TALKIN' SERIOUS TRASH (ARELLA) WITH RENA RIFFEL by Owen Keehnen

Goth Goddess Demona Bast hails from Brazil but currently makes her home in the states. She is involved in all sorts of dark arts from her status as a scream queen in horror flicks such as 'Descent into Darkness 2' and 'Prison of the Psychotic Dead' to her goth modeling to her hypnotic and wildly experimental music. Demona is a woman you soon won't forget and at Racks and Razors we predict you'll be hearing a lot more from her.... to hear a little bit right now check out this exclusive interview.

  *So Demona, can you start us off with a visual and describe the room where you're answering these questions.

It would be my pleasure...The room was indeed very and probably the spookiest room in that movie. The walls were full of bloody wicked old dolls. They are all different and some are broken, evil, and crazy looking', etc... Inside that room I went through different emotions and communications with the other side/spirits. They found a way to enter my mind and take over my thoughts and body forcing me to be someone else and controlling me with their desire to make me evil. The room is filled with their voices in my head in which are driving me insane to the point that I do the extreme, some really deadly and unexpected things. But the only way to find out the rest is by watching the movie. I have some very intense parts in there. Trapped by them and being forced to do what I don't want to do. There's also an awesome scene with a baby and on... that scene I recommend parents not to let their kids to watch it.

*You star in horror movies like the above you describe above in 'Prison of the Psychotic Dead', make Goth music, are a Goth model, and have created this wonderfully dark persona. Do you have some first memory of this...or looking back when you were a little girl or adolescent are there a couple instances where you think, "That kid was destined to grow up to be a Goth Goddess".

Ha-ha well thanks very much! As far as I remember I have always been attracted to the dark side in a limited way. I enjoy doing anything that has a good quality, good enough to create whether it's dark or ancient where things were more pure. I have been involved into the world of modeling, theater/acting, music and dancing ever since I was 5 years old. Getting involved in school projects was how I discovered my own ways in the artistic world. I have always been open to any kind of projects such as Victorian Times and etc...But for some odd reason I seem to attract the horror and dark artists and filmmakers of this era. I have always been comfortable being in my own skin indeed. I have never felt the need to become alike someone else as some do. No offense. I like to be unique and different enough to where it is still consider classy and seductive at the same time. Well, in this life time; I'm definitely pursuing what I have always wanted to pursue and I'm happy about it. Making different movies, creating different styles of music that reaches all kinds of creatures in many different genres, artistic modeling should be just as easy for me as changing clothes... if you know what I mean.

*Tell me about your role as Aurora in 'Prison of the Psychotic Dead'. How did the role come about?

The role to me was my favorite not because it was my role but the fact it resembled me more. Since I'm attracted to the spiritual world, I'm spiritual and I'm a spirit lover, communicating with the other side is an honor for me. So I had no problems having to create and becoming the character, it flew smoothly as I went along with the acting. I never rehearsed, I just memorize my lines. I believe I become more natural as an actress in time of "Action"...it all comes naturally to me as we go along. I consider a gift in which I'm thankful for it. It goes something like this...I first picture the story my head how it would be and how it should be and than I create the moment as I'm entering my zone meeting my new persona within me that will make the director and also the audience satisfied. I feel it works out better that way with me. And gladly I have never had a problem with that because my devotion to my job as an actress is pure and real with honor. In which leads me to give the best in me from the beginning to the end.

*How did you relate to your character?

At moments...I felt close to my character, it was a given. Only in the sense of that she is calm but when something hits the fan...ha-ha...as some might know me...she is tough in her own controllable ways. Kidding! I enjoyed being that character very much! She was strange, of course, I wouldn't do most of the things that she had done in the movie but I do admire her powers/abilities as a psychic and a medium...this opportunity to experience the unknown is a pleasing sensation.

*Can you give us a teaser for the movie that will make it irresistible to the www. racksandrazors. com readers.

Oh Boy good question Owen... Now you got me there. I would defiantly say the beginning of the movie already starts with an interesting view as well as the Doll Room scene in which will captivate the audience quickly. The spooky monster and crazy characters, some special effects are also really cool. It's for you to watch and for you to judge!

*I also want to hear about your role as Faith in 'Descent into Darkness 2'.

That is a movie that me and the fans are craving to watch it on DVD someday. It was a great experience! I was the lead vampire Faith, the innocent girl who was corrupted by the Master Vampire...he is the one that gave me the eternal life without my consent. As I turned into a vampire in the beginning at times I did not realize I was drinking from the human blood and would become very disturbed about it until...you'll have to wait till the movie comes out. I've always wanted to make a vampire movie as well as I wanted to make all kinds of movies. Being a vamp was sensual and interesting. When I was invited to pursue this role as a vampire I did not think twice about it. I was ready in a heart beat to become this character. I loved it! In case the fans are wondering, unfortunately, this was not a love story. Sorry! Anyways, it was filmed in Ohio, a movie by Vamping You Productions. The story is about this modern vampire that don't want to be a vampire but so she is doomed forever more. You can find the trailers online such as MySpace website and YouTube.com today as well as my other stuff that is in there too such as my music videos from "Synthetic Darkness"(Innocence Lost) In which was created indeed for the 'Prison of the Psychotic Dead', "Hail Pomba Gira" and etc...

*Tell me about your music. Who are your influences and what do you try to do or convey with your songs?

I make all kinds of music experimental, Goth, industrial, rock etc... I use different artists and musicians from around the globe. You may take a listen to them on: www. MySpace.com/DemonaBast there it will lead you to my other musical variations, pages and etc...My music comes from the depths of the mind in which words are created from the beyond of my deepest thoughts. Many will understand where I'm coming from just as well many will don't. I tend to make sounds that will deliver a unique atmosphere. These are included amongst the hypnotic tunes I choose to lay upon them all are just ideas of my mind and some you may find wicked while some may fall in love and encounter a combination of exotic, ritualistic, film friendly yet radio friendly vibrations to your pleasure. My influences are life and death. Mysteries, experiences and suggestive thoughts...I listen to mostly underground music...a whole world that many should explore. It just seem more tasteful to me...it's the stuff that they don't play in the radio these days. Music that has character! Now a days everything sounds the same, excuse my honesty; such as music in which I'm not interested like "Britney Spears" and the "The Backstreet Boys". Some of the bands/musicians I prefer to support are Diamanda Galas, Diary of Dreams, The Doors, Pink Floyd, The Sounds of Solace; I also appreciate world music from countries such as India, Brazil, Italy and Germany...etc...I feel that I lot of good music came from the old Times though...they were deeper, words and sounds were penetrating and were like they should be... respected. Now and days...people just write anything that comes to mind quickly just so they can make a buck, put out an album that has not a strong meaning as they use to in my opinion.

*I've heard you say you are attracted to dark and mysterious things, but is the attraction mutual?

I'm seduced by darkness-Darkness is seduced by me...Most of it is for entertainment, of course, as well as some I include into my personal life in which I view it in a something more positive than most of us do. Darkness to me is calm, relaxing but yet vivid in its own ways in which only rays of its beauty could be viewed by the ones with a more open minded. There's beauty in darkness! It all depends how you view it...I don't ignore darkness or light, in light I gather my sources...in Darkness I create from the sources I encountered with the light. They need each other no matter what.

*Have you had any otherworldly encounters - ghosts or hauntings or UFOs?

I believe so, when I was as growing up I've had my experiences with the unknown, spirits and UFOs and most are respected and some accepted by me. I respect their worlds as much as they respect mine, there for; we all get along just fine. I did have some pleasant & unpleasant encounters with spirits before... though I know how to manage. Mostly I attract the worthy ones from my existence. For the unwanted knows what I'm capable of. As for UFOs, I have only witness them flying in the sky. And no; I don't do drugs! Some body needs to be responsible.

*Okay. We're pulling the car into the Demona Bast Drive In.
*A. What three horror films are on the triple bill for tonight?
*B. What goodies are they going to be serving up at the concession stand?
*C. And what sort of behavior will not be tolerated?

a. Besides my own movies...I would say: - "Bram Stokes' Dracula" with Gary Oldman, although I consider romantic. - "Meridian - Kiss of the Beast" with Sherilyn Fenn - "Begotten" ...a silent experimental film by E. Elias Merhige
b. Wine, pizza the rest upon request...
c. Talking during the movie...better go to the bathroom before the movie starts. Kissing is permitted... maybe.

*What makes you scream in real life?

Uninvited Pain.

What scares you in real life?

Humans, dying before their time, Getting old and last...Falling in love with the wrong person.