Meet The Neuro Farm

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful The Neuro Farm a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi The Neuro Farm, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Rebekah: This is a deep question and something I think about often. The pursuit of wisdom and truth is my purpose. For example, when I think about the vastness of the universe and the expanse of time, the insignificance of everything is comforting in a strange way. And when I think about the intricate workings of the human brain and the fantastical world of quantum physics, I feel a sense of wonder. The insignificance of self coupled with the beauty of science gives me the feeling of transcendence, which is what we are all looking for in defining our own purpose. As for music, it’s been my outlet for creativity and bonding with others. Also, I’m very type A sometimes and my mind can be cluttered with things on my to-do list. Playing music quiets all the voices in my head and it’s my mediation.

Brian: Honestly, I just think about how much I love music. How listening to the right music at the right time can energize you, or calm you, or even make you feel more understood. I love how it can completely set or change the mood for a gathering of people or a scene in a movie. And I’ve seen live musical performances that are practically transcendent. The idea of being a part of that in some small way is thrilling!

Colin: Because identifying one’s purpose can be such a challenge, and at times a futile exercise, lately I’ve been trying to not overthink things too much, appreciating simple pleasures, and being present and in the moment more. If anything, I’d say continually learning new things and then spreading the knowledge around (musically, creatively, and otherwise). So sharing helps me find a small amount of purpose.

Tim: My general purpose in life has always seemed to revolve around making others happier than they were before by any means. It’s a bit like leaving things in a better condition than when they were found. I believe that is related to my desire to put music out into the world which hopefully impacts someone else (or many others!) in a positive way. To be remembered after I’m long gone in physical form, would be my ultimate purpose. A legacy, of sorts?

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
We are a gothic rock band based in Washington DC. We pride ourselves in creating music that is melodically beautiful and sonically interesting. Our songs incorporate the hard-hitting aspects of Rammstein with the ethereal elements of Cocteau Twins. We do have quite a few exciting things happening! We are working on a brand new album that we are hoping to release next year. As a teaser, we’ll be releasing the first single, “Panic”, from the album in early October. And we have a tour coming up called “Mid-Atlantic Panic Tour” to promote the new single. We are super excited about it!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Tim: Going back to my “purpose”, I’ve learned the hard lesson that you can’t please all the people all the time, so be mindful to please yourself first! If you’re happy with the music you create, then you’re creating music for the right reason. One doesn’t need to be a virtuoso with an instrument, learn music theory, or even be able to read sheet music to be a competent musician. Practicing your desired instrument(s) is more important than all of the above. Also, be open to all genres of music and be as diverse as possible with your music tastes. Everyone subconsciously borrows bits of things they listen to and having a broader knowledge of music will only help your own ideas from sounding like a clone of established artists.

Brian: One that comes to mind for me is to really understand that what you’re doing is never going to be for everyone. You’re always going to come across people who don’t like what you’re doing, even among your friends and family. Not getting discouraged by negative feedback (or even just disinterest) and continuing towards your goals… I think that was one of the biggest hurdles for me early on. It helped to realize that even for the people I most admire, most people’s attitude toward them is going to be indifference.

Rebekah: Optimism, especially in the context of being in a band. Have you seen the show Archer? You know how he always says “things almost always work out for me”. I’ve not tested this empirically, it’s just an implicit belief I have. As a result, I’m always excited to try new things, whether it’s a new food flavor, moving to a new country, or taking on a new project. Somewhat related to this optimism, I also like the improv method of “yes, and…” You never know where life may lead you. 🙂

Colin: Be yourself! By being yourself, you can be authentic and original without forcing anything. Try to embrace and acknowledge all your musical and artistic character traits, likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses. Try finding comfort in being alone, at least some of the time. If you’re able to be comfortable in solitude, you further support your ability to be confident about what you bring to the table as a musician…. and as a “normal human” too.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Colin: In the past year or so I have really enjoyed expanding the inclusion of electronic drums and percussion instruments within my Neuro Farm role. E-drums is an area that I dabbled in for my own interest and enjoyment but was hesitant to consider in our actual band setting, particularly live. But armed with new knowledge, some research, advice from peers, experimentation, and curiosity, I’ve really grown to love how versatile and practical E-drums are. They’re also a fantastic way to reduce stage volume, which had been an issue for us in the past. And that kick drum coming directly out of the house PA slays… 😉

Tim: Mostly experimenting with expanding my own sound palettes for this band and other projects I’ve been involved with. I love learning new techniques to solve the constant puzzle of arranging songs and sound design. I’ve been challenging myself to also not watch meters on my computer to tell me something “sounds good” and to listen with my ears and not with my eyes 🙂

Brian: We’re in the process of recording a new album, and so I’ve been continuing to develop my skills as a music producer. I’ve recorded and mixed all our albums, and with each one I think you can hear a clearer and fuller sound than the last one. And I think this next one will be no exception.

Rebekah: In the past 12 months, our band has changed a lot. We grew from being Washington DC’s favorite goth band and expanded nationally. As we grow as a band, there are more and more administrative tasks that we have to learn how to do. I would say continuously learning to keep up with the growth of the band has been my biggest challenge and area of improvement.

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Image Credits
Photography by Tyler Logic at Odd Logic Media

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