By John Wisniewski for MK ULTRA Magazine
SINthetik Messiah, the Louisiana-based tribal industrial outfit just released a new two-track EP entitled “The Lost Tribe.” This EP is an immersive journey into the shadowy depths of human emotion, exploring the profound sense of alienation and the struggle of never feeling like one truly belongs. Blending various elements of industrial, electro, dance, rock and ambient, SINthetik Messiah is the work of the Cajun songwriter and sound designer Bug Gigabyte, who has amassed a dozen diverse releases in his career. Bug sat down to field a few questions about the inner workings of SINthetik Messiah and beyond.
-Bandcamp:
https://sinthetikmessiah.bandcamp.com/music
John Wisniewski How did you begin in music, Bug?
Bug Gigabyte,: My musical journey began with traditional training on the trumpet in my middle school band class. Around that time, I was getting into rock music and thought the guitar was incredibly cool, but its complexity intimidated me. So, I started with the bass instead. Later, in high school, I picked up the keyboard to join a local metal band, and I’ve been playing music ever since.
JW: Any favorite new, up and coming music artists you’d like to mention?
BG: Not really in the sense that what most people consider “new” is probably 5 to 10 years old for me, haha. I must say, though, that techno-influenced industrial music—whether instrumental or laden with distorted vocals—has certainly evolved in a pleasing way, and even the EDM community is starting to take notice.
For your readers: If you want to hear new music, look for DJs who have regular shows in the scene. They’re usually on top of the latest releases.
I’d like to give a shout-out to all the DJs in the scene who have played my work. Thank you—it means the world to me.
JW: Why do you choose to delve into some many different sounds to create your music?
BG: It’s like I’m a master chef experimenting in a boundless kitchen. Picture a chef who’s not about to be tied down to just one style, like Italian or French. Nah, I’m out here blending spicy Cajun vibes with delicate Japanese moves, throwing in some hearty German roots and bold Indian spices. I don’t stick to one recipe book because, to me, the kitchen’s this wild playground where every ingredient, no matter how out-there it seems, can mix into something fresh and dope.
For Sinthetik Messiah, music’s that kitchen. I’m Bug Gigabyte, the one steering this ship, and I’m tossing industrial bass with electro, dance, rock, ambient, pop, even some post-trip hop into the mix—not because I can’t pick a lane, but because I’m obsessed with exploring and flipping the script. It’s like fusing sweet and savory to hit you with a flavor you didn’t see coming. I’ll blend distorted vocals with techno beats or ambient noise with punk fire just to keep you guessing. We don’t stay in one genre because it’s all about evolving and staying free—kinda like a chef who’s got the skills locked down and can’t help but push it further to see what’s next. It’s not about fitting in a box; it’s about smashing that box to bits and building something totally new from the wreckage.
All this talk is making me hungry. Haha
JW: Tell us about recording the EP “The Lost Tribe” and what were the sessions like?
BG: “Nature’s Magik” began as a skeletal framework, initially intended as a collaborative piece with Gen from Genitorturers.That collaboration never materialized, and the track languished in my music library for eight years—possibly more. During that time, I released a demo version through CRL Studios in Alaska, featured on a Standing Rock Benefit Album. Pig contributed to it as well, and the release climbed the Bandcamp charts, successfully raising funds to support Standing Rock aid efforts.
Given its deep ties to magic, nature, and Indigenous culture, I felt compelled to return to the track and bring it to completion, infusing it with renewed purpose and depth. I wove in a fresh composition to reflect the heartache embedded in my family’s bloodline—a pain born from racism within our own tribe.
To elaborate: *Nature’s Magik* now embodies the fierce, primal energy sparked by the torment inflicted by French soldiers in 1706. The Chitimacha people, pushed to their limits, called upon the Turkey Buzzard Man—the Bone Collector—and harnessed nature’s dark magic to drive the invaders from their land.
The companion track, *Poison To Our Hearts*, plunges into the grim reality of never finding justice or belonging within one’s own tribe due to skin color. For over a century, the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana has refused to acknowledge its members of African descent, giving rise to the story of Louisiana’s Lost Tribe.
JW: Will you be touring? What are live shows like for the band?
BG: I’m working on putting together a southern tour, centered primarily around my Hard Dance album Red Line, released with Plasmapool Records out of Germany.
For my shows, I’ll give you a heads-up about what I’m playing in advance. If it’s my dance material, it’ll mostly be just me performing solo. For pretty much everything else, expect a three-piece band setup.
JW: Could you tell us something about your early years? What first attracted you to music?
BG: Smoking weed for the first time, at a very young age, shifted how I experienced music. It was like a key that unlocked a part of my brain, letting me truly feel the sound. Dance music from that era, along with rock and blues, took on a deeper significance—I could sense what the artists were pouring into their work. Now, with my own music, that’s the standard I chase. When I finish a track, it has to hit me with that same visceral feeling. If it doesn’t, I know it’s not done yet.
JW: Where did the band’s name “Sinthetik Messiah” come from?
BG: I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. What started as a simple art project eventually evolved into an idea for a stop-motion film. Growing up inspired by Tron and Dragon Ball Z, it felt only natural to blend those influences into the concept—and even the title reflected that energy.
When I later discovered music, I channeled that same creative drive into making sound instead of visuals. That journey led me to finish my first book last year—one of its tracks was even submitted to the Grammys.
Now, after years of creating, I’m getting closer to the real dream: building my own universe through animation and film—The Bug Verse.
I just have a lot more books and music to write for it.
And here’s a little easter egg for those paying attention: I’m Cajun, so the intentional misspelling of “Synthetic” is a nod to my roots.
JW: Any future plans and projects for the band?
BG: MORE BOOKS AND MORE MUSIC!!!!! Maybe a live show here and there, if there is enough demand for it.
JW: Anything else you would like to add?
BG: I would like to thank you and everyone who has supported me through the years and the journey i’ve have been on. My love goes out to you all!