One of the most widely talked about albums of the year coming from an independent artist is Cataclasm. If you have yet to hear this mystifying musical undertaking from Crywolf, then you better do it as soon as possible. Luckily, we have a few tracks off the album to share with you, along with an interview where we chat about the LP, Okami Records, and what’s to come from Crywolf’s new live show.

Justin Phillips was at a turning point in his musical career; one that led him to a true getaway for the creation of the twelve track project called Cataclasm. Instead of simply taking things easy once he had success, as well as support from artists like Ellie Goulding, Skrillex, Crystal Method and more, Crywolf decided he needed to make a change and push himself, along with music in general. The result was a extraordinary indie meets electronic LP that has truly shaken things up in electronic music. We welcomed Crywolf to the dojo to share more, so check out what he had to say, along with some of our favorite singles from Cataclasm.

’Crywolf – Anachronism’
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TMN: How did you get into music originally?

Crywolf: I always loved music, but I was never that great at it. I made some random acoustic and rock stuff growing up, but it was… pretty cringe-worthy. I went through this sort of personal renaissance when I was 20 and it changed a lot of the ways I saw art. I started making stuff I was super proud of, and really channeling deeper stuff. I started making electronic music as a hobby while looking for jobs to do from home and while I was going to school for economics, and it just really clicked. The stuff I was making caught on, I started touring a lot, and eventually had to drop out cause I was touring too much of the time.

TMN: How would you describe the development of your sound over the course of your career?

Crywolf: I think it has all just been a process of digging down and finding my original sound, as well as getting brave enough to go for something super original instead of just making stuff similar to everything else. When I started producing I was always making heavy dubstep bootlegs and shit like that – just trying to have a good time with it. It was fun live, but I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I always had this idea in my head, though, of what I wanted Crywolf to be ultimately, and I’ve slowly been inching more and more towards it. I think, with this album, I have finally arrived there.

TMN: When did you decide to do something really different with your music, and take the trip to Iceland to create the Catalcasm LP?

Even though I’ve been, for the most part, making my own unique sound for a while, I guess I still felt like I was settling. I was still trying to make tracks that would hit hard at a show, still trying to make stuff that was heavy enough that it would be played out by other DJs. I was still confining myself in a big way. At the beginning of this year, I decided this would be the year I make 100% what I want, with no reservations or criteria imposed on it. I just got so tired of doing it any other way – if I’m going to succeed at music, I’m going to do it my way. Anything less would be an insult to all the work I’ve put into this, and it wouldn’t be genuine.
’Crywolf – Slaves’
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TMN: Why did you start up Okami Records?

Crywolf: I started Okami Records back in 2014 when I released Runaway EP. I just got fed up with label politics, and decided it would be way better just to do it myself. It’s definitely paid off. I’m looking to expand it a lot in the future (I am in talks with some *super* sick acts right now), but for now, it’s just for releasing my stuff.

TMN: I recall seeing your set during the Mitis tour, and you played a wide variety of music. Can we expect the same variety on this LP?

Crywolf: There’s definitely a wide variety. However, there isn’t really any EDM stuff. That’s just not me anymore. There is still the same intensity in certain tracks, but it’s much more refined… I like to think that my stuff doesn’t need to use growl basses to get it’s point across anymore. I can achieve the same thing with the instrumentation that I like.

TMN: Did you originally set out to make this project with no collaborations, or did it just turn out that way?

Crywolf: I really wanted this album to be 100% me. It’s not like I was opposed to having any collabs on it, but I just don’t collaborate with people very much cause I’m busy making my own stuff. I am friends with lots of sick artists, but it takes a very particular type of artist to work well with my sound. I also just really like having control over the direction of a track, so I’m not a huge collaborator, at least in the 50/50 sense.

’Crywolf – The Hunger In Your Haunt’
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TMN: Is Cataclasm a concept album, or simply a collection of works?

Crywolf: It’s a concept album, for sure. Every EP or album I’ve made has been a concept piece. I love when a release has a central theme. Those are the sort of albums I grew up loving, and that’s what I always end up making. I think it makes the album so much more gripping and real.

TMN: Who are some artists, in and out of dance music, that you’d like to collaborate with?

Crywolf: My top choices would be… Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, Sigur Ros, Fever Rey, SOHN, Porter Robinson, Dawn Golden, Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Glass Animals, Odesza… Off the top of my head.

TMN: What’s the plan for 2016?

Right now I’m building my first live set, with live vocals, keys, sampling, percussion… All kinds of cool stuff. I’m going to be touring with it in the spring and am super excited about it. It’s a ton of work, and it’s my first time ever doing something on this scale, but I am ridiculously excited to finally be able to create my art live in front of my audience instead of just playing it from CDJs.

If you would like to stay up to date on all your Crywolf news, including music and touring, subscribe to his mailing list over at his website, http://www.runcrywolf.com/. Lastly, if you want to buy Cataclasm for yourself, or a friend, head over to iTunes!

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