Dixie Rocker

Interview: Bradon Marshall of Serpent Rising

March 26, 2024 — Leave a comment

Serpent Rising is a new heavy metal/rock project hailing from eastern Pennsylvania, comprised of members from various local acts. So far, the band has shared three singles, and they have a fourth on the horizon.

I was lucky enough to be given the chance to talk to lyricist/frontman Bradon Marshall! We dove into the members’ musical histories, their shared influences, what’s coming next for Serpent Rising, and much more!

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Mostly Music: Tell me about how Serpent Rising formed, and what’s the story behind the name? 

Bradon Marshall: So the band was formed by two members (Josh & Clint) of an old punk band called Cold Blood Creep after they disbanded due to issues with their singer. Then, they found Seth, the guitarist, after seeing him cover a Lamb of God song. Finally, they met me about 3 months ago, before I left the group Two Dollar Horse. I stepped down as lyricist and frontman for TDH, and am filling the same role for Serpent Rising.

As far as the name goes, we bounced around on a bunch of names prior to Serpent Rising, but none of them felt right. Once the name Serpent Rising was put on the whiteboard, we knew it was the one. It sounded cool, rolled off the tongue, and represented our heavier tone,  from the words to the drop tuned instruments.

A simpler way we all look at it is, as Josh put it – before this band, we were all kinda lost in music. Once we were all together, it felt collectively like we rose above the water and started treading.

MM: Did you all have a mutual direction at the beginning, or were you working from different musical backgrounds/influences?

BM: We definitely have different musical backgrounds, I think each member is all over the place; but we totally have our favorites.

Clint, the drummer, is old school. He really likes Motorhead. Josh, the bassist, really loves Dream Theater. So clearly, there’s a beautiful disconnect between all of us, where we as a team can pull from different styles to create.

MM: Who are the band’s major shared influences?

BM: I think if you listen closely, you can hear the best of different rock/metal subgenres come into play. Some honorable influences are as follows: Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Megadeth, Periphery, Korn, Sleep Token, Lamb of God, and Acid Bath.

MM: That list definitely runs the gamut of subgenres! So, what is your writing/recording process? How do y’all bring it all together?

BM: Our writing process is currently pretty streamlined and fit so that each member can add their defining piece of the puzzle separately. The main songwriters are Josh and Seth. We are all pretty comfortable with audio engineering from a studio standpoint.

They [Josh and Seth] are really good at creating hook-based riffs with emotional transitions. Basically, they create the whole instrumental portion of the song on their own, then they send it to me to add my lyricist touch. Once the song is pretty much 100%, we bring Clint up to speed.

MM: On that same topic, what is the story behind the latest single, “Asphyxiation”?

BM: Another great question! “Asphyxiation” has done really well; better than any of us expected for the start up of the project. The song has its highs and lows instrumentally as well as lyrically.

In our mind, it tells an abstract and sad love story paired with the words, which is why when Josh and I laid out the script for the music video, we wanted it to not be too on the nose. 

I can’t speak for the band as a whole or anyone that pulls a meaning from the words, but personally, I have dealt with a lot of difficulty with love and put my faith in a lot of things and people that have burned me. Or it is as simple as just not being able to see eye to eye repeatedly, to the point where it creates a jaded “not where you belong” type of feeling when it comes to actually getting close to anyone. Almost suffocating, in a sense, hence the title.   

MM: As a lyricist, from where do you draw most of your inspiration? And what made you start writing? Did you begin in a different medium (poetry, perhaps)?

BM: I think I draw most of my inspiration from things I’m too afraid to say not in front of a microphone, as funny as that sounds. It’s always personal for me, but I try and keep the words abstract. Someday, we could dissect the lyrics of a song to fully understand the meaning I put behind it.

I’ve been writing poetry for most of my life, and I have always looked at it as just poetry on top of music, but once I started playing instruments, I had a place to put the words & it opened up a whole world for me. 

MM: Y’all have released 3 singles thus far. When can we expect an album or EP? Or does the band prefer to upload tracks to a streaming service and not actually put them into a collection like that? I know several bands are going that route with the decline of the demand for physical copies of records. 

BM: As far as releases go, yes, there are currently 3 out of the 13 songs we have lined up for possible release. But I wouldn’t expect an album. It just doesn’t work like singles do. Albums are great, in our opinion, but there is a decline in desire for them and with us trying to also do music videos and cinema content for the majority of the songs, singles make it much easier to do so piece by piece! 

Two of the three songs currently have music videos and an unreleased (as far as streaming services are concerned) track called “MUD” has only a video on YouTube.

MM: I am from the generation that set a lot of store by music videos, so I’m really enjoying this resurgence of artists who like to express their music visually as well. So, what are the band’s plans for 2024? 

BM: As far as our plans for 2024, we’ve booked shows to fill out most of the year, and we’ll be focusing on recording songs to be released and content for music videos and things of that nature. Our plan is to be a little more than just a band that makes and releases music. We’re still planning out ideas for our next big music video adventure! Everything we do, we want to keep DIY. It seems to keep the creativity natural and we are cohesive together more than we’d be with an outside party.

A collaboration or two with another local artist/musician would be cool, though!

MM: What would be your dream collaboration? 

BM: It would be really cool to work with an off-genre band to create a mixture of sounds that weave well together but not to be expected!

MM: Taking that a step further, what would be your dream tour lineup (that includes Serpent Rising, of course)?

BM: I always loved the idea of keeping it close to home. There are a ton of great bands locally. Just to name a few that I’d love to travel and share music with – The Stone Eye, Hannibal, People Food, Ben Grinder Group, Ephraim, Die Tired, The Spyders of HBG.

That’s just a few, there’s many more! The music is there, you just gotta look for it!

MM: I love when bands promote other locals! It helps me spread the word as well. Still on the topic of live shows, what’s your favorite thing about performing? 

BM: I think collectively our favorite thing about performing so far since we’ve started is after a show we get to come off stage and talk to people who heard us for the first time, maybe have a drink with them, and just talk about the music and various other things. Short of the connection we get with them on stage, there’s nothing else comparable!

MM: Last but not least, is there any message you have for your listeners (and my readers)? 

BM: If we could say something to those who listen and anyone who reads this, it would be to always try to create something each day, even if it’s just a little happiness, check out our new single “MUD,” releasing March 30th, and come say hi to us & have a beer or six at our up and coming shows!!!

***

Serpent Rising is truly just getting started. If you are a fan of the heavier styles of music, I would highly recommend looking them up right now! Make sure you follow the band on their socials so you never miss any news in regard to upcoming releases or live shows. You can listen to their latest single, “Asphyxiation,” below, and don’t forget that “MUD” drops on March 30th!

Interview: Faceless Objects

March 4, 2024 — Leave a comment

Faceless Objects is a psychedelic/doom/stoner metal project from Austria that came together in 2020. Since then, the band has released ten singles, each with a coinciding video, which will make up their debut album, Confused, when it drops later in the year.

I discovered Faceless Objects last year, and after following them on Facebook (and adding bassist/vocalist Ella Baphomet on my personal profile), I knew I wanted to interview them. So we made it happen!

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MM: Thank you so much for your time! Let’s dive right in with a basic two-part question. How was Faceless Objects formed? And what’s the story behind the band name? 

FO: Faceless Objects was formed in 2020 by Ella Baphomet and Mike Seed (on Mike’s birthday, to be exact). We both always wanted to do something new and different but never found the right people to start. We wanted to combine classic doom metal, stoner metal, and psychedelic sounds, and each song should be a journey on its own – accompanied by a video to make the story of the song visible. 

The name Faceless Objects is describing how we as artists see other people. It is more about collecting biometric data than actually seeing the whole face like other people do. 

From the beginning, it was only two people who ran everything – composing, playing/singing, recording, mixing & mastering, video shooting & cutting, as well as promotion. And it still is. The only exception is for our upcoming live gigs – playing four instruments at the same time is quite impossible – even for Mike. But finding the right people for our music was a bumpy road.

MM: Y’all have both been involved with previous projects?

FO: We both have our experiences with prior bands or projects of different kinds..but like our lyrics in “Reborn” say…“no turning back, the past is gone”…

MM: Are there any particular bands/artists that inspired y’all to go down this path, as far as creating for the doom/stoner/psychedelic subgenres? 

FO: We have a lot of influences…different music styles, bands, artists..but can’t say that there is a particular one that made us go this path. Maybe a mixture of different artists and something that just always was inside of us waiting to surface. But if you want some names…Mike loves Pink Floyd and Rage Against The Machine, and Ella’s favourites are Judas Priest and Alice Cooper.

MM: I love Alice Cooper and Pink Floyd! And I can definitely see where the stoner/psychedelic inspiration comes from if y’all are listening to those artists. Lol.

FO: Nice, we like the same music 🙂

MM: We do. Y’all are from Austria, right? Is there a big metal scene there? (My familiarity with music from Austria is limited, but the few artists I have heard are industrial or electronic. Lol.)

FO: Yes, we are all from Austria, though from different areas. Me and Mike founded the project in 2020 and have been looking for musicians who wanted to share our goals and the love for the music. 

The metal scene in Austria got a lot bigger than it was once. There are many bands now, mostly in the genres of death/thrash or speed metal. Not so much in the classic heavy metal or melodic metal genres. But there are still more rock bands than metal bands – and it is very difficult to reach people with original music. So there are a lot of cover bands as well.

MM: I saw a recent post about your upcoming album, Confused. Can you tell me a little more about it? What has been the writing and recording process for this album? 

FO: Confused tells a story like a book, and each song is a chapter in that book (each song also has a music video on YouTube). We are telling our stories and experiences, but it was always very important to us to leave enough room for the listener to find themselves and their own meaning in our songs. We always have a journey within the song – it starts out in a certain way and then changes into something completely different, and many people told us how cool it is because you don’t really realize it when you listen to it. You just get taken with the story and the music. 

Writing and recording was a step by step thing. We thought about what the next chapter would be about, wrote the song, and recorded it. After that, we made the story visible with a music video. So we did this song by song –  and the order the songs were released is also the order the songs will appear on the album. The last song on the first album – “Crossing” – is kind of a cliffhanger. The song fades out..and the first song on album no. 2 will fade in at that exact point, making “Crossing” into “Crossing…Over The Bridge,” a song more than 9 minutes long, full of surprises and changes. The album will also include a previously unreleased bonus track called “Void.”

MM: I like the idea of a coinciding video to visually tell the story. I don’t think bands take time with music videos the way they used to, and I’m the generation that was all about videos. I understand it can be costly, so I’m not complaining.

FO: Absolutely true. Many bands don’t have the money for cool videos, others think it’s not worth the effort as no one watches videos anymore because it’s all about streaming music nowadays. But we still believe that a video helps putting the music on another level.

MM: So y’all have planned the way you want to do the release. I assume the album is going to drop this year? Any other plans for 2024?

FO: Our plans for this year are doing some live gigs with the new band and releasing the album in March/April. We are also working on new material – the first song of the second album is done and we’re gonna shoot the video for it soon. 

MM: I like the concept of storytelling. Maybe it’s because I write short stories, but I just really enjoy the full experience of music and imagery.

I have a few more questions, kinda just for fun. What would be your dream tour lineup that features Faceless Objects? 

FO: Dream lineup… Well, Judas Priest and Rage Against The Machine, lol. But seriously, we are looking forward to meeting cool and interesting new artists and bands..and if you find some you really connect with those would be the ones for a dream lineup.

MM: Are there any bands/artists you guys listen to that you think would surprise people? “Guilty pleasures,” so to speak. 

FO: Guilty pleasures… I think to some it might be surprising that Ella likes Glenn Miller a lot and generally 1930/1940s music. Mike’s hidden treasure is Kraan, a former DDR jazz-rock band.

MM: That is one of the more surprising answers I’ve gotten to that question. 30/40s music. Most people throw out a pop or rap artist. 

FO: Haha, yep! 30/40s might not be the first guess with a metalhead, but it’s so soothing and the melodies are so beautiful. They also take you on some kind of journey.

MM: I should probably wrap this up, but I’m curious – are you guys self-taught, or have you had any lessons?

FO: Well, Ella and Mike are self-taught. Mike has been playing guitar since he was a little kid and taught himself to play the other instruments over time. As for the rest of the band, Zoka had guitar lessons and also started playing as a young boy, Mexx had coaching and has his own drum school, and Martin is a classically trained pianist.

MM: Is there any message you would like to give your fans, both old and new?

FO: We thank all our fans for their support and love they continue to give us (and some have been with us from the very start). Receiving feedback like “this song really helped me,” “those lyrics just hit my current situation so well,” or just “I love your music and videos, there is so much to find in there.” But we also wanna say..believe in yourself and your dreams. Don’t let anyone decide what you can do or not. You can do what you allow yourself to do.

And thank you, Melia..for this wonderful opportunity to express ourselves and the really good picked questions. It’s been fun and a pleasure, and I hope we’ll do this again sometime!

***

Faceless Objects will be releasing Confused in the spring of this year – and hopefully album #2 will quickly follow. In the meantime, you can immerse yourself in the story via the tracks on Spotify, or the visual side on YouTube. And be sure to follow the band’s socials for news and updates!!!!

Check out Faceless Objects’ most recent single, “Crossing.”

Interview: Vincent Thorn of The Androgen

February 26, 2024 — Leave a comment

The Androgen is an industrial black metal project based in southern California. They have released two EPs thus far, both in 2020 – Insomnia and Words Are Knives – and are preparing to drop a new album entitled The Cave in 2024.

I was given the chance to have a conversation with front man Vincent Thorn. We discussed the project’s history, influences, writing/recording process, and more!

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Mostly Music: First and foremost, tell me about the formation of The Androgen.

Vincent Thorn: The formation of The Androgen is a long and drawn out story, with many twists and turns. But, to sum it up, the band has gone through three main stages thus far. Originally, the band was just me, then we had the introduction of its second permanent member, Angel Nightmare, and we cycle in other members for live performance.

The long story – When I lived in Culver City, California, I would do vocal covers in my room every day on a shitty little PA system. I had been doing that since I was thirteen. I am thirty-one now.
One day, far in my past, I came across a song called “I Am Halloween,” by Midnight Nightmare. The vocalist, Angel, had a YouTube channel, and I watched some of his stuff. Time flew by… 

Then in 2018, I bumped into him at the Whiskey A Go Go in Hollywood. He had just moved out to L.A. Crazy!!! 

A year later, I was trying to put together a small underground show in Northridge, and I contacted my friend who I used to practice with when I was on the streets of L.A. (a whole other story). It was a crazy coincidence – he was in Midnight Nightmare, doing keyboards, and the band performed at the event. 

After beers and many war stories, Angel would wind up helping me produce Insomnia, Words Are Knives, and the long-awaited third album, The Cave, and playing live guitar in the band.

MM: It sounds like lucky coincidences brought y’all together. That’s definitely one of the better stories I’ve heard behind a band’s formation. What’s the story behind the name “The Androgen”?

VT: The story behind the name is, an androgen is a human hormone in everyone, responsible for aggression, sexual behavior, and masculine and feminine traits. The point being a philosophical take on the humanity of the band and the reflection we provide of the public as a whole.

MM: Who are the band’s biggest influences?

VT: We at The Androgen listen to a lot of international music, mostly jazz, black metal, and aggrotech/industrial. There are too many bands to mention, but a few include Shining, Dark Fortress, Dir En Grey, Dissection, and Rose Funeral. 

MM: And for you, personally, what was it that made you want to pursue a career in music? Was there any specific moment, such as hearing a certain song or discovering a particular artist/band, that made you think “That is what I want to do”? 

VT: Well, I wouldn’t call it a “career” in music. Most artists work multiple 9 to 5 jobs to be able to afford the luxury of taking the stage and sharing their art. It is a struggle to get shows, but I enjoy every second onstage.

If there was one moment that made me want to do this, that is a hard one… a genuine hard one… 

I wouldn’t say there was a certain song, but just like everyone else, I found an album at a low time in my life – Rose Funeral, The Resting Sonata, 2009 – and I decided to try to do that type of music as an outlet for severe anger that needed to be channelled from within myself.

MM: I know these types of things aren’t always explainable in words, but can you tell me why you think The Resting Sonata resonated so deeply with you?

VT: At the time I was sleeping on a park bench, and I used to go into the public library to listen to CDs on their computers. I eventually found an old CD player at a donation place to listen to it on repeat. The reason it resonated with me was, it was a challenging piece of art and I liked that. It was a new language musically that I had to learn, and it was like a gateway to a whole other genre of music.

MM: Switching gears just a bit, what is the writing process for The Androgen? From where do you draw most of your inspiration? (I know you mentioned channeling emotion, so I imagine that answer might be “from within.”)

VT: For Insomnia, I drew most of the lyrical writing from my experience living in Culver City, California. The EP alludes to fatalistic and defeatist ideals, referring to the city’s penchant for hedonism and overworking. The name of the EP refers to the way in which the city seems to never sleep, and I myself didn’t seem to get much sleep while living there. The guitars, synths, and drums are brainstormed in the studio by me and Angel. A typical song is usually created with a foundation of synth and guitar, followed by vocals and then finally drums and bass.

Words Are Knives was written at the very beginning of the lockdown, and was the band trying to push itself farther and is higher quality than what we had done before. The songs were more philosophical than anything else. The writing process remained the same, but we wanted to bring more polish.

The Cave is a testament to the band’s/my struggle with alcohol and drug addiction, depression, ostracization, homelessness, adoption, and disassociation. The name of the album is drawn from a sewer tunnel that between the years of 2011 and 2014 was the residence of myself and many others. Most of the lyrics, if not all, were written on random pieces of paper while living in those conditions that survived up until now. 

The writing process is about the same as before with the instruments, but the mix is completely different and the mastering process is also more drawn out, using upgraded technology compared to the previous works. 

The date of the release of The Cave is TBA at the moment.

MM: With the varied inspirations and approaches, do you have a track you’ve written that is your favorite? I almost hate asking that, since I imagine viewing your own art objectively might be a difficult thing. Lol.

VT: Yes. But the track is not released yet… It’s off the unreleased The Cave album. Stay tuned.

MM: You mentioned how much you love being onstage. What is your favorite thing about live shows? 

VT: Overall, the best thing about live shows is that it is a rare opportunity to drop the mask of pragmatism and be more authentic; while performing I fancy myself an actor, so depending on how you look at it– jumping into another character, or dropping the mask and being myself. At least, I find, if done right.

MM: Piggybacking off that, what would be your dream tour lineup (that includes The Androgen, of course)? 

VT: Dream lineup would be (in no particular order) – Dog Fashion Disco, That Handsome Devil, Igorrr, Pensées Noctournes, Watain, Shining, and Rose Funeral. And, obviously, The Androgen. I would love to open the show.

MM: In your dream lineup, The Androgen would open? I feel like that’s unusual; most artists want to be headliners. But I can see the benefit to playing first. (Now that I’m in my late 30s, the openers get all my energy. Lol.)

VT: As a band that has not paid their dues, as the other acts that I mentioned have, being able to play on the same stage, in this theoretical scenario, would be awesome for us. I’d love to be an opening act for a show with that lineup, and being an opener allows for the ability to watch all the other acts without the stress of having to prepare for your act.

MM: That makes sense. So I guess we’re nearing the end of our chat. I just have to ask, what are the band’s plans for 2024?

VT: We have a new single, “Awaiting the Apocalypse,” that is available for streaming, and a music video for it on YouTube as well. [We will release] the album, The Cave, but the date is still TBA. We also have multiple shows in September, and are working with various other bands in our industry to possibly bring more shows before then.

Thank you for the interview, it has been quite refreshing to have such a professional interview. And thank you for your time, and god speed in your future endeavors.

MM: Thank you so much for your time and patience! I look forward to all that is coming from The Androgen!

***

Check out the latest single from The Androgen, “Awaiting the Apocalypse,” and be sure to follow them on all their socials so you never miss an update!

Interview: Bruce Neilsen of The Immaculate Crows

February 9, 2024 — Leave a comment

The Immaculate Crows are a genre-bending musical collective based in Brisbane, Australia, performing songs written and arranged by Bruce Neilsen. Listen to any two songs by this band and you will quickly discover that Bruce doesn’t believe in boxes: their tracks range from alternative rock and indie pop, to folk, country, blues, and jazz, and this eclectic exploration extends into the subject matter, as well.

I had the opportunity to speak with Bruce about his history as a musician, the formation of The Immaculate Crows, finding fellow creative minds, and much more!

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Mostly Music: First and foremost, can you tell me the story of The Immaculate Crows’ formation? And how did y’all decide on the band name? (Which I love, by the way.)

Bruce Neilsen: I had unsuccessfully tried to join a couple of cover bands and had been writing poetry for a few years. I started writing my first songs and decided to start my own band. Around November 1981, I met [drummer] Chris Allen at a mutual friend’s home who also hadn’t been in a band. I then advertised for other players and found Mark Kassulke [guitarist]. My flatmate Frank Mueller initially helped on vocals, and I advertised for a bass player. Brad Milham had been in a cover band and was an outstanding player. We had no songs ready and just jammed for Brad’s audition. He liked my playing, and we both liked The Yardbirds, so that was enough for him to join. Another flatmate Hamish McKie joined on vocals.

We started off doing a few covers like “I Wanna Be Sedated” by the Ramones, “25th Floor” by Patti Smith, etc., then Mark and I started writing songs. Hamish left and was replaced by David Page, who was Indigeneous and had been a teenage pop star and the first Australian to get a contract with Tamla-Motown. We did a 4 track recording of two of my songs, “In the City” and “Dingo,” in a little hall in June 1982, followed by a two track recording of “Dingo” and another song of mine called “Psychedelic Girl” in a studio. A copy was given to our local community radio station, 4ZZZ, and got heavy airplay for a considerable period of time. However, none of these songs were released commercially. David left, Hamish came back, then Mark also left and was replaced by Mark Hocknell. Chris Allen left, and in our hurry to replace him, we picked someone who was a very limited player. 4ZZZ was talking about us supporting big bands like Midnight Oil, but I knew we were no longer up for it and was very unhappy with the new drummer. I left and formed two other bands and eventually reunited with The Immaculate Crows before we broke up around May 1985.

I ceased playing live and was pretty disillusioned with band politics. I was pretty frustrated, too, as I had become both a pretty good guitarist and songwriter. I settled down with Carolyn and we married, got a house, and had two boys. I repressed my creative urges until 2019, when I finally digitalised my old eighties songs and released them on streaming sites. I also reunited with Mark Hocknell, who had been recording guitar instrumentals on Garage Band. He brought his gear over and we had a brief but fruitful partnership where I wrote and arranged all songs and he recorded the initial tracks. We both played guitar and bass parts. Carolyn and I bought some recording gear as Mark couldn’t record vocals, and Carolyn started recording vocalists and doing final mixdowns. All songs are mastered by Furkan Gulus. Mark left in 2021, and since then, Carolyn has done all production.

The Immaculate Crows is basically a loose collective of musicians that sing and play on songs written and arranged by me and produced by Carolyn. Different listeners and reviewers have said individual songs have reminded them of artists ranging from Fleetwood Mac to The Stone Roses and The Smiths. The music is hard to categorise and has both retro and modern elements. Genres vary from punk and psychedelic, to alternative country, alt-rock and indie pop. Subject matter varies from youth suicide, domestic violence, to poverty, cancel culture, and even quirky love songs. 

It is a bit vague now, but I think I came up with the name The Immaculate Crows as ‘immaculate’ implies perfection, and crows are intelligent birds that also can be quite sinister and cowardly. The name was a bit tongue-in-cheek, really, and deliberately silly also. 

MM: Wow! That’s quite a history. I admire you for persevering, because with so much turmoil within the band, it would have been easy to call it quits for good.

So what was it that drove you to start creating? Were you inspired by a particular band/artist? Or was music another outlet that just fitted in with writing poetry? 

BN: I liked music much more than poetry and like many others absolutely loved everything about The Beatles, particularly their sense of humor and music. My older brother turned me onto a lot of musicians, including Jimi Hendrix, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Bob Dylan, and Jefferson Airplane.

MM: As a musical collective, how do you find the other musicians to sing/play on songs? Take me through the basic recording process. 

BN: I have found all my singers except for Nicky Steel, who is a relative, through placing advertisements or checking out posts on our local Brisbane Musicians Wanted online mag. I send a message with music links and after some to and from messages and phone calls, get them over to record. I have also found musicians performing at shopping centres and cafés. Lol.

[As far as the recording process], once I have mapped out the chord progression for a song, I get keys, bass, and drum tracks down first, followed by guitar. I do a vocal guide track and send the MP3 with lyrics off to the prospective singer/muso and arrange a time for them to record.

Jessica Shipley (vocals), Bruce Neilsen, Carolyn Neilsen (production), and Daphne Mae (vocals)

MM: Hand in hand with that, what is your songwriting process? I know you draw inspiration from everything around us, but do you have anything in particular you do when inspired?

BN: I am only inspired to write songs when I have a goal. Now that I am recording, I am becoming quite driven again. I am inspired by actual events and sometimes by a chord progression. It varies.

MM: How many instruments can you play, and how much of what we hear is recorded by you? Are you self-taught?

BN: When I had a brief partnership with ex-band member Mark Hocknell, which started in 2019 and ended in February 2021, we had an arrangement where I wrote, arranged, and played on all songs that he co-produced with my wife Carolyn. Fifteen songs came out of this arrangement, of which you can hear eleven on the first album, And Then There Were Two, and the other four on the second album, Zombie World. Mark produced all drum tracks and played bass on four of them. I played bass on the others. Mark played rhythm and lead guitar on thirteen of the songs he co-produced with Carolyn, and I played rhythm, lead, and some acoustic guitar on the all fifteen songs. Mark also used keyboard plug-ins on a couple, and any harmonica you hear is me.

Bass and drums were played by Roo Friend on “Bird in the Sky,” and I played all guitars and plug-ins. When Mark left, Carolyn took over full production, except for mastering, which has always been done by Furkan Gulus. We have been using Toontracks to produce keys, drums, and most bass tracks. On Zombie World, I played bass on five songs, of which Mark played a little bit in one section. I briefly used another guitarist, Wayne Harvey, who added extra rhythm to the choruses on “No Turning Back” and played virtually all the guitar on “Van Gogh” (except for the fingerstyle intro which also ends the song, and the wah wah solo in the fadeout).

I am using two other musos currently who you will hear on future songs. Colleen South plays ukelele and piano accordion, and Sam Ryan plays trumpet. I put all music credits on Bandcamp.

My first instrument was harmonica, and I had classical guitar lessons for around 2 years many years ago. Apart from that, I am pretty much self-taught. I practiced a lot when I was younger but am not so fanatical now. I purchased a banjo recently and am able to play it to some degree already. I occasionally use a mini midi for extra effects.

Zombie World album cover

MM: I love the vast array of musical instruments and styles you utilize. I imagine being a musician with that willingness to try most anything means it never gets boring! 

Y’all released the track “Torn in Two” back in December. What is the story behind that song?

BN: I wrote “Torn In Two” in 1983 for my second band, Insurrection. I don’t remember any specific inspiration for it, but I wanted the guitar to stand out and be different. I used to play some pretty intense guitar on it but trimmed the solo right down for the recent recording. None of the singers that sang it did it justice until now. Brandon Webb sings on the recording and I love his voice.

MM: What are the plans for The Immaculate Crows in 2024? 

BN: There will be a lot more variety, which will drive genre purists crazy! I have just released a country folk song on Bandcamp called “My Sister And Me.” It will be on Spotify, etc., around 6 February. Also coming up is a song sitting between jazz and blues called “Same Old Blues,” a jazz-oriented ballad called “I Get You,” and an alternative song about stalking and obsession called “Waiting.” These all have trumpet on them. I also have a type of indie pop ballad called “Without You,” which has a catchy chorus. I hope to have a third album out by the end of the year, which will cover a lot of genres. I don’t believe in being a musical snob and listen to a lot of different stuff. I just hope my listeners don’t mind.

Single artwork for “Torn in Two”

MM: I’m sure your listeners enjoy the musical journey you carry them on! With your listeners in mind, is there anything you’d like to say to them, both those who are long-term and the newer fans who have recently found The Immaculate Crows?


BN: Thanks for listening! Check out what is there already and stay tuned as there is plenty more coming.

***

A huge thank-you to Bruce for his time and his patience. As you can see, The Immaculate Crows have no plans to slow down! It sounds like they’re going to have quite a busy 2024. Follow them on their various socials to ensure you don’t miss anything!

And check out The Immaculate Crows’ latest release, “My Sister and Me.”

Interview: Naked Sunday

December 5, 2023 — 1 Comment

Naked Sunday is a hard rock band from The Midlands. The quartet formed in 2012, but their lineup wasn’t settled until 2018. They have since released two albums – Signs of Insanity (2020) and Home (2022) – and one EP, 2021’s Skeleton Keys. More recently, Naked Sunday’s track “Lilith” was featured in John Williams’ film Tales of the Creeping Death.

I was fortunate enough to have the chance to talk to bassist Corty Lou about the band’s inception, influences, the latest singles – “Vilified” and “Shine” – and more!

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So tell me, how did Naked Sunday form? And how did y’all decide on the band name?

Corty Lou: Naked Sunday formed around 2012 but became the established lineup it is today in 2018, after much hard work and the release of our first album, Signs of Insanity. The name was based on the Stone Temple Pilots song “Naked Sunday” – we enjoyed how the two words just fitted well together, and of course, it leaves a lot to interpretation.

Who are Naked Sunday’s biggest influences? 

CL: As for myself, it would be Motley Crue/Sixx AM, [vocalist/guitarist] Martin’s would be Guns N Roses, [lead guitarist] Alex loves UFO, and [drummer] Liam loves the Foo Fighters, but collectively we all love Queen. We don’t like to make the same record, and much like Queen, we set out to be different from everyone else (especially on our local scene). 

Do you remember the moment you realized you wanted to play music for a living? Was there a specific band/artist that made you think “I have to do that”?

CL: I think the second I heard Queen and picked up a guitar, I wanted to perform and make music. It was an instant callin. The first time I could play a few chords, I was writing my own songs, and that love of music and creating is still with me.

What is the writing/recording process for the band?

CL: As a band, we do all write together. Sometimes Martin will come in with some chords and lyrics and it’s almost a full written song, but the band put their stamp on it, myself and Alex usually write riffs and then at rehearsal, Liam will piece them together and we will structure the song as we see fit. A lot of the time we will work a song, such as a new one we are working on at the moment called “LEGION,” by road testing them, and doing demos so we all have structures to work to, or that we can edit and say this may work better. We also share Whatsapp videos of riffs, etc., so Martin can start writing lyrics, or Liam has a heads up so he can develop the feel of the track on the drums.

I want to talk about the latest singles, “Vilified” and “Shine.” Can you share the story behind each of those tracks? 

CL: They sit like a brother and sister track to us. “Vilified” is definitely Martin’s baby lyrically. It is about others trying to turn people against you because you have passion or drive. Martin faces a lot of criticism because he is driven and gets great results. It’s a middle finger to the high school bully, the rogue workmate that isn’t a mate, the people in the pub who laugh behind your back but are friendly to your face – it’s a song for the working man.

“Shine” is a different kettle of fish. It is about wanting someone to succeed, totally the opposite of “Vilified.” It’s about rooting for the one you love, wanting them to be the best possible person they can be and the best gift to the world they can be. It’s a delicate number with some of Alex’s best guitar work, and we have to give credit to Miguel Seco, who produced these songs. Without his help and love, especially with “Shine,” we feel he got the best out of us (our fifth Sunday member).

With your full library in mind, do you have a song you connect with more than the others? 

CL: I think “Home” for us is something we all connect with. It was the title track to our second album and featured on Fireworks rock and metal magazines CD. It, for us, is just something that we all get lost in, and the audience loves singing the ending.  It is a song about our sleepy home town of Stafford – you want to leave, but inside your head there is no place like home. 

What is your favorite song to play live?

CL: “Lilith” is one that I think we all dig. It started out as a song I wrote on bass at a rehearsal at Neon Sound Studios in Burntwood. (Martin has a connection of writing a UK 16 Chart song here with Mike Newey the owner.) We even went back to the studio to record it. It’s a brooding dark builder with a very metal ending and the start of us moving into heavier territory. Liam helped with the structure of this, and it just is an absolute blast to play live. The song also features in the film Tales of the Creeping Death by John Williams.

That’s really cool, that you guys had a song in a film! How did that feel, when you learned it was to be used? 

CL: So the director John Williams heard “Lilith” and used it in this incredible werewolf scene. The werewolf was designed by Gary Pollard.  The film features legendary English actor Ricky Tomlinson. For us it was a dream come true, being massive horror fans. I remember Martin taking the call and jumping around being super excited,  then we learned they also added “Unbreakable.” A very surreal and beautiful moment.

Last but not least, what are the band’s plans for the rest of 2023 and into 2024? 

We have one final gig of the year left at The Dog House Stafford. It’s our normal Christmas Bash with our good friends Lungdren and Guns for Girls. Then it’s getting the mix back for our single “Web Around My Grave,” which again is a heavy number, followed by a new photoshoot and then recording the final track of our EP Rise, which is a beautiful Tom Petty style song. Then it’s back to gigging straight away around the UK, spreading our wings and following up album number 3. We also have a video to film with the talented Mr Nick J. Townsend of WEAK13, who filmed “Vilified.”

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Things are moving fast for Naked Sunday! You can keep up with all their news, gig announcements, and music by following their socials, and be sure to give “Vilified” and “Shine” a listen on your favorite streaming service!

Interview: Ryan Henry of We Are The Virus

November 21, 2023 — Leave a comment

We Are The Virus is a project from Louisiana that spans metal and all of its subgenres. Front man, and sole permanent member, Ryan Henry brought WATV to life in the wake of Covid, as a way to vent the emotions of everyday life.

I was given the opportunity to talk to Ryan about the beginnings of We Are The Virus, the inspiration behind the music, the latest album, Civil Disobedience, and more.

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How was We Are The Virus formed, and what’s the story behind the name?

Ryan: The, let’s call it “project,” of WATV formed in early 2021, basically out of a Covid-ridden landscape. I had played guitar for most of my life – close to 25 years – and never really attempted a project “solo”. I was 2 years out of a divorce, and my (now) wife had been pushing me to really get back to my musical roots. Really connect back with the music again. We had made it a huge part of our relationship, and she could see how much playing and creating meant to me. She pushed me back into it, and I dove in head first. The name was actually a suggestion from one of the collaborators on the album, Mike O’Brien (Texas Murder Crew; who is also a firefighter as I am). The name really RESONATED crazily with me – I’ve worked in hazardous material response for most of my adult life and was an extreme zombie movie fanatic for years, so it truly fit.  

Who are your major influences? Did you and the others involved all come from similar musical backgrounds, or did you have to blend different influences into the sound y’all have created?

Ryan: The collaborators on the album Civil Disobedience have SIMILAR backgrounds; however, the difference in proximity to each other has for sure played a huge influence.  I collaborated with Mike O’Brien and Aaron Bazen (Truth and Tragedy) on the album. Both had the heavy musical influence, but the direction was different. Mike being from a Slam/Deathcore background and Aaron being from a Hardcore background brought a few different flavors to the mix. I am the sole constant member in the band, but I feel like it’s very important to fill in my gaps with someone able to express their 100% creative freedom. And I’m lucky to have worked with these two because of the sheer ethic and drive they both have. 

Speaking of Civil Disobedience, it was released back in August. Can you tell me a little about the writing and recording process for the album?

Ryan: The writing and recording process for Civil Disobedience was a huge hurdle for me. After being guided into the musical process again by my wife, it was a gateway of emotional sputum. I did not realize what I had inside after my career of firefighting and going through life changes that needed to come out. My writing process was pretty erratic. I didn’t know when or why; however, when it felt as if it needed to come out, it was TIME. There were many times my wife and I were having a normal day together, and I would tell her, “Hey, I need to play, it needs to come out.” Most of the songs were put together quickly, like when it was time to happen, it got spewed out onto the page. 

How do you feel your career as a firefighter influences your music?

Ryan: My career, as much as I hate to admit, probably has influenced my music quite a bit. There’s a lot of really dark shit to deal with in emergency response. I’ve seen a lot of death, sometimes natural, sometimes not, but on the contrary, I’ve also been a part of saving lives. It’s an extreme polar bounce of emotions thinking of how it could have influenced. There was one really particular incident where my music and response crossed inadvertently. Years ago, without giving too many details, we worked a fatal car accident involving a young teenage driver. While I had been into heavy music most of my life at this point, I noticed in the deceased’s vehicle there was an album in the back seat, an album that I also owned at the time. That call has always haunted me for many reasons, but the connection of music between the driver and us trying to save them has really stuck with me. Sorry for being vague! It’s out of respect for the patient.

Let’s talk further back. What was it that first inspired you to create? Was there any particular band/artist, or a moment you remember thinking “that’s what I want to do”?

Ryan: To create, I feel like the best answer to this is the feeling or need to express. Behaviorally, I do feel I’ve always been reserved and almost empathetic or too in tune with how others are feeling or have felt. Creation and expression of the music reverses that for those moment and makes me feel powerful. Mentally, it’s helped me considerably to each day take time out to work on music and gotten me back on a track where I’m feeling confident and as if I can take on the world. Growing up, there was a turning point as far as artists that really inspired me. I grew up listening to my dad’s vinyl collection of Deep Purple, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and ZZ Top.  These bands paved the way for me to get into Black Sabbath and the darker aspects of music. But two bands really solidified me and inspired me to play, and those were Metallica and Korn. These two bands made me want to pick up a guitar every day and play, particularly Metallica’s The Black Album, and Korn’s Life is Peachy.

While we’re discussing your musical tastes, I have to ask, just for fun, is there anyone you listen to that you think would surprise people?

Ryan: Well, as a teenager, I would never have admitted any sort of guilty pleasure. You know, the older I get – I really start to feel like none of my musical pleasure should be guilty (although it could be slightly embarrassing). I love the band The Police. Copeland was an amazing drummer, and I focus on it each time I hear the music. Also, country artist, if you would really call it that, Cody Jinks. Cody Jinks has some really deep stuff. He has very obviously been through some shit in his life, and his song “David” always strikes a cord with me because of my emergency response background. Essentially he, as a police officer, responds to the death of a childhood friend.  Listen to the song and really explore it lyrically, really great stuff. 

As far as songs that resonate, which one of your own tracks from the new album do you connect with the most? (If there is such a song.)

Ryan: “One Dark Highway,” without a doubt. Musically, the song was written at a super low point. It was my droning song to myself about being in the middle of a dark intersection in the middle of nowhere. Looking in all directions with no headlights, just darkness and a chill in the air. Lyrically, I had given Mike O’Brien the name of the song, and he wrote the corresponding lyrics without any sort of prompt from me other than the name, and the lyrics just sent it right home. “So I walk on this highway, searching for a change” gives me chills and is my favorite, beyond a shadow of a doubt. 

What are your plans for the rest of 2023 and beyond?

Ryan: The rest of 2023 is getting used to the live performance aspect of the album. Generally I’ll just play the guitars live with a backing track.  I’ve lined up some shows and am hammering out all of the kinks of performance like that.  It’s still absolutely crazy to me when I see people vibing to the music I’m playing because it seems surreal.  It was selfishly in a way written for me to get my emotional crap out, but people are resonating with it, and it’s odd to get used to it, but I love it. 

**

We Are The Virus dropped the debut album Civil Disobedience on August 18th. You can stream it here.

Listen to Ryan’s favorite track:

Interview: Sever Red

November 13, 2023 — Leave a comment

Sever Red is a rock/metal band that is just getting started. Having begun their formation in spring of 2023, this heavy-hitting quartet has made the most of the intervening months. Two singles, “Forever Changed” and “Desperation,” were released this fall, and their debut EP, Sick & Tormented, will be dropping in January 2024.

I recently had a chat with the band, which consists of front man Kevin Riner, guitarist Josiah Wilder, drummer Kenny Shillingburg, and bassist Stephen Mauk. Buckle up, because here’s your crash course on Sever Red!

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First and foremost, how did the band come together, and what’s the story behind the name “Sever Red”?

Kevin: The band started with just me having a vision and wanting to write the best EP possible to give myself a real shot at chasing my lifelong dream of being a professional musician for a living. I wrote everything myself, got some demos together, and sent them to a producer named Josh Schroeder, who is absolutely one of the best producers in the United States. (Just my opinion!) Long story short, a 5 song EP was created, and then came the time for me to look for band members so I could get this thing really going. I feel like you have to play live to really get your name out there. In my opinion, there is no better way to grow an organic growing fanbase than playing live shows and connecting with real people. 

That being said, my great friend Caleb got me in touch with Josiah, who knew I needed a guitarist, and after a 45-minute phone call discussing our visions and goals as musicians, we agreed we would love to meet up to jam and see what happens. That jam session went great, and then the guitarist spot in Sever Red was filled!

Stephen and I used to play in a band together about a decade ago, and after not really keeping in touch, I decided to see if he would be interested in joining the project. After a couple of conversations discussing details, the goals and aspirations we both had, everything aligned, and then the bass position was filled! 

As for Kenny, he always told me he had my back when I was ready to get this project going. Like Stephen and I, Kenny and I go back about a decade as well, and we used to also play shows together. He was in another band, and I always admired his drumming skill, and I knew he would be my go-to guy whenever I was to start my own project. Not only is he a great drummer, but he is a solid dude and friend. Fast forward to now, the project started up and he agreed to be in the band. That is a quick summary of how Sever Red came to be about!

As for the story behind the name, it simply was one of the least cringe band names I could think of that didn’t completely suck. But it also did sort of have a meaning to it. My thought process was it means to not hold onto anger in life because nothing but bad things can come from that. Hence, the name “Sever” and “Red” which is usually a color metaphor for anger. Nothing too deep with the band name. It just sounded halfway decent compared to all my other ideas!

Who would you say are the band’s major influences? And when y’all got together, were you all headed in the same direction, or were you working with different musical backgrounds/influences?

Kevin: I definitely would have to say one of my biggest influences to even start writing music was Shaun Morgan from Seether. I always admired his style of songwriting, and most importantly, his genuine and sincere approach to writing music. His vocal delivery I always thought was honest, and you could feel what he is trying to express to you in his songs, whether it’s pain or sadness. It’s real.  I have so many other influences besides that as well, but I would say he’s my biggest influence.

Josiah: I can hear a variety of influences from bands such as Red, Seether, and sections of Bullet For My Valentine. I believe we all have separate musical influences. My own inspirations come from both classical and modern genres. I believe Kevin has a similar background as well. Even with broad influences, we seem to have a cohesive approach to writing music.

Kenny: Bands I would say I am influenced by are Avenged Sevenfold, August Burns Red, and After the Burial.

On a related note, is there any band or artist you listen to (are influenced by) that might surprise your listeners? 

Kevin: Good question! An influence that might surprise people is I really love a lot of heavy music as well. I am a big fan of Knocked Loose and The Color Morale. I also am a huge fan of Black Stone Cherry, and I would say they are definitely an influence. I have always admired how they can be so heavy at times while also making you cry your eyes out with other songs they have written. The soulful voice of Chris Robertson is an example of one my favorite types of singing voices. I also have recently been diving into Otis Redding and his discography. It’s good stuff!

Josiah: Anytime I would go to write, there tends to be a visual in mind. Additionally, I’m a huge Mark Tremonti and Brian Haner Jr. fan. The nuances in my playing favor them both pretty often when writing.

What is the writing and recording process for Sever Red? From where do y’all draw most of your inspiration?

Kevin: The writing and recording process is usually demoing in my little home studio. Usually getting the bones and basic idea of what the song will sound like. I have always written the music first, and depending on the mood of the music, that dictates the lyrics and what they will be about.  All of my lyrics come from life experiences. Since Josiah has joined, he and I will send back and forth files or voice memos and then collaborate in that way.

Josiah: Voice memos. Lots of voice memos. I have an in-house studio for writing and recording, and I believe Kevin does as well. If an idea comes to mind, I’ll typically just send Kevin the thought and bounce ideas back and forth.

Y’all have released two singles this year, “Forever Changed” and, more recently, “Desperation.” Can you tell me the stories behind these songs?

Kevin: “Forever Changed” was written about my dad. He died when I was 15 due to alcoholism. The song sort of tells a story of watching him grow up, and watching him struggle with alcoholism, and then the aftermath of losing him. It’s just an acknowledgment of the realness of addiction and the consequences, while also being an acknowledgment that I just miss him so much. 

“Desperation” was written from another sort of dark place, if I’m being blunt. It is sort of a cry for help, I suppose. I am acknowledging my own issues with substance abuse, depression, and anxiety and feeling that there is no way out. Hence the song name.

You mentioned that you feel playing live is the best way to get your name out there and grow a fan base. How do you feel that playing live and writing music are connected? When you write, do you think about how it will translate live?

Kevin: When I write, I don’t necessarily think about how it will translate live. When I’m writing lyrics, for example, I am usually just in hyperfocus mode trying to get my genuine feelings out of whatever I’m feeling at the time, and I don’t like to force anything. When I’m writing the musical parts, I do sometimes think to myself “Damn, this could sound really sick live,” but that is definitely not the main focus. My main focus when writing is to just write the best song that I can while keeping it raw and genuine. So, to sum it up, I don’t really think about how it will sound live in the initial creation process. It’s hard to tell how it will sound live until you get together with the guys and feel the energy of the song in rehearsals. That’s when you can really tell how it will translate into a live setting.

Josiah: For me, it’s the delivery. When someone connects to a song or part of a song, it delivers something specific to that person. So, to experience that live is quite surreal considering there are numerous other people in the room feeling the same thing at the same time, just amplified. However, I don’t consciously consider the live performance as a part of my writing process. I try to really focus on the purpose of the song to express it accordingly. The live experience is to share that purpose and energy of the song in person.

Kenny: If you can get a special feeling while you’re writing a song, you just know it’s going to translate live. The energy behind the feeling of the music really shines through to the crowd and hopefully makes them feel something with how passionate you are.

All of you seem quite passionate about the live aspect. What is your favorite thing about performing? 

Kevin: My favorite thing about performing is to see the reactions of the crowd and how they react to something we created that means so much to me. When you see people really vibing to the music, it really gives you a sense of accomplishment and makes everything worth it. All the days and nights, trying to write the best songs we can, it all comes together once we see the reactions from the listeners. When people tell you how much a song means to them, it’s honestly a feeling I can’t quite put into words. It’s a great feeling.

Josiah: To witness the reactions. Seeing the faces of the crowd and their response to the music. It’s as much of a payment as anything to know the audience is really connected with the experience in that moment.

Kenny: The best things about performing are seeing how everyone is enjoying all of your hard work, and the looks on faces when people can relate to the lyrics or when they’re just feeling the groove of the song. It’s very rewarding.

You guys have an extensive list of influences, and it seems y’all could fit in with several different genres, so I have to ask: what would be your dream tour lineup? Sever Red and…?

Kevin: Sever Red, Staind, Seether, 3 Doors Down and Breaking Benjamin

Josiah: Sever Red, Tremonti, Breaking Benjamin, and Seether.

Kenny: Sever Red, Bring Me the Horizon, Breaking Benjamin, and Spiritbox

And last but not least, what are the band’s plans for the remainder of 2023 and into early 2024?

Kevin: Play as many shows as we possibly can and to have as many people as possible listen to our music! Also, a lot of writing, and then hopefully to keep the momentum going with new music!

Josiah: I believe we will have continued rehearsals to keep sharp for future show opportunities. I plan to write with Kevin and the group and keep working on new material.

Kenny: Rest of 2023 to rehearse and tighten up/gel as a band. 2024? World domination.

**

You can check out “Forever Changed” and “Desperation” here, and be sure to follow Sever Red on all their socials to keep up with what they’re doing!

The Mostly Music Podcast, Ep. 1: Fun With Carbonstone

August 1, 2023 — Leave a comment

My none-too-serious interview with Carbonstone is now live on YouTube! Give it a watch!

The Mostly Music Podcast

July 30, 2023 — Leave a comment

I finally did it, y’all! I finally decided to start a music podcast. My sister-in-law has been encouraging me to do this for well over two years now: she says I’d be great at it because I’m so passionate about music.

I posted the idea to my Facebook page, and it was met with enthusiasm and several bands/artists looking to be interviewed. I fully intended to get the ball rolling before now, but technological issues impeded my progress. However, I am fairly certain I should have that sorted soon, and then I can begin scheduling video interviews.

Luckily, I had the chance recently to meet up with Maryland-based metal band Carbonstone and do an in-person interview. They played a show in Alabama and of course I went! As many of you know, I interviewed frontman Corey James for my blog earlier this year, and I reviewed their latest single, “Damaged Like You.”

With Carbonstone was Anoxia vocalist – and Corey’s wife – Chrystal James. She was gracious enough to agree to be interviewed as well!

Having already discussed music pretty thoroughly, I decided to have a little fun with Corey and Chrystal, and Carbonstone guitarist Neely Johns, for this interview. Since I titled my blog (and podcast) “Mostly Music,” we took on topics other than music, such as movies, dessert toppings, and places they would love to visit. But we naturally discussed a few music-related things, too.

The video is going live tonight on my new YouTube channel. For now, that’s the only place it will be. I added subtitles because both Chrystal and I had a couple of instances where we didn’t speak loudly enough, given that we were in a bar and there was a lot of background chatter. I will improve, though! I was just happy that my first in-person interview was with someone I had talked to before. It created a certain level of comfort, and I think that really comes through.

I would love it if y’all would check it out! Consider your viewing of it an early birthday gift. The video will be available at 5:30 p.m. CST.

Interview: Clay Soldiers

May 31, 2023 — Leave a comment

Clay Soldiers hail from the UK and blend elements of alternative, grunge, and stoner rock in their music. Formed in 2020, the band consists of vocalist/guitarist Leon, bassist Stu, and drummer Pablo. They have already seen a few notable achievements, including 16,000+ all-time streams across the various services and listeners in forty different countries.

I recently chatted with Clay Soldiers about their backgrounds in music, influences, playing live, and their debut EP, Life After Death.

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First and foremost, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule for this interview. Let’s start with the story behind the band’s name. I always find those interesting.

Stu: Initially, we were talking about Greek mythology and we were looking for names along the lines of mythological beasts and history. However, Leon states that “Clay Soldiers” came from the idea that people are molded in terms of their way of thinking, their resilience – they are not as strong as they think they are and are made to believe they are invincible.

Clay Soldiers’ sound encompasses multiple styles. Who are the band’s influences?

Stu: Our biggest influences are the bands and sounds of the 90s, such as Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Queens of the Stone Age, and Faith No More. We also take inspiration from classic rock, like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, and lately we’ve drawn from some newer bands on the scene, particularly our friends in Dunes, The Grudge, and High Desert Queen, in terms of their performance and style.

So, if you don’t mind, can you tell me how you got started in music? What made you decide this is what you wanted to do?

Stu: We have always been interested in music in a big way. However, truly thinking about it, we lived through the 80s and 90s, where the music was an inspirational element in our lives. So, seeing bands that had grown considerably from the late 80s to the mid-90s and beyond, it was something that we had always felt that it wasn’t out of reach to do. It was a case of finding the instrument that we could share the rocking vibes with and over time, learning what it means to write songs, what it means to write from the heart through our own lived experiences that listeners can relate to.

And now, y’all have released your debut EP, Life After Death, and have garnered some well-deserved attention with it. Can you tell me a little about the writing and recording process? From where did y’all draw inspiration?

Stu: We tried to make music to reflect life experiences and take to heart how the lyrics can resonate to a wider audience. We wanted to write in a more thoughtful way and build connections with people as they find they can relate to it.

In terms of the recording, we often lay down all our demo stems on an app called Bandlab. It is a piece of software that really helped us to lay out and structure our ideas for the EP. The artwork was an awesome piece hand-painted by UK tattoo artist Jeep Bluezone (who is originally from Thailand). Initially, it was painted on canvas, then she offered to let us use it for the EP cover. We felt the image reflected every song on the EP, which is all about death and recovery – hence the name ‘Life After Death’. In other words, the day the world halts and then we start again.

On a personal level, what’s your favorite song on the EP?

Leon: All songs are very meaningful. If there was one overall song, I would choose “Ghost,” as that is the most epic sounding song.

Stu: I would choose “Ghost,” as it was one of the first tracks we actually wrote by accident and became one of our most evolved tracks. It has quite a cinematic, epic sound to it.

Pablo: “Ghost” for me.

I saw that you guys just played a show with Elkapath, Doomicidal, and At War With the Sun. What is your favorite thing about playing live?

Stu: That was a great show. Our favourite thing about playing live is seeing people enjoying and sharing the moments with us where the music is creating a positive atmosphere like no other. In that moment, we are family! 

And on the topic of playing live, how is playing live and writing music in the studio connected? When you write, do you think about how it will translate in a live performance? 

Stu: Everything we do in the studio is connected to live shows because  everything we work for in the studio, it all comes to a conclusion in live shows.  We want everyone to get a first glance of our music. For new fans who are seeing us for the first time, it is about how we can connect to those people and make new friends. For existing fans, it is showing how our music evolves and the fans grow with us. 

What is next for Clay Soldiers? I saw y’all hinting at new music on Facebook (I say hopefully).

Stu: Social media is a massive tool, definitely, and it is helping us to reach more people and all around the world. New music is constantly coming, new songs and new forms of composition are there, and we are taking all different styles to create our own way to make music.

What do you feel is the ultimate goal for the band?

Stu: The goal is to keep growing, musically and as a band. To be able to perform regularly. It is not about being famous but is about being original and offering something to people where they can identify. We are now at a stage where we are building a brand and we invite everyone to the opportunity to get involved and be a part of that process.

Is there any message you’d like to give your fans, old and new? 

Stu: We would wholeheartedly like to say a massive thanks with much love and respect for all the love and support everyone has shown us. Absolutely everyone is welcome to come and see us, no-one should be left out, regardless of pronoun, gender, sex, where you are from, etc. We just want everyone to be united in the moment, take care of each other and enjoy good times again! All we ask is just come and support local artists, local music! Keep the dream alive! 

And a fun question I always ask, just to wrap this up: what would your dream concert lineup be? Clay Soldiers and…?

Stu: Dream lineup… to play an international open air festival, with bands who would love to play
with Clay Soldiers! We would also absolutely love to be on the same lineup as the bands which have inspired us
from the start of our musical inception, such as Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins, Queens Of The Stone Age, Foo Fighters. Would be nice!

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Clay Soldiers are on a steady upward trajectory, earning new fans and followers with every released single and live show. They bring the best of rock in everything they do. From what I’ve seen, the band will be giving us a taste of their darker, heavier side with their new music. Be sure to find them on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, etc., and check them out! Here is the track that the trio voted as their favorite from Life After Death.