Mostly Music

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: 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.”

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.

**

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!

**

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.

Interview: Stickman

April 22, 2023 — Leave a comment

Stickman is a Canadian rock band that consists of guitarist/vocalist Kim Whitford, bassist and backing vocalist Randall Taylor, and drummer Des Vegas. While their sound is heavily influenced by 90s/00s alternative rock and grunge, there is definitely an element of modern day hard rock, as well as nods to classic rock & roll.

I had fun interviewing the band. We discussed everything from influences to their songwriting process, what they love about playing live to their dream tour lineup. As you’ll see, the trio don’t always take themselves too seriously. Their talent and obvious enjoyment for what they do is what makes it work.

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Okay, first and foremost, how would you describe Stickman’s sound? If you had to actually use a genre label, what would it be?

Kim: Our sound is a blend of grunge, post-grunge and hard rock, with hints of 70s and 80s classic rock. Post-grunge is the label we identify with most.

Randall: Hard rock/Dad rock

How did the band form, and what’s the story behind the name?

Kim: Stickman was formed in 2017 by Randall and myself. Des joined in late 2017. All three members are long time school friends, who had either played in the same bands or bands that were associated with each other. The name Stickman came from a list of band names we were considering at the time and that was the one we liked best. Turns out the name is very marketable and well used, lol.

Randall: Kim and I have been in many bands together since the 90s. We had a new bunch of songs we wanted to record but didn’t have a drummer. Luckily, an old friend of ours from high school was jamming in the same rehearsal space and the space owners brought them together. Des Vegas joined and the “project” became a band. Stickman was on a long list of potential names. I just thought it looked cool to have a stickman as the “T” in the word, haha!

Who are the band’s main influences? I know late 90s/early 2000s, but who specifically?

Kim: Failure, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Nirvana, Tool, AIC, Pink Floyd, Ocean Machine, Metallica, The Beatles

Randall: KISS, Alice In Chains, Failure, Black Sabbath

Des: Deftones, Mötley Crüe, Crosses, AIC

So, for you personally, what inspired you to get involved in music? 

Des: I was around 10 years old and my brother Aaron was playing drums. I idolized him and I wanted to do what he did. He was really the reason I picked up a pair of sticks.

Kim: I’ve had a love of music since my earliest memories. Listening to KISS albums and studying the artwork. As I got older, exploring and discovering all the greats from all genres.

Randall: Two words – KISS Alive.

What is your favorite thing about playing music? 

Des: My favorite thing about playing music is that moment when you’re on stage with your boys doing what you love and the audience responds. It’s another level.

Kim: Getting to put “my take” on music and putting it out to the universe. If someone else likes it, that’s great! If not, that’s great too!

Randall:  Interaction with the crowd and being onstage. I have a strong desire to be performing in front of people.

Tell me a little bit about the latest single, “Sacrifice.” What was the inspiration for the song? (And side note: how do y’all decide which songs to release as singles?)

Kim: Inspiration comes in many forms and from many different sources. Musically, most ideas just come out when I pick up the guitar and play. I try to keep the lyrics ambiguous so they’re open to interpretation. This song is loosely based on my feelings towards social media and the obsessiveness of it. How some people will go to great lengths to get likes and followers. We decide to release songs that “work” and we all like them. By “work”, I mean it all makes sense, musically and lyrically.

And, still on the subject of your songs, what is the song writing and recording process like for Stickman? 

Kim: I will typically record every idea I come up with. If it moves me in some way, I will flesh it out a bit before showing it to the guys. I will record a rough draft, with multiple parts and typically with drums and bass and whatever else added. We will then tear it apart and build it back up from there. There is usually a melody in mind early on, but lyrics tend to take a while in most instances.

Randall: Kim comes up with the bones of the song and then we flesh it out together in practice until we’re comfortable with all the parts. We’ve recorded in professional studios, but for the time being, Kim is acting as engineer and we’re recording all our new music ourselves.

All of you mentioned the live element as part of what you love most about music. Can you describe what a Stickman performance is like? 

Des: For me, each performance is an event. I play like I’m at a giant stadium playing the last show of my career.  

Kim: Our shows are more about the entertainment side of things. We have songs “run” into one another and add bits of other songs in between. We try to entertain instead of just going on stage and playing each song.

Randall: Surprisingly energetic for a bunch of old guys! Also, we like to keep a tight set. One song will lead to another, and even things like the tuning breaks and crowd “raps” are choreographed. We try to minimize the dead air. Quick and exciting!

When you’re writing/recording, do you think about how the songs will translate live? 

Des: Yes, I always try to think about how I’ll play live. I usually try to play more solid beats while we record, so by the time we play live, I can really ramp it up with that live energy.

Randall: I do for sure! I’m always thinking about how the songs will be played live and how they will translate to each other in the set.

Kim: Definitely. Especially the singing aspect of it. I don’t want to complicate the performance by having the singing interfere with the guitar playing I do.

What are the band’s plans for 2023? 

Des: I’m very excited to say we are in the early stages of writing the next record, and a big part of the next year will be working on that.

Kim: Get back to playing live shows and writing and starting to record our next record.

Randall: To play shows whenever possible and record a new full-length album.

What do you feel is the ultimate goal for Stickman?

Des: I really love that I get to be with my brothers, writing kick ass music. We play shows where and when we can. People show up and dig it. Man, that’s all I’ve ever wanted. I guess I’ve reached my goal, haha.

Kim: To continue doing what we do and help keep rock alive!

Randall: A band with a reasonable following that can be trusted to play any show and entertain – and to continue to release interesting and fun new original music.

Facebook

Is there any band/artist you listen to that you think would surprise people?

Des: I listen to everything from Deftones to SADE, so ya, there’s probably a ton of stuff people would be surprised I listen to, lol.

Randall: I still like Nickelback. There, I said it.

What is your dream tour lineup that includes Stickman? 

Des: Wow! Not sure what that would look like, but I would have loved to have had the opportunity to talk with Chris Cornell and Layne Staley, among many others.

Kim: A touring festival. Take a look at our influences and put them on the bill with us!

Randall: I don’t even need to say some big market arena tour. I think I’d be just as happy with a club tour through western Canada and the Pacific Northwest with a couple of other local bands that we’ve befriended over the years.

And lastly, is there anything you’d like to say to your fans, both new and old? 

Des: I honestly love that you dig what we do. I could never thank those who support us enough.

Kim: Thank you for taking the time to listen to our music and giving us the chance to connect with you through our music.

Randall: Thanks for listening! We really do it for us in that we’re not trying to write to a trend or consumer group, but it’s nice when other people dig it, too.

**

I highly suggest following Stickman on Facebook, etc., as well as your favorite streaming platform; from all that I’ve heard, this band is getting better with each song they release! I can only imagine what is coming in the future.

Check out their latest single, “Sacrifice,” and two of my personal favorites! (I couldn’t narrow it down to one.)

Interview: Viktor Vetika

April 15, 2023 — 1 Comment

Viktor Vetika is an artist who enjoys several creative outlets. Starting in thrash/metal bands, he has since ventured into writing a comic book, making music videos, and fronting a more rock-oriented ensemble that bears his surname. It seems he can do it all!

I had the fun of chatting with Vetika about music (mostly), though we did touch on the subject of his other endeavors. Read on to learn more.

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Thank you so much for talking with me! Let’s start with my standard opening question: what made you want to pursue a career in music?

VV: I was at the end of a relationship after college and I was really depressed, this was 1992. I was listening to a college radio station and heard a song that was very powerful called “Inner Conflict” by Carnivore, and it hit me differently than any other song I’d ever heard. I made a decision right after that song that I would start singing for a band. I knew I couldn’t sing to save my life, but I knew I could shout and scream like Peter Steele in Carnivore.  

How did Vetika get its start?

VV: I’ve been in many bands since the early 90s. Each band I’ve been in has been a headache. I got divorced and stopped playing in bands in 2010 to get my life back on track. I enrolled in a masters in fine art degree and achieved it in 2015. Then I was slowly feeling the music bug again in 2017. I decided this time I would be the boss and enlist musicians and play in the direction I want to go rather than letting the fate of a democracy make the decisions. I’m drawing a comic book called “United Forces” and one of the main characters in the book is me. So to push my comic, I named the band Vetika, my last name. 

I’ve had 7 guitarists for this band so far, starting with Tom Wills with a thrash song. Then Angel Lee, the singer/guitarist of Devils Envy, wrote a few of the songs off the Skull with Magic EP. Then there was Brian Ballas and Jeff Fernandez. They wrote songs for the EPs She is Magic and Power of the Pit. My old bandmate, Jason Parke, shot me over some songs, and I’m still working with him. I worked on one cover song with Ben Johnson. I have a new guy, Neid, who’s been writing songs for this newest EP.

You’ve been doing this a really long time, then. How do you stay inspired? What keeps you excited about what you do?

VV: The creating aspect of making a song, and making a music video. Every band you make music in is going to be different. I knew this would be the case for this band. I’ve worked with different guitarists in this band and each time there’s a new sound, it inspires me. 

I’m also an artist, and the new thing about my musical career is the technology I haven’t had in the past to create music videos affordably. Since making music videos during Covid, I wasn’t able to bring my band mates together to film, but I did have myself. I painted a wall in my living room green for a green screen and started filming myself as different Vetikas. In the music video “One Regret,” there are multiple Vetikas, and this started an idea that has even crossed over to my comic book “United Forces.” Using this idea of the multiple Vetikas, I incorporated the idea into the music videos “Power of the Pit” and “The Sunrise of Nothingness.” There’s a good Vetika, a bad Vetika, a scared Vetika, you get the point. Some are in this dimension, some are in other dimensions. 

In the “The Sunrise of Nothingness” video, Vetika is walking through this foreign land. The foreign land is photos of ripped foam laying on a styrofoam sheet I bought from Joanne fabric, lol. The video making really gets me off. I’m not too fond of the filming and acting out parts of the story, but I love editing and seeing the story come to life. My barometer for if the music video is working or not is when I laugh out loud at how silly a part of the video is, when I do that I know I’m on the right track. After shooting this video, I took a photo of myself in the foreign land to create the album art. 

Another area that keeps me inspired is that I’ve been inviting musicians from the central Florida area to collaborate with us. I’ve had Bobby Koelbe (Death), Ken Andrews (Obituary), and Adam Phillips (Indorphone, Pro-Pain) play solos on songs; Meka (Meka Nism) sing a duet with me in a song, and Angelo “Crisco” Miceli (Seven Nations) and Kevin Collado (In This Day) play drums on a few songs. Currently working on a few songs with Russel Ray (Reddstar), who is a drummer/producer. The Vetika camp keeps growing.

In your own words, how would you describe your music? If you had to categorize it, what genre would you be?

VV: The first few EPs started off as thrash/metal, but I’ve recently been slowing down and trying to sing a bit and go in a hard rock & classic rock direction. 

What bands/artists inspire you?

VV: I listened to unsigned bands from the 90s when I was starting, which inspired me because those bands were coming up with their own thing and learning how to be a band. Their music is unorthodox. Bands like Dissolve, Implode, Shaman Mary, Sheldon, Nothing Face, and Stuck Mojo. These were bands I saw live when they were just starting.  

I’m also inspired by top 40 ’80s music because it sounds nothing like what’s being made today. The funny thing is, I grew up in the 80s and hated top 40 then, but have a huge appreciation for it now.  

That happens. I like alternative rock from the 90s much more now than I did when living through it. Still on the subject of what you like, is there anyone you’re a fan of that you think would surprise people?

VV: My newest song “The Sunrise of Nothingness” was inspired by David Gilmour’s guitar playing. I love how he plays guitar. Go have a listen to his album About Face. It’s amazing.

What is the story behind that track?

VV: It’s about contradictions and hypocrites.

Tell me a little about your songwriting process. From where do you draw your inspiration? 

VV: My process is I hear a song that I like, and it inspires me to write one that is similar. Now that I’ve put out a good supply of songs, I’m leaning more on the mix/master part of the song production, which I hadn’t really focused on before. I’ve been inspired by the mixing of these newest songs and listening to the richness of the production quality. 

That leads directly into my next question. What has been your writing/recording process for the tracks on this new EP?

VV: My process is always hearing a song and telling my guitarist this is what I want to do next. He’ll take the idea and make it his own. He sends me a sample and I’ll tell him if he’s hit the mark or not. If he hits the mark, I tell him to keep going. If he misses the mark, I’ll give him directions on what to do next. When we’re done, the songs sound nothing like the songs I got the inspiration from. 

This has been the most rewarding band for me because of what I mentioned already and technology. Every band I was in up until Vetika we could never record easily, it took a lot of money. But with technology now I can get my guitarist to put together a few riffs and plug in some electric drums, get my bassist to record his tracks and then I sing over it at my house on my computer. Send it off to get mixed and mastered. I come up with the music video ideas, film them, and edit them in Adobe Premiere Pro.  

What is coming next for Vetika, and what is the ultimate goal?

VV: I’ll be putting out the next music video “Overturned” and wrapping up a few other songs for the The Sunrise of Nothingness EP. My ultimate goal is to play some shows and get word out about the band to more people. We were about to play live, and then Covid happened. I currently have a drummer and bassist from a previous band I was in, but the guitar part is hard. The guys I’ve been using are not able to play live, so I’m trying to recruit some guitarists. 

What would be your dream tour lineup?

VV: Play with Metallica. Why not play with the best to get the word out. 

Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans, new and old?

VV: If you’d like to know more about me, pick up the comic book titled “United Forces” at www.monarchcomics.com. The main character is myself and Phil Foulder. Also watch my music videos on viktorvetika.com. They tell my story as well. For the foreseeable future, all of the music videos will be about me in an insane asylum, making music videos in my head. 

And by all means, send me fan mail. It’s lonely in the asylum. My email is victor.vetika@gmail.com

Last, but certainly not least, where can my readers get their hands on your music?

VV: All streaming services.

**

It seems that Viktor has his proverbial plate full, his excess of creativity finding its outlet on multiple fronts. Be sure to check out the comic book, stream his music, and follow his socials for news on all his endeavors!

Interview: The Lamplighter

April 1, 2023 — Leave a comment

The Lamplighter is a one-man band with an attention to detail. All instrumental, his music defies categorization; it’s something you simply have to experience for yourself.

I had the pleasure of talking to The Lamplighter recently. We discussed what lit the fire in him to make music, his writing process, what’s next for him, and more!

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What made you want to pursue a career in music? (Or, if not an intended career, what got you into music as an outlet, hobby, etc.?)

The Lamplighter: My dad was a garage drummer, so I think I have always been hypnotized by music, at least as far back as I know. I remember when Prince released Purple Rain, I was completely captivated by that album. Later, I joined the school band (as a drummer, of course) and found big band jazz. In high school, I was in both orchestra and jazz band, but outside of band I was pretty much a metalhead. I met a guy who was a guitar player mainly into New Wave and Post Punk, and he introduced me to a bass player into punk rock, hard rock, and some psychedelic stuff. The three of us formed a band and wrote some pretty crazy stuff. All our influences came through woven together like a sonic tapestry. They were my best friends, we had a special connection and it was awesome. We played our first Hollywood gig at 15, and by that point, I was in it for good. Creating and playing music was my purpose.

How did The Lamplighter get its start? And what is the significance of the name?

TLL: Well, I was born and raised in L.A. I was in numerous bands, playing countless gigs all over the place. It was a blast for many years. But life eventually brought me to the PNW away from my L.A. musician circle. I found myself musically alone, drifting and struggling to find like-minded musicians who were also dependable (crazy, I know) and eventually almost gave up. One day during a long hiatus, I was listening to funk and jazz in my garage, thinking, “Maybe one day it will happen again,” and then I heard The Budos Band for the first time. They relit my fire. It was then I decided “Screw it! I will just do it myself.” I taught myself how to play guitar many years ago, so learning the keyboard wasn’t too difficult. I started writing, and after the first coupl of songs, I named myself The Lamplighter. 

The name is from my family’s business dating back to the 60s, 70s, and 80s. It was a sign shop called Lamplighter Neon. I always thought the logo was really cool, so I used it. I actually redrew myself as the logo. My family gets a kick out of it. 

So, aside from the drums, are you completely self-taught?

TLL: I am self-taught. After I started playing in the school band, I just couldn’t get enough. My aunt had an old beat-up acoustic guitar from the 70s that she gave me and an old beginner guitar book. It smelled like an old attic, but I learned how to (cut up my fingers), then tune it on a basic scale, then how to play “Yankee Doodle.” I later stumbled across a bar chord and it kinda sounded distorted and from there…you guessed it… “Smoke on the Water.” Haha (seriously). After hooking up with a real band, I would fidget on the other guys’ guitar and bass between jamming. They would just keep me in the corner of their eye and sometimes I think they’d get a little concerned. Haha! But then I started coming up with riffs and it was game on.

Wow! I’m so impressed by people who have the drive and patience to teach themselves. And since everything comes from you, I’m gonna ask you to describe your music in your own words.

TLL: This is a hard question because I never want to give people the wrong impression. They are all instrumentals, and I perform all instruments. I sometimes describe it as funk-infused rock oddities, or energy. It really is just a recipe formulated by my mood, and whatever influences surface that day. I don’t ever want to be a “Metal” artist, or “Punk,” or “Jazz,” or “Funk,” etc. I like all those styles, and more, I just try to let them flow through me. I hope that doesn’t sound lame. A person described one of my songs as “If Twin Peaks and Mad-Max had a child, this would be the soundtrack.” I like it.

What bands/artists inspire you?

TLL: Oh geez, so many. I’d say off the top of my head… Jane’s Addiction, Primus, Funkadelic, Firehose, Fugazi, Clutch, Fu Manchu, Frank Zappa, The Vandals, Dinosaur Jr…..I could go on for days. 

(I just noticed how many bands in that list start with the letter “F.” I wonder if there is a correlation there, or if when naming influences that letter just lingered? Hmmmmm. )

Tell me about your approach to songwriting? What was the process like for Ultraviolet Catastrophe?

TLL: I remember hearing David Bowie talk about not writing music to please other people, and when it starts sounds crazy, you are on to something good. Also, I think it was Prince who said something to the effect of letting the music write itself through you. You essentially become the instrument. So that is kinda what I try to do. I like groovy bass lines with some funk in them. I drive my drums hard at times but add some swing to them and sneak in some old funky riffs. Then I frosted the cake with guitars and/or keyboards, depending on where the song took me. There are a couple of smokin’ leads in there. There are also some eerie processed keys in there. Some songs make you want to dance, others take you on a trip, one tells a story. After I arrive at an “almost done” stage, I let it sit for a week or two and then listen to it again. This album took me a year to finish. I have a 9-5 job and I never want to rush and I definitely don’t ever want to write the same song twice.

Is there anything in particular that inspires you to write, anywhere you draw inspiration from? I’m usually asking this question about lyrics, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t apply to the music itself as well.

TLL: I see music in the world, in everything… a mood, a song I heard, a day at the beach, cruising the city, watching a crow walk across the fence….music is an integral part of life…fundamental.

Do you have a time or certain state of mind that is more conducive to writing than others? I ask because I write short stories and I tend to get motivated late at night – unfortunately – and when it’s really quiet. But I know other people who thrive in chaos, so… 

TLL: Oddly enough, I get a lot of new ideas in the morning shower, and again around 10 a.m. at work. The shower thing I read has to do with the state of your mind being kinda released from daily stress and all the other things one has to think about so the creativity flows past the blockage, so to speak. The 10 a.m. thing is weird and I can’t explain it. It’s like all of a sudden I will be just going through the day, then 10 rolls around and WHAM! I’m head bobbin’ to a bass line, or struttin’ to a drum groove in my head. When I realize what I’m doing, I kinda sheepishly look around and a coworker is like..”New song?” Yep, lol. The struggle is trying to remember them when I get home. 

I get that. Sometimes inspiration strikes me when I don’t have the option to write it down. Lol. Back on the subject of Ultraviolet Catastrophe, do you have a favorite song from the album?

TLL: Not really. Sometimes, I dislike a song more than the others, but that depends on my state of mind. The first song I started promoting was “6 o’clock Jump.” It has groove, energy, and a nice structure… I think 😉

What are your plans for 2023? Can we expect any new music?

TLL: Well, I sort of fell behind the ball with Ultraviolet Catastrophe. I didn’t start putting it out in the world until this last December. It has had some good traction, though, even charted #2 twice on the “Radio Indie Alliance.” So I will continue to raise awareness of it because there are many people who have not heard it yet. I have put a lot into it, and I hope it reaches people. According to Spotify, it has been played in 6 continents….woo hoo! I need to find some penguins in Antarctica to get a Spotify so I can hit all 7.

But new music for sure, always. I am actually finishing up a second release. I went a different direction with this one, and it should be out at the end of April or early May.

And last but not least, where can my readers find your music?

TLL: My music is on all the platforms. Spotify, Pandora, Bandcamp, Youtube, Itunes, Apple Music, Last FM, etc. I have an Instagram and Facebook. For us appreciators of “old media”, I have CDs on Bandcamp. They come with stickers, because stickers are fun.

**

If you enjoy music that is different, intricate and unique, you certainly should listen to The Lamplighter. A lot of energy and feeling goes into his craft, and it is evident in every riff, groove, and beat. As stated, you can find his music on your favorite streaming service, and you can keep up with his creative endeavors by following his socials.

Interview: god.i.am

March 25, 2023 — Leave a comment

god.i.am is the solo project of self-taught, multi-instrumentalist Howard King. Focused on originality and bringing his own uniqueness to the genre, god.i.am offers up a fresh take on doom metal with his debut EP, hanc aeternum, infinitum nihil 23.23.

I had the chance to talk with him at length about his start in music, his writing process, the concept behind his album, and more!

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So firstly, tell me a little bit about you. What drew you to music in the first place? 

Howard King: When I was an infant, my mom said I would get tupperware containers, coffee cans and arrange them, get some wooden spoons, sit down and go at it, haha! I’m sure it sounded like shit, but that’s how I ultimately became a self-taught drummer. And that’s where it all began. As a teenager, I got my first drum set. The first song I played on it was “Living After Midnight” by Judas Priest. It just flowed naturally, and I just kept branching out and getting better. I drummed in numerous heavy metal bands, then discovered at a practice that I had a knack for the bass and fell in love with it, too! I’ve always had an ear for music and can hear all of the instruments in most songs, so I just play by ear and figure them out. I never watch tutorials or videos to learn songs. If I can’t get a certain, intricate part like it is on the recording…I just say fuck it and play it my way!!! But, that’s why I prefer writing original music. I have a particular playing style as a drummer and a bassist, so what’s mine is mine.

So you’re entirely self-taught? Wow! 

HK: Yep, I’ve never had any lessons. Be that good or bad is entirely up to the listener. Either way, I’m cool with it. I also don’t read music. Hell, I don’t even fuck around with tabs or playthrough videos for other bands’ songs. I simply have an ear for it. When I come up with my original music, I just hear what I hear…play what I play…and keep what I like.

Once you really started focusing on learning, who were your biggest influences? Was metal always your style of choice? 

HK: My influences aren’t really that extensive, and I don’t put any emphasis on them with my own preferences and playing style. I’ve played and practiced a variety of music over the years, so I don’t really have a favorite style of music or musician, with regards to drums and bass. Memorable drummers would be Clive Burr and Cozy Powell. Memorable bassists would be James Dewar and JD DeServio. With that being said, anytime I write my own music, I ALWAYS make a point to not copy any single musician or band. So, while I love and respect those guys that I listed, I don’t try to compare myself to them or emulate their styles of play within my own music. This makes my songwriting methods completely unique to me.

No one in particular inspired you to learn drums, bass, etc., but your preferred style to listen to inspired you to create what you do?

HK: I can’t really say that any one particular musician inspired me to play music. I just always knew music was inside of me, so I simply made the effort to let it come out. I’ve never had to force it out, though. It simply flows from its origin. 

As far as my Doom Metal project, I just decided that I was over “rock and roll” and “heavy metal.” I’m not knocking them, but I’ve always preferred the blues. So, my progression into Doom Metal just made sense to me. It’s actually just heavy, down-tuned blues anyway. I have several basses, and my go-to bass is my favorite 5 string bass that I tune to Drop A, and both of my acoustic drum sets are modeled after classic kits, for that heavy, classic sound. I have written dark poetry for years, so I turned some poems into song lyrics, wrote some new shit, and fuckin boom!! Through my song arrangement style (lyrics to music, for the most part), my Doom songs were born.

I had never really considered that doom metal was a variation of Blues. You just taught me something. Why call your project god.i.am?

HK:  I wanted something different. I didn’t want the more common buzz words such as “electric, mono, orange, fuzz, weed, green, etc…” in my project’s name, so I went with something personal. I already knew that I was going to write occult-themed, dark lyrics, so I just drew from my past. There is a line in a movie that states, “As god of my world…” I’ve always loved that fuckin’ line, on a lot of levels. That concept has always meant a lot to me, so I came up with god.i.am … the .i. in that makes it personal and unique to me and singles me out as the god of myself and all that .i. see. 

“god.i.am, of all I see. Not god of you, I’m god of me.“ -from a god.i.am song

So what is your writing and recording process like? Where do you draw inspiration for your lyrics (or poems, as the case may be)? 

HK: My process is actually quite simple. Since god.i.am is a solo project, I’m the only one involved in the song writing process. That’s why I love it so much. I’ve never been difficult when working with other musicians. But some of them can be, so fuck that shit. I’ll do it all myself!

So, I’ll screw around and come up with a riff on my bass that doesn’t sound like any I’ve heard before. Then, typically I “hear” the words I’m gonna use (usually a chorus) and I always “feel” how I’m gonna lay down my drums…so boom! That’s it. All final recording is done at a friend’s studio.

As far as my lyrics/poems, not to beat a dead horse, but I truly don’t get inspired by any outside sources. They just flow from the source within, and I put them on paper. They might hit while I’m alseep, or driving down the road. I really never know. But I have never sat down and said, “What am I gonna write today?” That doesn’t work for me at all. There is just a natural flow involved. And they come out when they’re ready, and if I ignore that, they are easily forgotten.

As someone who has dabbled in writing short stories, I totally get the “if I ignore it, it’s easily forgotten.” I can concoct an entire scene in my head and I’ve lost more of them than I care to count. So, what are your upcoming plans for 2023? 

HK: I think that’s cool that you write, and that you get where I’m coming from. Shit, I have poems in my stash that are still on napkins, haha! When they come out, I’m grabbing the first thing I see to write on. Sometimes, if I’m not near my notepad, that can be anything from my palm, a napkin, to an unsent text on my phone that I can go back to when I’m near some paper. When that kind of internal shit hits, it’s forever lost if I don’t act on it. I think that’s by design, though. So it simply is what it is.

It’s funny that you bring up short stories. My debut EP, hanc aeternum, infinitum nihil 23.23, is theme-based, and I intend on writing a short story to tie everything together. I haven’t decided what to title the story yet, but it will definitely be a bit of a mind fuck for the reader, all while bringing the 5 songs from my EP into one continuous flow. I don’t want to give up too much about it right now, but I will certainly let you know when it’s done.

My plans for 2023 are to set my Doom Metal music on fire and spread it out upon the masses. Doing this shit DIY-style is very labor intensive. I also want to finish my short story and see about getting it published. My personal music is always on the edge of my brain, so I write new shit everyday…and there will be another EP at some point this year.

A short story to go with it? I’m definitely intrigued! Can you tell me a little about the theme of the EP (if you can do so without giving too much away)? What does the title translate to? And do you have a favorite track? If so, which one and why is it your favorite?

HK: The album title translates to “This eternal, infinite nothing 23.23”.

Haha, I have no favorites. I’m a little partial to every one of them (shameless plug #666). I did all the guitar work on my 5 string bass, and that’s a little different from the guitar perspective, so I had a blast creating the songs. Drums and bass are my 2 favorite instruments, so I was able to bring out the best in what I do on both instruments with the songs on the EP.

The theme of the EP is based around a girl that innocently dabbled in the occult, but ended up taking it too far – and found out that there are eternal consquences. It’s not the “newest” storytelling idea, but the theme/story is absolutely my idea, so that makes the story unique to me. I really think you’ll dig it! I know that I’m having a lot of fuckin’ fun with it. 

The short story, the theme and music of the EP is all so very personal in so many ways. I have to release this creativity that’s swirling around in my mind, or I believe I’d be consumed by it. Wait, I am consumed by it, haha! It can truly be maddening at times. But it’s a good kinda crazy. Hell, it keeps me off the streets!

Will the new EP tie in to this one, or is it going to be a completely separate work? 

HK: Oh, trust me, it’ll be a continuation. Her story is far from over. Good or bad, it’s eternal.

Well, I think that about wraps it up. Is there anything you’d like to add? Any message to your current and future fans? 

HK: My message would be, that I go out of my way to never sound like anyone else Doom Metal-related. I’ve scrapped my share of songs because of that. So, I hope everyone enjoys my music and appreciates my efforts at being original in sound and approach. 

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To keep up with everything god.i.am has going on, follow his socials and stay tuned here; he is an interesting artist, and I fully intend to share whatever comes next!