Ep533: Exploring the Pusciverse with Carina Round

New Puscifer album "Normal Isn't" and concert film drop February 6th

Puscifer described as dark multimedia project with interconnecting 20-year storyline

New characters introduced: Belendia Black, Fanny Gray, the Synth Whisperer

Writing began post-Existential Reckoning; Mat keeps a magical idea folder

Maynard learned Logic software, contributed more initial musical sketches this time

Carina waits for lyrics—word rhythms shape her vocal approach entirely

Mat masters specific gear per album: Fairlight, Synclavier, custom guitars

Carina sang through Eventide effects unit, letting it shape melodies

Mat designs all stage plots, lighting, and visual concepts himself

Carina recently started improv classes—facing her worst nightmare on purpose

Mat discovered her at LA show; V is for Vagina hooked her

Maynard conveys mood clearly while leaving lyrics open to interpretation

Humbling River audition taught her: no preciousness about ideas here

Maynard's response—"as long as it doesn't interfere with me"—was freeing

Having an eight-year-old son completely changed her creative process

Revisiting The Disconnection live revealed surprising wisdom in her youth

Music became her way to connect rather than dissociate emotionally

She bootlegged her own Interscope album just to have it on vinyl

Kids today skip songs constantly—no commitment to full album journeys

Rare Ocean Blue pressing was a happy accident—only 13 copies exist