So, I have two differing dominant personalities – The Saw and Erika. When I was little the two were less pronounced or identifiable, but upon reflection of my thoughts and actions of the time, they were formulating and strengthening. I loved “girl” things, but also things that weren’t usually associated as “girly.”
Later, in grade school, unless I was around a select group of friends, what became known as The Saw had to be quieted and hidden from view. In college this all changed. WKNC offered me the opportunity to fully identify and develop The Saw, while clearly recognizing the vast difference it is from Erika. This is me! These are who I am!
Usually band members have alter-egos when they’re on stage, kind of like actors in a movie or play. I often describe The Saw as an alter-ego, a persona cultivated for the radio airwaves, or the show I’m at in an official capacity; but the personality is more real, more concrete than that. There are two parts to me that make me whole – Erika AND The Saw.
Erika likes hippy esthetics, incense, and plants. The Saw likes skulls, the color black, and corpse paint. Erika watches The Jersey Shore and The Bachelor franchises. The Saw likes Sons of Anarchy and any horror movie. Erika, all kinds of music and genres; The Saw, the heaviest Metal on the planet. I could go on and on! The two live fully side-by-side. When you listen to The Saw’s Butcher Shop you’ll even hear Erika from time to time.
But for all their differences they are united in their fierce love of friends and family, honesty, integrity, and character. This is me! This is who I am! Embrace you; those personalities, traits, and quirks that make you who you are. Self-reflect. Self-examine. Work on those things that make you a better version of you. And love you. You know that I love me!
Stay Metal,
THE SAW