December 22, 2015: Rock Revolt Magazine, Lullwater for rockrevoltmagazine.com

As years go by, more and more rock bands succumb to an overproduced sound which allows them to hide their small imperfections. However, there are some bands that have nothing to hide. Lullwater is one of them. The Athens, Georgia, based rock group prefers the raw sound that only tape can give you from day one. That sound has carried with them through their latest album, Revival, that was just released.

John Strickland (Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar), Brett Strickland (Lead Guitar), Roy “Ray” Beatty (Bass) and Joe Wilson (Drums) are the four musicians who joined their forces, and with their raw, yet provoking, rock managed to build a solid fan base not just in their hometown, but nationwide.

Here we speak with John Strickland about their decision to record only on tape, their brand new album, and of course, their thoughts about the future of the band.

I would like to take you back in 2007 when the band was formed. Tell us about your relationship back then and how you wound up with the idea to name the band “Lullwater”?
Back in the day, the early version of the band got together in our drummer’s basement in a house on Lullwater Drive, so yeah, it’s a pretty original and awesome name. Lots of thought went into that one. Nick, our old drummer, and I started the band and pretty quickly brought on Brett. After a rotating door of bassists, we finally found Ray in 2009. Later on, when Nick left, we already knew Joe, so we called him up, and the rest is history.

You prefer recording on tape. Why?
We feel like it keeps us in touch with the human element of recording music. We want our sound on the record to reflect how we sound live, so we tend to stay away from overproduction, and we find ourselves always coming back to tape. It also gives you a very warm, organic overtone that you don’t feel in a lot of recently produced albums.

Your latest album, which was also recorded on tape, is called Revival. Why did you choose that name?
We feel like right now, there’s a lot missing in the rock genre. Revival is… Revival is a lot of things. It’s a representation of us being reborn together as a better band, more cohesive. We’re using older recording techniques that have been neglected for the most part in modern music, so that’s somewhat of a revival. In an interview with the Foo Fighters once, Dave Grohl said that when he sticks his head out of the foo bubble and looks around, he can’t find any new rock bands. This album is our statement that rock is not dead; it just needs to be revived.

What is the difference between this album and your previous one?
Longer hair. Actually, though, almost everything. Joe is a huge difference from the last one, too; now it’s the full band as it should have been from the start. You can still tell it’s our signature Lullwater sound, but I think it’s a much more cohesive effort. We recorded at Sonic Ranch Studios in Tornillo, TX, (Instead of LBS in Seattle), and this time we brought on the engineers (Dustin Justin Davis, Stephen Hogan) from the self-titled as full-on producers. I could go on with the minutia, but overall, I think the gist of it is that it’s Lullwater squared. It’s just a better representation of us as a band now.

Do you feel that you’ve grown artistically over the years?
Oh yeah, definitely. We’ve been constantly touring for over six years now, and playing that much together will definitely tighten things up. We know each other a lot better now musically. One thing about our shows is that we don’t play with in-ears, or a click, or tracks, or anything other than four guys just rocking, so our live show is constantly evolving and morphing into new things. We’ll do jams, experiment with parts we haven’t tried before, all the fun things like that, and we can do that now because we’re synced in together.

How did you start playing music? Was it a childhood dream?
I started playing guitar when I was 12-13 years old, just hanging out with my friends. I wanted to be Eddie Vedder. Music has always grabbed me, but once I got that first taste I just dove in and started writing as many songs as I could. Yeah, it was definitely a childhood dream. What kid doesn’t want to be a rock star?

Where do you draw the inspiration for the songs you write?
Life, relationships, touring, struggle, the world around me. All the songs we write are basically from what the band and I are experiencing at that time in our life, but I try not to be too overt about the meanings. I want people to be able to hear the songs and take their own meanings out of it. The emotions behind most of the songs are universal, so I want the listener to be able to take away from the song what it means to them, not necessarily what I wrote it about. At the end of the day, that’s what counts – that emotional connection.

Who are your musical influences?
I grew up listening to oldies via my mom, and then came southern and classic rock. A little later on, my older sister corrupted me with all kinds of music, but most notably she blew my mind with Pearl Jam’s 10, and the whole Seattle movement soon followed. My writing style is heavily influenced by the Seattle bands of the early 90’s: Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, the list goes on.

You are currently on a national tour with Amaranthe and Butcher Babies. Tell us a few things about your experience so far…
The tour has been great so far. Both bands and crews have been so amazing this whole run. It’s not always the case, but on this tour every single person is down to earth and friendly, just class acts all around.  The tour package is definitely unique, but I think it’s been going over really well having such a variety in the music every night. We were initially worried that maybe the metal fans might not take to our sound so much, but the reaction has been outstanding, and we’re very thankful to be here.

If I’d ask you to describe me the weirdest thing that ever happened to you during a live, what would it be?
On our last tour with Theory of a Deadman, we played at First Avenue in Minneapolis, and during their show, the roof caved in, and the whole venue was evacuated and flooding. That was pretty crazy, but luckily the fans and everybody ended up being okay. Here’s a more fun one: last year on the Flyleaf tour, we played a show in Portland, Oregon, on Halloween in drag (as sex workers). After the show, I literally got roofied by somebody at the bar next door, and then we drove eight hours down to San Francisco. That was definitely one of the craziest and most stressful nights we’ve ever had, but it’s hilarious in retrospect.

Oh geez! Sounds like a crazy time! Are there any musicians out there that you are anxious to work with and not get roofied with?
As far as collaborations, working with Eddie Vedder, Jim James, Dave Grohl, and Chris Cornell would all be dreams come true. As far as touring bands, we realistically would love to link up with Wilson, Monster Truck, or Crobot. Our dream tour would be Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam.

What are your future plans? Maybe started already planning your next album…?
We’re planning on touring heavily on Revival for this upcoming year, and we’re looking to hit the road hard in February. In our downtime, we’ll be writing and demoing new songs, perhaps for an EP a little ways down the road. Nothing specific on that front yet. Follow us on the Internet if you’d like to keep up with tour dates and other fun things, though! We run our own Facebook, so fans, feel free to interact! We love you guys. Thanks for this interview, and I hope you enjoy listening to Revival as much as we enjoyed making it!

December 3, 2015: Rock Revolt Magazine, Turbowolf for rockrevoltmagazine.com

Turbowolf is one of those kinds of bands that you love to hear again and again and again. Their unique sound is a mix of rock & roll, psychedelia, heavy metal, punk rock, and electronica, and this is the perfect combination to allow you to sit back and mash the “repeat all” button when you listen. It’s that good.

With their second album, Two Hands, released back in April, Chris Georgiadis (Vocals/Synth), Andy Ghosh (Guitar), Blake Davies (Bass) and Lianna Lee Davies (Drums) are established as one of the UK’s most notable upcoming rock bands. But, for this Bristol-based four piece group, there is no time to rest. They already started writing their new album – which will be released when the next solar eclipse takes place! They plan to tour all over Europe and the United States, and their front man, Chris, still found some time to talk with us about everything we need to know about Turbowolf.

Why “Turbowolf”? What does your name stand for?
We drank our way to that name a long time ago. Turbowolf stands for eclecticism, power, noise, freedom, love.

How did the four of you meet, and who had the initial idea to form the band?
Andy and I were playing in other bands and ended up forming the band because we wanted to make something more unusual. We met Blake playing in other bands in Bristol. Lianna was in a band called Pettybone, and once they split, we asked her to join.

You have been active since 2008 and released your debut album in 2011. Since then, a lot of things have happened in a very short amount of time. Are you proud of everything you have achieved so far, and is everything as you imagined it would be?
We are very proud of everyone involved in getting us to where we are now. I try not to imagine the future but try to affect it in the present as much as possible.

Your latest album Two Hands was released on past April, and from the beginning, it received great reviews. Does that make you anxious for your next moves?
Not really. It just makes us excited as to what we might make in the future. It’s a good pressure; we always want to be pushing ourselves forward.

Tell us a few things about Two Hands. What are the songs about, and which is your favorite one?
First off, it’s a work of passion, and I hope that comes across in the listening. We constructed it to be listened to in its entirety. Many of the songs have a positive message, and overall, it is a journey through modern times. One of my favorites is “Rich Gift”; it’s like an inoculation in the way that we let just enough wild get through while keeping it under control…just the right amount of control.

You have already announced the title and the date release for your next album. It is called Quell: The Ever Changing Sorcerer of Past, Present & Future and is supposed to be released when the next solar eclipse takes place, which according to my calculations is on March 8, 2016. Why did you choose that date?
Time will tell.

Where do you draw inspiration for the songs you write?
We’re inspired by change and evolution, progress and experimentation. We want to fill the void we never knew existed.

What do you have planned next, aside from your new album?
We are currently writing, but we do have definite plans to go back to the U.S. in the next year and probably try to tour through lots of Europe.

Share with your fans a few personal things we don’t know about you. How did you start playing music? Was it always your dream? What was your childhood like?
I love to cook. And doing what I do now was not always my dream… I feel like I just fell into this. My childhood was good… hard to surmise. I guess you had to be there.

If I’m not wrong, and from what I can understand from your last name Chris Georgiadis, you have Greek blood running in your veins. I am from Greece also, and I actually live in Athens. What do your Greek origins give you? Greece after all is the cradle of culture.
I was just in Athens last week. It is such a beautiful place full of human history that is currently being torn apart by the banking system. In the words of Plato, “There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands.”

September 30, 2015: Rock Revolt Magazine, Cane Hill for rockrevoltmagazine.com

Breaking into the music business is not an easy thing. Sometimes, it takes years to prove yourself and get the recognition among other musicians and your fans. For Cane Hill, a five piece metal band from New Orleans, Louisiana, things seem to have taken the up road in just a few years after they formed. And they deserve it! Elijah Witt (Vocals), Bemo Barnett (Guitar), James Barnett (Guitar), Ryan Henriquez (Bass) and Devin Clark (Drums) have worked hard, with passion and faith, ready to succeed in what they love.

They have been working together since 2011 and on October 23rd they will proudly release their self-titled EP by Drew Fulk via Rise Records. For support they will hit the road with blessthefall and Stick To Your Guns on the “To Those Left Behind Tour.”

Until then, we speak with Elijah Witt, who explains to us everything we need to know about one of the most promising new metal bands, as we name them INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK.

The band is named after an abandoned asylum based in UK. What made you choose it for the band’s name?
We all felt like the asylum really resonated with the music. A feeling of psychosis and abandonment without being able to escape. We’re heavy and aggressive. It worked.

How did the five of you meet and formed the band?
We were all from the same scene in different bands off and on and kind of fell together when New Orleans’ heavy music scene was going through a pit fall.  We somehow landed a group of the most dedicated musicians in the market.

Where do you draw the inspiration for the songs you write?
We draw inspiration from a myriad of things. Obviously we have a long list of musical influences from the 80’s and 90’s. But there’s also a lot of pent-up aggression about how we see things unraveling nowadays and I think we channel a lot of our pissed off energy through the music.

On October 23rd you release your brand new self-titled EP via Rise Records. We have already heard two tracks from the EP, “Time Bomb” and “Sunday School”. What else should we expect?
The next few songs on our EP are much more retrospective. They go through more of a social theme than these two personal songs. I tried to subtly tackle some issues we see like misogyny and homophobia. I’m not sure how much I should divulge into our next single, but I’ll tell you this much: it’s aggressive and it’s honest and it puts a gun to the head of gentrifying idealists.

The newly released video of “Time Bomb” is a sensation! Minimal, atmospheric, raw. I love it! Why did you choose “Time Bomb” to be the first song to put on video?
We didn’t. Our first single was “Sunday School”. But I understand the confusion because “Time Bomb” is proving to be a much bigger hit. That’s actually why we chose to do it second. We wanted to get kids interested and then hook them in with a more aggressive banger.

That is so true. Actually, in just one month it reached more than one thousand views on YouTube! You are also currently preparing to join blessthefall for “To Those Left Behind Tour”. Tell us about it.
Yeah it’s a really solid tour. We’re incredibly excited and grateful we landed it. Right now we’re working through our set and getting it ready for some new markets and a different demographic than we’ve ever really hit so there a few pieces to the puzzle were still polishing up.

The band is formed in 2013, only two years ago, but you are already making big steps in the music industry. Did you find it hard to break into the business?
We’ve worked incredibly hard to get to where we are at this point since 2011 actually. It’s a fucking miracle we’ve made it this far. But recently things have been going smoother than ever before so we’re just stoked it’s finally all coming together.

What are your personal musical influences?
We all have so many. From Pantera, Megadeath, Slipknot, to hip hop, indie, and more. We try not to limit ourselves to one influence because that would get pretty fucking boring.

Which would be a dream collaboration for you?
Any talented, aggressive as hell, honest musician or group.

Besides the band, what else each of you do in your everyday life?
We work odd jobs here and there and in our downtime just work on this band to make sure everything we do is as exceptional as possible.

You have a new EP ready for release, an amazing new video clip and a tour on the making. Any other plans we should know about?
There’s no fun in giving that away. Just keep your eyes open.

May 31, 2015: Rock Revolt Magazine, Boy Hits Car for rockrevoltmagazine.com

The 90’s were the era that rock was the real king in music industry with bands like The Prodigy and System of a Down ruling at the music charts. California, at that time, was the place that every musician wanted to live and if you -by any chance- were lucky enough to be living already in L.A., you were considered to be of the privileged ones.

For three childhood friends from the Northwest outskirts of Los Angeles, 1993 was a year to remember. Not only did they form Boy Hits Car, but they also begun an interesting journey they could never before imagine. The Los Angeles based rock band, without wasting any time, went off to their first national tour quickly after they decided to join forces, an experience that proved challenging but also completely addictive. A few years later their first complete album was a reality and performances in music festivals in the US and Europe were coming one after the other.

Sharing festival stages with musicians like Iggy & The Stooges and Eminem forged them to what they are today. Now, they have already released their fifth complete album All That Led Us Here which is available at their website and at the same time they are making plans for their spring/summer tour starting from Las Vegas and going through all the United States. Until we have the chance to hear them live, let’s see what they have to say as they are Rock Revolt’s Indie Band of the Week.

Your musical journey started back in 1993. Tell us in a few words the highlights of this amazing journey.
Well, it actually began in 1989 with our first band, but that’s another story. With Boy Hits Car… Initially forming a group of young men who shared a similar vision of creating passionately heavy, yet melodic music was certainly one of the first highlights. From their, being booked on our first national tour in 1995, getting an Indy deal and recording our first full-length album in 1997, showcasing and being wined and dined by some of the top labels in 1999 before getting signed again to a larger label/deal in 2000. Recording our second full length in Vancouver Canada, before supporting that album throughout the US and Europe, our first trip to Europe as a band, feeling that our songs were resonating with fellow music lovers, and as a result of that our base (The World Wide Lovecore Alliance), was slowly growing, hearing our songs being played on commercial radio for the first time, etc… Umm, hope that’s considered a few words.

Wow, that’s a lot! So, how did the four of you meet and decided to form the band?
The original lineup actually consisted of three childhood friends. In addition to surfing and skating we used to go to local underground shows together, and formed a sorta crossover/hardcore band. But when the drummer quite, I discovered that I felt the need to write and perform a different style of music. We found a new drummer through an ad we placed in the classifieds section of an LA based paper called “The Recycler”, and Boy Hits Car was born.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee76HgGrU5U]

I’m really curious, whose idea was it to name the band “Boy Hits Car” and how did you come up with it?
After forming in ‘93, we wrote four songs fairly quickly and recorded our first demo tape; Boy Hits Car was the title of one of the tracks. To actually use it as our bands name came to me in a dream…

Where your influences lay on more… classic rock or modern day music?
Well, there’s certainly some classic rock influences, as well as original punk rock & thrash. I’m not sure what modern music is, but our goal early on, was to meld heavy and melodically dynamic music, with influences like Helmet & Jane’s Addiction.

Ever since the release of your first album My Animal in 1998 a lot of things have changed, including your record label. Do you believe that being “independent” gives you the freedom to express the way you like without the boundaries a record label might want to put you?
For the most part, yes. It seems these days that many bands and artists are making their own albums, and it’s really never been easier. The problem is having the possibility to properly promote a release without label, ya know? One could have an amazing record, that’s sonically superior to 90% of what’s out there; but if no one knows about it, it’ll get lost in the shuffle…

Your fifth in the row album with the title All That Led Us Here is out now and available only at your website. What do you mean by this title?
Well after 20+ years, and the fact that it’s our 5th full-length, the title just seems to fit.

What kind of songs the album includes?
A bit of everything I suppose. The album has upbeat driving tracks, as well as more eclectic songs, and even a cover. We feel it’s fairly well rounded, and ROCKS!

All these years you toured a lot, in music festivals both in US and Europe. Would you like to share with us a few interesting stories from your travels?
Whoa, too many. A few that comes to mind would be when our guitarist missed the flight to Europe for our first tour there, and having to meet him in Paris days later. Or in ‘95 when we proceeded to drive towards Florida, but unknowingly had a gig in Agusta, GA that night. This was before cell phones, so when we stopped to fuel up, I called the agents home from a payphone, and after his answering machine greeting, I heard: “O, and if this is Boy Hits Car- DO NOT GO TO FLORIDA”! We turned around and attempted to make it, but to no avail… In addition to driving hours in the wrong direction, we missed a show with the Meatmen that night.

You teamed up with some big names in the music industry. Which collaboration of this all left you with the best memories?
Supporting Stone Temple Pilots in Europe, playing festivals that were headlined by names like Iggy & the Stooges, Eminem, or The Prodigy, gigging at LA clubs in the mid 90’s with bands like Incubus, System of a Down, and Linkin Park before they really broke, then supporting em all years later, generally sharing stages with so many great artists and bands in general…

From what I know, you are currently planning your 2015 spring tour. Are any tour dates you can announce?
We’ll be at The Dive Bar in Las Vegas on 5/30, & Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa, CA on 6/13. We’re planning a full U.S. run in July/August to support the official domestic release of All That Led Us Here.

What do you like the most about playing live?
In one sentence- the moment you’re sharing with others who desire that unparalleled connection through music.

Other than music, what are your interests?
Surfing, and interacting with the natural world as much as possible.

What is your personal life motto?
It is what it is.

Is there any new stuff you are working on?
Yes, we’ve completed a track for the upcoming David Bowie tribute album, as well as a new BHC song that will be featured on official release of ATLUH.

April 12, 2014: Rock Revolt Magazine, Crash Midnight for rockrevoltmagazine.com

Have you ever thought how a late night car accident can give birth to a rock band? Well, I have the answer and it is called Crash Midnight! Three guys, -Shaun Soho, Bo and Alex Donaldson-, Bo’s car and the streets of Boston, Massachusetts were enough for Crash Midnight to be baptized with this unique name and burst into music scene without hitting the breaks!

The amazing vocals and the vintage sound combined with punk and blues characteristics were able to make Crash Midnight a band worth mentioning. Pretty soon they became the talk of the town with their debut album  Lost in the City releasing just this past November. The songs, one after another, are paving the road to their own success, with the song “Welcome to Boston”, a hymn to their hometown, not only being featured at The New England Patriot’s Gillette Stadium for the past two seasons, but also being used as the theme song for the TV show “The 617-Zone” on NESN.

As far as it concerns the band, work never ends. They are writing new stuff all the time and preparing their summer tour across the U.S. Until the final dates are on, let’s turn the volume up in our car, drive safely and name Crash Midnight as Indie Band Of The Week!

Who is the “maker” of Crash Midnight and how did you all meet and form the group?
SOHO: As far as the “maker” of Crash Midnight goes, I guess you’d have to lay that one on Bo and his infamous car crash.
BO: Shaun, Alex, and myself had been working on this project for about two weeks before I totaled my car.
ALEX: I’d just moved up to Boston from Ohio at 18 years old, and within two weeks, Bo’s destroying his car and naming our new band after it.
SOHO: Bo and I had been playing in a bunch of different bands here in Boston and were looking for something that really embodied our favorite bands growing up. We went after something more bluesy with a lot of punk elements.
BO: Mixed with wanton destruction and moving violations.

What are your musical influences and how do you think you differ from other rock bands worldwide?
BO: We all have pretty similar classic punk and rock n’ roll influences. Each of us probably leans a little more one way or another. I lean towards the punk side with The Clash, New York Dolls, and Iggy Pop. Alex, leans a little more towards classic blues music and Shaun has kind of a mix of all that along with a heavy dose of 70’s rock bands.
ALEX: It really makes song writing interesting because we push and pull each other during the writing process until every new song sounds like us.
SOHO: Yeah, when any of us come in with a new song, it gets mangled, pulled apart, and put back together by the other guys and that’s become the sound of this band.

Your debut album Lost in the City was released a few months ago and has already made quite a buzz. Tell us about it.
SOHO: Lost in the City is the sound of this band coming up in Boston, cutting its teeth at the clubs in the scene here in this city. It really chronicles the band from the first song we ever really wrote together (151) to one of our most recent ones like (Take It).
ALEX: I love it because these songs take me back to the time we were all living together in this tiny two bedroom apartment in Kenmore Square. The songs on this album are all stories that went on in and around that place.
BO: It makes playing this material live a pretty cool experience. We’re up there literally playing the story of this band coming together every night for our audiences.

Your song “151”, which is also the first single from the album, is currently at #66 on the Active Rock Charts and has been steadily moving up. First of all, what does “151” stand for?
SOHO: “151” stands for the root cause of most of the other songs on the album.
BO: Well, it started out about “Bacardi 151,” but then we found a cheaper version called “Roberto 151” bottled right down the street so there’s no brand loyalty there anymore.
ALEX: We’d grab a bottle of this and mix it with Dr. Pepper, call it “jet fuel” and it’d take care of the whole band that night for $16.99 or something.
SOHO: Yeah I guess you could say it stands for “problem drinking.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SonrTq35HEQ]

Back when you were writing the song, did you expect it to be welcomed as well as it has?
SOHO: We saw a lot of quick success right at the beginning. We caught on with fans pretty fast, but unfortunately we also caught the attention of a handful of people that were bent on taking advantage of what we were doing.
BO: We went through a number of individuals that tried to attach themselves to this band and get their hands in our pockets with completely empty promises of what we’d get in return.
ALEX: That’s pretty much what “Diamond Boulevard” is all about.
SOHO: We’re very lucky that we’ve had so many fans support us and stay with us through all the shit. That’s the accomplishment that still makes me stop and think up to today. We’ve got fans that have stuck with us for nearly a decade.

Based in Boston, MA, you have achieved a lot the past few years, like your song “Welcome to Boston” being featured at The New England Patriot’s Gillette Stadium for the past two seasons, by the Boston Bruins, and Boston College Football. How does that make you feel?
SOHO: Boston’s a tough town. A lot of outlets here are really resistant to supporting the local scene artists, but the Patriots, Bruins, and BC have been incredible to us. The first time I heard our song at Gillette Stadium was an amazing experience.
BO: You always want to have the support of your hometown and there’s so much going on in this city between, the sports, the colleges, politics, and everything that it’s real easy to get lost in the shuffle. Seeing our stuff rise above that clamor is a big accomplishment for us.

Having the support of your hometown, does it make you feel more self-confident?
SOHO: It’s funny, this town and this local scene has always been a rough road for us. You have to understand that we were the only band coming out of here with this sound when we first started. It was a completely different scene here in the 2000’s than back when guys like Aerosmith or J Geils were roaming these streets.
BO: It was a lot of college rock and indie sound coffee house stuff.
ALEX: That, or the complete opposite cookie-monster vocal heavy stuff.
SOHO: So there just wasn’t another band doing this and it made it really hard to get booked on decent bills. The fans were there. They came to all the parties and started steadily building at the shows, but when you get booked with an acoustic Dave Mathews dorm room hero guy and an abrasive screaming band on your bill from some half-assed promoter, your fans kind of don’t love going out to the shows.
BO: It got to the point where we would be like “just let us put the bill together for the night guys, and we’ll sell your place out,” but so many of these guys had egos where they’d rather have the place empty and be in control than to just let us blow the place up for a night.
ALEX: It got really frustrating and we had to get out on the road to really appreciate what it’s like when you can build momentum in more supportive markets.
SOHO: Boston has started catching on, but they’re definitely late to the party. That’s not to say there weren’t some great people in this scene – guys at The Middle East, we wouldn’t have gotten signed without them recommending us to A&R guys – or Michael Marrotta at Vanyaland and way back when he was with WFNX and The Boston Phoenix. There were some great people here too, but there was a lot of opposition that we had to fight through.

What is your biggest dream?
ALEX: Playing the music that we wanted to make is the biggest dream I think we’ve ever had as a band.
SOHO: Yeah, you hear so many stories of bands that had to make compromises to get signed or get notoriety. We’re very fortunate that we had fans latch onto this band from day one and allow us to keep making the music we thought was cool vs. what anyone in the business wanted us to do.

Last year’s summer and fall tours were a big success. What are your future tour plans?
SOHO: We’re actually in the middle of working that out right now. I can tell you that you’ll definitely see us touring the US this summer, but we have a few offers we’re looking into right now to figure out which is going to be the best tour for us.
BO: We should have that all squared away pretty soon though.
ALEX: And we’ll announce it first on CRASHMIDNIGHT.COM!

Although your debut album was just released, do you have any ideas about the next one, or is too soon? Are you currently writing any new songs?
SOHO: We actually get this question quite a bit and we already have 2-3 albums of material ready to go. We’re always writing as things happen to us in the band or whatever situations we get ourselves into, they seem to always make it into the new material.
BO: What’s cool is that it’s not just B-sides or stuff that wasn’t good enough to make it on “Lost in the City.” We have a couple huge songs like “Whiskey Rose” and “Suicide Tattoo” that we’ve played live for years and were big fan favorites that we intentionally left off this album so we’d have them for album two.
ALEX: And some of the songs that didn’t make this first album are slamming! Some of them required more production than we had the ability to work into this album, whether it was additional instrumentation or whatever, so it made sense to hold off and do them the right way on album two.
SOHO: We’re really looking forward to recording the second album because it’s still coming from some of the stuff we wrote back in the early days of the band combined with some newer material, but the sound is the same – straight ahead rock n’ roll.

You are a pure rock band, but in your free time, what other genres of music do you enjoy listening?
SOHO: Shit, I listen to a ton of stuff. I kind of go through kicks of something. I was listening to a lot of Warren Zevon and Leonard Cohen lately, but sometimes I’ll throw on early blues records or actually on a recent road trip I was listening to early jazz. I feel like you can take something away from just about everything.
BO: Yeah I tend to experiment listening to a lot more modern stuff. Some of the cool new recording techniques or synth sounds, but I love The Knife, The Wire, M83, or some kickass Phil Collins.
ALEX: I’m always checking out what’s on top 40 or whatever the latest stuff is out there. That being said, I love me some Steve Winwood and Go West.

Where do you see yourselves in –let’s say- ten years from today?
SOHO: I see this band expanding our sound and really going back to a lot of the stuff the Stones or Aerosmith were able to do to keep relevant and expand their fan base over the years. To be able to keep doing this 10 years from now would be real cool.
BO: Rehab?
ALEX: Checking Bo into rehab.
SOHO: Or recommending him to the one you like the best, Alex?
ALEX: Exactly.

March 1, 2014: Rock Revolt Magazine, Blue Foundation for rockrevoltmagazine.com

When it comes to music it’s not always about a good sound, or some catchy lyrics. Sometimes it takes a bit more to make it into the business. Tobias Wilner, a young and very talented musician from Denmark, more than 10 years ago had an idea for an alternative kind of a band that could also be described as the cooperation of a single man with various artists and musicians. Working with Jonas Bjerre and Sara Savery, among others, it wasn’t long until he saw his dream come true.

Leaving Copenhagen for Brooklyn and alongside his musical partner Bo Rande, Tobias and his creation, Blue Foundation, soon made some big steps into the music industry. The song “Eyes on Fire” from their fourth album Life of a Ghost was used in the vampire blockbuster phenomenon Twilight, while director Michael Mann chose their song “Sweep” for his 2006 Miami Vice movie.

That being said, you can easily understand why Tobias couldn’t be happier for his project. These days they are in studio working on new songs, while they plan their next tour destinations. In the mean time Tobias finds some time, to tell us all about the band and his struggle to the top!

Tobias, you are the brainchild of Blue Foundation. Tell us in a few words the story of the band.
I started out the Blue Foundation back in Copenhagen. To start with it was me and my brother who produced beats together. We used to play noisey shoegazing but tired of the scene pretty quickly. The singer Kirstine Stubbe joined us and we did some songs with her. My brother left after the first album and I stopped working with Kirstine in 2005 for a year and again in 2008. Sometimes there is no more left for you in people and you have to let them go. It has definitely been good for me to change the band members over the years. A lot of people know us from our song “Eyes on Fire”. The song kind of made it into the mainstream. More than 90 million have heard the song on YouTube, so it’s out there. Because of “Eyes on Fire” a lot of people think that Blue Foundation’s sound is with a girl in front. But we have done tons of different stuff. In most of the songs I do the vocals on, but I have also done songs with Jonas Bjerre from Mew, Sara Savery, Findlay Brown and Mark Kozelek just to name a few.

How do you choose the artists you collaborate with?
With my heart and my stomach.

A lot has changed ever since you started back in 2000, right?
Yes and no. There has always been a lot of changes in Blue Foundation. That’s my whole idea behind Blue Foundation. I change the members constantly not to get stuck in one way of working or a sound. I want Blue Foundation to be one of these projects that keeps on going. We did the major label thing for a while and in some way it was good because we had one good guy at the table who left me alone in the studio. In other ways it sucked because they tried to brand Blue Foundation as a band with a girl in front and not as it is: a project I create with the people I think are cool. More like Stereolab or Massive Attack. Not a ‘pop indie new wave’ band or something like that. That was so wrong. They didn’t get what I wanted to do. I have been told many times by label and music industry people that Blue Foundation would never make it because the audience will never understand the setup. But screw that, we have seen it all before. Screw them, of course people get it. I want people to hear the development I go through as an artist and producer. Screw the industry rules. They suck. Everyone should do as they want to do it. People who get Blue Foundation really get it because they can see it’s pure and we’re actually doing pretty fine.

Your music is also known by major blockbusters such as Twilight and Miami Vice among others, while it has also appeared in successful television shows like The Vampire Diaries and The O.C.. Tell us about that…
Not much to say. It’s great that it can be used to tell stories. Bigger shows and movies help me get my music out there. To be honest none of the songs used in major films or TV were ever considered as singles. It was what label people called album songs. “Sweep” from Miami Vice is 10 minutes long with a three minute experimental string intro piece. I remember people from EMI Capitol Records wanted to cut it down and I was like ‘Fuck No!’ its all about this intro. Two years later, Michael Mann wanted to use the intro for his film Miami Vice. Same with “Eyes on Fire”. Everything is wrong with the production if you want it played at the radio. The song first kicks in after two minutes etc. So what can I say. Screw the industry rules. Do what you feel is right.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAxCqlU-OAo]

Where do you draw your inspiration for the music you write?
There is nothing to composing or writing songs. All you do is sit down with a piano or a guitar and bleed.

Your latest and fifth album has the title In My Mind I Am Free. What kind of songs does it include?
It’s all about real moments and feelings. It’s a very honest album. I think it’s the most pure Blue Foundation album. I was isolated when I wrote the songs and didn’t think about what people would think.

How is your cooperation with your music partner and also very talented musician Bo Rande?
I write the songs and produce. Bo contributes to the arrangement with melodies and sounds. He is very good at that. He is a super talented musician.

Do you ever have any disagreements and how do you cope with that?
We’re pretty clear that I have the last word. Sometimes we discuss things because Bo has an idea he wants to try out, and I can’t follow him. If it works it works. No big fights. No compromises. I never compromise but sometimes I have to face that my ideas aren’t always the best ideas.

Is there any new stuff you’re working on right now?
I’m scoring a new TV show called Follow The Money done by the people who did The Killing. I’m also helping Sara Savery finish her new project. Her songs are heartbreaking, sexy and her sound is amazing. I’ve also written all the songs for the new Blue Foundation album and have recorded most of them. Just need to sit down and finish it.

During the fall of 2014 you did a very successful European Tour. What are your tour plans for this year?
We’re planning to start touring in the fall of 2015 and spring of 2016.

How did you start getting involved with music? At what age and what were your influences?
I started when I was 13 years old I think. To start with I was really influenced by hip hop, shoegazing and electronica. Bands like My Bloody Valentine, Wu-Tang Clan, EPMD, Sonic Youth, Kraftwerk, Can, Faust, Stereolab and the whole IDM thing. These days I listen to a lot of Coltrane and dirty Hip Hop from the south.

What are your personal future plans?
We all die the same; it’s how we live our life’s that matters. I’ll do what I feel I need to do.

Of all the things you have achieved, for which one you are the most proud of?
I don’t know. None I think. But I’m proud of some of the people around me. They are fantastic.

One last question, why did you choose to name the band “Blue Foundation”?
I came up with the name in London sitting by my brothers’ desk. I had this idea of doing a different project. Not a normal band thing. I wanted the name to reflect what the sound would sound like and in some way describe the setup.

January 4, 2014: Rock Revolt Magazine, Venrez for rockrevoltmagazine.com

New York is known as the city that never sleeps, but Los Angeles is the city where rock keeps you awake! For Venrez, the rock band from downtown L.A. that’s definitely true. The front man of the group that gave his name to the band, Ven (as he is known to his friends) is the man behind all this. He managed to bring together four other great musicians and under his directions in 2011 they formed the band he always dreamed of.

Now, on board with 2015, Venrez has two successful LPs (Sell the Lie and American Illusion), a huge fan base, as well as a new album titled Children Of The Drones ready to hit the stores in early Febuary! Until then let’s find out all about their past, present and future, as we declare Venrez as Indie Band Of The Week!

It is quite interesting the way the five of you met and formed the group. Would you like to tell us how it all started?
My roommate at the time, also a singer/song writer, wanted to build a Tiki Bar out on this huge sundeck we had at the condo we were renting by the Hollywood sign. Soon, the place was full of people working on the Tiki Bar and some of them were accomplished musicians. Jason Womack was one of them. We started jamming soon after and became the song writing duo of Venrez. Jason writes the music and I write the lyrics. Next thing I knew, we had a band, and were playing shows.

Where do you draw your inspiration for the songs you write?
From my experiences and my current thoughts and feelings on all subjects.

Which of your songs is your favorite and why?
Well, that is a tough question to answer. I would say the title track to our album Sell The Lie because the melody is amazing and I feel the lyrics are timeless.

What does Venrez live for?
I live to play live! For me, there is nothing on earth like it.

Your debut album Sell the Lie was well received from audiences. The second one American Illusion, shared the same success. What else can Venrez deliver to rock music scene?
Our latest release American Illusion gave our fans a heavier side of what we do musically. The new album Children of the Drones will release in February 2015 and I feel it’s a full circle of the band morphing our 70’s beat into a nice more alternative rock sound for the current 21st Century.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txZPYBmnhTM]

Why did you choose your first album to be recorded live?
We wanted to go for the old school sound. So many bands cannot bring live what they record. I wanted to be one of the bands who does and for that to be extremely evident to our fans.

Your new album Children Of The Drones is now available for pre order. Tell us a few things about your new songs.
It’s more great melodies written by Jason Womack but it is without question the best work he and I have done together yet. Fans are getting a more alternative rock sound with our signature 70’s beat, I take my usual shot or two at big brother government, but more lyrics everyone can relate to.

What are the differences from the previous ones?
I think the new album has more of an alternative rock sound and twist to it. The focus of the sound is more tunneled in and it is a natural and easily absorbed musical journey for our current fans and all new listeners.

In the past you toured with some of the biggest names in rock music like Alice Cooper and Slash, among others. It must be an amazing experience working with these guys…
It was an honor as well as a dream. Alice Cooper is a legend from the 70’s, which is my favorite period for rock music. He came into my dressing room minutes before I was taking the stage on the 5th show of the tour, shook my hand, and told me “You guys are great every night.” My jaw dropped to the floor. The next night in Kansas City, MO, his entire band was back stage right watching our set. That is a compliment that surpasses anything else I can ever experience. Slash is an amazing artist and a very cool person like Alice Cooper. I was blown away at how spot on they both were night in and night out on tour. Total pro’s.

All of you were musicians before Venrez. What do you like the most in rock music?
The fans. Corporate rock has pretty much taken over and it all sucks. But the fans keep it real and support bands like us who refuse to sell out.

What other bands and musicians are your “idols,” if we can use that word?
My influences are pretty much from the late 60’s and the 70’s front men and song writers. Although, the 90’s restored my faith again in rock from the 80’s which I never really liked. Mick Jagger, Jim Morrison, and Bob Dylan. Chris Cornell and Layne Staley from the 90’s.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh2L3wQW3Gg]

Tell us your personal story that made you start playing music. What is your musical background?
It was my dream the minute I heard “I Wanna Hold your Hand” of the Beatles when it hit the radio. “Paint it Black” from the Stones came out shortly after or around the same time. I was bitten then and forever. So, I started singing when I was little toddler. I started playing clarinet and piano at the age of 9. I played around with every instrument on earth since.

What are your future plans? I know you are preparing a tour in UK in February…
The new album releases in late January early February 2015. We shot two music videos for the album. “Sacred Blood” is on a big movie sound track and will be the first to release in January. That track is without question the most alternative rock track we have ever recorded. The actual rock single from the new release is “Hang The Predator” and that will release in February. We have our first head line tour of the UK from February 27th to March 12th. We will also head line a big all day festival in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia with bands from oppressed countries like Iran and Armenia on April 2nd. Then we go to El Paso, Texas for an April 7th show as direct support to the Y & T Band. We are currently in talks to tour the UK, East & West Europe, Israel and Scandinavia with a big name band April 15th to May 21st. We should be on the road most of 2015, touring worldwide.

September 14, 2014: Rock Revolt Magazine, The Wright Brothers for rockrevoltmagazine.com

Working with members of your family is not always an easy thing. There are four brothers though, who don’t seem to share the same opinion. Jacob, Jeremy, Joe and Johnny Wright, also known as The Wright Brothers, are four of seven siblings who decided to join forces and form the band of their dreams. Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma they grew up in a musical household, with both their parents trying to pass on to their children the love for music they shared.

With their family’s support and the trust on each other’s natural talent, they overcame all the apparent obstacles that every new band faces and released their debut EP with the title You, Me and the Universe on Christmas day in 2012. Self produced -under their own label- and with “love” being the common theme of the six songs included in the album, they managed to receive lots of encouraging words and reviews to keep up the good work. And they never stopped working. Ever since that day, those four talented young boys have done a lot to take their progressive/cinematic/rock tone to a new level. They also “added” a new member to the band, which is none other than Joe’s newly born son, Hans.

Lately they’re working on their new songs for which they are extremely proud of and until the release of a new album, Rock Revolt Magazine speaks with them about music and hopes, and declares The Wright Brothers as INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK.

How did you come up with the idea to start a band?
We grew up playing music together since we were kids. When Jonny and Jacob were young teens, we turned our bedroom into a music room, with guitars and amps, drums and microphones. We played very loudly all the time! Then Joe became interested in the drum kit when he was very little and was just a natural at it. As we got a little older, we started to do other musical projects separately, but we were still always helping each other out… so then at one point, Jacob just suggested that we get together again and make it a band. Not long after, Jeremy joined us- he had been taking classical piano and cello, and he naturally fit in with us. So, even though it was a conscious idea to start a band, it really just seemed like a natural progression.

What does the rest of your family think about it?
Our family is very musical- they are our biggest fans!

Did music always play a big part in your lives?
We were raised in a musical home, our mother played trumpet in school bands and was a music major at her university- our father never played an instrument, but he loves rock n roll, so we had all those elements around us growing up. Our mother gave the older siblings piano lessons when we were young, and almost every sibling was drawn toward music and playing musical instruments- it was always encouraged by our parents.

What are your musical influences?
Between the four of us, there are way too many influences to list specific ones. There is a lot of music that we have in common that we love, but we have all been personally influenced by different music, so it’s a real melting pot of lots of influences and styles. It’s a mix of classical composers, pop, progressive rock, pop rock, nu wave, electronic music, ambient rock, post-rock… the list would go on and on.

Being brothers, does that make your co-operation easier, or not?
It probably depends on what kind of brotherly relationship you have. Some people would hate the idea of being in a band with their brothers. For us, it’s a blessing. Not because we don’t have disagreements (we do) – but when we have arguments, we all know that it’s because we’re all passionate about the music, and we understand that we have different personalities. So we don’t take anything personally. We can have a disagreement, but we know that we love each other, so it doesn’t affect our relationship. We grew up fighting and arguing! So it’s not a big deal… it’s not personal.

What kind of music do you like to write and what genre characterizes you the most?
Our music just naturally leans toward being very uplifting sonically. We describe it as “soaring”. It’s not gloomy or depressing, it’s very joyful, cinematic, and the themes are positive: awe and wonder, romance, nostalgia, love, etc. We call it “space rock/dream pop”.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLIK-WvzrBE]

Where do you draw your inspiration for your songs?
Inspiration comes from everywhere. There is so much beauty in the world and in the universe.

Your first album came out on Christmas 2012 and it is self-produced. What difficulties have you experienced so far in breaking into the business?
There are a lot of things you can do for yourself as an independent artist, but you can also be very hindered by lack of money and connections. We released the album under our own record label, Lightworks Records – and our music is available worldwide digitally. All you can really do is to put it out there using all the resources that are available, try to make connections, and hope that people hear it and connect to it.

You, Me and the Universe is the title you chose for your debut EP. Why did you pick that title?
The title, in very simple words- juxtaposes the romance of two individuals against the vastness of the universe and existence. This imagery is also shown in the cover art, which depicts silhouettes of a young boy and girl, holding hands as they gaze into the grandeur of deep space. It’s the concept of innocence, youth and romance, juxtaposed against the awe and wonder of the vastness of existence. It’s cosmic love, awe and wonder. So it’s a concept record, each song weaving in and out of those topics.

Are you currently working on a new album?
We’re really a studio band more than anything- we focus more on writing and recording music than even playing shows. So we’re always working on ideas, and then the best ideas become something that we fully produce to release. We have some new songs that we’ve been playing at live shows, and we plan to release studio versions of them soon, either in a new album format, or as singles.

Could you tell a few things about it?
We have one song that we’re very excited about, called “Rocketship” and another called “Theophany” – which is a word that means “the manifestation of God”. We’re excited about how those and some other new songs are turning out, and we hope to get some new music released soon. Plus, we’re working on a concept for a new music video for one of them as well!

Apart from the band, what else -each of you- do in your everyday life?
We all stay very active creatively, Jonny and Joe both work in creative fields, Joe in video production and Jonny in television and music production, Jacob is always writing, Jeremy is studying music in school and plays cello in the chamber orchestra and songs in choir. Also family is very important- all of our family except for one sibling lives in the same city, so we spend a lot of time together: meals, parties, any excuse we can to hang out as a family!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5BtG0LQH0E]

Last year, Joe became a dad. What has changed since then? You have new priorities now?
Joe’s son Hans is everyone’s new favorite person!  He’s a very happy baby, and an inspiration- a beautiful example of childlike wonder. It’s amazing to play with him and watch him with wide eyes, just taking in the new world around him! And it brings up very nostalgic feelings, to think that we used to be little kids playing music in our bedroom, and now he’s bringing his son to the studio! And Joe falls asleep a lot more when we’re working in the studio… (laughs)

How do you imagine yourselves in let’s say 10 years from today?
Hopefully just still creating music. If we can make music for a living, that would be amazing, but music has always been our life- almost as important as food. So we will always love creating music.

August 1, 2014: Rock Revolt Magazine, Monophonics for rockrevoltmagazine.com

Monophonics is a six member San Francisco based band, formed back in 2005 and forged under the hot Californian sun, where the soul still continues to thrive. Their music is a merge of funk and soul sounds, known as Psychedelic Soul, or as some prefer to call it “Black Rock”. With its origins going back to the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Curtis Mayfield, War and The Temptations are only just a few of those who led the path to the ones who came next.

Isaac Hayes once said: “There’s always hurdles. So I just keep moving, just constantly redefining myself. That’s how you stay in the race.” and Monophonics are the ideal example of that. Having played over 250 shows, performing in major music festivals in eight different countries, sharing the stages with music legends like Al Green, Quincy Jones, Rodriguez, Dennis Coffee, and Crosby Stills & Nash among others, and touring to over 40 States, Monophonics gained reputation and huge appreciation of people from all four corners of the world.

With their third and best album In Your Brain released in 2012 by Ubiquity Records, this six-piece unit found the success that they deserved. The cover of Sonny Bono’s “Bang Bang” became a huge hit around the world and the album is considered one of the best soul and funk releases of 2012.

Austin Bohlman (Drums), Kelly Finnigan (Vocals & Keyboards), Ian McDonald (Electric Guitar & Electric Sitar, BV’s), Myles O’Mahony (Electric Bass & BV’s) and Ryan Scott (Trumpet and BV’s) are currently touring Europe with French superstar soul singer Ben l’Oncle Soul whilst  working on their new record coming sometime within 2015. Until then, we talk with the band while they are in Paris for a show and let’s see what they have to say about their journey so far, their most deep desires, while they also share with us some of their personal secrets…

Your latest album was released in 2012 with the title In Your Brain. When should we expect a new record from you?
We will most likely put the new record out early next year. Although we do have plans to release some 45′s and singles in the fall and winter.

What will it include? Do you know the title yet?
The new record has that Monophonics sound but with more growth and experience behind it. We are trying new things as well but still keeping an emphasis on songwriting, production, tones and simplicity. We don’t have a title yet.

Why did it take so long?
Well we have been very busy since 2012 touring the US and Europe and collaborating with other artists. We have recently been touring a lot in Europe backing Ben L ‘Oncle Soul to promote his new LP “À Coup De Rêves”, which he recorded with us in Marin County, California. Besides touring we have been collaborating with groups like Blackalicious, Mike James Kirkland, Orgone and AM & Shawn Lee. Plus working closely creatively with Terry Cole of Colemine Records in Ohio takes up time as well, but all these things help spread the Monophonics sound.

Your cover of Sonny Bono’s “Bang Bang” -first sung by Cher, best known by Nancy Sinatra- is thought as one of the best covers of this song, and the success of it gave you international reputation. Was that something you expected?
After we recorded “Bang Bang” we were very satisfied with the way it came out and knew it had a vibe but no, we did not expect it to get the response it has gotten since its release.

Why did you choose to cover this particular song?
It’s a great song in all aspects. The songwriting is very clever and catchy. It tells a good story and people like that. The overall arrangement and formula is all there for a good song.

You are a San Francisco based band, but your music made you popular all over the world, even in countries far away from yours, like Greece. How does this make you feel?
It’s flattering and extremely gratifying to travel with our music. We are very happy to hear that people all over the world are responding to the music and taking an interest in the band.

Do you have any interesting stories to share with us from the road from California up to Motown and then the rest of the world?
One time at a show we met and hung out with one of our favorite actors, John C. Reilly. Another time a crazy fan who was very intoxicated stole our tour van and wedged it into a very small parking garage where it was stuck for several hours till we finally got it out. We have been through sand, snow and thunder storms, tornadoes, and every imaginable kind of weather while traveling through the states.

As you said before, lately you’ve been on tour with the French soul singer Ben l’Oncle Soul. Tell us a few things about this collaboration…
We met Ben after a show we played in Paris. He was a fan of the band and came to the show. We talked for a bit and then stayed in contact. He eventually came out to California and we made a record together. Now we have been touring since the fall of 2013 in Europe promoting the record as his backing band. It’s been a great experience working with him and it’s just the beginning of a great working relationship and friendship.

Who would it be your dream collaboration? With which singer, songwriter, musician is your dream to work with?
David Axelrod, Candi Staton and Syl Johnson.

What would you say were the best moments for Monophonics over the years?
Late night shows in New Orleans, our first tour in Europe, our first tour in Greece, playing in Columbia South America, putting out “In Your Brain”, touring with Orgone, playing in Hawaii, having guest artists like Syl Johnson, Dennis Coffee and Shawn Lee sit in with us, opening for the Daptone Super Soul Revue in a roman amphitheater built in the first century, playing at Stax in Memphis in front of famous Stax musicians, touring and working with Ben L’Oncle Soul, playing Montreux Jazz Fest, playing the Fillmore in San Francisco…

Tell us a few things about each of you that even your loyal fans don’t know…
Austin loves soccer and photography, Ian collects records and analog synthesizers, Myles is an avid and experienced cook, Ryan is an encyclopedia when it comes to movies and television of the 90′s and is obsessed with Mr. Pickles sandwiches, and Kelly collects vintage recording equipment and loves his Mom’s home cooked meals.

How did music come into your life?
All of our parents were very influential. We all grew up surrounded by music and all found a passion in it.

Did you know each other before you formed the band?
We did. We met when combining our high school band The Monophonic Orchestra with our college band and started playing shows together and eventually hit the road.

You formed back in 2005. What has changed within all these years?
We all grew together as musicians and eventually found our sound with the addition of Kelly singing and focused more on songwriting and production.

Your music is characterized by funk and soul sounds. Have you ever thought to experiment with different genres?
Yes, we have been experimenting and very influenced by Psychedelic Rock and cinematic music.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8BuReehldo]

Your musical influences are clearly going back to the big musicians of the ‘60s and ‘70s. What do you think of today’s mainstream pop music and would you ever collaborate with musicians like Lady Gaga or Rihanna?
We are always open to new things. Regardless of the genre, good music is good music.

What are your future plans?
We just plan to keep making good music and traveling the world to spread our sound.

July 27, 2014: Rock Revolt Magazine, Absolon for rockrevoltmagazine.com

With more than fifty-thousand followers on Facebook and Reverbnation, it seems quite impossible for a metal fan to have never heard of Absolon.  However, for those few who haven’t heard them before, it’s about time to meet them! With Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Queensryche as their Gods, Absolon  are here to convert you to hard rock music. Ken, Ed, Tyler, John and Geoff are coming fast from Orlando, Florida and are ready to spread their music to the world.

Although they’ve only been in music industry for about two years, they’ve already achieved more than most could even dream about. Their music has its origins in the good old symphonic metal, but freshened up to represent today’s tastes, and that’s what distinguishes them from other similar bands.

We had the chance to talk with the frontman of the band, Ken Pike, who is introducing us to the spectacular world of Absolon.  But, first of all we have the duty to announce Absolon  as Rock Revolt Indie Band of the Week!

What kind of music does Absolon like to play, write, hear?
I can only speak for myself on this one. I’ve always been an old school European metal fan ever since I first heard Judas Priest back in the day. I just never cared much for American metal bands, especially the Hollywood Sunset Strip stuff that later got tagged as Hair Bands. Before getting into metal, I was into what’s called classic rock now. Bands like Styx, Boston, Foreigner. Nowadays I enjoy listening to a lot of different stuff, but I like a lot of the symphonic metal bands like Kamelot, Pagans Mind, Nightwish and I’m a big Rammstein fan. Of course my top favorite band has always been Queensryche.

For somebody who doesn’t know you, how would you describe your music?
Old school European metal meets modern symphonic/goth metal. Pretty much, if you like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Queensryche, Kamelot and Pagans Mind you gonna love us. (laughs)

Give us a little history on the band. Tell us how the band was formed and what you feel you have achieved so far.
I started the band back in late 2012. It was only a thought in my mind then. I had not played music for a little over two years after the breakup of the band I was in previously. For some reason, one night I decided to pull out the guitar and just bang away for a while. I threw on the distortion and the metal began pouring out of me. I wrote Darkness Rising that night. Originally, I was only going to write four songs, record them and put them out there to see if anyone would care. Well, those four songs turned into 16 tracks and Absolon  was born. I brought my old friend Ed Dumas who had been in the previous band with me into the project on guitar and then we took it to the studio to record. At that time it was pretty much just me and Ed. We had session players do the drums, bass and keyboards. Later, after we released the CD was when we actually put the band together. Right now we have a large fan base here in the States and in Europe with about 55,000 fans between Facebook and Reverbnation. We’ve sold quite a number of CD’s, received a lot of press and airplay on both physical stations and internet stations.

Darkness Rising: The Tale of Derek Blackheart was based on the tale of The Portrait of Dorian Grey. Why did you choose this particular story?
That’s a good question. I really don’t know why I decided on basing the CD on this story. After I wrote the first four songs, I noticed that there was a theme running thru them and it just grew from there. It reminded me of the character in The Portrait of Dorian Grey so, I went with it. It really is an old story told in many ways: a guy sells his soul for fame and fortune or for immortality and, after living the dream he had, realizes that he isn’t happy with what he’s done, but by the time he figures it out, it’s too late.

Your second CD is also theme based, but this time you chose… zombies! First of all, explain us the story.
(laughs) Ok, it’s a story about a guy and his love who experience a zombie apocalypse. She catches the virus and becomes a zombie but, of course he loves her and can’t let her go. So, he goes though his days trying to hold onto the woman he loves while the world is burning around him. Finally, he decides he can’t live without her so… well, let’s just say he lets her have her way with him at the end. I guess it’s a warped version of Romeo and Juliet.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeHqVZFDYno]

Your hero is willing to do whatever he can for the love of his life. How far would you go for music?
(laughs) Hummmm, how far would I go for my music? Well, I’ve been at this music thing for a long time. I’ve been very close to major success twice. I wouldn’t sell my soul or lose my wife for it though. Luckily, I don’t have to worry about selling my soul and my wife is a composer/musician herself so, she totally understands.

I know it’s probably too early yet, but do you have any thoughts about the theme for your 3rd CD?
Oh yeah I do. I want to do an epic metal album about the battle between the angels and mankind. I see a field of angels impaled for the cover art. Sick, I know. (laughs)

What is music for you? Have you ever thought of doing something else?
I’ve done other things besides metal, although metal is my first love and always will be. The last band I was in for about six years was an alternative/pop act. I called it “chick rock” cause we had so many females at our shows. I hated it. (laughs) I even tried my hand a country rock for about two minutes. I really hated that!

What are your musical influences?
Wow, there are so many. Of course, I was influenced by Priest and Maiden. I was super influenced by Queensryche which is probably pretty obvious. Vocally, my major influences were Dennis De Young from Styx and Geoff Tate from Queensryche. But, I would remiss if I didn’t mention the Beatles. They are the reason I got into music at a young age in the first place.

Where do you draw your inspiration for the songs you write?
I draw inspiration from many sources: books I read, movies I watch, listening to other artists. Really, things just pop into my head and it depends on the mood I’m in. Once I get an idea in my head I have to go with it.

What is your biggest dream regarding music?
I have many but, some big ones are… opening for Kamelot, Queensryche and Rammstein. Getting to do a tour of Europe and playing the Budakon in Japan where my wife is from. Playing bigger shows. Maybe getting a nice label deal. Just being able to make a decent living from doing something I love: music.

What are your next plans?
Right now we are in pre-production on the next CD. The plan is to get into the studio, record and release At the Abyss sometime first of 2015. Then get out and play as much as we can in support of it and continue to build our fan base. We are also shooting our first official video for Darkness Rising so, that will be out there too.