"Perfect choices! And if I remember correctly, there's a rock-jazz-blues-experimental-music adaptation of Der Freischutz. Why not adding metal to the mix, or remixing the story entirely?" he says, intrigued by the youngster's choices. Deals with the devil, and he's chosen earth-walking angels for his own narrative.

"As I matter of fact, I know of a tiny basement club that has an open mic night on Tuesdays and Fridays, alternating weeks. I used to play in the house band off and on back when I was still in the indie goth scene," he says. "I still go there once in a while, as my schedule allows."