Friday, January 10, 2014

Interview with Shawn Humiston: The good, the bad and the ugly.


Full Name:
Shawn:   First of all with whom do you wish to speak?   Shawn Humiston?   S. Du Val?    Black Mass?   Or any of my past, present or future personalities?   I am Legion.
All of them.   Let’s do some channeling.  Let’s get crazy.

Do you have a nickname or what do your friends call you?
Shawn:   Again, WE have many names.   Each a reflection of my current chosen identity/Identities as filtered through a double tetrahedral prism.


Birthplace:
S. Du Val:   Wonkaville/Wonderland.
Shawn:   Norwalk, CA.
Black Mass:   On a piece of lint under your bed, in the speck sitting in the corner of a turtle’s eye, in the mouth of madness, the edge of sanity.   The North F’n Pole of course!!!

Current hometown:
S. Du Val:   Somewhere between the Pineal gland and the Amygdala.
Black Mass:   The dark side of the Moon.
Shawn:   Long Beach, Ca.


Favorite city and why?
Black Mass:   West Wycomb, England, Home of the Hellfire Club.
S. Du Val:  Amsterdam.   IT’S F’n  AMSTERDAM, ‘nuff said!
Shawn:   London, England.   It’s in my blood.   The majority of my genetic lineage comes from England, and well if you’ve ever been there you would understand its alluring presence to me.   I can’t explain it.   It’s something I felt everywhere, in the air, the sounds, the voices of the ghosts whispering in the fog, calling me, familiar voices echoing my past.

Birthday / Age:
Shawn:   March 1, 1970.
Black Mass:   I first emerged in public as named in 2007, however  I first came into existence with the burial of Shawn’s mother Karen Jeanette Smith  July 7th 2005.  You see, on that fateful day in a small cemetery in Northern Pennsylvania, the man known as Shawn Humiston had to dig his own mother’s grave and buried her ashes with his bare hands while his family looked on in what can best be described as having witnessed the darkest and most surreal moment in all of their lives.   On that day, Shawn “died” and Black Mass was born.
S. Du Val:   March 1, 1970, I guess you could say. I have always been, here right by Shawn.   I’m his kinder, gentler self. I am his conscience, his moral compass, his “right brain”.


How would you describe yourself physically?
Shawn:   We look similar.   But there are subtle differences.   It’s mostly in the eyes.   When a certain identity manifests there is a shift in us , our  “soul” and well, they say the eyes are the windows to the soul.   Take a deep look.   Who do YOU wish to see?

The first thing people notice about you is...
Shawn:   Tattoos.   We have facial tattoos, among the rest of what amounts to a nearly complete full body suit.
Black Mass:   Our big, fat, juicy swinging dicks.

Religion, if any?
Shawn:   Optimist.
Black Mass:   Transcendental occultism.
S. Du Val:   Science.
Do you have any superstitions?
Shawn:   We choose to believe in the SUPER, not the superstitious. 
Habits?
Black Mass:   Habits are for nuns.
Shawn:   I recently quit smoking, so no.
S. Du Val:   I’m habitually picking up after Shawn and Black Mass’ fuck ups.

Current occupation / Dream job:
Shawn:   Freelance Artist, founder and editor of ADHD Magazine.
Black Mass:   Occult Icon, and art director/graphic designer for ADHD Magazine.
S. Du Val:   Writer, Actor,poet, publisher  and editor/founder of ADHD Magazine.   We’re living the dream and the nightmare simultaneously.
Black Mass:   (to S. Du Val) “Shut up nerd.” *laughs*



What do you like to do when you’re not at work?

Shawn:   Work is home and home is work. But otherwise you can usually find all 3 of us at Disneyland/California Adventure, or at a Toy’s r Us, hunting down Disney Infinity figures and power discs, or Skylanders.

What is your zombie outbreak survival plan?
Shawn:   Take the high ground, dig a 360 degree trench filled with motor oil, gasoline, powdered detergent and rebar “pikes” and burn the mother’s night and day.   It’s not so much a survival plan but more like King of the Mountain. *laughs*
Black Mass:   Join them!   Fuck a zombie Apocalypse.    I’ll wage a Cannibal Holocaust. *evil laugh*
S. Du Val:   Steal a boat, become a pirate.




Weapon of choice to kill zombies with?
Shawn:   Machete.
Black Mass:   Baseball bat.
S. Du Val:   Flamethrower.

Did you go to college and, if so, what for?
Yes, Advertising/Illustration.   Double major.   I completed all my general education credits to transfer to the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, but without any special grants or financial help from anyone I could not afford to go there and by then was just entering into the tattoo industry and basically said “fuck it”.   After a few years of tattooing full time and making shit tons of cash back in those days, it seemed pointless to ever go back.   I had what I was going to college for.   A career as an artist and I had complete freedom to pretty much do whatever I wanted to, to look how I wanted, and to say what I wanted and I was making a good living for a 24 year old kid.   Back then I was known as Shaughn H/Shaughn Humiston.


Any pets?   If so, what are they and what are their names?
We have two boxers, named Dozer, AKA “King Dozer”, Son of Boomerang Rockwell, and Wyatt, AKA “Mr. Wyatt, the Monster Beast”, Son of Boomerang Rockwell.

What is your favorite animal?
Shawn:   I loved cats as a child. I became partial to dogs later in life.
Black Mass:   My favorite animal is the HUMAN animal, though, all animals are cool.   Some are just best not handled.
S. Du Val:   Money.




Speaking of pets, any pet peeves?
Shawn:   My most recent pet peeve is the use of crowd funding campaigns by people that already are “famous” or who are wealthy. This irritates me to no end.
Black Mass:   DITTO!
S. Du Val:   Ignorance.

Favorite / Least favorite Food:
Shawn:   I love CANDY!!!!!!!! But more specifically, dark chocolate.   Even more specific, Hershey’s Special Dark.   If you’re reading this, Hershey, feel free to sponsor me.
Black Mass:   I eat cannibals. I meant cannabis.* laughs*



What is your favorite quotation / motto / saying?
Shawn:   “So shines a good deed in a weary world” – Gene Wilder, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory  (The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare*Sir Francis Bacon*)
Black Mass:   “We all go a little mad sometimes” - Anthony Perkins, Psycho.
S. Du Val:   ““We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” - Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere’s fan.

What is the worst thing that ever happened to you?

Shawn:   Losing my mom in 2005.
Black Mass:   It’s all good, it’s all bad, roller coaster of life man.   Honestly it’s a manic fucking ride with us, and half the time, “Mr. Nice and optimistic”, “Let’s all get along and be friends” *Shawn* is driving this spaceship.   And the other half of the time is split between whatever other  “Alternates” feel like surfacing or may be called on to serve a purpose.   Despite my name, I’m not the “evil” one, I’m just the “Face”, but “That one”, has a name no one dares utter and few have seen.   But trust me remember what we said about the “Eyes”.   His eyes will erase your mind.   He even scares me.



What is the best thing that ever happened to you?  
To put it nicely, we have had our fair share of trauma in our life, but who hasn’t?   Life sucks man.   That’s the point.   To, SURVIVE.   To, persevere.   Life is Hell and we’re in it.   The trick is to never let the fires consume you.

What is the best thing you’ve ever done?
Shawn:   The fuck if I know.   I tend to approach everything with the intent that it will be the best thing I’ve ever done.   I rarely succeed my expectations.   Hopefully, someone finds value in the things I do, but really to be honest.   I no longer keep score.




What is the worst thing you’ve ever done?
Black Mass:   I do lots of bad things, but only to those who asked for it.   I suppose you would have to ask those who have ever betrayed, deceived, or used me where they stand a year after their “Transgressions” and lapses in judgment when it comes to dealing with a man who communes with devils.

If you could kill one person, who would it be, and why?
Black Mass:   I don’t believe in murder, however, torture, that’s a whole different animal.   I would gladly torture any of my sworn enemies.   I would start by nailing them to a wooden chair by their hands, feet, toes and genitals.   Then I would make them watch hours and hours of Richard Simmons workouts while flooding their ears with sounds of feedback through headphones duct taped to their heads.   I would then place a vibrator set on full speed at the tip of their cocks just above the nail going through it and wait in glorious anticipation for them to get an erection from the constant stimulation to their member causing their cock to split in two like a blown out hot dog as it tried to free itself, and well then I’d pout lemon juice and salt right down the newly cleaved center of its shaft.
Shawn:   Yeah, seriously, don’t get on Mass’ bad side.
S. Du Val:   Disclaimer: What Mr. Mass is saying is a “Hypothetical”, a “Revenge fantasy”, not to be mistaken for reality or admission of any past, present or future guilt.



What do you do?
Shawn:   Do for what?   A living?   We are artists.   For fun?   We are hedonists.   For others?   We try to show compassion and empathy.   For ourselves?   Whatever makes us happy and does not violate our code or put any of us at odds with one another.
Black Mass:   I do whatever the fuck I want.   After all it’s Shawn who pays the piper.   I’m just a “figment of his imagination” right?  
You didn't ask me the million dollar question everyone wants to know which is, "Do I worship Satan?" and the answer is, "Maybe?".   But in truth I worship no-one and nothing except for BLACK MASS, and so depending on your understanding or views of “Satanism” that answer is both "Yes" and "No". S. Du Val:   I clean up their messes.   Damage control.   I handle the business.

How did you get started doing what you do?
We can’t recall ever doing anything but art our entire lives.




What is your advice to other people that want to get started doing what you do?
Shawn:   Pick up a fucking pencil and quit telling everyone you “want to be an artist” and just be one!
Black Mass:   Don’t!   The Art industry is filled with the worst kinds of egotists, dopplegangers, used car salesmen, scammers, bitter, jealous whiners, and OPPORTUNISTS.   You might as well try to be an actor.
S. Du Val:   It’s not an easy life, nor an easy career path.   Do your research, learn your craft, and never give up.

What are some of the projects you’ve worked on/finished in the past?
Shawn:   Pretty much nowadays, all my time and energy goes into ADHD Magazine.
S. Du Val:   Ditto
Black Mass:   The thing I’m most proud of as far as my work would have to be my epic collaborative project with 33 artists from around the globe.   It was called “Opus Diaboli: The Possession” .   I also currently do all the graphics and layout for ADHD magazine, and occasionally participate in a few gallery exhibits when asked to, such as Chet Zar’s Annual Conjoined events at Copro Gallery.   This year makes my 3rd time being asked to participate in the conjoined exhibit, which I always appreciate any invite coming from a guy like Chet.   I am also working on something for Erick De L Vega’s group exhibit “Demons” at Lethal Amounts in April 2014.



What projects are you working on now?
Besides the exhibits mentioned above.   ADHD Magazine.   Issue number 002 just released recently and so, soon it will be time to start putting issue 003 together for an April release.

What are you watching?
Shawn:   I’m a cartoon whore.   So pretty much cartoon network 24/7 with an emphasis on Adult Swim shows such as my favorites American Dad, Bob’s Burgers, and Squidbillies.
Black Mass:   American Horror Story: Coven
S. Du Val:   Farscape re-runs on Pivot.




What are you listening to?

Shawn:   The sound of silence.   No really not Simon and Garfunkle.   The actual sounds of no sound at all comfort me most.
Black Mass:   Recently really into this band called Motionless in White.   Kinda of an electronic, death metal hybrid along the lines of Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth meets Marilyn Manson.
S. Du Val:   My own wheels turning in “our” head.

What are you reading?
Shawn:   Well, honestly I don’t have a lot of time to read which is why I created ADHD Magazine, for others like myself who want a quick fix, but don’t have the time to thumb through endless pages of words.   Other than that?   Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram feeds mostly as well as this blog.   *YAETMO*
Black Mass:   Anton La Vey, Speak of the Devil and The Devil’s Notebook.   Also Liber Null/Psychonaut by Peter j Carroll and at times bits of Crowley.
S. Du Val:   LoBurn Magazine.   Lana Gentry’s interviews as a general rule are unique and insightful and her epic interview with R. Crumb is one for the record books.




Favorite author / book?
Shawn:   Slovenly Peter - Heinrich Hoffman
Black Mass:   Lewis Carroll and Roald Dahl.  ANY.
S. Du Val:   Benjamin Franklin - The Poor Richard’s Almanac

Favorite band / song?
Shawn:   “In the City” – Joe Walsh from The Warriors soundtrack.
Black Mass:   ANY 80’s L.A/OC punk, Social Distortion, Adolescents, D.I., Agent Orange, Bad religion, Descendents, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, etc.   Favorite song? Hmmm? That would be a 4 way tie between Black Flag’s “My War”, Suicidal Tendencies “War inside my head”, The Descendents “Dreams”, and “the Adolescents “OC Confidential”
S. Du Val:   “Hotel California” - The Eagles, or “The Sound of Silence” - Simon and Garfunkle



Least favorite band / song?
Shawn: 
 Anything by Justin Bieber.
Black Mass:
  Christian Hymns
S. Du Val:   The Barney T.V show theme song.

If you could do anything other than what you do now, what would you do?

Shawn:   Special effects makeup.   This was always my first career goal when I was a child. Ray Harryhausen, and Tom Savini were my biggest influences and heroes as a kid.
Black Mass:
  Porn Star.   Getting paid to fuck?   Sign me up.
S. Du Val:
  Act.   I have done some film work as an extra/non speaking features and would really like to pursue it more at some point in a greater capacity.




Who would you want to meet that you haven’t met?

Shawn:
   David Bowie would be cool.
Black Mass:
   Peter J Carroll, David Icke.   Oh and Alex Jones so I can throw piss in his face.   I hate that fat blowhard shit disturbing phony.
S. Du Val:
  I enjoy meeting all types of people.   So pretty much anyone I guess, everyone has something interesting or of value to learn from.
What’s the best and worst job you’ve ever had?
Shawn:   Best job I have ever had was the one I have now, working for myself.   Worst was working as an order puller in lucky Grocery stores main U.S distribution warehouse.
Black Mass:   Best Job?   A blow job.   Worst?   A hand job without lube.
S. Du Val:   Best: as Editor/founder of ADHD Magazine.   Worst?   Pretty much anything called a “job” I hate.

Anyone you recommend I interview that you can put me in touch with?
Shawn:   Lana Gentry, Ryan Case, Ian Ward, Chris Vigil.
Black Mass:
  My cock. It has a bigger head than all three of us combined and it spits venom, would you like to touch it?   I mean get in touch with it?  *Laughs*
S. Du Val:   Drew Daywalt, Gus Fink, The Creep(Chris Densmore), Kim Mayhew/Mayhem



Got any questions for me?
Black Mass:   How many times a day does an egomaniac masturbate.
Five.   That was easy.

Shawn:   If you woke up today and realized you were gay.   Who is the first dude you’d want to “Gay Marry”  and why?
Probably my room-mate if he’d have me.  We already live together, so why not make it official?   *laughs*
S. Du Val: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?   1, 2, or 3?
If you can get to the center of a Tootsie roll pop in anything under several hundred licks you should have your tongue registered as a dangerous weapon.



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About the Interviewee:
Shawn Humiston is a writer, artist, animal lover, husband, activist, entertainer and witness to the human/inhuman condition.   Manic, bi-polar, insane or mad genius?   He is all of these things and none of them at the same time.   He is an enigma, constantly re-inventing himself and the world around him.   He has many faces and alternate identities.   You have only met 3 of them here.   Some will come, some will go, some to remain secret, others to emerge and incarnate when the time is right.   Shawn, in whatever manifestation he chooses to assume at any given point evokes a sense of wonder, horror and mystery to those who would dare explore the depths of his madness only to discover that he is perfectly sane and that perhaps it is his audience who are in need of a straitjacket.


About the Interviewer:
Scott Lefebvre can write about whatever you want him to write about.
Mostly because when he was grounded for his outlandish behavior as a hyperactive school child, the only place he was allowed to go was the public library.
His literary tastes were forged by the works of Helen Hoke, Alvin Schwartz and Stephen Gammell, Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, Stephen King, Clive Barker, Edgar Allan Poe, and H. P. Lovecraft.
He is the author of Spooky Creepy Long Island, and a contributing author to Forrest J. Ackerman’s Anthology of the Living Dead, Fracas: A Collection of Short Friction, The Call of Lovecraft, and Cashiers du Cinemart.
He is currently working on ten novel-length book projects which will be released in 2014.
He also publishes themed collections of interviews from his interview blog You Are Entitled To My Opinion.
His reviews have been published by a variety of in print and online media including Scars Magazine, Icons of Fright, Fatally Yours and Screams of Terror, and he has appeared in Fangoria, Rue Morgue and HorrorHound Magazine.
He is the Assistant Program Director for The Arkham Film Society and produces electronic music under the names Master Control and LOVECRAFTWORK.
He is currently working on a novel-length expansion of a short-story titled, "The End Of The World Is Nigh", a crowd-funded, crowd-sourced, post-apocalyptic, zombie epidemic project.
Check out the blog for the book here: theendoftheworldisnighbook.blogspot.com
Check out the Facebook Fan Page for the project here: www.facebook.com/TheEndOfTheWorldIsNighBook
Check his author profile at: www.amazon.com/Scott-Lefebvre/e/B001TQ2W9G
Follow him at GoodReads here:
www.goodreads.com/author/show/1617246.Scott_Lefebvre
Check out his publishing imprint Burnt Offerings Books here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Burnt-Offerings-Books/1408858196016246
And here: http://burntofferingsbooks.blogspot.com/
Check out his electronic music here: soundcloud.com/master_control
And here: master-control.bandcamp.com
Check out his videos at: www.youtube.com/user/doctornapoleon
Check out his IMDB profile here: www.imdb.com/name/nm3678959
Follow his Twitter here: twitter.com/TheLefebvre or @TheLefebvre
Follow his Tumblr here: thelefebvre.tumblr.com
Check out his Etsy here: www.etsy.com/shop/ScottLefebvreArt
Join the group for The Arkham Film Society here:
www.facebook.com/groups/arkhamscreenings
Stalk his Facebook at: www.facebook.com/TheLefebvre
E-mail him at: Scott_Lefebvre@hotmail.com


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