interview with SOL EVIL
How was the band formed? I've always been an artist and musician. During my youth I started a few death metal bands that simply failed to take off and I spent some time writing solo ballads to express myself. After being initiated into the Seven Fold Way I decided to start a musical project that expressed not only my emotions, but also the sinister path I had begun to tread. SOL EVIL was formed in 1997 and has continued ever since.
Can you tell about your band? I am the band and always have been. Though I have gone through many members, both session and "permanent", SOL EVIL has always been an expression of who I am.
Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band? Through the ages all the members of SOL EVIL have been other local musicians that seemed to, at least temporarily, share the goals of the band. Living in the Inland Empire/Los Angeles area of Southern California, the local stock of musicians are who I've had to choose from.
What was the ambitions of the band when you started? Depending on the timeline the goals for the band have changed, as all things should. In the beginning the goal most certainly was to inspire hatred and violence through the artistic expression. This became more pronounced after the ball really began rolling, and culminated in my own arrest and incarceration for violent crimes. Obviously, the goals of SOL EVIL have changed dramatically. After all, who wants to live in their own past?
Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you? Eclectic. I've written and recorded brutal metal as well as crestfallen ballads. I shall continue to keep things interesting. There is nothing one dimensional about SOL EVIL. Just like a man, my music is multi-faceted and unpredictable.
Where was your first gig? The first SOL EVIL gig ever was a small house party in Colton, CA in 1997/98 I believe. It was anything but epic; rather uneventful. The very next show was at the Whiskey in Hollywood in 1998. I never really had a local following of "friends" to sell tickets to or to populate venues. I had to rely on being good. By the time SOL EVIL toured the US in 2001 it would appear just being good live was a success as we were packing venues on name alone.
Where was the latest gig? SOL EVIL headlined a show at the Black Castle in Los Angeles, CA on December 13, 2013 along with a few other local bands such as Vesterian, Satani Infernalis, Shores of Melancholy, and Mortis Vague.
Who has the best since of humor in the band? I suppose that would depend. I think my sense of humour is pretty good, but I've had a few clowns that were very funny.
What's good/bad with the band?/What genre do you feel you are? The only negative is constantly trying to find the right people to play with and promotion. I don't know much about promo and I don't work well with most people...although I am much nicer than I used to be. I don't really choose genres anymore. There was a time when SOL EVIL would have been considered Black Metal exclusively, although many said we were Black/Death. Genre doesn't matter much anymore.
Why did you pick that particular style?/What are your songs about? My music has always been an expression of me and the things that interested me. There has always been authenticity in SOL EVIL in that I have always refused to posture. If I espoused a particular belief or attitude, it was genuine.
Do you write your own material or mainly covers? I have covered a few songs before, such as Mayhem's "Deathcrush", Slayer's "Raining Blood", Danzig's "Mother", and MM's "Angel with the Scabbed Wings." I prefer doing originals though.
Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they? Aside from the demos released, which include "Fallen", "Kindred of Kain", "The Doorway Into Depravity" and "Dawn of Infinite Obscurity" SOL EVIL has released several full length and EPs: "Dawn of Infinite Obscurity", "Sanctus Satanas", and "Karu Samsu".
Do you have any clips on YouTube? There are several live clips and one video for the song "Twilight of the Holy" from the "Karu Samsu" EP.
How old are you?/What got you started in music? I've always felt compelled to write and record music. I'll be turning 34 in a few weeks.
At what age did you start playing? I believe I was 12 or 13 when I first started writing songs.
How old were you guys when you first stood on stage? I used to do plays and other performances when I was in my early teens, but when SOL EVIL first performed I was 17.
What year was the band started? 1997
Best/worst gig you've played?
The best gig I ever played was probably Houston, Texas while on tour with ENTHRONED in 2001. There was some ska show at the same venue on a different stage, but the bar was in the area we were using. After we started our set the room went from 40-50 metal fans to a few hundred of mixed backgrounds. Perhaps they came for the bar, but they stayed for the performance and the entire audience became overwhelmed with violence when we blew fire during our final song.
Worst gig Any house show. I don't like playing them.
What places will you be playing in in the imidate future? This remains to be seen. At the moment I am just focusing my efforts on recording the next full length album "MASTER OF ASCENDANCY" which I wrote entirely while in prison. It shall be an epic piece of personal expression.
Where have you played from then till now? All shows have been in the US, including Syracuse, Brooklyn, Raleigh, Bowling Greens, Aurora, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Wichita, Denver, Las Vegas, Sacramento, San Diego, Colton, Corona, Los Angeles, etc.
Witch band is the best you´ve seen? Watain and Behemoth both put on really good shows.
Is it always the same songs live? No. Depends on where the band is in the line up and the mood.
What has been the best/most promising gig so far? All the touring gigs as well as the come back shows have been promising. Every show is promising in its own way.
Have you had any bigger tours from start to now? The US tour with ENTHRONED in 2001 was our only tour thus far.
How big crowds do you usually play for? Depends. I've played in front of as many as 700-800 and as little as 15-20.
What are the plans for the rest of the year? Record "MASTER OF ASCENDANCY".
Where do you usually play? Typically the shows booked are in Los Angeles.
How do you get psyched up for a gig? Depends on the era to which you refer. I've done everything from cutting and drenching myself in human and animal blood and adorn face paint in the past, to now I pump up backstage by boxing, doing short intense workouts and posing.
What are your goals with your music? Again, always depends on the era. Currently the goal is to express myself through artistic means, as well as showcase the sinister through my craft.
When did you decide to go all in for the music? From the beginning. Anything worth doing is worth doing right.
Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern? My greatest inspiration has come from the isolation of prison. If one lives an eventful life, there's no need to look to others for inspiration.
What are your sources of inspiration? Experience.
What's the first step when making a new song? Depends really. Usually an emotion that is overwhelming me will find an outlet through the music.
How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums? It's good because you can get your material out easier, but it's bad because people rip you off too easily. In the old days it was much harder to get your material out. Probably kept a little quality control as a result as well.
What would be your dreams for the band? There are no limits. I'll take the band and my music as far as I can.
Besides your own music, what genres and bands do you listen to? My favorite band has long been the Smashing Pumpkins. I listen to slower stuff like The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, as well as electronic and classical. My favorite composers are Bach, Beethoven, Berlioz and Brahms.
What do you hold most dear? My wife and family.
What would be your greatest fears for the future? I prefer to let others fear me.
Have you been part of any other projects? I've helped a few comrades out, but I also started a solo project called Mordämon in 2000. We only played two shows, but the band was very promising.
Have you been in any other bands? Only my own: NOSFERATU (a death metal band I started in 93/94), SOL EVIL, and MORD¨AMON.
What do you work with outside of the band and the music? I bodybuild and am a personal trainer. I am also a writer and publisher.
What would you do if there was no music? Write poetry and prose. I choose to never limit myself to one channel of creativity.
How important are your fans? Without them there would be no use in promoting what we do. It would just be hidden art with no one to appreciate it.
What's the funniest/most memorable thing a fan has done for you? I'm pretty sure a skin in Austin, Texas and another guy in Houston, Texas were trying to hint at me being with their girlfriends. Not my style, but it was a little funny.
How often do you rehearse? As often as I can. Sometimes every day, sometimes almost never.
Where do you rehearse? My home.
Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment? I like them all, but I was proud of "I AM DEATH" when we played it at the last show. It's the newest song we've played onstage.
What do you feel is the best live band you've seen? Watain and Behemoth.
What drives a band that isn't all that famous and renowned to try to make a living on their music and to keep playing? Love of the music.
Do you have any webpages? Just the FB page right now I believe.
Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there? Be genuine. I can spot that fake shit from miles away.
Describe your show, visually and musically Powerful, brutal, thick and intense.
How do you view the musicindurty of today? It's a conundrum of chaos, filled with untalented performers that should have kept their day jobs.
What are the biggest obstacles for a band? Separating yourself from the masses.
What is best/worst with playing the clubs? Worst things is the pay at some clubs is horrible. The sound is usually great though.
Tell us about upcomming gigs and why we should be at them? Nothing currently on the books yet.
How would you describe your sound in one sentence An eclectic wave of intense feelings wrapped in thorns of the sinister.
What was one of the most quarrelsome times for you in the band? Being arrested due to a rat was pretty quarrelsome until I made sure the rat was dead.