This is one of a series of interviews with the masters of horror. Composer Edward Douglas created Midnight Syndicate in 1996. In 1998, fellow composer Gavin Goszka joined the group and they have since released several critically acclaimed and highly successful gothic horror soundtracks. Synonymous with the horror music genre, Midnight Syndicate has established a worldwide following with their signature sound. You can find their CDs at Party City and Spencer's all across the US.
Why did you first become interested in the haunted house/horror business?
Both Ed and I have been fans of Halloween and horror for as long as we can remember. I grew up on movies like the original Salem’s Lot and Halloween and books like Shirley Jackson’s classic The Haunting of Hill House. We noticed that there were plenty of inexpensive sound effects tapes and CDs available, as well as the "Monster Mash"-type party compilations, but not much by way of good, high-quality atmospheric music that you could just leave on in the background to set the mood for a party, haunt, etc. The idea to do a horror-based album of original instrumental music seemed like a natural progression for us.
What previous jobs have you had?
Prior to joining Midnight Syndicate, I had been working in sales for a local music store. That’s actually how I met Ed — he came in as a customer, looking for some equipment for a multimedia show that he was assembling in support of the very first (self-titled) Midnight Syndicate CD. We became friends and after going to see the show myself, I felt that a lot of our influences and ideas were very similar. We began discussing the idea behind Born of the Night shortly afterward. I had also been performing in a solo project called “Lore” that featured original songs with supernatural themes.
What job do you do right now? Is the haunted house/horror job your full time gig?
For Ed, Midnight Syndicate is absolutely a full-time pursuit. He handles the business side of things, which can occupy an enormous amount of both time and resources. Tending to the business is literally a year-round task.
For me, the band is full-time when we are working on an album. Writing and mixing usually demands all of our attention and everything else pretty much falls into place around that. Since I’m not as involved in the business, I’ve been able to pursue another passion during our off-time — restoring historic homes.
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1 - diana hartman
I am pleased to tell you this article is being featured in the Culture Focus today, October 2nd.
Diana Hartman
Culture Editor