Untitled Burial, a renowned YouTube music channel, has been an influential platform for dark electronic genres such as Witch House and Wave for over a decade. With a commitment to consistently uploading music and supporting numerous artists, Untitled Burial has played a pivotal role in shaping the genre.
Witch House, a subgenre of electronic music, experienced its golden age between 2013 and 2016, and Untitled Burial was at the forefront of this movement. By curating and promoting music from talented artists within the genre, the channel contributed significantly to its growth and popularity.
Despite the evolving landscape of electronic music, Untitled Burial maintains a strong presence within the community. Their dedication to their mission of sharing music and supporting artists remains unwavering.
We had the privilege of engaging in an exclusive interview with the team behind Untitled Burial. In this conversation, they shed light on their journey, their motivations, and their vision for the future. Join us as we delve into the world of Untitled Burial and explore the profound impact they have made on the electronic music scene.
Exclusive Interview
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background in music?
I have been involved in the music industry, if I may say so, for a little over 10 years. It all began in 2012 when I started listening to Witch House. In early 2013, I created my first YouTube channel, and later that same year, in the fall of 2013, I established a new channel, which is now known as Untitled Burial.
During my childhood and youth, my musical tastes were similar to those of others and what was popular on MTV. I mostly enjoyed what I considered to be heavy music, such as Slipknot, System of a Down, Nightwish, and other similar bands. The only pop music I listened to was from the ’80s, and I had no interest in electronic music at all.
However, in 2008, when I gained access to reliable Internet, my musical preferences took a turn. I began exploring electronic music and delved into Hardcore (Techno). From there, I ventured into Future Garage before becoming enamored with Witch House.
Currently, my musical preferences mostly revolve around Dark Ambient, Witch House, and similar genres. I also find myself drawn to Atmospheric Black Metal, and I am still in love with music from the ’80s.
How do you discover new music to feature on your channel?
In the past, I used to personally search for new tracks primarily on platforms like SoundCloud and Bandcamp. During that time, which extended until around 2016, social networking pages were not as numerous as they are now, and artists themselves were hesitant to maintain personal pages. As a result, finding music was more challenging despite the fact that there was more of it at that time.
However, in the present day, I rarely search for new tracks myself. Instead, artists often send their music to me directly or through dedicated submission forms. Additionally, a significant amount of music is regularly shared on our Discord server where one can listen to it and interact with the artists. When I come across a track that I like, I save it for myself and plan its upload date on the channel.
Over the past 2-3 years, we have been consistently releasing a significant amount of music from the Untitled Burial label. This includes albums being released once a month and even more frequent releases of singles. As a result, I always have an extensive collection of music available that I can upload to the channel.
How do you engage with your audience and encourage their participation on your channel?
During the time when I only had a YouTube channel, I made it a priority to respond to comments there. However, as the number of social networks and the volume of content increased, it became incredibly challenging to interact with the audience across all platforms. Simply put, there is not enough time to do this. Nowadays, our primary means of communication with the audience occurs through music and gaming streams on my channel, as well as on our Discord server. These platforms provide a more focused and interactive space for us to engage with our community.
How do you handle copyright and licensing issues when featuring music on your channel?
Since I work in a small music scene and with independent artists who are not associated with major labels, I rarely encounter licensing and copyright issues. With the advancement of streaming services and various methods of content monetization, artists generally have fewer restrictions on their work, often relying on simple Content ID systems for protection. Moreover, lately, I am occasionally approached with inquiries about licensing and purchasing tracks for use in games and movies. As an example, the developers of the Mortal Shell game initially explored the possibility of using Witch House music for the game trailers from one of the artists who gained popularity through several features on my channel.
Can you share any future plans or goals you have for your YouTube music channel?
My wishes include achieving at least 10,000 streams on a new track within the first week of its release, as well as reaching a subscriber base of at least 100,000 fans. Additionally, I want to be able to create more music videos, themed mixes, and collaborative projects with fellow artists and labels. The only aspect that currently feels lacking on the channel is a variety of interviews, as most other forms of musical content are already present on the channel.
Since Untitled Burial has evolved into a fully-fledged music label, my focus has expanded beyond YouTube to promote the music across all platforms and even beyond the borders of the internet. In the near future, I plan to launch new merchandise through a new store and organize live events. Looking ahead, I am also considering the possibility of venturing into television or radio broadcasting. By exploring offline opportunities, I want to expand my reach and establish a stronger presence within the music industry.
How do you balance showcasing popular, mainstream music with supporting independent or lesser-known artists on your channel?
I have not worked with any mainstream artists in my experience. The Witch House genre, by its nature, stays quite distant from the mainstream music industry. Within this genre, there are some artists who have gained more popularity than others have, but in general, the scene I engage with is independent and comprises mostly lesser-known artists. Therefore, issues related to airtime and exposure between artists are not a problem within this context.
What do you hope viewers take away from watching your channel and interacting with your content?
I hope that listeners will have a profound realization when they come across the channel or discover the Witch House genre for the first time. I want them to experience the sensation of finally encountering the music they have been searching for all their lives, even though they may not have been able to imagine its sound. For our regular listeners, I hope that each new track and release serves as a reaffirmation of their belief in the diversity and excellence of Witch House as the premier genre within the realm of dark electronic music.
Connect with Untitled Burial
https://www.untitledburial.com/
https://discord.com/invite/YSk4M4b
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/106m15pgxevI0KshX5YWBv
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