SKIN DEEP MAGAZINE • 87art, whether that be music, writing, sculpture, or any other
form, is literally magic. Art is, like magic, the science of ma-
nipulating symbols, words or images, to achieve changes in
consciousness ... Indeed to cast a spell is simply to spell, to
manipulate words, to change people’s consciousness, and
this is why I believe that an artist or writer is the closest
thing in the contemporary world to a shaman.”
DW: I would agree again being that they are all forms of
creation (magic) and those creations have profound ef-
fects on other people’s realities. They can change the way
we see things, make us experience strong emotions, give
us strength, make us laugh etc.
SH: Do you feel like we have the chance to help change
the consciousness of those receiving tattoos? If so, how?
DW: I feel that primarily, once again, that comes into play
not in the application of that tattoo as much as the inter-
action/conversation that may occur during application of
it. The tattoo is just a catalyst. It also depends on the client
as well, not everyone “clicks”. For what it’s worth though I
never approach a song or tattoo with the mindset of alter-
ing another’s thought process. I know that I know nothing.
My role is that of an observer. I am focused inward. I just lis-
ten to their stories and share some of my own if it fits in the
context. I like to let people talk and try to make it an overall
positive experience. I’m sure in some way some people may
walk away from a tattoo with a new perspective on someaspect of their life but then
again I feel our conscious-
ness can be a fickle thing.
SH: One of my favourite lines you’ve written is ‘Where
blood and fire bring rest”. It is a line that has stayed in-
creasingly important to myself, especially when experi-
encing the death of loved ones. The line is cathartic, and
strong, yet it uses strong imagery, manipulating symbols
that meant something different separate, but something
all together new combined, even within a secular point of
view. Alan Watts said, “I have realised that the past and
future are real illusions, that they exist in the present,
which is what there is and all there is.”
Reflecting some 20 years, how do you feel about this
line you wrote, along with your early writing and expres-
sions, tattooing included?
DW: On one hand that line represents to me the begin-
ning of my journey with this band and tattooing and eve-
rything that has come along with it both good and bad.
It shaped a lot of aspects of my life. It has been a much-
needed outlet for me creatively and mentally. On the oth-
er hand, even though I have redefined it in my head it’s
foreign to me as well. Almost like a phantom limb.
As far as my early writings go, they were written quick-
ly, minimal, and not as refined. The general elements
(subject matter aside) were there, the same formula, but
those songs came from a different place. I was experienc-
ing things through a Christian mindset, my anxiety disor-
der was severe, I was processing a lot of pain and confu-A TATTOO IS AN IMAGE WE ARE TASKED CREATE ON SOMEONE
ELSE’S SKIN. A GOOD WORD TO DESCRIBE IT IS RITUALISTIC...