On the Air: Dark Entries

David Wood (DJ D) is a media arts major specializing in video production and editing with the ultimate goal of working in Los Angeles or New York as a producer. In the meantime, he's had a long-running radio show here with WUSC, “Dark Entries: Goth Radio.” The show features largely Gothic Rock, but also branches out into various dark genres and doom metal. Catch “Dark Entries” every Saturday night from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Garnet & Black: How did you find yourself in the world of gothic rock?

David Wood: There was a record company called Cleopatra Records that produced most of your major goth bands, and the first goth compilation of theirs is just called “Gothic Rock.” I found that compilation on cassette when I was 15 at a store in Myrtle Beach — my cousin actually showed it to me and said, “This might be something that you could get into.” So we spent the rest of the trip just riding around in his truck listening to that tape on repeat. 

G&B: What do you specifically like about goth radio?

DW: I like it because it is multifaceted — under the umbrella of what is called "gothic rock" there are so many different sub-genres and sounds that people don’t realize. It also appeals to people who look at the world in a different way, in a sense that I see sort of beauty in horror in the world all the time. 

G&B: If you were to try to get more students into gothic rock, what would you say about it?

DW: Don’t be scared of it. The main misconception about it is “Oh you’re so weird” and “It’s all about satanism and devil worship.” If anything, it has a sense of humor. When you go to see a horror movie, you’re not going because you worship the devil; you just want to have a good time. I mean, yeah, there are some darker aspects to it, but life is hard. And people go through things. If you think about it, gothic music is not very different from blues music. They both stem from a similar place. People need ways to get through the hard parts of life.