By Sean Maldjian, Contributor

Meet Mass Gothic

A self-portrait by, Mass Gothic

Would you rather…

have everything you wear always be four sizes too big or two sizes too small? Why?

Four sizes too big, ultra-large garments can cloth more than one person at a time. Also though can I restitch them to fit?

Some questions with Mass Gothic

What is your hope for the NYC music scene post-COVID-19?

Just that it reinvents itself healthily and continues to exist, however it is. The people making music and the people loving music won’t go away, so with that in mind I don’t worry.

What was the creative drive behind your release 2018 “I've Tortured You Long Enough”?

‘ITYLE’ was a lot of things, namely for me it became a conversation between Jessica and myself. What she’d done as Solvey and I was doing with the first Mass Gothic album, looked like the two stories we’re just inevitably on track for the collision. I personally have a pretty hard time hearing that album back but I’m glad we did it!

What gear was essential in finding your sound as Mass Gothic?

First, off just the space to record, that’s my first and last piece of gear. But within that is mainly my voice and home-built guitars, and whatever drum kit is available.

What is the best street food in NYC?

Right now maybe it’s just coffee, I haven’t eaten outside of our apartment for a year! I like to get a KitKat bar at the sidewalk newsstand kiosk.

How do you feel about the reception to your release “I've Tortured You Long Enough” so far?

A soon as it came out I promptly threw myself into several new things, like rebound dating I suppose. The public response I’m aware of is just a handful of typical extremes - a few who very much disliked or disregarded it and a few who adored it. I see it as sort of a hard dive into some chaotic relationship inner works, and it’s all set to whatever our bombastic and gnarled version of pop music was at that moment. Bit of a ride I wouldn’t expect everyone to get fully on. But for those who did, I’m always happy to hear that it elicited some of the wonder and ecstasy I might have felt in the high moments of making it.

What was your first job?

Chain pharmacy doing cash register and general employee stuff. My friend and I built giant paper towel thrones in the stockroom out of like, bounty 12-packs and hid there smoking cigarettes and napping. Very light, barely work.

This is the first full album that you and Jessica worked on as a duo. Do you see this happening again after this release?

Not immediately, we’re working closely but separately at the moment. The latest Mass Gothic works are a true 4-way thing, continuing the journey outward. I think when we duo again it’ll be to share a sound of relief and exploration.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

Take care and do what feels deeply ok in your heart! Visit my dot com, buy a painting. Go meditate online with Jess @jessicazambri. And no connection to me but fiercely digging Model Home.