Dive into the roots of Sunset the Machine with insights on their formation, genre-blending sound, and debut album 'First Contact.' From Godzilla-inspired singles to studio anecdotes, discover the band's journey, aspirations, and connection with fans. Stay tuned for the rocking future ahead!
1. Can
you share the origin story of Sunset the Machine? How did the band members come
together, and what led to the formation of the band in 2018?
Andy (drums) and Ryan (guitar/vocals) have played together in various bands
since 2012 in the punk/hard rock scene, and Luke (bass) started playing with
them in 2018 after meeting through his wife at an Iron Maiden concert. After
playing together in a different band, they formed Sunset the Machine out of a
desire to rock a little harder. So, Sunset the Machine formed through Iron
Maiden and a love of heavy riffs.
2. Sunset the Machine incorporates influences from hard rock/metal to punk
and space rock. How do these diverse influences contribute to the band's
distinctive sound, and are there specific artists or bands that have had a
significant impact on your musical style?
We each bring our own flavor to the songs. Andy is the punk influence, Ryan
brings hard rock, and Luke brings metal. The songs we write end up being a
great overlap between all our styles. We draw personal influences from Black
Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, Motorhead, Corrosion of Conformity, Alice in Chains, NOFX,
and Iron Maiden. The amazing music scene in Portland, Oregon gives a lot of
freedom and opportunities to explore our style.
3. Your debut album, 'First Contact,' is set for release later this
year/early next year. Can you provide some insights into the creative process
behind the album and what themes or stories listeners can expect?
We have a very collaborative song writing process, take turns brining in
material and working on it together. We want us all to feel good about the
songs we're writing and that they're fun to play too. The song "Lightning
on the Road" is a great example of our collaboration. The main driving
riffs were written by Luke and Ryan came up with the vocal melody and the more
open guitar layers. Andy did an amazing job of keeping it all together and
rocking.
Lyrical we're motivated by the early monster and sci-fi movies with nods to
horror, showing our real appreciation for the surreal and exciting. This shows
up particularly with, "Queen of the Monsters," "Owl
Scream," "Soul Rocker," and "Nameless City."
Additionally, we express themes of escape and new beginnings with our songs,
"Lightning on the Road" and "She Burns the Night." As we
work on our next album, we're going to continue to expand on these themes.
4. Having played at various venues in the Northwest and developed a growing
local fanbase, how has the live performance experience shaped the band's
identity and sound?
While we're excited about our upcoming album, we really consider ourselves a
live band first and foremost! We have so much fun on stage - the interplay and
energetic feedback that happens between ourselves and the audience is a one of
a kind experience. It's always a lot of fun to find what songs resonate with
the crowd. "Queen of the Monsters" is always a high energy favorite
and "She Burns the Night" always gets people fist pumping and moving
even though it is a much slower tempo. The other great part about playing shows
is that it's a great way to see more bands. We love playing shows that we would
have bought tickets to even if we weren't on the bill.
5. The new single, "Queen of the Monsters," has received positive
reviews, blending metal with punk elements. How did the concept for this single
come about, and what do you hope listeners take away from it?
"Queen of the Monsters" started with a fun riff and the 50s Godzilla
movies were the inspiration for the lyrics. We want the audience to feel the
energy of the riffs and big monsters along with the foreboding doom that comes
with the slower breakdown.
6. The review mentions the Mothra theme in "Queen of the
Monsters." What inspired the incorporation of this theme, and how does it
resonate with the overall vibe of the band's music?
The early monster movies just have a special place in our hearts. On first
watches as little children, they were scary! Now they can be watched for
enjoyment either as they are or with the folks from Mystery Science Theater
3000. Carrying those emotions through, we try to blend the otherworldly with
the fast and exciting while have a blast on stage.
7. The band recorded 'First Contact' at Sisterly Silence Studios in
Portland. Can you share any memorable moments or challenges faced during the
recording process?
Firstly, Cory is a blast to record with. We consider him a friend and he has a
great early, has great input and is a great motivator. He also has good
collection of gear we can use to add to the sound. He has Orange and Mesa
Boogie guitar amps that we used to help layer the guitars on the album. The
studio drum kit sounds great too and convinced Andy to get the same Pork Pie
snare that Cory has. Also, his dog Goo is always there for emotional support
too. We try to be efficient with our studio time, so all the songs we're
written and very well rehearsed.
8. With regional tours planned in spring 2024 and an aim to extend your
reach to other states, how do you anticipate the band's dynamic evolving on the
road, and what are your expectations for connecting with new audiences?
In 2023 we played a show in Olympia, WA that was a ton of fun. It was nice to
get out of town and meet new folks and see different music scene dynamics. We
had such a positive welcoming experience in Olympia that we just want more of
it! We're excited to make new fans and friends, see new venues, share sleeping
bags, playing with new bands in new scenes and finding something new or exiting
we can take back to Portland. There's lightning on the road and danger to
behold.
9. How has the local music scene in Portland influenced Sunset the Machine's
sound and approach to creating music?
We take pride in our live performance and want to share how much fun we're
having and return that energy to the crowd. So we'll take cues from the
audience on what rock and what needs more work. We're up there to be our honest
selves and share our happiness in rocking out.
10. Are there any rituals or routines the band follows before hitting the stage for a live performance?
We always make sure we enter the stage with a positive attitude. There can be all sorts of chaos before a show or just in life in general. But once we get on stage, that all melts away.
11. As a band that blends various genres, how do you navigate the creative process collaboratively, ensuring each member's input is valued?
It's important to us that each of us collectively pieces together the song with our own individual ingredients. We have an open band and everyone's input is valued. We'll take turns bringing songs to the band. Sometimes they're full songs or a collection of connected riffs. We come together and learn the parts and decide if things are feeling right or if something needs to be changed as we put the song together.
12. Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals for the future of Sunset the Machine, both musically and in terms of reaching a wider audience?
We plan on bringing more rocking! We're working on our next album and hope for more tours. We would also love to play a festival. We want to make more community connections through our love of music and monsters!
13. What has been the most unexpected or exciting moment for the band since its formation?
A key part of Sunset the Machine forming was Ryan taking on lead vocals. We've tried other singers, but being a power trio fits our vibe and song writing style.
14. If you could collaborate with any artist or band, living or deceased, who would it be and why?
Keith Richards and Jerry Cantrell for all the cool ingenuity they bring to their guitar playing and song writing. Lemmy because of his iconic dedication to straight to all out rocking.
15. Finally, what message do you have for your fans, and how can they stay updated on the latest releases, tour dates, and news from Sunset the Machine?
We appreciate our fans and all their support. We want to encourage others to come to our shows and find out the juice is worth the squeeze! Folks can stay up to date by following us on their social media of choice or our website.
Musique | Sunset The Machine (bandcamp.com)
𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕤𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕖 🤘 𝕽𝖔𝖈𝖐 & 𝕽𝖔𝖑𝖑 (@sunsetthemachine) • Photos et vidéos Instagram
(7) Sunset the Machine - YouTube
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire