Interview with Dustin Rudy of IJOLITE

Las Vegas, Nevada based instrumental blackgaze / post-metal project Ijolite is a brainchild of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Dustin Rudy who returned this October with the release of a second album “Post Mortem of a Life.”

Rocking Charts talked with Rudy about the record, the metal scene, and more.

Hey Dustin. How are you doing?

I am doing good, just you know surviving life, I’m currently juggling being an artist / musician and obtaining my bachelor’s in Computer Science.

You have recently launched your second full-length album entitled “Post Mortem of a Life.” How do you feel about the release?

I feel pretty good about it, my goal for each release or album is to satisfy my creativity at the time and to be a personal catharsis. I wanted it to be shorter than the previous album cyclical and to be tonally darker. I also wanted to combine influences in a more natural way.

How much of a challenge was to work on the album?

It was pretty challenging in the logistical aspect of it, I’m not a musician full time and I work and go to college. As far as the direction and composition of it, it was not too difficult, as was the recording this time around since it was done all at home in my jam space.

What other artists similar to your genre that are coming from Nevada are you friends with?

I honestly don’t really know of any other active artists that are in my genre per se in Nevada. Maybe I just don’t know about them or discovered them because I’m not that involved.

What is your opinion about the current metal scene?

I’d say there’s some pretty good diamonds in the rough if you are willing to put in the time and effort, unfortunately everything is oversaturated in terms of how many artists there are. I think metal has branched out so much that it’s more interesting where people can go nowadays with combining genres. But I think it has to be organic and not forced though.

Can you tell me something about your influences?

As far as influences go, in short I started off getting into rock / metal when I was young via my older brother. It’s mutated as I get older and evolved into many different subgenres that it’s hard to really say what I’m influenced by anymore. I love progressive music and have been heavily influenced by it as well as atmospheric genres like post rock / metal, though I’m not strictly bounded by that either. Ijolite in essence is a shapeshifter band of sorts when it comes to influences, I could write parts or songs that sound like Neurosis, then go into an Agalloch part, then into a Death sounding section or a shoegaze part or what have you. It all depends on what I want to do, while trying to make it blend naturally.

What are you listening to these days?

I’m listening to alot of post punk lately, bands like the Chameleons, Joy Division, and bands like Sonic Youth. I still go back to alot of my older influences as well from time to time. I’ve been listening to the new Russian Circles album Blood Year, Alcest’s new album Spiritual Instinct, Kayo Dot’s new record, and Torche’s Admission for the past month. All over the place it changes day to day.

Your 5 favourite records of all the time?

That’s hard, for now I’d say:

1. ISIS – Panopticon

2. Opeth – Still Life

3. Agalloch – The Mantle

4. Mastodon – Crack the Skye

5. Death – Human

Can you tell me a little bit more about the gear you used to record “Post Mortem of a Life”?

I used a Mapex maple 5-piece drum kit, with Dream cymbals. The guitar I used was a modded Epiphone Les Paul w / Bareknuckle pickups for all songs. I have a fender acoustic I used as well. The bass was an Ibanez SR Prestige bass. Amps, for guitar I used a Blackstar cab with a Blackstar HT Stage 100 Head, and bass amp I used an Ampeg 8×10 cab with an SVT-7 Pro head.

Besides the release of the album, are there any other plans for the future?

I’m scouting for members to play live, it’s difficult to find members that click and work out logistically. I’m working on a follow up album right now that’s going to be very dreamy and sludgy in tone. Those are the main goals for the near future.

Any words for the potential new fans?

I really don’t have anything to say other than if you decide to check Ijolite out and invest in listening to the albums I really appreciate it. I do this for myself first and my hope is for it to be honest and connect with people and stimulate their curiosity, and to hopefully inspire others to the same as well.

“Post Mortem of a Life” is available on Bandcamp. The record and information provided by Moshpit Promotions.