It feels good to do a little something for the artists getting it done behind the scenes – and today’s feature is one of the elite at bringing the best out of others. Voice in the Dark has been helping other musicians with their projects for years now, but today is celebrated for his own unique style and his Box Set collection.

The Box Set is sort of a coming out party for Voice in the Dark; the man behind the message told us all about it: “I chose two songs from each of my four previous albums so my current fans can expect to hear a straight to the point mix of some of their favorite tracks. But more importantly, I’d like people to share this album with people they think would dig it. I want this album to introduce my music to new listeners.” You gotta check it out – the sampling is already done for you. Looking for a description of the sound you’ll find on the Box Set? No problem: “The sound on this Best Of album is a bit Rock, a bit Electro, and vocally a bit soul. But over all, I hope the message coming from the lyrics is what stands out.”

Keep an eye out for a lot more from Voice in the Dark, including a live record and “Vibes, Grooves, and Interludes”, which we’ll see sometime in 2011. There’s much more to learn, so keep reading for the answers to the XXQ’s.

XXQs: Voice In The Dark 

PensEyeView.com (PEV): How would you describe your sound and what do you feel makes you stand out? 

Voice In the Dark (VD): The sound on this Best Of album is a bit Rock, a bit Electro, and vocally a bit soul.  But over all, I hope the message coming from the lyrics is what stands out. 

PEV: What kind of music were you into growing up? Was anyone your main influence? 

VD:  Growing up I was exposed to a broad range of music and to this day I can still get into artist ranging from Nat King Cole to Massive attack.  As far as influences, I’d have to say that artists like Peter Gabriel, Depeche Mode, Seal, The Cure, U2, and The Police really got me into the feeling of singing.

PEV: Having been in the  business for a good time now, what was it like for you when you first started out?

VD: It’s actually kind of wild because from the ages of about 4-8 I used to occasionally perform with my dad and sometimes my sisters, so I kind of always considered my self a singer. I guess it wasn’t until my teens that I really started writing lyrics and creating “songs”.

It is funny though, because even though I’ve been helping other artists with their projects for a while now, it seems like I just really got started when I released my Box Set in 2009.

PEV: Do you remember first time you thought to yourself – “I am really onto something!”?

VD: For years now I thought I had something considering I’d been writing songs for as long as I can remember, but again it wasn’t until I produced this series and called it Voice In The Dark that I started getting feedback and then it became real.

PEV:  Where do get your best ideas for songs?

VD:  I can get ideas from songs from anywhere and I often do, but for the most part I deeply feel that I have a calling to write and produce songs that can touch and inspire people. There are so many things I want to write about coming from this point of view.  I feel like my mission is to reach people with a positive message and to use my music to really connect with people in a meaningful way.

PEV: Tell us about your latest release, What can fans expect from this work?

VD:  I chose 2 songs from each of my 4 previous albums so my current fans can expect to hear a straight to the point mix of some of their favorite tracks, but more importantly, I’d like people to share this album with people they think would dig it. I want this album to introduce my music to new listeners.

PEV: Is there one area you wish you could travel around and play that you have not yet?

VD:  Traveling the world would be the goal.  With so many songs that are still inside of me dying to come out, I currently spend almost all of my artistic life in the studio.  When enough people get exposed to my music and there is enough demand for my live show, I would to love take a long break from the studio to really connect live and in color with my audience.

PEV: What can we find you doing when you are not playing/writing music?

VD:  Whenever I get the chance, I love to surf and spend time in nature.

PEV:  Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?

VD: Yes. Me.

PEV: If you weren’t playing music now what do you think you would be doing as your career?

VD: Hmmm… Something to do with the ocean.

PEV: So, what is next for you?

VD: I’m smack in the middle of recording a live set CD for fans who are really interested in hearing my songs the way we play em live.  Aside from that, I’m thrilled about “Vibes, Grooves, and Interludes”.  This is the name of a series I’ll be working on and releasing throughout 2011.