LIMINALITY – REED REIMER
Art: Henrik Rosenborg
Cthulhu Dreamt is a concept project created to tell a human story through an inhuman metaphor. Dealing with loss, tragedy, and depression in a world under Cthulhu’s gaze, the music becomes the soundtrack for the story. Founded by Reed Reimer in 2020 with members Jake Myslinski, Ben Larson, Chris Durston, and Nate Berntson, the story continues to expand and will see an original TTRPG release in 2023 with a sprawling soundtrack.
The only ritual we have is to grab coffee after listening to the music that inspires us and get to work, whether it’s writing riffs, stories, or lyrics. Once we have a decent arrangement, we move on to orchestration and really get into the production, adding those elements and bits of sound that take it from a metal song to a much more immersive universe.
Our philosophy revolves around how we deal with real life and put it into a context where others can identify with it and use what we’re creating to deal with their own issues. Pairing that with the story of the Cthulhu Dreamt project, which is partly told through the liner notes, and forthcoming releases and expansions, there is an element of escapism as well.
I think cult worship isn’t limited to heavy music. It can occur in every genre of music and can be meaningful for the beholder. For me, heavy music is just one aspect of my life and is one of many genres I love and appreciate. It started with Megadeth’s Rust in Peace and quickly opened up the wormhole into deeper listening, bands like Slayer, Morbid Angel, and Cannibal Corpse deeper and deeper. At this juncture in my life, I appreciate the artists creating stuff that pushes the boundaries and helps open the doors wider for new audiences. I’m in awe of artists like Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders), Igorrr, Trent Reznor, Hans Zimmer, Mastodon, and Gojira.
The main drive when writing music is telling the story and using all the tools possible to do that. All the influences in our personal life invariably find their way into our writing and inform our decisions. That’s a big reason why Cthulhu Dreamt crosses genres and styles, and you’re as likely to find something non-metal on an album as you are metal.
There are so many, some of whom I’ve listed above, composers like Hans Zimmer, Trent Reznor, John Powell, and John Williams; writers like Andy Weir and John Scalzi; filmmakers like Denis Villeneuve, Taika Waititi, Russo Brothers. The list of wonderful and creative folks making things that influence me outside the world of metal music would be difficult to exhaust.
Music is important to us as humans because not only does it allow the creators to express themselves and the things they’re experiencing, it will enable listeners to partake and identify and be entertained or escape whatever things they need to escape from, even if that’s only for a few minutes at a time. I can only imagine how colourless and boring the world, and our existence would be with all the art in it. Music, writing, art, and entertainment are 100% spiritual because our spirits as people would be diminished without these things.
For anyone listening to Cthulhu Dreamt, they may not be surprised by much. When you go from melodic death metal to trap music to bluegrass, how much else can you do to surprise people? For musicians, I recommend staying local to Minnesota and rec The Motion Mosaic, Lorekeeper, and Dychromia!
For artists: Mat Kaminski: @fablefactoryinked on IG, Josh Somerville-Jacklin: @ArtofArklin on Twitter, Ömer Burak: @equin0 on IG, and Matt Bryant: @badrobotbrain on IG
Check Cthulhu Dreamt out at
https://cthulhudreamt.com
