May 25, 2007
Name: Jason Wallach
Band: The Unquiet Void
Website: https://theunquietvoid.bandcamp.com
QRD – How old were you when you first realized you wanted to be a professional musician?
Jason – I would honestly have to say that I was 32 when that happened (last year). I collaborated on the score for a documentary about the Montauk Project, called Montauk Unveiled, with my friend Bryin Dall from 4th Sign of the Apocalypse. Toward the end of 2006 I was approached about doing another score for a film called Closet Space, which I am currently working on finishing up. That’s when I decided I wouldn’t mind being a professional musician.
QRD – What are a few highlights of your musical career?
Jason – Each album is a highlight for me. I’d say that the wave of praise that Poisoned Dreams received was a pretty gloriously overwhelming highlight for me as well as performing live at the 2004 Middle Pillar holiday party. Good times.
QRD – At what age did you decide you wanted to become a father?
Jason – I didn’t actually decide to become a parent, it just sort of happened. I believe I was 25 in 1998 & that’s when my daughter was born.
QRD – What are some positive & negative impacts your family has had on your career?
Jason – My family has been really supportive of my musicianship & I think that’s as supportive as you can get. The only real drawback is not being able to go on the road for a week or two.… I’m not selling platinum so there isn’t the kind of support, that I know of, to justify that kind of action. However, I don’t at all feel like my family is bringing me down... they have helped me evolve so much as a person.
QRD – What are some positive & negative impacts your career has had on your family?
Jason – Well, creating the music helps me stay sane & keep sense of things in this world. When I was writing/recording The Shadow-Haunted Outside, I was immersed in some semblance of negative energy that didn’t have a positive effect on my family. However, I did do my best to channel all of that emotional shit right back into that CD.
QRD – Have your children effected the music you make &/or listen to?
Jason – Absolutely! The birth of my daughter filled me with so much positive energy that can be heard throughout most of my album Between the Twilights. People tell me often how creepy they think that album is, but I don’t get that at all save for the last two tracks. There’s a lot of introspection & adoration in that album, a couple of the songs were written late at night while watching my daughter sleep as an infant which means that they’re lullabies. My children have deeply affected me in so many ways.
QRD – Have you had problems with the lack of steady money from a musical career providing the security you feel necessary in your household?
Jason – Were it that I were dependent upon my music for income, I’d say hell yeah! But I have always worked some humdrum retail job. For the last two years I have been in school earning a degree in graphic design, which I hope will be my bread & butter. I never intended, until last year, to try & actually make money on my releases. I do what I do because I have to & not to be a pop star.
QRD – Given the limitations having a family has on being a touring musician, would you have toured more earlier in life if you’d known?
Jason – I can’t say that I would have. You know, The Unquiet Void has really been a major growth process for me, things happen when they are right to happen when I have matured to the point that they should happen. So at this rate when I’m 59 I’ll do a world tour (hee hee).
QRD – Do you think being a father or a musician has a greater impact on your community?
Jason – You know, I have always felt alone in this world - always. I don’t have a sense of community although I do have morals & a strong understanding of what is right & wrong. These days it seems that if you want to belong in a community that you have to accept Jesus Christ as your lord & master & I say fuck that! I’m not here to buy into anyone’s bullshit mythology or play with anyone’s imaginary friends. I’m here for the experience of being a living human being.
QRD – Would you rather see your child eventually become a musician or parent?
Jason – I would rather see my kids grow up to become happy & successful in whatever they chose to do with their lives!
QRD – Both family & music seem like things that will take up as much of your time as you’re willing to put in. How do you end up dividing your time?
Jason – I don’t divide my time between two very important things in my life. I’m 33 years old & at this point I have experienced so much that if I need to hold off on The Unquiet Void in order to attend to family matters... I do it. My children have to come first. They didn’t choose to be born, but I did choose my own path in life & part of my immediate responsibility is to ensure that my kids have what they need in life.
QRD – Do you have a split/secret life between being a parent & being a musician?
Jason – No, but there are elements of TUQV that I wouldn’t expose them to until they are older & mature enough to understand & handle that.
QRD – What do your children think of your music?
Jason – This answer will seem pretty funny after the answer to the last question. My fiancé has two boys so I have four kids. In my household I have three boys & my youngest (about to turn 3) seems highly interested. The 10 & 12 year-olds really like it! Especially the 10 year-old. My daughter is a fairly sensitive young lady, so I would only play her songs from Between the Twilights that don’t have the darker edge to them.
QRD – Do you think you could ever do a musical project with your children?
Jason – I’m not sure.… I think that would be an incredible bonding experience if so. I would certainly love to do an album of lullabies for children being raised by parents who favor ambient/dark-ambient music.
QRD – Any words of advice to young people?
Jason – Yes. There are so many things in this world that can deter you or hold you back... don’t buy into that! Follow your dreams & make them a reality. Israel Regardie did mention that persistence is the one true indicator of success (I’m paraphrasing here) that there are plenty of talented & educated people in the world without jobs. Stick with it, make it happen, don’t accept no for an answer.
Another QRD interview
with Jason:
