A Bright Performer Who Calls Himself 'Dark Design'

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Marc Trignano of Morris Plains.

Whiz Kid Nominated By: Photographer and Patch freelancer Jacob Byk.

Whiz Kid's School: Senior at Morristown High School.

Whiz Kid's Accomplishments:  Plays multiple instruments, has been writing music since he was 13 and fronts an ever-changing band he calls "Dark Design."

Whiz Kid's Keys to Awesomeness: Here's what he said when Jacob Byk asked him:

How long have you been playing music?

It's hard for me to remember a time when I didn't play music. I started with my middle school's band program and fell in love more and more as time went on. There's not really a set point where I can say that I started. It just happened.

So then when did the Dark Design thing come around?

I've been trying to write music since I was 13 when I heard my first Neutral Milk Hotel record. It was a kind of music I've never heard before and I just sort of realized that music can actually evoke emotions. I had never really heard music before then that made me feel. That was when I said to myself, "This is something I want to do". 

And why did you choose the name Dark Design?

Definitely sounds sinister when I look back at it, but it's become almost like my identity. It doesn't feel like something I chose. I was going through a bit of a Mew phase and their song of the same name was just so creepy and disturbing ... I thought it would be funny to have a band named after it. So I started recording little bits and pieces of music my freshman year of high school and exporting it into MP3s with the artist name "Dark Design" and it just kind of stuck.

What kind of music would you say that you play?

Our songs are acoustic with added instruments to complement. My vocals are generally mixed low when we record because I imagine that my voice is just like any keyboard or guitar line. It carries melody and meaning, but the song isn't completely based around it. The entire effect of the song is more important than the lyrics or singer's voice when it comes to our music.

How many members of the band are there? What do you play?

It's always changing, really. It's easier this way because at our age, we don't have the luxury of unlimited practice and performance time. All my friends are in school and working jobs. Our bassist and guitarist just went to college and my keyboardist has been busy, so I've been playing mostly solo recently. We just added a new member to the band who's a multi-instrumentalist. Her name's Becky Sheldon. She's been playing flute, but she's a great musician and I'm definitely going to be pushing her musical limit. And I think our keyboardist is going to be joining us for some shows soon.

What are all the instruments you play in the band?

When I play live, I'll usually be playing guitar or piano while I sing. On the record I did almost everything besides the bass and viola parts. Those were courtesy of Felipe Vargas and Alex Davis, my old bassist and guitarist.

What inspires you to write your music?

Everything I hear or think about tends to come out into my songs. It feels like I basically close my eyes and let my subconscious do all the talking for me while I play guitar as I write whatever comes out of my mouth down on paper. It's definitely a stream of consciousness style of writing. Sometimes I'm in a really happy mood and I come out with this utterly depressing song, and other times it's the complete opposite. I never know what's going to happen when I write.

Tell us a little bit about your newest record "Bad Nights" and how it's different from your last album?

Well, my first album was a bit of an experiment. My friend Tom and I were just playing around with recording songs. We had really bad microphones and lots of tape clicking and popping. I guess everyone has to start somewhere though. Our first album was really lo-fi and we couldn't have made it any better if we tried. Our new album though, I thankfully had some help. We tried to keep a real-sounding quality to the music. We didn't want it to sound like we were on some stage with high quality equipment, but rather as if we were closer to the listener. I feel like we accomplished that goal, but most of the album was completed in single takes of every instrument and there are definitely some mistakes. On our next record we're going to start taking the time to try to perfect sounds and takes, but I don't regret anything we did with Bad Nights. It was a fun time recording in basements, attics, bedrooms, living rooms... wherever we could fit ourselves.

The album art for Bad Nights is unique. What's the story behind it?

It was made by my friend Mary Brown. She's quite the artist. I chose it because the album represented a bleak story of two lovers who were habitually unfaithful and the heartbreak to which it led and the persons on the cover are shown as connected, but totally opposite. They look like they're together but unhappy. It just seemed to fit. Also, people ask me what gender those two people are, and Mary says that they can be whatever YOU want them to be. 

What’s your favorite song to play?

I wrote this joke song a while back that is meant to make fun of pop music and the way that so many artists on the radio will objectify women and use obviously inappropriate euphemisms in their songs. So I showed it to my friend and he was like "This is too catchy for you to never play again" and ever since then, it's found its way onto my setlists whenever the situation has been deemed appropriate. It's called "In The Middle Of The Night." Definitely not a song to be played in a church, which accidentally happened once...

That doesn't sound too good.

We got lots of stares and a good laugh at out of it.

What does a Dark Design rehearsal consist of?

A bunch of kids in my attic laughing and screaming the lyrics to Billy Joel songs until we realize that we almost completely forgot to practice our own music. We could be more serious about our music, but this is so much more fun.

Who are your musical influences?

Damien Rice, Billy Joel, Elliott Smith, Okkervil River, Bright Eyes... those are probably my biggest.

What are your plans for the future? College?

I want to go to college, definitely. I don't know where just yet though. I've been accepted a few places and want to make sure that wherever I go I can continue playing music. I think I'm going to study psychology. 

Could you see yourself playing music for your career?

We'll see where the rough seas of life take me. It's definitely something I'd love to do, but not something that's very practical or probable in my future. I read in a Francis Ford Coppola interview recently that he believes people who pirate music are thinking the right way and that art should be free. Of course this man also owns a big winery, so I don't think he puts too much emphasis on getting paid from his art. He says that's where he makes all of his money though. I think that if he can't support himself with money from The Godfather then I can't expect to support myself with money from my music. But it's always a good idea to support the artists!

What do you want from the band? Make it big or keep it small?

Like I said before, I'll let whatever happens naturally, happen. Conor Oberst once wrote "Hope for the best, plan for the worst, and maybe wind up somewhere in the middle," and that's my philosophy.