Join us as we delve into the mind of Curses, unraveling the threads of nostalgia, celebration, and introspection that weave together to form the fabric of his distinctive sound.

In this Q&A we speak with the enigmatic artist known as Curses, whose eclectically blends post-punk and electronics. With roots spanning from the bustling streets of New York City to the sun-drenched landscapes of Sicily, Curses, now based in Berlin, brings a unique perspective to his music, drawing upon a rich tapestry of influences ranging from the dark romanticism of post-punk to the pulsating rhythms of the club scene.

In this interview, Curses takes us on a journey through his musical evolution, exploring the intersections of art, fashion, and mortality that shape his creative vision. From his upbringing steeped in the juxtaposition of Italian Catholicism and downtown Manhattan grit to his latest endeavors with Italians Do It Better, Curses shares insights into his forthcoming album and the collaborative process that drives his artistic expression.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

I'm Curses, NYC born living in Berlin the last decade. I lean towards the dark romantic side of post punk and electronic body music. love songs and club songs.

How did your upbringing in both NYC and Sicily influence your musical style and lyrical themes?

I had this curiosity in the macabre from an early age. Probably because in Italy, my parents would drag me to see frescos in churches and it had an early influence on my imagination. When you juxtapose the aesthetic beauty of Italian catholicism with the dirt and grit of growing up in downtown Manhattan in the late 80's early 90's, theres a bit of a mixed cocktail of influences that come together. I was in punk bands going to rave parties and skateboarding at the brooklyn banks then heading to a goth show at coney island high. Those early musical influences still stuck with me today, and I also tend to incorporate the Italian language into songs here and there as well, to keep that family history alive.

Can you elaborate on the concept of "Elegant Death" and how it reflects your personal experiences and perspective on mortality?

I've always been drawn to the elegance and aesthetic beauty in symbolism, iconography, and paintings related to Death. Especially those in Italy. I was not raised religious in any way, but my parents are both visual artists so, theyd take me to see Giotto and Filipo Lippi frescos in churches around the country. This imagery had such an impact on me. From an early age, I was taught to face death rather than to fear it. The older I got though, the fantasy began to fade. I began to understand the true reality of it, once friends and family began to pass, but the understanding to accept it with celebration rather than negativity always remained.

What drew you to sign with Italians Do It Better, and what’s it like working with them?

I was asked to do a remix for MOTHERMARY a little over a year ago, and their LP had just dropped with IDIB. The crazy small world situation here was that their managers ended up being friends I went to Highschool and College with and was in bands with as a teenager, so everything felt super natural and serendipitous. Got to chatting over time with Megan and Johnny, met a couple times to see them perform while in EU and we really clicked. Naturally. IDIB is a record label with a powerful legacy. They've built such a history and carry such a niche aesthetic that clicks really well with me as Curses. Johnny and I ended up deciding to coproduce and mix the record together, collaborative with the visuals as well. Everything just clicked right into place and it was like.. ok, let's do an album together. This will be fun.

You've worked with various fashion brands like Saint Laurent and featured in campaigns for Dior and Raf Simons/Calvin Klein. How does fashion intersect with your music, and what role does visual aesthetics play in your creative process? 

Visuals are crucial to me and the music I make, a cinematic language. A story to tell, to share, a dream to discover, unravel. I feel that Fashion and Film and Fine Art go hand in hand with Music, they all feed off one another in order to last, in order to evolve and inspire, leave a timeless mark in the universe.

Could you discuss your approach to curating the vinyl compilation series, NEXT WAVE ACID PUNX, and how it reflects your passion for diverse genres like New Beat, Early EBM, and Post-punk?

These compilations are like a peek into my personal journey in electronic and guitar music, and allow me to invite peers I admire and tour with and play with around the world who grew up on the same influences of dark 80's club music. Every artist has similar inspirations, but their experience and approach is all different. thats what I love about this wave-related electronic music. Its very personal and hits everyone differently, together.

We will be finishing the NWAP trilogy, it wont be for a while though.. these take a lotttt of work ha! The licensing of some of the old hidden gems from the late 80's alone can be years at times. 

Your upcoming album on Italians Do It Better is highly anticipated. What can fans expect from this new release, and how does it evolve from your previous work? 

When it comes to albums, I lean more into the direction of songs rather than tracks for the club. In the previous 2 Curses albums, I was pressured to  mix DJ-able tracks with the more post-punk songs I write, and this is the first time I was encouraged to have MORE vocals, MORE guitar, and not feel constrained to making music strictly with the dance floor in mind. Leave that to the remixes and extended  club versions. An album should tell a story...not be built like a compilation.

Live performances seem to be an integral part of your artistic expression. How do you adapt your music for live shows, and what can audiences expect from your upcoming tour dates? 

When performing live I invite my dear friend, Dame Bonnet to tour with me. He's been my right hand man in the live shows since the first album, playing bass and electronic drums. Eventually we started to write music together on the road, so with the new album, 'Another Heaven' , Dame's contributed quite a lot of Bass lines and guitar ideas. When we perform Curses live we tend to improvise a lot, create extended versions of songs in the moment, and also incorporate some of my Remixes and more EBM focused tracks into the tail end of the concert. This also goes for my DJ sets. I tend to being a microphone and will improvise a lot of vocals on top of my own and others music. Keeping that DIY energy I has a kid in punk bands I guess.

Your music often evokes a sense of nostalgia for the 1980s. What is it about that era that continues to inspire you, and how do you bring a modern twist to your retro influences?

I feel like the 80s was the first real boom of the human-machine love affair. Synths became more accessible to home studios, and this chemistry between robots and humans evolved from experimental music and into radio pop hits - Eurythmics, Depeche Mode etc  The nostalgic yet futuristic comfort in 80's synth music is something that will never leave me, it's a timeless emotion. There are so many acts imitating the 80's, replicating rather than being inspired to make something new, I prefer to take splinters here and there. Sprinkle the influence, not drench it.. Growing up listening to a wide mix of drum machine-soaked music like Ministry, to Latin Freestyle, New Wave, and Italian pop like Venditi,  had lead me to have an outcome that maybe some find confusing, but makes sense to me because Its stemming from my youth.. innocence.

As a musician who has experienced loss and faced the fear of death, how do you channel these emotions into your music, and what message do you hope listeners take away from your songs?

This is where lyrics are key. It can't be forced with something so emotional. I will go into gibberish channeling my subconscious and find the real meaning develops over time. The song forms its meaning later, and in this specific context, the elegance of death unravelled. I learned how to  celebrate the beauty of those that pass who have been close to you. Cherish, appreciate. Peace without pain.

What do you love right now?

Magliano. Clothing label out of Bologna that is sharp, classy late 80s suits and attire fraying at the seams. Really speaks a vibe, at first glance, feels very cinematic in an understated unpretentious way.

What do you hate right now?

I'll get shit on for saying this, but, nobody can do Jolene better than Dolly, not sure B shouldve touched it. Some songs are not to be messed with. 

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you? 

Ministry - With Sympathy. May be an obvious one to mention, but it really has a strong foundation for the sound I feel the most comfortable in. I also like the irony, that such an impactful album can be hated by it's own creators, as the band's sound departed very far from that LP to what they make today.

Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for the future of Curses?

I'm currently working on my first score for a documentary . I've done music for fashion videos, TV ads and shows,  but never a full documentary, so am excited to do more of that in the future.