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From the Murks of the Sultry Abyss Interview

Brandon Boyd follows up his freshman effort, White Fluffy Clouds with a new artistic endeavor, From the Murks of the Sultry Abyss available for advanced orders November 25th. Brandon's second book is packed with artist photographs, paintings, drawings and over 40 pages of life's observations while traveling through. You can expect over 225 full color images packed into 118 pages and a limited edition stick em page featuring 6 stickers. Hard core fans will be happy to know that Brandon is hand signing and numbering 150 sets of books one and two, packaged in a black cloth slipcase that features a limited edition lithograph. And if you are still thirsting for more, Brandon is proud to release his first set of 3 edition prints that will be signed and numbered and limited to 450 sets.

From the Murks of the Sultry Abyss by Brandon Boyd promises to deliver more content which is sure to stir it up and getcha thinkin. So what is Brandon up to these days and why another book?

1/ Hey, Brandon, where are you in the world today and what are you up to?
At the moment I am in Tokyo on a press tour with my guitar playing buddy, Mike. We are in the not as fun part of the music industry; i.e., promoting. That being said, it is incredible here and I am really excited about the album we are about to release so the work carries with it a sense of pride.

2/ What inspired you to put together another art book?
After releasing "White Fluffy Clouds" I was surprised and humbled at the reaction from the people who checked it out. Putting that book into the light was as nerve racking a leap of faith as I had ever taken. And having been away from the book for a couple years now has given me the chance to see all of the ways in which I can improve upon my work and grow as an artist. I also spent the majority of 2005 working diligently in my studio on numerous paintings, and that condensed time period left me with more finished work than I had ever produced. So I am kind of anxious to let it go and allow the second part of these paintings lives to bloom.

3/ How did you choose your new title, From the Murks of the Sultry Abyss?
"From the Murks of the Sultry Abyss" is a small piece of a quote from Carl Jung. He is one of the most highly respected and highly scrutinized Psychologists and in my opinion, Philosophers, of our time. The bulk of the statement is referring to the 'archetype' and man's quest to understand the images he sees in his mind's eye. But I interpreted it in a far more simple manner. I have always seen my mind as a cellar of sorts. A dark, dank basement that held secrets and memories and it was accessible to me only in very specific circumstances; as in a trance, expressive, or artistic state. The things that are retrieved from this cellar were of the highest order, and if properly understood, could be relocated into the 'Attic' so to speak. Transcendence through the artistic process, as it were. So by retrieving these images "...From the Murks of the Sultry Abyss," I am making maps for my roads to higher awareness. Yeah, I am a cheeseball. And proud of it.

4/ What can we expect when looking over the pages in this new volume?
Looking through this book, I would ideally like the viewer to be seeing through my filter temporarily. There are paintings, polaroids, cultural observations, and clippings from journals and sketchbooks that are compiled during my adventures 'round the globe!

5/ Have you experimented with any new art styles? When do you think you started developing an artistic style?
There are indeed more experimentations artistically this time around. Like I said earlier, I spent the majority of 05' painting on a larger scale than I had previously. Acrylics on canvas, particle board and masonite were a running theme. I was experimenting with Photoshop more frequently over the past two years and as well sent myself on numerous polaroid assignments around my neighborhood and other more exotic locations. The result is a more diversified array of imagery from a wider perspective.

6/ Have you always been into art or did you just stumble onto it? or did art find you?
I have been drawing, scribbling, and writing things down since I could remember. My parents tell me that I always kept a small pad of paper in my pocket with a couple of colored pencils and was constantly doodling and whistling away. So I guess you can say I have always been into art. But I do not know for certain who found who.

7/ When do you have time to create art? or When do you make time to create your art?
Part of the process for me in my creative growth has been learning when inspiration is nearing or has arrived. It's not so much a matter of finding time to be creative, it's more about recognizing when that spark ignites and making room in my life to see what it's trying to say. I can't try to be creative, I can only 'BE' creative.

8/ Do you feel that this artistic endeavor feeds into the music or pushes you forward in any way?
I do believe that this experience of making my imagery available has enhanced the musical side. If only for me. I find that by indulging the creative monster in whatever form she takes is imperative to being creatively fulfilled. Either medium alone would probably leave me feeling like I had left the house with the stove on. On the other side of it; I can only hope that my two bit drawings don't ruin the experience of listening to an Incubus song. :)

9/ So you have a pile of artwork in a room somewhere after months/years of creating. How do you take that pile and organize it into a book?
The process of organizing the months and years of work is kind of the hardest part. My bias towards certain things makes it very difficult for me to be objective enough to know what would represent me most eloquently as an artist. That's where Mark Murphy comes in. (Entrance music appears) Mark has an eye for design that makes the organizing process a pleasure as opposed to a chore. Thanks Mark.

10/ What motivates you to share your thoughts, your images and some of your life's experiences with others?
I would say that my biggest motivation is movement. By sitting on these images and these writings, I find it hard to move ahead and create new ones. By releasing them into the wild, I am kind of setting them free. No one likes a caged animal! Except you PT Barnum fuckers who get off on poking sticks at captured beasts.

Everyone deals with what they draw and write down differently; I have a friend who burns her journals and sketchbooks when they're done. It puts those things to bed for her. For me, I find that songs, paintings and photographs see a rebirth when published. They effectively live out the second part of their lives by leaving home.

11/ Are there any other thoughts or concepts you would like to explore?
Honestly, there is little conscious motivation in all of this. By publishing paintings, photos, songs and the like I am doing what I feel to be the right thing. For me, that is. So, as far as exploring new thoughts and concepts in the future; absolutely! I just don't know what those things are until I get there. But that is precisely what attracts me to this process in the first place. You don't know what you're doing until you're doing it! Well, at least I don't.

Super thanks for your time Brandon : Good fortunes on the road, all the best with your latest release, Light Grenades. Cheers.