The Influences Behind Our Sound

Music has always been about connection - connecting with emotions, with other people, and with the artists who came before us. For Undead Living, our sound is deeply rooted in the post-punk and gothic rock movements, but our influences extend far beyond just music.

Sound: The Musical Foundation

The Smiths have been fundamental to our approach, particularly Johnny Marr's guitar and bass playing (It's often mistaken that Andy Rourke wrote the basslines, but it was in-fact Marr). His rhythmic melodies showed us how to create hooks that are both catchy and emotionally resonant. That interplay between rhythm and melody is something we've woven throughout our compositions.

Killing Joke's 'dissonance' and post-punk sound taught us about tension and release. Their ability to create unease and then resolve it has influenced how we structure our songs, especially in tracks like "Dirty Persuasion."

Soft Kill, DIIV, and Drab Majesty represent the modern evolution of our sound. From them, we've learned the power of simplicity and groove - sometimes the most effective approach is the most direct one. Their minimalist yet impactful style has shaped our arrangement philosophy.

TOPS, Blondie, and Deftones have all influenced our vocal approach in different ways. TOPS showed us how to blend dreamy vocals with driving rhythms, Blondie taught us about commanding presence, and Deftones demonstrated how vocals can be both melodic and intense.

The Cure's bass work and acoustic guitar textures - whether it's a Bass VI or 4-string - have been crucial to our sound development. Robert Smith's approach to creating atmosphere through bass lines has directly influenced Harrison's playing style.

Attitudes and Personas: Beyond the Music

Type O Negative's Peter Steele embodied the perfect balance of self-deprecating humor, wit, and darkness that resonates with our approach to lyrics and stage presence. His ability to be simultaneously serious and playful has influenced how we present ourselves as artists.

Viagra Boys represent that carefree intensity and "not giving a fuck" attitude that we admire. Their energy and fearlessness in being exactly who they are has inspired us to embrace our own authenticity without compromise.

Outside of Music: Visual and Cultural Inspirations

Vivienne Westwood stands as an innovator who focused on popularizing the underground through DIY ethics. Her approach to taking subculture and making it accessible while maintaining its edge has influenced how we think about reaching audiences.

Larry Clark's photography captures grime, gritty realism, and real human stories in a way that resonates with our aesthetic. His unflinching look at youth culture and urban life informs the visual direction of our work.

Harmony Korine's directorial work operates in the same vein as Larry Clark - finding beauty and meaning in the overlooked and discarded. His approach to storytelling through atmosphere rather than traditional narrative has influenced how we think about song structure and emotional impact.

Bringing It All Together

These influences don't exist in isolation - they blend together to create something uniquely Undead Living. We take the rhythmic sophistication of The Smiths, the dissonance of Killing Joke, the simplicity of modern post-punk, the vocal approaches of our diverse influences, and filter it all through the attitudes and visual aesthetics that speak to us.

Our upcoming EP "Seasonal Confession" represents the culmination of these influences, processed through our own experiences and perspectives as artists creating in 2025. It's not about copying what came before, but about understanding what made those artists special and finding our own way to channel that same spirit.