Behind the Front Door Volume 3, October, 2013. | Page 17

visually or through what I create due to me being dyslexic and having ADHD. I couldn't focus on a lot which frustrated my teachers, however, my father showed me that there were ways to express myself that the world would appreciate and my mother never put me on medication because she knew I had to learn how to cope with these disabilities on my own, not through drugs. So, with my art I could explain to those around me what I was seeing or how I was feeling very well and as the years have progressed, this has become a way of great communication for me.

Has your idea of what you wanted your music to sound like changed from the time you started, to the present time?

RM: YES! When I was younger, my sound was way soft with more of a 'pop like' feel to it. Then when I turned 12, my music taste changed very drastically, even though I did still like my old tunes as well. The music I wrote, and write, had/have influences such as Pierce the Veil, Taking Back Sunday, My Chemical Romance, Marilyn Manson, Linkin’ Park, Rob Zombie and so many more brilliant artists. It changed towards a much louder vibe and my lyrics, poetry and stories became much more honest and even a bit dark. Like, I didn't have to sugar coat everything and could really write how I was feeling about myself, my life and the world. This really came from the bands I looked up to, I felt like these individuals were my heroes for telling the world how it really was and how they really felt, not caring about what people thought. But it didn't stop there!

My music taste became so eclectic: Amy Winehouse, Joan Jett, Motionless in White, A Day to Remember, Nirvana, Gang of Four, La Dispute, Like Moths to Flames, The Deftones but then I also enjoyed music from the 50's, 70s and 80s. Honestly, if I made a list of every band that has stolen my heart due to their poetic lyrics and music this would be the longest article known to mankind!

What were your earlier influences that inspired your desire to create?

RM: My first influences were entirely family based and from art books/music my parents would bring me. It was always wonderful because my father would leave the country and come back with music that no one in America had heard but, without a doubt, become wildly huge years later! I know it’s strange, but even people that I would meet for moments in time would influence my art. I once went to San Francisco and hung out with the homeless men and women on the street just listening to how their lives brought them there, eating pizza and writing down what they said and from that a whole section of my photography portfolio was built.

Anyone that I come in contact with usually sparks some sort of fire within me that makes me want to create something. The stories you hear from the people you meet The stories you hear from the people you meet or how old they are.

17