Dark Smith Written by Sami Loy Photo by Alley Rutzel When thinking of the band Dark Smith, I think of a tidal wave—a great, gleaming wall of black ink, and layered melodies, something to absorb in a nightclub corner, a cruising car, or, as it should happen, quarantine. After listening to their 2019 sophomore album, Degressive, I found it wasn’t just the seamless rise and fall in tone— which takes one on an emotive trip from the dystopian “Waiting” to the more straightforwardly punk of “Sadfluid,” named after the band’s coined term for interchanging ‘sad-xuality’—, or even singer Danny Denial’s grade-A gothic croon that makes up the music’s best moments. It wasn’t the incisive guitar-work of Ashe Tempest, or the
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music’s rhythmic river-bed, born of bassist Lia Lovecraft and drummer Nozomi Momo. It’s truthfully none and all of these things. Rather, it’s the resulting impact. Dark Smith’s place in Seattle’s musical sphere is a touch of the ethereal, surely. But as the past month’s social revolution (and its particular effect on the city) continues to wax and wane, it can be said that a special place in the cosmos has been assigned for the resonating line from their track, “Waiting,” “The world is ending and I’m so happy.” At the very least, I was happy to get to ask these four a few questions. Hey guys! I wanted to start by saying how much I appreciate you taking the time to indulge this interview. How’s everyone doing? Danny: It’s been a pretty crazy past few months, from starting
shows again to lockdown to protests in Seattle...it’s just been a lot of adapting and rolling with the tide. The band hasn’t fully seen each other since our last show, sadly, but we have some plans for later this year we’re hoping can come to fruition— namely, some new songs we recorded right before COVID-19 that we want to come out! I’m sure it’s no surprise just how much light has been put on local artists of color lately, and deservedly so. Personally, when I found your music, it just stood out for its haunting honesty. It’s just larger-than-life. With everything happening in the city, all of its radical changes, how has your creative process been? Danny: Thank you! My creative process is kind of all over the place; I can’t help when I’m
