myself.

 Do you have a message that you want to get across in your music? If so, what are some of the messages you want to spread?

That you’re not alone in your problems. That people all over the world, including myself, have experienced and do experience these problems; that there are many who struggle with things like depression and suicide. My goal is ultimately to be a way of suicide prevention by facing it head on in the most honest ways.

It’s also to help myself get through these things too. Reality is a mirror and a reflection of our perception and projections. Helping myself get through can help others get through, while helping others can help myself get through.

 Did your listening habits changed over the years and does it affect what you write?

I had a much cooler older brother growing up. I’ve actually always been into these types of bands. He showed me Nine Inch Nails and things like that at an early age (roughly like 5 years old), and so I dove in from there on for the rest of my life. Since then and now, I actively search constantly for new or old music that I can find; be it any genre. I don’t care what the genre is as long as its music coming from someone’s soul.

The path to music

Is it easy to find producers and studios where you live for indie-rock?

Not at all. This place is a small town that wouldn’t exist if a major interstate didn’t go through it.

Your recorded sound is good, which is not easy. Did you engineer the sound yourself, or did you have a sound engineer with you? If yes could you tell us more about him/her?

I’ve done everything myself. Because it’s always just been myself mixing all the things I love, it’s roughly always been this same sound; just more put together and improved quality. My instrumental, vocal, and composition skills have increased through the years just from constantly trying to improve. I would love to work with engineers such as Flood, Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno, Robin Guthrie, or Trent Reznor.

Was it a community work to try to have the best sounding music possible or mainly driven by the sound engineer or by the band?

It’s always been my sole goal to create something unique and original; a sound I could call my own that would not blend in with the mass of music out there. I want to have a sound that is both dynamically heavy and soft simultaneously; as if you were being beaten to death by the softest pillows.

 How did the recording work differ over time?

Once I began to learn mastering, it drastically changed my quality. It went from someone sounding like they’re recording in their bedroom (which I do), to sounding like someone not recording in their bedroom (which I still am). Also, after years of practicing and self-teaching basically everything from gear, recording, instruments, etc., I’ve gotten better at it all; as they say, practice practice practice.

 Is the recording material yours when you are out of a studio or do you borrow/rent it?

It’s mine. I don’t have anything near what a recording studio would have; literally just a small mixer, a mic, and a few programs.

  Tell us what you are looking when trying to achieve your sounds? Do you experiment a lot or have a clear idea of what you want?

There’s definitely been some tracks where I can hear them in my head entirely before recording anything, but most times I just sit down with my mind as a blank page and allow it to kind of go wherever it wants to. I don’t specifically start out with a sound in mind or where it should be. Mostly, I’m always experimenting and letting it build itself.

 Who is the more knowledgeable with pedals? You use them a lot, to great effect.

As large as my sound may seem, with as many effects as there is, I only use two pedals in my main setup. I’m not hugely knowledgeable into pedals; I’m very specific on ones I have or ones that I want. Outside of that, its not really something I really dive into. I feel you can experiment very widely with very little and achieve amazing tones and sounds.

I think I read once that Kevin Shields of MBV talked about even though he has many pedals, his sound is achieved roughly by one or two and then using the guitar straight into the amp. I took that as an inspiration and stayed simple. Simple, but effective.

 What are some places around the world that you hope to take your band? Do you have any plans at present to tour in other countries?

I more than anything want to tour in Japan. I’ve always loved the music and film industry there. I was obsessed with Japanese art for a long time with bands like Malice Mizer and Dir en grey; as well as filmmakers such as Takashi Miike, Ryuhei Kitamura, and Sion Sono.

I’m a huge gamer and JRPG’s are some of my favorite types of games. Plus, there’s always been a love for shoegaze there. I’d love to go there ultimately and just dive into the art and be able to perform.

Although I’d always be down to perform anywhere in the world any time. I’d love to travel and meet great peeps.

 Is there any reason in particular that you want to go to these places? Is there something about dream pop/shoegaze in those places that makes you want to go there?

Japan as far as I’ve ever known has always had a great love for shoegaze. I’ve always had a great love for Japan, so I think the two of us could combine pretty greatly.

 Do you dream to live from your music or is it a passion you do not want to spend your full time on?

It’s my dream of dreams to make music for a living. It’s the one true thing I love to do in life, and it terrifies me in a way that without it, there’s no occupation I can ever be happy with otherwise. That may sound stupid to a lot of people and a pipe dream. The world is a hard place, and to survive, eat, and have a home, you have to be part of the system and work what you can to get by. Most times, that doesn’t mean you get to have a job that panders to your happiness at all; let alone one that deals in artistic natures. I’d give anything to take this full time and have it be my every day job.

 Do you make a decent revenue from your music or is it still very much a hobby?

Even if I don’t make a cent, I will never consider it a hobby. It means more than I could ever try to explain. I will always give it my all and put all my effort into it; even if it never lands and never makes a dime. It’s survival for me. To keep alive, I have to keep making music and art. There’s no alternative.

 If you have a record label, could you tell us a bit more about your record label and your relationship with it?

I’m under Somewherecold Records at the moment. It’s run by Jason Lamoreaux, who is an amazing human being. I couldn’t be more grateful for him and the label to take a chance on myself and the album. One of the scariest parts of being an artist is that you can pour your heart into making something you feel is special and great, but may never land to anyone’s ears or connect at all. It’s amazing to me how much support he’s given and believes in the album. I’m grateful.

What is the next album due?

Titled That’s Life, it’s due out February 15, 2019 on Somewherecold Records. It’ll be released digitally and on physical disc limited to 100 copies. It’s actually up for pre-order as we speak, and the first single “For Sure,” as a download immediately.

 Do you plan to continue music for a long time or are you tired of it?

The rest of my life.

  Anything else you want the reader to know

This album is made with the most pure and honest intentions that I can fathom. If you’re looking for something different and new then I really think it’s worth giving it a try.

It may not have a commercial appeal, as I’m not sure myself at all if that’s there, but I think if given the chance, it will surprise you in the greatest way. If you feel that music has reached a stalemate and there’s no new sounds or genres out there or nothing has been progressed, then this album is for you.

If you feel sad and isolated in the world, dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts, or drug addictions, this album is for you as well. It is meant to be something different and something that also connects with people on a human level.

The part of us that is the real us inside that no one knows.  This is me giving my everything to try and make art that is original and is also personal and human; something that has heart in every way.

I only ask to give it a chance, and approach with an open mind. I’m grateful to anyone who’s eyes have read this interview and grateful to Noise Artists for even offering me the opportunity. “

And we are very grateful to Corey for pouring his heart in this interview and presentation of his music.

Where to find Outward’s work

Music

Bandcamp

Soundcloud

Music Videos (lyric vids):

Sleeptalk

Backroads

Social Media

Facebook

Instagram

Somewherecold Records

Other articles

The Blog That Celebrates Itself, interview

Rebel Noise, For Sure song premiere

Thanks to

“My wife Perla, my family, friends, Jason/SWC Records, Noise Artists, all artists of the world, all people who are peaceful, and anyone that’s ever given any of my tracks a listen.”