Eric North’s mannerisms are intricate. He chooses his words carefully, explaining he doesn’t typically divulge much information about himself. “I explain a lot of shit, but the way I speak makes things difficult for people to interpret sometimes.” When socially normative conversation becomes be an obstacle, music is a safe crash-landing pad. He takes freedom of expression to its boiling point and then holds it over the flame. A staunch advocate for mental health, Eric briefly outlines for me what he describes as one of his un-self-diagnosed psychotic episodes. There’s blood and rage and blacking out. And while these fits are unfortunate, they add to the fire that fuels him. Eric North finds inspiration in his breakdowns.
From Connecticut, the black and Puerto Rican 18-year-old artist grew up feeling alienated and isolated amongst his peers. Regardless of their popularity today, we cannot forget the mocked reputation that once followed those who watched anime or listened to metal music. Citing Silent Hill and Resident Evil as inspirations for his illustrations, Eric merged his love for digital media with creature design. Anime themes bled into his Japanese punk phase, which then paved his interested into American metal. Eric’s earlier music is mostly about him realizing how different others are from him, which seeps into his role as a member in the collective anti-world.
Getting involved with anti-world introduced him to the idea that being black and androgynous can both coexist and thrive. Initially, Eric wasn’t into hip-hop. Rapping over rancid guitar riffs and acrid screaming was niche, and he wanted to find like-minded artists who related to his vision. He connected with $hy by sending him the beat for “Call the Cops.” An enlightened understanding of Sybyr’s lyrics soon turned into lengthy Skype calls between all three. “Everyone had the same mindset. It was like I had friends. Deeper than that,” says Eric. “There are no boundaries or limits. We can do or talk about anything.” The entire group is comprised of vocalists, producers, and visual artists that encourage experimentation and individuality. No two artists’ sounds are alike.
Eric describes his music as “cybernetic,” or relating to the communication between machines and living things. He associates numbers with emotions, which he realizes “makes sense to me, even though it probably doesn’t make sense to most people.” This is a common theme amongst others’ reactions towards Eric’s actions. He blends punk-rock and metal with rap beats and heavy drum kits; these elements are fierce alone and create monstrosities when built together. Finding a melody within harsh, staticky vocals is a difficult balance, if one can be found at all. Still obsessed with numbers, most of Eric’s earlier albums have underscores and numbers in their titles for reasons that even he does not think he’ll ever know.
While Eric can fathom the uncanny connection between the members of anti-world, he still can’t wrap his head around the concept of a fan. “It is a very weird feeling to know people know how you’re feeling.” He responds to his own dumbfoundness with inclusivity. It’s common to see Eric hanging outside shows, smoking a cigarette and talking to fans. When people tell him his music saved their life, he says his heart gets on its knees and starts praying. “Growing up, I didn’t get a lot of love. But now I’m receiving the love I felt I should have gotten. It makes me feel really nice inside. It makes me feel less alone.”
There’s a lot to look forward to within the anti-world community. An EP with Jimmy V. Tracks with $hy and Sybyr. A project with Ghostie that he feels in his esophagus and internal organs. “Our voices work so well together. It’s horrifically amazing. It feels like something that was destined to happen.” And a solo project that he says is his best work he’s ever done. But you might not hear much more hype about it from Eric because “hyping yourself up is dumb.” He approaches his music with a humble heart. Even though he knows this is the path he was meant to walk on, there is no lack of understanding the work and development that one needs to continue along successfully.
At the core of Eric North is the desire to ignite. Whether it be passion or fury, his intensity never dies down. There is nothing more he wants from his fans than for them to know that help is out there if they ever need it. “Please try to always remember that you’re friends love you, you can talk to them at any moment, and you can get help without spending money.” Eric is determined to continue making an impact on his fans and community. “There’s always’ a resolution to your problem, and if I know my music can be that resolution, then I can’t stop.”