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The Caul project was born in the year 1993, in fifteen years
of a musical career and many releases he became one of the best
expressions of
 the
dark ambient movement worldwide. Why choose to compose dark ambient
music? How much does Caul reflect your inner self?
First of all, thank you for the compliment! I'm not sure if I'm one of
the best expressions of dark ambient. I'm one of many and people seem to
enjoy my work, so I am grateful for that. I didn't really choose to do
this kind of music. I had been making music for a number of years, in a
variety of styles. One night, when I was playing around with a new piece
of equipment, some music was just "given" to me in a way it had not been
before. I knew it was something special but it took me a while to really
figure out what was going on- which was that God what directing my hand.
This was really much different than what I had been doing before.
Caul has been an audio diary of my relationship with God. I cannot say
that I am a good christian and many times I've even said that I felt
that I was not a Christian because I disagree with organized religion in
so many ways. I think the music reflects all this.
Even though the lyrics aren’t a focal point, since most of your work is
instrumental, the major theme of your music remains the christian faith.
"Apophasis" for example talks about negative theology, "The Sound Of
Faith" sounds like the soundtrack of a faithful life, full of darkness,
fog but also strong light. Could you explain us what are the concepts
that mark all your releases?
There really hasn't been a concept to any of the recordings, at the
conception of them. The theme comes later when the CD is really starting
to come together. That's when I kind of figure out what's going on. It's
more of a hidden process that gradually comes to light.
Who can understand Caul? And how do you understand Caul?
The music
 is
open enough that I think anyone can read what they want in to it. Which
I think is a good thing, a listener can be more involved in some ways
than they would listening to a pop song. For me, Caul is simple- it's
just an expression of an ongoing journey.
Caul’s music is composed using only keys-synth, but for example
in "The Sound Of Faith" you use a guitar. Originally, before your
Caul days, you were the guitarist in Trust Obey. Why have you
abandoned this instrument?
I haven't abandoned it. Actually there is a great deal of guitar on "A
Golden Epiphany," though none of it really sounds like guitar. In the
beginning, I didn't have much equipment, so I had to work with what was
available. Oddly enough, the guitar on "The Sound of Faith," is actually
a keyboard.
Many of your works came out on labels, some very important in this
genre, including the Italian label Eibon Records. How much is a dark
ambient album sold?
Not much, I'm afraid! I wish I could sell more records, it would be
fantastic to support myself by my
 work.
The work comes first though, so if it was about money, I wouldn't still
be recording as Caul.
Being a one man band your musical expression is really introspective,
very close to your personal life in faith. Caul, has it been and
is it still a spiritual journey for you?
Yes, it is and it's one that becomes more difficult as I get older. When
you're younger, the way you see things is much more defined. As you get
older, you realize that in many respects, things are just not that
simple. What you might have thought of before as closed minded you might
start realizing is the end result of time, experience and thought. This
doesn't mean shifting from liberal to conservative, I really dislike
those labels.
I've been going through a period where it's been difficult to have any
belief at all. I lost both my parents last year and it's been difficult
to deal with questions of mortality where there aren't really any
answers unless you accept a belief system.
With which of your works do you have a stronger legacy?
I have a strong connection to "The Golden Section," "Crucible" and
"Reliquary." "The Golden Section" was sort of a breakthrough for me, it
had more musicality
to it but it still had noise, odd sounds and drones. "Crucible" was the
first recording out on a label other than my own
 and
it was made with a new piece of equipment- an Esoniq EPS sampler.
"Reliquary" was another breakthrough, there was a great deal of melody
balanced with the more esoteric sounds.
Caul means amniotic sac, a thin membrane that surrounds the
newborn in the moment it is released from the womb and it is given to
life. Caul, a membrane that suffocates the newborn if not removed
or the membrane that protects and grants life? Why have you chosen this
fascinating name?
It was a fluke, really. I was trying to figure out a name and I just
pulled that one out of a book. I liked what it meant but I also felt
that there were less people these days that knew what it was and so it
might be a bit mysterious.
In
reviews I defined Caul the christian version of Raison d’Etre.
The two projects were born during the same period. Do you like their
work? How much have you influenced each other?
I like Raison d'Etre- I haven't heard his total output but what I have
heard, I've enjoyed. I can't say he
 was
ever an influence, I was releasing music as Caul for a while before I
ever heard his music. I have no idea if he's ever heard my music.
Which dark ambient albums would you highly recommend?
I'm not sure- there's so many out there that are good. Lustmord is
always a good place to start.
What does Brett Smith usually listen to? Is there any metal in your
daily playlist?
I listen to all kinds of music. I do still listen to some metal and one
of favorite bands still is Rush. I listen to a wide variety of music, I
just listen to whatever makes me happy to listen to it.
Do you follow the christian metal movement? What do you think about it?
I don't follow it and I know absolutely nothing about it.
When is Caul’s next work going to be?
Hopefully this year. Time is short these days, though that will change
by this fall, I think.
May God bless your life and your music. Leave our readers one last
message: why listen to Caul?
You
might like it!
Vaake
(with collaboration
of Christopher Warman)
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