“The views and opinions discussed in this interview are for entertainment purposes and are those of the artist themselves and not necessarily that of the author and publisher”
Dirk Strangely has been a fixture in the pop culture convention scene for quite as an established artist working on his own material, as well as, a contributor for publications such as Tokyopop’s Legends of The Dark Crystal. Already having a background as a musician who has worked several different artists, also having fronted his own band, Mr. Strangely is venturing into the realm of country music with his own album titled, Eccentric Outlaw.
I had the opportunity to interview Dirk Strangely via email and get his point of view of different areas of his life, his work, and music.
Why do this album ?
As an artist, I have always dealt with hard times and emotion through art whether it be music, painting, or writing. It’s a document of life experiences for your ears. I have always been drawn to tales of the old west and old westerns. This album is my audible documentation told through old school sounding country western.
Listening to the samples you have posted and reading how these songs came from personal experiences on the Fundraiser site, it seems like you meshed modern themes with outlaw country music, how did you put that together ?
I’ve never been into producing work that is “trending.” My music reflects life experiences with sounds and themes that I love to hear which is old school country western. What you are hearing that are considered “modern” themes are because I live in 2021 and deal with modern problems and situations. I believe that things us humans go through throughout each generation are timeless. We all still feel, think, suffer, succeed, joke around, and have good times along with bad. My album has a little of everything in it. It will make you laugh, think, dance, feel empathy, and hopefully entertain and inspire you.
With your unique artwork and outlook and your love of country music, have you ever considered doing any “weird west” artwork or comics ?
Yes, actually! Recently my business partner of Silverback Publishing and I talked about doing our 2nd volume of Strange Stories For Strange People (which is like Tales From The Crypt & The Twilight Zone) will be Old Western Cowboy themed.
You’ve worked with artists such as Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Willie Nelson, and The Killers, and they are all storytellers in some way, did those kinds of influences help drive the way you wrote the music for this album ?
Billy and Willie, yes to a degree. To be specific, I’ve never “worked” with Billy Gibbons or Willie. I jammed with both of them on separate occasions and smoked a doobie with Willie. I played bass for The Killers for a short while before they moved to England when I lived in Vegas. To be honest I was really a fan of their music I filled in for them as a favor to a friend. I get my storytelling abilities from my father who was an amazing storyteller.
I have read your bio and I am also former Navy, looking at some of my own experiences, do you feel that sometimes surreal life influenced your art and music at all?
Being in the Navy was a very surreal experience but I don’t really look back on my time in the Navy as great experience. I was highly decorated and moved up the ranks quickly because of my hard work ethic and I completed my contract with honorable discharge but being in the Navy taught me how political humans are in positions of power and I didn’t care for that aspect of it.
You have had tables at quite a few cons, have you ever performed at any of those shows?
I have not. But hope to now that I have a professional album available and am looking to do a small tour of Texas and possibly the surrounding states.
If this album does well are you planning on any others, or is there another type of project you have in mind?
Yes. Now that I’ve got a taste for producing my own music at a professional level I do not plan on slowing down. I already have the next 3 albums planned and they will all continue to get more creative and push the limits of artistic expression. I may not limit myself to just country western in all future albums although I will always produce country albums for the rest of my life.
To find out more about Dirk Strangely take a look at the Kickstarter for the album and click the link available here. To check out more of Mr. Strangely’s art work please click here.
