Erik

Tell us about yourself as an artist/musician. What do you do?

I'm in a band called Waiting For Cake. I founded it in 2016 with some friends. I sing, play guitar, and write all the songs. That's what I mainly do in music.

How long have you been doing this, and what sparked your interest in music?

My sister, who is 18 years older than me, was into emo bands (Taking Back Sunday and Hawthorne Heights). I listened to all these bands since they were on her iPod. I started liking rock in general and started looking at classic rock later. I wanted to start learning how to play bass, but I was told that it was lame, so I decided to play guitar. 

Tell us about your time at NOMU so far? Do you have a favorite memory or experience during your time here so far?

I just had an enjoyable time during the Spring 2020 semester. I was with Adam Pastor, Matt Garcia, and Cody Scott, who are really cool people. We were the first people to do the first session before everything crashed. That is so far my favorite memory. 

What influences constantly inspire you as a musician/artist (specific artist, film, art piece) when you're writing or playing music?

It's moved from one thing to another. I used to listen to a lot of Led Zeppelin. Then, I went more into stuff like Tame Impala or the psych-rock indie bands of the modern era. Recently, I've been into experimental stuff like TV Girl and Machine Girl. Sometimes even, I would listen to Tyler, the Creator, and Kendrick Lamar. It really jumps around.

What are your plans or goals in your life now concerning school, music, or just personally, any other pursuits?

I want to get the Audio Production Degree alongside a Philosophy Degree here. Then, I want to get a Film degree at the RCC campus. I do photography on the side and cook at home for fun. My goal is to be a freelance audio producer and work on other people's stuff. 

Since you're pursuing a film degree, is that one of your hobbies besides music?

I do short films and other small things. I want to write a feature in the Indie film circuit. 

Are there any films or filmmakers that inspire you as a filmmaker?

I really like (Darren) Aronofsky, (Alejandro) Jodorowsky, and all the guys from the 70s that were making weird films like "The Holy Mountain." I also like (Quentin) Tarantino. 

Is there anything you want to say to people reading this?

I'm always willing to take photos of people. I'm always ready to shoot for anybody. Check out my band, Waiting for Cake. My band is pretty cool.