Interview: Witch Bolt
Image: Witch Bolt
Dungeon synth artist Witch Bolt has been making a name in the scene with a highly prolific output of high-quality albums. Since Witch Bolt’s first album, Amaymon, in May of 2024, the artist has put out an impressive 12 albums and an additional album with different arrangements. Though less has been known about Witch Bolt and the world the artist is building through their music, more and more is being shared and revealing a rich world with cults, ethical dilemmas, and mystical systems at play.
We talked with Nick, the creative force behind Witch Bolt, to learn more about the music, the world, and the creative process behind it all. We got into why Witch Bolt’s recent release, The Peace of Wild Things, has an alternate arrangement, as well as some of the future projects Nick has coming up.
You’re based out of Kentucky, correct? Do you find that influences your music in any way?
Yeah, I’m from Kentucky. That question is interesting, particularly in metal. I think for a lot of us, metal was this little bubble where we could be ourselves. So, growing up in that scene, it felt bigger and separate from the surrounding culture. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that this area and the old-time and Appalachian music I grew up with had a bigger influence than I would have admitted at age 15.
I grew up around a lot of music. It was always playing. My grandparents played several instruments and had a massive record collection. My dad was always ordering some weird new album. I’d always loved music, but it was ever-present background noise, and I hadn’t given any real thoughtful consideration to the creation process. I remember coming home around age 6 to my dad blasting Tom Waits’ “The Earth Died Screaming” in the living room. It was music, but it also wasn't. I grew up surrounded by bluegrass and church choirs. When I learned that music could also be the sounds of clattering wood planks and yelling, that's when I started to think about creating. It made it accessible.
Everything grew from there.
I’m glad we were able to get Tom Waits mentioned on Blacforje! Awesome! Your name comes from a spell in Dungeons & Dragons, correct? Does D&D play into your music and creative process at all? If so, how?
Yeah, it does! I don't play much anymore, but it's definitely part of my foundation. I grew up reading Terry Brooks novels my uncle gave me. He also gave me a series of big cloth-bound books called The Enchanted World. They are full of these big, beautiful fantasy illustrations that I would look at over and over, trying to memorize the types of dragons. This is around the same time that my love of music began, so the two grew in parallel.
I’ve found that writing from a character’s perspective felt natural to me in a way that writing about personal experiences never did.
Image: Witch Bolt
Your recent album, The Peace of Wild Things, seems to take listeners into some new territory for you. Can you give some of your thoughts and processes behind this album?
With this release, I went for a warmer, saturated sound. Based on another challenge from my wife, I would pick a weird chord and figure out how to make it work in each song. I also limited the number of instrument voices, which was a big change for me.
The biggest change, however, was finally sharing pieces of the narrative behind the music. Over the years, I've grown comfortable with the vulnerability of sharing my music and visual art. Narratives, particularly fantasy narratives, that’s true vulnerability. I finally sucked it up and admitted to everyone that there’s lore behind the music and art.
The story starts sort of simple and low stakes but drifts into heavier themes. The narrative follows Marigold, an alchemist, and Thistlebur, a gnome cartographer, who live in a utopian location called The Valley. It starts small, collecting ingredients and solving the problems of the townsfolk, but it takes a dark turn after Marigold discovers the sword from the Bellow album cover. With the help of Amberwind (of Howl) and others, she uncovers a dark history behind securing the magic and peace of The Valley, forcing her to grapple with her identity as a healer.
What’s the idea behind the Wayseer arguments?
To keep it short, "in universe," a Wayseer is like a mystic or supernatural being that perceives the world differently. It's an attempt to telegraph their experience through a slower version with different arrangements, instruments, mastering, and so on. A lot of people like to listen while zoning out, meditating, studying, you know, wayseer shit.
One thing that fascinates me about you as an artist is that some of your albums, namely Organum Hermitaeand Generation Loss, focus on some untapped territory compared to other dungeon synth artists. It seems to be perhaps ancient Rome, Italy, or Spain. Is that correct? What went into these albums? What’s behind them?
Fun question! There is definitely some inspiration from ancient cultures, both visually and title-wise. I spent a little time in Greece. Narratively, both releases explore aspects of the societies that existed before Marigold and Thistlebur.
Generation Loss was recorded straight to tape from an analog synth. It's about the priests of the valley who made a massive, ethically ambiguous sacrifice for the people of the Valley. Organum Hermitae is one release I'm most proud of. Shortly after the societal collapse in Generation Loss, a cult develops around the worship of The Collector. It's written by a hermit devotee of the group.
You recently released a video going over your creative process. It’s a great video! If you could summarize some of the main points for our readers, what would they be?
I'm going super high level, but what drives me to create isn't the desire to create art. It's the desire to consume art.
Would you say that’s kind of the purpose behind Witch Bolt and what motivates you to make this music?
Yeah, I'll hear or see something and want to see or hear more of their work, but for example, with analog synths instead of soft pads. If I can't find someone doing that, then I'll do it. That's why I went years without ever sharing my work. It didn't cross my mind that someone else would want to hear it.
In addition to that, I also get these ideas that I can’t shake, so I’ll write them down or punch out a riff in Garageband on the phone and come back later to finish it. So, the music is also an outlet for that impulse. I’ve always done it and will continue even if no one is listening.
You are also playing a game in that video. What game is that? Do video games often influence your work?
That was Gloriel's Shield. It's a game I made a couple of years ago. It’s barely a game and more of a visual experience. I do play games some, but I don't have the attention span or coordination to be a gamer.
What draws me in is the art style. I love the amateurish games clearly made by one person who's bad at everything but a killer at visual art and curation. So, to avoid offending, I won't name my favorite titles. Haha.
As an individual, are you spiritual in nature? Do you have a philosophical or spiritual worldview that influences your music?
Speaking as a Wayseer… Haha. That's a complex topic for me and a sensitive one for many people, so I'll tread lightly. I grew up with some positive and less-than-positive influences. When you’re introduced to a certain worldview at a young age, the positive and negative aspects of that worldview can really dig their roots into your understanding of reality. Some of those values serve you, and some do not.
Therapy can help you untie that knot as best you can. There seems to be an “entity” that many people claim they experience that I don’t or can’t. I’m very aware that that sense of longing comes through in my music.
So, no, I’m not particularly spiritual. My true north as a fella who expects to be on the earth for a while is to understand as much of the world as I can, serve the people who deserve it, and stand up for people who need it.
Is that vague enough? Haha.
Sure, it’s vague enough. Haha. Is there any sneak peek you can give us for any upcoming projects, whether that’s Witch Bolt or beyond?
I've got a few things in the works. The stuff I'm most excited about is the new Witch Bolt album, Marigold, and a collab album with Ka'Bael based on the lore surrounding his body of work. Particularly the death of a god. That’s one of my favorite themes.
I'm working with an illustrator on a comic based on the main narrative of The Valley, and I’m also working on a soundtrack for a game studio out of Seattle. The demo will be out this year. The game is excellent. I'm really looking forward to that.
There are some incredible dungeon synth artists I'd love to work with, so hopefully, another collaborative project is coming up. I'm also a big Noise fan. I'd love to do something along those lines.
Wow! You stay busy! Alright, last question: What’s the best edition or the best video game adaptation of D&D?
Although I’m not a huge gamer, I can tell you the first game that held my attention long enough to beat over a weekend was Baldur's Gate 2.
