1) Who are the members of your band and how did you meet?
Afflicted By Design started as a solo project for me, S.A. Sebastian Gnolfo, so I am the only official member of the band. I sing lead vocals, and play bass and guitar, program synths,drums and loops on all the songs. Each Afflicted By Design release features former bandmates and friends from the New York and Austin goth, punk and metal scenes. I’ve had the good fortune to have the following people perform on the different releases. For #nameless Michael J. Carrasquillo played drums, Pete Collins and Skunk Manhattan (of Austin’s A Good Rogering) played lead guitars. On “This Is Not A Love Song” Michael J. Carrasquillo played drums, Jim Robbins played guitar, and Jacqueline Van Bierk sang vocals. On “I Believe In Halloween” Michael J. Carrasquillo played drums and Dylan Sinclair played lead guitar. On Lies, Lies, Lies! Rom Gov (of Austin’s Seek Irony) played drums, Fred Fata played lead guitar, and Rona Rougeheart (of Austin’s SINE) sang co-lead vocals. There are some great new players, and some returning players, lined up for upcoming releases.

2) How long have you been in Austin and how long have you played music?
I moved to Austin from New Jersey 9 years ago, in 2009. I have been playing bass for 36 years and playing in bands for just over 30 years.

3) Has the city of Austin had any influence in the style or direction of your music?
I’m not sure what, if any, influence Austin has had on the style or direction of my music. But, as a Northern liberal atheist, living in Texas definitely has influenced me. Songs I write are sonically more aggressive and lyrically more political. I typically try to tell stories with my songs but lately find I am raging against tyranny and oppression of theocrats and the moral majority.

4) Do you perform live shows in Austin, and if so,what are your favorite venues?
I played bass for several people in Austin, but, Afflicted By Design has not not yet performed in Austin. Afflicted By Design started as a studio project, but I hope to put together a live band to perform starting the end of 2018.

5) Are there other bands in Austin you’d recommend to your fans?
Some of my favorite bands from Austin include Seek Irony, A Good Rogering, New World Architects, New Age Love. There’s more great bands, and these aren’t all electronic-based, but they’re definitely my favorites.

6) What musicians have most influenced you?
For someone that has played mainly industrial rock for the past 18 years I might have some weird influences. Joe Satriani, James Jamerson, and David J are a big influences on me as a bass player. I love Satriani’s guitar melodies and Jamerson’s Motown grooves – which you can also hear in David J’s playing. As a songwriter I think I am really influenced by the bands I grew up on, like the Replacements, the Cure, Depeche Mode, Public Image Limited, the Ramones and anything NYC punk rock, plus later favorites like Rammstein and Placebo.

7) What’s the best thing that has happened to your band?
Moving to Austin is the best thing to happen to Afflicted By Design. If I hadn’t moved to Austin I probably would have joined another band and still be freelancing with 5 or 6 other bands a month while trying to work on Afflicted By Design on the side. Moving to Austin gave me the time to put Afflicted By Design first.

8) Any cringe-worthy moments the band has endured that you’re willing to divulge?
Recording lead vocals for the #nameless Ep was pretty brutal. I had spent so many years playing bass and singing background vocals that I really didn’t know how to sing lead. It took so many hours – and bottles of wine – to find my voice and record those songs! My buddy Rob Hinton, who recorded #nameless, helped me get through it alive with just a few scratches.

9) Is there anything you’d care to share or anything else you’d like to let us know about?
Afflicted By Design has been the most challenging music endeavor I have ever done. It was not easy to put down the bass and be the lead singer, and the songwriter all on my own. Writing songs in a band democracy was challenging, but ideas and talents from all your bandmates drive the creative process. It’s not easy doing all this on your own!

10) Give us one fun fact.
I am the co-owner of Bloody Rose Boutique — Austin’s premiere destination for rock, punk, goth and alternative apparel and accessories for people who like to push the limits of convention. We curate a small and unique collection of high-quality, exceptional imported and local clothing and accessories for the people on the darker side of rock, punk, goth and alternative lifestyles.