With Total Obscurity, Night Resident delivers what many describe as their most complete and mature work to date. Blending gothic, dark-wave, and carefully crafted melodies, the new album immerses the listener in an intense, emotional, and cinematic experience. Across its tracks, the band explores themes of isolation, introspection, and the eternal blackness that follows life, while maintaining a direct and organic musical approach, free from unnecessary excess.
By Sandra Pinto
In this interview, John, who plays bass and sings, discusses the band’s evolution since Darkness Is My Home, the creative process behind their signature dual-harmony vocals, the importance of visual art, and the inspirations that shaped this sonic universe—an album set to captivate both longtime fans and new listeners alike.
Total Obscurity is described as your most complete and mature work to date. How do you feel the band has evolved since Darkness Is My Home?
Well, we don’t really push for things to take shape. We mainly let them and once we feel a song is complete, that is it. There are no more “musts”. Just what it feels right. Believe me that is a huge step forward for us.
The album embraces faster tempos while deepening your gothic and dark-wave sound. What inspired this shift in musical direction?
The gothic element was there from the start. Maybe not that obvious but it was always present. We really enjoy new and dark wave as well as gothic rock and post punk. But we come from more heavy roots and that was not easy to shake. I guess maybe the topics we choose to talk about inspire a darker musical approach which blends with our other influences.
Your signature dual-harmony vocals are a standout feature. How do you approach writing and arranging these harmonies to enhance the mood of each song?
Usually after we finish the song or we have what is to be the verse or the chorus, we’ll try and find a melodic line for vocals. After we find that, we’ll write some lyrics and then look for a suitable harmony to that vocal line. There are some rare occasions where we’ll first have a vocal line that came into one of our heads and build a whole song on that.
Melancholic lyricism is a hallmark of the album. How do themes like isolation, existential crisis, and rebirth influence the songwriting process?
Not rebirth. I don’t believe in rebirth. Not sure about the rest of the guys. But something that definitely influences songwriting is eternal blackness, which comes after death. All these themes will more likely influence the vocal lines more than the music. But then again, when you have stuff like that on your mind, the bassline, the riff, the arrangement, will also take a turn toward darker aesthetics.
Total Obscurity is intended to be experienced in full, with seamless transitions between tracks. How did you structure the album to achieve this cinematic flow?
That short of just happened. It wasn’t meant to be seamless. It is meant to be experienced in full in order for the listener to come closer to our mind frame and the feelings we want to express in this album. It builds up the more you listen and by the end of it you are (maybe) in a specific state of mind. I hope this makes sense.
The production is described as clean, warm, and organic. How did you balance clarity and atmosphere during recording and mixing?
We didn’t go heavy on the overdrive; the performances are to the point and not garrulous and during the mix we didn’t overproduce. Use the FX you need when you need it and take what is needed without overdoing it. Use the dynamics to shape and smooth rather than tame and stomp. The amps we used, the drum set and tuning also had something to do with all that.
The hand-drawn cover art by Black Vomit sets a haunting tone. How important is visual art in complementing your music and themes?
Indeed. She did an excellent job in capturing the essence and overall feel of the album and especially the lyrics. We were astounded by it when we first laid eyes on it. Visual art is extremely important when it comes to music. Visuals can make or ruin a song, and graphics can complement and point the right way or put one off and add confusion. Setting the mood is also very important and visual art really helps with
that.
Were there any particular musical influences or bands, like Ghost or Year of the Goat, that shaped the sound of this album?
We love Ghost and YOTG, but they were not in the forefront of our influences during the writing of these songs. Subconsciously sure, but not actively. Early stuff from The Cure, 70s rock, the 90s scene of Manchester (Inspiral Carpets, The Stone Roses, etc.), post punk and grunge were definitely consciously there. To be honest however, we have so many influences that we don’t really stop to think about it. We will be
playing a song after a while in rehearsal or recording it and we ‘ll go: “Hey, does this remind you οf that band or that song?” So, it might take a while until we figure out what crept up and influenced us.
How did the writing process for this album differ from your previous records, both technically and emotionally?
Technically it didn’t. Some songs we wrote each in his home studio and some we sat down to jam and get something. That’s how it usually is, given that time is limited and our schedules don’t always agree. The only album that was different in that aspect was the first one. It was a good and easy period for all of us and we were able to get together daily, almost, and compose in our rehearsal space. Now emotionally,
well, we change as time goes by. The emotional aspect of each album lies within the time period it was created.
Which track on Total Obscurity do you feel best captures the essence of the album, and why?
That’s a hard one. Each song is a little piece that completes the essence. Maybe it will sound weird, since it is instrumental, but I think Dark Alleys is that song. It was one of the first songs written for this album and it carries that dark energy we were after and which we implemented on most of the songs.
Your music often explores darkness and introspection. How do you keep this thematic focus fresh and engaging for both new and longtime listeners?
By sharing experiences, thoughts and feelings. As years pass, you get more experiences, your views might change, your beliefs, your way of life. All that piles up and creates new ways to think and express one’s self. So, it’s the little thing in life, the ones that count the most.
Total Obscurity blends gothic, dark-wave, and melodic elements. How do you ensure these influences come together cohesively rather than feeling disjointed?
There is no plan for that. We just play and write. If it sounds and feels right, it’s a keeper. If it feels disjointed it will probably get tossed.
Do you see this album as a turning point for the band’s identity, or more as a continuation of the path you’ve been carving since the beginning?
It is a continuation of the path. The destination is clearer now. Our identity was there since the beginning. It just needed a dust off.
Live performance often differs from studio recordings. How are you approaching bringing the intensity and cinematic quality of Total Obscurity to the stage?
We do our best to perform these songs and do them justice. We approach playing music as something that is fun, good for us, soothing, some times therapeutic. We are not perfect. But that is OK. Nothing and no one is. That energy is what comes out during our performances. We respect our material but we don’t pretend. That helps us keep a certain amount of authenticity, I guess.
Looking back on the making of this album, what has been the most rewarding or surprising part of the process for the band?
The most rewarding part was when we got to hold the vinyl in our hands. Kinda always is. That is the moment when you realize, you made something. The most surprising part might be the fact that we decided it is OK if the music and the songs are simple. As long we are saying and getting what we want through them. That mentality worked pretty good in the making of this album.
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