Greetings darkling, my name is Mistress Dominae Draconis and I'd like to tell you a bit about The Vampyre Lounge, an Internet based video project that seeks to cover the events in the underground vampyre and gothic lifestyle. The Vampyre Lounge originally started as a cable access show on Manhattan Cable but found a larger fan base on the world wide web.

The Vampyre Lounge is also the demented creation of a demented lad who goes by the name of Asif Murad. There he is on the left. He is under the impression that he's handsome or something. Let the poor lad have his fantasy.

A while back The Mistress Draconis had the dreadful task of interviewing Asif for Fendred's Chamber. As usual, Asif was too inebriated to give a cohesive answer to any of my questions. Needless to say The Mistress had to unleash a hearty round of whipping and after some severe verbal abuse Asif was back into total sobriety and before you know it he was worshipping at my feet like a good little boy. Please do enjoy...

Dominae: So Asif, how did you come up with the idea of doing this show?

Asif: When I was in my last year in college I was doing a paper on the persona of the vampire and how people used it to enhance their self image. I had no idea that there was in fact an entire scene out there that actually had a great reverence for the vampire mythology. During my research into the vampyre phenomenon I met with a couple who were making a cable access tv show called Vampyres. Subsequently I joined them and helped out with their show. As it happens those folks decided to drop the show and move out to Florida. Thus I decided to make my own show that would cover the vamp/goth scene and so that is really how it all began. I'm leaving a lot out but that is really the gist of it.

Dominae: What is it about the scene that you like most?

Asif: The people. I'm in love with each and every individual who make up the scene. They are the most charismatic, sincere and quite often just the most gracious and friendly freaks one could ever meet.

Dominae: What do you think makes the vampyre such a strong influence in people's lives?

Asif: The vampyre persona has been around before people actually even knew about vampirism. A long time ago, the Babalonians and the Aztecs had vampyre imagery on their pottery. This is a thousand years before Christ. The image and quality of the vampyre is a universal concept and has a collective consciousness behind it. If there were no Bram Stoker or Sheridan Le Fanu to read, if there was never a Christopher Lee or Bela Lugosi to act out their own portraiture of The Count, even if there were no Anne Rice to think about, we would have nevertheless met the vampyre lurking in the dark chambers of our collective consciousness. You see, the vampyre is a part of our own psyche. The vampyre is really us in many ways and will always be a part of our own passions and longing to live forever. At least the dark side of our passions.

Dominae: So how do you go about making The Vampyre Lounge? Do you have helpers?

Asif: I have many people who lend me their time and energy. Usually they help with conducting interviews and such. Recently my friend Kitty even videoed a performance at the Court of Lazarus for my show. That was a first for me. I usually do most of my taping and editing. The way I make the show is really not too complicated. I just seek out whatever venues, events and interesting happenings that are taking place in the vamp/goth circle (mostly in the east village area) and I simply go there with my trusty camera bag and see what happens. That's about it. Talk about the art of just winging it. heh heh.

Dominae: Does the show have an agenda? Is there a reason why you cover the vampyre lifestyle?

The main purpose of The Vampyre Lounge is to present the Vamp/Goth scene in it's true form. No stereotypes, just the real people speaking their own mind. The vamp/goth scenes are very much vilified by the general media and also in this world of fundamental diehards who have chosen their own brand of crazy religious beliefs where anyone or anything that looks or thinks differently than the so called “norm” is to be shunned and hated, it is I think a good idea to have a visual forum where everyone and anyone can come and see what these folks are really all about. So in effect, The Vampyre Lounge is a platform for the vampyre and gothic lifestylers to have their own say.

Dominae: Who is your favorite band or artist that you have had on your show?

Asif: There are too many to mention. I recall one time I shot The Empire Hideous at CBGB Gallery. Myke Hideous did a cover of Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb. It was just the most amazing performance I have ever seen. I was just stunned! It was simply breathtaking. But as for anyone artist, well that's kinda hard. I always have admired Voltaire for his comical genius and the way he brings such a lighthearted mood to a sullen Goth audience. From the very first time I went out with my video camera trying to tape various bands around NYC, Voltaire was one of the first to say “sure you can tape me anytime”. So he kind of sticks out in my mind.

Dominae: Now that The Vampyre Lounge is on the Internet, how has that effected your show?

Asif: Having The Vampyre Lounge on the internet allows for anyone in the world to be able view this show and makes for a very gratifying experience. As of now, more than a thousand people every month watch the shows that are up online. That number will soon grow. The Internet helps me to get the message out to one and all that the vamps are here to stay!

Dominae: So what lies ahead for The Vampyre Lounge?

Asif: Well Dominae, The Vampyre Lounge is and most likely always will be just a hobby of mine. It is not something that I make a living out of. Making The Vampyre Lounge has been a great experience and will continue to be one, I'm sure. I guess I'll keep plugging away at it until my bones get too old to be chasing around vamp critters. Of course I have a day dream of sorts where someone way up there in the communication field views the show and actually thinks I have the talent to be in the business. But other than that I am having a great time making this tiny little show of mine that so many people have come to appreciate.