We were lucky to catch up with Unknown The Plague recently and have shared our conversation below.
Unknown The Plague, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?
I feel as though the entirety of my art is misinterpreted. But that’s kind of the point. I am layers of the human experience. There is no one under this mask. I have always felt like no one. You are also beneath this mask. My words are your words. I want people to understand that they don’t understand. Life has many contradictions. I am simply a form of the thing that takes all forms. I’m a piece of each of you left unfinished. I don’t think there will ever be a time where my art and message is fully understood. But I like to hope that there are people who choose to try.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was looking for an outlet and music was always my calling. I create songs that I think will benefit those who hear them. I had always had trouble expressing myself when I was young. I was a very troubled child. I liked being by myself. I liked the idea of death from an unusually young age and was not able to form connections with people in general. When I started playing guitar I found it eased the voices in my brain. The more I perused music, the quieter they were. I formed bands, did solo projects; but I found what truly embodied me. Nothing. I remain a ghost. A man with no face. The voices continue to grow stronger but so do I. I wait in the shadows for when you truly need me; and then I am there.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
All it takes is a like and a repost. Many of us are very willing to spend a lot of money to support people we don’t know; And unwilling to spend even a little money on the success of people close to them. Truth is, it costs nothing to support someone, especially creatives. Share their song, give it a listen if you have time, interact with them like they’re human. I think it’s important we recognize where our feelings towards creatives comes from. I’ve found that those criticizing expression, have often lacked the ability or opportunity to express themselves.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I have been told what I’m doing is stupid. I have been called ugly, inside and out. I’ve been yelled at, had things thrown at me, told that my art is bad in every form imaginable. This is okay, because the art I am making is for me and my sanity. I believe that the people who need to hear it, do. I know I am doing as I am supposed to in order to bring as much light into this world as I can. I believe it is working.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unknowntheplague?utm_source=qr
- Twitter: https://x.com/unknownthplague?s=21&t=PiKLykPGUfD0B4udbFr2yA
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@unknowntheplague?si=_DuY8QiQwCDcIBfu
- SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/usnGiSdAQ8pRmyiMRk
Image Credits
Image credits: BarsOverBars