Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Oberto.
Hi Eric, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have a condition called synesthesia (a neurological condition that enables me to see sound as three-dimensional colors and shapes, as I hear it). I give a lot of credit to synesthesia as the reason I’m able to write complete music, without any formal musical training. I just paint moving, three-dimensional musical pictures with the color palette that the sounds provide. I don’t question where it comes from or how it works, I just use what my brain is making available to me.
Synesthesia led me in the direction of dark electronic music (more specifically Industrial, Goth, EBM, Darkwave, etc.). My mind was immediately seduced by mental image pictures that these styles of music created. It was like nothing my mind had ever experienced before, and it was almost like it was meant to be. I didn’t have the greatest childhood, so the combination of dark moods and synthesizers was the perfect outlet for my emotions.
My first legit splash into the entertainment industry was as the singer/songwriter/front man of the popular Industrial band- Tungsten Coil. Hailing from Detroit, Michigan- the band was formed in 1994 and we immediately shook up the Detroit industrial/goth music scene and gained a solid Detroit fanbase.
The following year we made a surprise move to Austin, Texas. By 1996, we played our first Texas show at the infamous heavy metal club The Back Room. This show put Tungsten Coil on the Austin, Texas music scene map overnight and launched us into the spotlight. Tungsten Coil became a staple of the Austin electronic music scene. We showcased multiple years at the famous South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival. We gained a strong regional following through a relentless touring schedule over the years.
Tungsten Coil was featured in numerous music compilations, released multiple EPs, and released two full-length albums- Reactive and Alpha & Omega. Along the way, we were nominated for and won multiple awards, including an AUSTIN MUSIC AWARD for BEST INDUSTRIAL BAND. Our final performance was an SXSW showcase at Elysium in 2008, where they shared the stage with Goth legend- Peter Murphy of Bauhaus. It’s a shame that Tungsten Coil’s heyday was before the current social media frenzy because a lot of those great memories were never captured on film.
After I decided to put Tungsten Coil on hiatus, I took an extended break from the entertainment industry and launched a successful career in the financial industry. My path eventually led to an entrepreneurial career move to fund, launch and co-found my own financial company, right here in Dallas, Texas. After several years of success in the financial industry, I decided to sell the company to my business partner and focus my passion back to my first true love- music!
Now, I’m back down to one! I’m so proud and happy to be a solo artist! This is the first time I’m just putting myself and my own unique talents out there to the world! Currently, I’m involved in music & the film industry in several different forms (solo musician, writing soundtracks, composing scores, acting, producing, directing, scriptwriting, and editing).
I have several new projects and releases coming soon…
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s never been “sunshine & rainbows” for me!
When I was 16 years old, I developed a rare condition called- Synovial Chondrosarcoma, which is a rare form of cancer. This condition almost cost me my left leg (and my life)! Back is the 1990s, very little was known about this condition. I had several different diagnoses, by several different specialists. This led me down a path of becoming their “scientific guinea pig”! I went through a bunch of exploratory surgeries and treatments, that didn’t amount to anything but grief and misery! I was often laid-up sick at home, missed a lot of the last two years of high school, and a lot of the fun of just being a kid. I had to get tough and grow up fast. Finally, I ended up at the Mayo Clinic! They were able to come up with an experimental procedure that saved my leg, and my life.
On February 2nd of 2007- my father (Gary Oberto) committed suicide. This tragedy sent me down a dark path of self-abuse, poor decisions, & almost cost me my own life. I never saw it coming! My father and I were not speaking at that time, and I sincerely regret that I let petty arguments get in the way of our relationship. I never got to say goodbye.
Just when you think you have life figured out, it will slap you in the face with reality! in 2015, I suffered a tremendous blow to my musical abilities, that flipped my life upside down (again)!
I was inflicted with ‘Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss’ in my right ear. Being a play-by-ear musician and songwriter, when my right ear malfunctioned- my ability to clearly paint musical pictures through synesthesia was severely impaired (and almost lost). Over the next several years, I made multiple unsuccessful attempts to overcome my disability and failed miserably! It was devastating! I had always taken my musical gift for granted, never thinking that it would be lost! I thought my songwriting days were over! After a few years of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to pick myself up, dust myself down, and reload my guns of life! I’m not a quitter, I just needed time to process my loss. I then became obsessed with finding a solution to overcome my handicap.
In 2021, I finally found a path to create music using my one good ear and filled in the gaps of the broken ear by making use of modern computer software tools. These tools allow me to visually identify frequencies that I can no longer hear, I’m now able to visually see the stereo field where sounds reside (and more). I also discovered a device that allows me to independently EQ the left and right sides of my headphones. This device gave me the ability to boost all the lost hearing frequencies in the right ear; to fill in the missing gaps. The right ear is broken, completely distorted, and plagued with massive tinnitus. However, by amplifying all the frequencies independently, it tricks my brain into thinking that the correct hearing information is being received (even though it isn’t). The end result is that it allows my synesthesia to kick back in somewhat, and I use my previous songwriting experiences to fill in the gaps. These amazing tools didn’t make me whole again, but they did provide a new path forward to pursue my musical dreams.
Now, against all odds, I feel like I’m writing the best music of my career. This hearing loss handicap has pushed me to continually prove to myself that I can create art no matter what obstacles get in my way. My reignited passion has opened several other doors to utilize my talents.
There’s more bad stuff that’s happened to me, but that’s enough for this interview. I don’t want to stay on this subject anymore…
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Currently, I’m involved in music & movies in several different forms (writing soundtracks, composing scores, acting, producing, directing, scriptwriting, and editing).
My new song DARKNESS NEVER LIES is featured in the new motion picture- Amityville Cult. I also made my acting debut in the film as the demon named- “Asmodeus”. Speaking of debuts, I threw my hat into the ring as a Director and Editor. My first project is the music video for- DARKNESS NEVER LIES, which is a bonus feature on the Amityville Cult– DVD national Walmart was released on December 7th.
DARKNESS NEVER LIES is now available on all the major streaming platforms and bandcamp.com. The music video is available on YouTube. In addition, a remix by Cleopatra Records artist- Erik Gustafson of Adoration Destroyed will be released in early 2022.
I’m planning the release of my next single- CLOSER THAN EVER BEFORE (2022), which will feature a second collaboration with Erik Gustafson. This time Gustafson will be shooting and editing the music video. The song will be featured in the 2022 theatrical release horror film- MALIBU HORROR STORY. Additionally, I got involved with this film as an Executive Producer.
I just completed my first film score for a film called- SEVERED, By local director- Shannon Houk. I even got to play a cool role in the film as “Rob”. This film is currently being shopped for additional funding to hopeful become a full-length feature film.
Finally, I’m writing a script for a short film called- SLEEP. This film is my first challenge as a scriptwriter. I will also be starting in, directing, and producing the film. I plan to be filming in January and February of 2022.
I have more cool projects coming down the pipeline, and I’m just grateful to be creating and releasing quality art! I’m just getting started, you ain’t seen nothing yet!
I’m most proud of the fact that I can take the hard hits that life keeps throwing at me! I will never stop pushing myself to win!
I think what sets me apart from others, is that I refuse to follow “the rules”! I’m referring to all the rules that people above you create and want you to follow. These rules were made to keep you controlled and beneath “them” (religion, politics, leaders, bosses, etc.). I make my own rules because it’s my life. I will die before I allow anyone to tell me what I’m supposed to be doing with my life!
There are basic societal rules like- don’t hurt people, don’t steal, and don’t be a jerk (something like that). Beyond those basic rules, I’m not interested! You’ve got to make your own way in this short lifetime, don’t let anyone put you in their box (that’s where they want you to be)!
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love that Dallas (DFW) is a place that seems to have whatever type of cultural experience you could want. Just drive 45 minutes in any direction, and eventually, you’ll find what you are looking for.
The thing I like the least is the traffic!
Contact Info:
- Email: eric.oberto@gmail.com
- Website: https://ericoberto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eric.oberto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericoberto.official/
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12185750/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYNaAd-L4NCJwzWJ2VraCrA
- Bandcamp: https://ericoberto.bandcamp.com/
Image Credits:
Tammy Oberto
