Spotlight: RustySama

1. Your journey from metal to the experimental sound of Rustysama is quite a shift. What inspired this evolution, and how do your heavier roots inform your current music?

Pon: I’ve always loved different styles of music and am constantly inspired by so many artists it’s hard to stay in one lane when I want to always explore what I can do. I really have to thank my homie Salvatore “LVCID” Ingianne for showing me what “Know Genre” really means. 

Seeing him play guitar for his first project “Theravada” and finding his solo project “LVCID” opened that door. 

I usually blend more of my experimental side with my other project “KnifeLighter”. I take what the guys in AHFW are writing and sit on it for a while until I find a vision that fits for that song and make it my own. Whether it be faster vocal delivery, bouncy catchy writing styles or just a visionary tale. I’m glad the things that make me happy can translate into this band and it’s also so well received by the team aswell.  

2. What role does genre  play in your creative process - do you try to stay within a style or change it ?

Pon: I’m always writing lyrics and one liners even when I’m at work lol. When the time comes to create a song for AHFW or myself I try and stay within a theme but sometimes the spark of inspiration takes over.  Theres times I try and have the emotional tone strike a different chord than the Melody provides other times the riffs are so hard I gotta dive on in.

3.      You've collaborated with many artists and in different genres — what do you look for in a collaboration?

Pon: In terms of collaboration I’m always down to hop on anything if it’s just a rap song, acoustic song, I’m always willing to collab cause  I love making music and expanding what I can do . I only ask for the message of the song and lyrics so I can make sure it fits the vibes. my last collab for my friends in “ENDBRINGER” meant a lot to me as it’s very personal to the vocalist, Alexander Costachescu. It was an honor, and I waiting to hear back from one more band that I’m excited about. 

4.      Do you prefer to work on music as a band, or do you like producing solo more?

Pon: sadly we still haven’t gotten together as a band to write. Currently we’ve been working on new stuff, our guitarists Daniel and Patrick are insane! I don’t know how they continue to create such amazing riffs. 

I’m currently working on producing myself at home so I can contribute a lot more to the band and my other projects. 

5.      What do you think artists in heavy music need to do to stay relevant in today's digital culture?

Pon: artist just have to adapt, it’s frustrated how things have changed since I was a jit. I know it’s tiring learning to edit videos and make reels to post but that’s also a new skill and there’s always dope artists in the scene to help out with creating reels, editing content and managing social media. You gotta put out what you expect to get back in the scene and reaching out to these creators helps them immensely by building a portfolio and a working relationship that will help excel your project. 

6.      How do the visuals and aesthetic play into your overall message as an artist?
Does it help you connect with your audience or is it more of a personal expression?

Pon: I consider myself a walking advertisement for things I love and want to get others into. I try not to care about appearance and popularity of the media I’m into I just want others to be able to see and possibly understand why I and others care for it.  Our song “Angor Rot” I wrote based off the character of the same name, it may go over some people’s heads but when they want to get the meaning I connect charachters, reference stories from movies, comics, cartoons and anime and you’ll see the vision hopefully, 

7.      What's something about your creative process that people wouldn't expect?

Pon: that it is entirely nonsensical and while I take it serious as I can if I can’t laugh and have fun and go “OOOHHHH SNAP THATS HARD” i won’t  like it. I’ve scrapped so many ideas and lyrics that hit in the moment but didn’t make the Final Cut and I’m always asking how it reads or if people feel the tone I’m tryna convey, you can’t be afraid to ask for advice. 

8.      What's next for you-musically or personally-that your audience should watch for?

Pon: right now AHFW gonna be working on some singles  to drop and hopefully get a show or two in, promotors bang my line please, my band KnifeLighter working on a lot of new stuff with a couple shows lined up. My solo project is shifting sounds and hopefully I’ll drop my mixtape soon, tap in on me please . 

9.      Beyond the music itself, what do you hope listeners take away or feel after experiencing your work in today's world?

Pon: all I hope is that listeners will enjoy it, feel inspired to create their own art in any medium. I wanna show the black kids in the heavy music scene you’re not alone, you do belong here and I’ll always show love and make sure you’re seen and got a spot at the table. You will always be welcome when I’m at the function and I hope you make great friends and memories.

10. Looking back, how do you feel the metal scene has changed since your time with And Hell Followed With, and how do you fit into it now?

Pon: The scene shifted not too drastically I just think there’s so much too many opinions on what “Real Deathcore” and being a Deathcore band or heavy band means. 

I truly believe we just need to go back to enjoying the music and not being armchair critics . AHFW has a legacy that I’m glad to be apart of as they’re the first Deathcore band I truly loved and shaped my vocals based off them. I believe if you can’t enjoy a bands progress you shouldn’t hate on em and throw dirt when the albums you love are still there. Musicians and bands have to progress and try and take risks and yes fans will be lost but new fans will be gained and you kind of have to keep trying to do something new instead of copy pasting the same chug chug tremolo banshee/gremlin vocal breakdown.