alternative rock
Interview: Alchemy Within
Alchemy Within is a musical project based out of Bel Air, Maryland. His work is described as alternative rock that harkens back to the early 2000s, but there are no boundaries for him and the other musicians who contribute to the songs.
Having just released the new EP The Story Thus Far in March, Alchemy Within has hit the ground running in 2024. I was lucky enough to be given the chance to chat with him about how he started, influences, guilty pleasures, what’s next for the project, and more!
**
Mostly Music: How did you start this project? What was it that made you want to create music?
Alchemy Within: I originally started writing solely to maintain my own mental health. Therapy helps, but it wasn’t getting the job done on its own. When I first made Alchemy Within, I had every intention of it being a full band, but I got tired of waiting for people, so I started on my own. I play a little bit of keyboard, but most of the instrumental parts you hear are by cowriters.
MM: What is your songwriting process?
AW: The process usually starts with the lyrics. I’ll have 3 or 4 lines I really like, then build the rest of the song and melody around them.
MM: Do you have regular contributors, as far as your cowriters, or do the other musicians change each time?
AW: I like to have 1 main collaborator, and then if I have someone in mind or someone shows interest, I’ll have them join in, too. Like “Troubled Waters” and “Like A Bullet” have different drummers. I love hearing in the end product how different musician’s influences and stylistic choices blend with mine.
MM: Why call your project “Alchemy Within”?
AW: It’s probably not what you would expect. I was watching something on the History Channel or Travel Channel, something like that, and they were talking about alchemy. I was like, “Huh. That’s kind of like what music is, right?” I wanted the word Alchemy in there, but I didn’t know how to use it, so I used a band name generator. Lol. I typed in that I wanted the word “alchemy” in there, and Alchemy Within was one of the results.
MM: It’s NEVER what I expect! But the generator did you a solid, because that’s good! Who are your major influences, musically? And what is it about that band – or bands – (or artists) that inspires you?
AW: Thank you! My biggest influences are ANYTHING Chris Cornell, Blue October, and Maria Brink. I feel like Chris Cornell is pretty self-explanatory, he’s Chris Cornell. Blue October inspires me because they just kind of do whatever they want and it sounds great. Like one of their songs has an opera singer in it!? I never would’ve thought of that, but it works. Maria Brink is hands down my biggest influence. Especially her Blood and Black Widow eras. She faced SO much adversity and showed so much growth as an artist and a person that I immediately became a fan.
MM: It is inspiring to watch someone face adversity and come out stronger on the other side, especially when much of the judgment is…unwarranted, I guess you might say? Like, it wasn’t that she did shocking or offensive things to draw attention; she just existed in that scene and caught shit for it.
AW: Yeah, she definitely caught a lot of flak that was uncalled for. Those circle pits she would start herself were CRAZY.
MM: Is there anyone you listen to or draw inspiration from that might surprise people? What’s your “guilty pleasure”? (Not that you should be guilty over anything that makes you happy. Lol.)
AW: Usually, Maria Brink and Blue October are the ones that surprise people, but I think they’d also be surprised that I draw inspiration from Dorothy as well.
My guilty pleasures are usually one-offs by different artists, but I think it’s a tie between “Hurt” by Christina Aguilera and “Breakaway” by Avril Lavigne.
MM: I love Dorothy! Saw her (them) with Shinedown, and it made me so happy! Okay. One more of the digging-into-your-tastes type questions, then I’ll get back to the music. Lol. What would be your dream tour lineup that includes Alchemy Within? Be as realistic or unrealistic as you wanna be. I’ve had some fun answers to this one.
AW: Oh crap, that’s a tough one. Unless all of their publicly known personalities are a lie, I think touring with In This Moment and Black Veil Brides would be fun. Maria Brink’s bodyguard kind of scares me, though, not gonna lie. Haha. Myself and a few other people thought he was Jason Mamoa at first glance.
MM: I met BVB in 2018. The VIP was…very controlled, but I got to talk to Andy, Jake, Jinxx, and CC after the show. CC is just as animated as he seems. Lol. And Andy was actually very sweet. My favorite comment he made was “Don’t worry. I’ve been cried on before.” (It wasn’t about me.)
Okay. Back to the music. So I don’t wanna ask your “favorite” song you’ve written, but do you have a track that you connect with more than others?
AW: I think I connect with “Shady” the most because it’s not really about a specific event that’s come and gone, it’s about the ongoing process of self-improvement.
MM: So it’s ALWAYS relatable. You just released “Like a Bullet,” which is how we came to be here. Lol. Can you tell me the story behind that song? You mentioned it was one of your “fun” songs. What was the process when writing lyrics/composing for it?
AW: So the fun part is more the melody and overall sound than it is the lyrics. In a nutshell, it’s about trying to resolve trauma and navigating the consequences/damage. The process was pretty cut and dry. I wrote the chorus lyrics/melody, and my cowriter wrote the instrumentals, then we built off of that. I have no idea why I decided to make the song as high as it is. It only made things 10 times harder.
MM: I would say it paid off. I love the song. I think a lot of people don’t believe I listen to all the music I find, but I do. So, what are your plans for the rest of 2024 from a musical standpoint?
AW: Thank you! I’m just kind of rolling with the punches as far as 2024 goes. I’m branching out a bit and starting to work with different producers and musicians. The production aspect of my music might sound a liiiiiittle different from here on out, but it’ll still kick ass all the same. Hopefully, 2024 is the year I finally find some bandmates!
MM: And if you get a band together, you’ll book shows, right??? Because my little neck of the woods would just be so happy to see you!
Is there any message you want to give your fans (and my readers)?
AW: I will absolutely start booking shows and I’d love to come to your town! To fans and readers alike, I’m always working on something, so at any given point, there is always something new around the corner. Like I just recovered from having Covid and I was still working on music that whole time. It never stops.
MM: I think my last question would be, where all can my readers find your music? Are your songs available on every major platform, or…?
AW: The vast majority of streaming platforms, yeah. The only big one I’m not on is SoundCloud. My distributor doesn’t work with them, and I haven’t made a SoundCloud account yet.
MM: Thank you so much for your time! This has been a lot of fun. We’ll have to do it again soon!
**
Listen to the latest Alchemy Within single, “Like a Bullet,” below and be sure to follow his socials so you never miss an update!!!
Pearl Jam: Dark Matter World Tour 2024
Grunge/alternative rock legends Pearl Jam are touring this year in support of their new album, Dark Matter, released April 19th. This world tour commences May 4th in Vancouver, BC, and draws to its conclusion November 23rd in Sydney, AU. Support varies by date/location. Tickets are available at pearljam.com!
- 5/4 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena*
- 5/6 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena*
- 5/10 – Portland, OR – Moda Center*
- 5/13 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center*
- 5/16 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena*
- 5/18 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena*
- 5/21 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum*
- 5/22 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum*
- 5/25 – Napa Valley, CA – BottleRock Festival 2024^
- 5/28 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena*
- 5/30 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena*
- 6/22 – Dublin, IE – Marlay Park
- 6/25 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Co-Op Arena+
- 6/29 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium+%
- 7/2 – Berlin, DE – Waldbühne+
- 7/3 – Berlin, DE – Waldbühne+
- 7/6 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi+
- 7/8 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi+
- 7/11 – Madrid, ES – Mad Cool Festival 2024^
- 7/13 – Lisbon, PT – NOS Alive Festival 2024^
- 8/22 – Missoula, MT – Washington-Grizzly Stadium&
- 8/26 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center&
- 8/29 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field&
- 8/31 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field&
- 9/3 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden&
- 9/4 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden&
- 9/7 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center&
- 9/9 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center&
- 9/12 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena&
- 9/15 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park&
- 9/17 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park&
- 11/8 – Auckland, AU – Go Media Stadium Mt. Smart#
- 11/10 – Auckland, AU – Go Media Stadium Mt. Smart# (Second show added!)
- 11/13 – Gold Coast, AU – Heritage Bank Stadium#
- 11/16 – Melbourne, AU – Marvel Stadium#
- 11/18 – Melbourne, AU – Marvel Stadium# (Second show added!)
- 11/21 – Sydney, AU – ENGIE Stadium#
- 11/23 – Sydney, AU – ENGIE Stadium# (Second show added!)
^ Festival
* w/Deep Sea Diver
+ w/The Murder Capital
% w/Richard Ashcroft
& w/Glen Hansard
# w/Pixies
Skillet: Day of Destiny Tour 2024
This June, Christian rock band Skillet is bringing their high-energy performance to a stage near you! With support from Adelitas Way, the “Day of Destiny” tour is stopping in eleven cities across North America. Tickets are available at skillet.com!
- 6/8 – Rapid City, SD – Fine Arts Theatre
- 6/9 – Bozeman, MT – The ELM
- 6/10 – Missoula, MT – The Wilma
- 6/12 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
- 6/14 – Calgary, AB – MacEwan Hall
- 6/15 – Edmonton, AB – Midway
- 6/17 – Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
- 6/20 – Pickering, ON – The Arena at Pickering Casino Resort
- 6/21 – Sarnia, ON – Bluewater BorderFest Music Festival 2024*
- 6/22 – Montreal, QC – Théâtre Beanfield
- 6/23 – Toronto, ON – The Danforth Music Hall
* Adelitas Way not appearing.
In This Moment: The Godmode Tour 2024
In This Moment has announced The Godmode Tour with special guests Kim Dracula, I See Stars, and Mike’s Dead. The 20-date run kicks off April 28th in Anaheim, CA, and treks from coast to coast, finding its conclusion May 25th in Syracuse, NY. Tickets are now available at inthismomentofficial.com!
- 4/28 – Anaheim, CA – City National Grove of Anaheim#
- 4/30 – Albuquerque, NM – Revel*#
- 5/1 – El Paso, TX – El Paso County Coliseum*#
- 5/3 – Lubbock, TX – Lonestar Events Center*#
- 5/4 – New Braunfels, TX – Whitewater Amphitheater*#
- 5/5 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall*#
- 5/7 – New Orleans, LA – Orpheum Theater
- 5/9 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
- 5/10 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville 2024
- 5/11 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
- 5/13 – Richmond, VA – The National
- 5/14 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live!
- 5/16 – Charleston, WV – Charleston Coliseum
- 5/17 – Erie, PA – Erie Insurance Arena
- 5/18 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Festival 2024
- 5/20 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
- 5/21 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
- 5/23 – Montclair, NJ – The Wellmont Theater
- 5/24 – Syracuse, NY – Landmark Theatre
- 5/25 – Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Event Center
# I See Stars not appearing
* w/Motionless in White (The Dark Horizon Tour)
Song of the Day – Chaidura: “With You”
Shadows Calling Showcase Their Versatility on New EP, ‘These Scars’
Shadows Calling is a female-fronted alternative rock band hailing from Cork, Ireland. They released their debut EP, Spirit Shifter, in early 2023. Now, the five-piece outfit is back with These Scars, a four track EP that dropped March 22, 2024.
Shadows Calling boasts a group of musicians who delve into the many aspects of the rock and metal genres, paired with singer Jen Vaughan’s powerful vocals. The band utilizes a vast array of sounds and melodies on These Scars, which clocks in at 17 minutes and balances the fast-paced and upbeat with the slow, dark, and moody.
The EP kicks off with “Dead Long Enough,” a heavy opener with tasty guitar parts that will make listeners want to bang their heads and sing along. The song is a 2:47 driving piece that would be at home on any modern rock playlist. Shadows Calling switches gears with the title track, “These Scars,” which has a deliciously gritty groove that brings to mind such classic metal acts as Metallica and Black Sabbath. Jen toys with the rougher edge of her voice throughout, showcasing a range that is expertly manipulated to match the tone set by the music.
“The Lost” is another nod to the vintage, melodic with a hint of funk, and Jen’s vocals positively soar. I can’t put my finger on exactly why, but this is my favorite of the four songs. The EP closes with “Ships,” and here again the band ventures into different territory. This epic track takes the listener on a journey. The music itself runs through a hard rock start, a nasty heavy metal breakdown at its heart. Listeners are then granted by a brief interlude of nothing but bass and the ethereal facet of Jen’s singing before the song ends on a guitar fade out.
Shadows Calling has packed a punch with These Scars, making a statement that they will not be ignored with four catchy, captivating tracks that will grab you and not let go. For any fan of hard rock, metal, and/or grunge, this EP is a must-hear!
Be sure to follow Shadows Calling on their socials so that you don’t miss any updates or new music! The band has had quite a year, and I believe they have a promising future ahead.
Song of the Day – Press Your Luck: “Mementos”
Primus + Coheed and Cambria Share Summer 2024 Tour Dates
This summer, experimental/prog rock legends Primus are sharing the stage with fellow prog outfit Coheed and Cambria. There will be various special guests depending on the city. That list includes Guerilla Toss, Too Many Zooz, Fishbone, Fantastic Negrito, and All Them Witches.
Tickets: primusville.com or coheedandcambria.com (Primus has VIP available, as well.)
- 5/6 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – FM Kirby Center for the Performing Arts*
- 5/8 – Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit*+
- 5/9 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall*
- 5/11 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville 2024 (Primus only)
- 7/6 – Quincy, CA – High Sierra Music Festival 2024 (Primus only)
- 7/7 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre*^
- 7/9 – Highland, CA – Yaamava’ Resort & Casino*
- 7/12 – Redding, CA – Redding Civic Auditorium^
- 7/13 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater^
- 7/15 – Idaho Falls, ID – Mountain America Center^
- 7/18 – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Park^
- 7/19 – Troutdale, OR – Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn^
- 7/20 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Pavilion^
- 7/22 – Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater^
- 7/24 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford PREMIER Center^
- 7/26 – Waite Park, MN – The Ledge Amphitheater^
- 7/27 – Cedar Rapids, IA – McGrath Amphitheatre#
- 7/28 – La Vista, NE – The Astro Theater#
- 7/30 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J. Brady Music Center#
- 8/1 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park#
- 8/2 – Madison, WI – Breese Stevens Field#
- 8/3 – Maryland Heights, MO – Saint Louis Music Park#
- 8/5 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center#
- 8/6 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live!#
- 8/8 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE%
- 8/9 – Buffalo, NY – Outer Harbor%
- 8/10 – Big Flats, NY – Michelob Ultra Summer Stage at Tag’s%
- 8/12 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center%
- 8/13 – Portland, ME – State Theatre Summer Concert Series at Thompson’s Point%
- 8/14 – Washington, DC – The Anthem%
- 8/16 – Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union LIVE! at Richmond Raceway%
- 8/17 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre%
- 8/18 – Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company%*
- 8/20 – Memphis, TN – Grind City Amphitheater☆*
- 8/21 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at The Moody Theater☆*
- 8/23 – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater☆*
- 8/24 – Colorado Springs, CO – Sunset Amphitheater☆*
* No Coheed and Cambria
+ w/All Them Witches
^ w/Guerilla Toss
# w/Too Many Zooz
% w/Fishbone
☆ w/Fantastic Negrito
Shallow Side: Rock Redemption Tour 2024
This spring, Alabama rockers Shallow Side are bringing their Rock Redemption Tour to a city near you! This 12-date run features several shows with Scotty Austin headlining and fellow special guests Seventh Day Slumber, Love the Hate, and Magdalene Rose. You can get tickets at shallowside.net!
- 4/12 – Biloxi, MS – The Cannery Bar & Grill^
- 4/13 – Bonaire, GA – Pub 96^
- 4/14 – Birmingham, AL – Zydeco**
- 4/17 – Memphis, TN – Minglewood Hall**
- 4/18 – Little Rock, AR – Stickyz**
- 4/19 – Mountain Home, AR – AC’s Event Center^
- 4/20 – Warrensburg, MO – Bodie’s^
- 4/21 – Springfield, MO – Oxo Bar & Grill**
- 4/24 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street**
- 4/25 – Fort Smith, AR – The Majestic+
- 4/26 – Houston, TX – Acadia Bar & Grill+
- 4/27 – San Antonio, TX – Fitzgerald’s+
^ w/Scotty Austin headlining
** Shallow Side only
+ Seventh Day Slumber, Shallow Side, Love the Hate, and Magdalene Rose
Mostly Music 