JEFF SCOTT SOTO
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 14th October 2009.
Jeff Scott Soto IS the voice of rock and metal. A man who couldn't produce a duff vocal performance if his life depended on it, he has worked with some of the biggest artists in the world. His latest project is the soon-to-be-released W.E.T. album with Robert Säll and Erik Martensson on Frontiers Records.
We caught up with Jeff via e-mail to get his views on the new album and more....
Photo credit Marty Moffatt - http://www.martymoffatt.com/
Hi Jeff, thanks for taking a moment to answer these questions. Hope you are well?
JSS: Doing great, getting ready for another Trans-Siberian Orchestra extravaganza beginning on Sat.
I guess it’s just over 25 years since your ‘big break’ with Yngwie Malmsteen on his Rising Force album. What were your ambitions and expectations back then? Were you full of confidence you were going to be massive or did you approach music from a purely artistic/enjoyment standpoint?
JSS: I knew there was nothing else in the world I wanted to do but this, there was no taking 'no' for an answer, there was no giving up.
I am fortunate in so many ways I can't even count, in that mainly I was lucky enough to start my career and make a name for myself fresh out of high school - which is astonishing in itself - but (that aside) retaining that career for the better part of 25 years now. I never got too stereotyped into having to stay with just one style. Without taking away from bands during that era, Warrant, Ratt, Winger, etc., all hit it big while I struggled to find my legs. Where, now, the only real interest those bands generate are from folks from that era, I started really getting my feet wet after the 'hair metal' days crashed and burned so I have a bit of the new and old.
I like to think I can continue to challenge myself without having to cater to something ONLY because it's the one thing I can continue with.
Did you have any idea you’d still be pumping out music as good as the new W.E.T. album in 2009, or were you living each day as it came?
JSS: Absolutely, I feel the more I continue to work, the more the quality has a chance to shine. Sure, there could be too much work that, in some eyes, comes across as quantity over quality... but for me I look at it all as learning from everything you've done and bettering the things to come.
Your musical influences have been well documented in the past so I won’t ask you to go over them again, but what actually inspired you to become a singer in the first place? Was the desire there before the voice, or vice versa?
JSS: Apparently my mother told me I was singing before I was talking so it was certainly already in the blood, haha. My 1st taste of knowing I wanted to be a pop star was Michael Jackson, I would sing those Jackson Five songs at the top of my lungs daily, daydreaming I was up on that stage!
When did you realise you were going to make a living as a musician? Is there one moment that sticks in your mind?
JSS: Pretty much from my 1st tenure in a band as the lead singer, I was a keyboardist, backing vocalist & trumpet player in this cover band at the age of 12, the lead singer was in high school. Our 1st gig was at my middle school during lunch time, we rehearsed for weeks, 3 songs, the day of the show all in their respective schools made their arrangements to show up.
We set up and, 5 minutes before the gig, no singer. What to do? No cell phones, not even pagers back in 1978!! I was the closest to getting us through the gigs as I was the best singer in the band but was too young to be the frontman...until that day! The singer was canned later that evening and I knew this was it, this was my destiny!
A lot of bands and artists only manage an album every couple of years, yet you are much more prolific than that. Where does the motivation come from to keep giving those massive studio performances? I don’t think many people would argue you always give 200% on everything you record!
JSS: Well for starters, I have the demand luckily. I not only have fans that accept and desire the work I do but also the labels, other projects/peers and situations that are interested at a very consistent rate... if not sometimes too consistent. I have to say no to about half my workload if you can believe it - based on what does get out there shows how busy I truly am.
But as you said, to give 200% (at this point anyway) I have to be choosy on what I say yes to.
I’m not going to bore you with questions about the Journey situation as that’s been flogged to death in the media, but do you ever see yourself doing ‘Soul Sirkus II’ or similar with Neal and Deen...or is that chapter now closed?
JSS: That is a very adamant NO, without going into any details it will never happen.
What about Talisman? With the sad passing of Marcel, is there any chance you would restart the band in the future as a tribute to him, or have you not even thought about it?
JSS: I have no desire outside of doing something that pays respects to what he left behind. We are planning a memorial show early 2010 that will reunite all Talisman alumni on one stage, but I also would love to do a final tour doing this music.
I certainly would NEVER make a new version of Talisman using the name without Marcel. Talisman WAS & IS Marcel...it's just as easy to do music on my own or with others influenced by Talisman but I will not take advantage of the name with a new bass player. I don't need or want the attention that badly to do something like that.
Onto the new project – W.E.T. – How did the group come together?
JSS: It was simply a studio project that Erik (Eclipse) and Robert (Work Of Art) were approached by Frontiers Records to create - an album of songs in which I was later asked to sing on. It is only now turning into a real band that could be around for some time!
I’ve read that Robert Säll and Erik Martensson wrote all the tracks. Is that correct, or have you had a chance to put your own flavour to them? The problem with you (in a nice way) is that you’re so versatile everything you sing sounds like it was written with you in mind...so it’s hard to tell :)
JSS: That is correct, my only involvement here was making the melodies and inflections my own. You would hear a vast difference between how Erik sang the demos to how I did the final product. It was very easy to make these songs sound so good because those guys are tremendous talents!
The album must have felt special as you were recording it. Did you know you had something big on your hands when you were in the studio?
JSS: We were all in between doing our own personal things actually, we would have made this album a lot faster had we the time to concentrate on it! But strangely enough it came out as if we sat and put our every thought and energy on it together.
The result sounds amazing as, again, these guys are all tremendous and we all trust each other when having to work on the stuff individually.
What are your favourite moments?
JSS: For me the best part was getting together for the videos. We truly bonded and got to know each other more personally than professionally which is all we had to that point. Musically, I love every song.
How did the sound develop? There’s a great contrast between the incredibly hard rocking and beautifully melodic sides. Is the vibe culled from the previous work of the band members, or were there other inspirations?
JSS: The guys are best to answer this one since the creative process started with them. I just came in and added the colours to the painting.
Is W.E.T. a long term project or a one-off? Are there any thoughts on the band touring with this music?
JSS: We shall soon see, let the people decide this! :) We are discussing those possibilities but it really comes down more to demand than us wanting to do it. Naturally we want to but we need the interest of fans and promoters to make it happen so let's see...
Was there any temptation to come up with a more inspiring album title? ;)
JSS: We have no album title, a self titled debut is always the best way to go if you ask me.
What’s next for Jeff Scott Soto, or is it all about W.E.T. at the moment?
JSS: No way, I am up to my ears in stuff through May next year!
As already mentioned, I leave for the TSO tour on Sat which runs through early January. From there I will do the NAMM Show in California then back to England for a possible single show in London to wrap up my Beautiful Mess tour...with 3 shows following in Greece. From there it's directly to Stockholm for the Marcel memorial show. That needs to be properly rehearsed as we will have many guest artists as well as our own regime to organise.
Late Feb has me possibly rehearsing for another 2 month tour with something I cannot reveal just yet...not until it is officially announced. There is also another situation - that talks are very early in - that I could be involved in but am not inclined to discuss.
So without even a note in the studio, I am slammed with things through Spring 2010!
Do you still get chance to sing in the SAS band with Spike Edney? He’s playing in my home village of Bisley in December so I’m wondering if I should pop down...
JSS: Yes, I do corporate events as well as public shows with them all the time ( even squeezing one in the week after Marcel's show in Switzerland!) but unfortunately TSO has me locked down during the SAS XMAS shows this year.
I remember seeing you perform in Southampton a few years back and loved the Bee Gees cover you did...and some of your early inspirations were the greats like Sam Cooke. Have you ever thought of releasing a soul, pop, or any other none-rock record? Your last solo record was heading in that direction, but still had a foot firmly in the door of rock.
JSS: I would love to do one but am saving that chapter of my life for when I am a household name. Something like that now, while I am still building my career, could be a nail in the career coffin! It will happen though, rest assured :)
Have you ever worked in a Broadway/West-End stage show? If not, would you like to and what sort of show would it be?
JSS: The closest to that is my involvement with TSO, the new album Night Castle is very much a rock opera with inflections of musical theater. It's not my cup of tea but that TSO has a rock element is interesting enough for me to be involved.
Are there any other musician’s you’d really love to work with?
JSS: I still think Nuno Bettencourt and I were born to do something together musically. I would still love to do something with Brian May and Roger Taylor, not necessarily as Queen, just utilising their amazing influence on me.
What do you get up to when you aren’t being a rock god? Do you have any interesting hobbies that may surprise the Rock Realms readers?
JSS: Not really, I am pretty low key off the road. My down time means a lot of time at the gym or playing basketball. I don't go out much off the road as I feel I am 'out' when I am on the road, it's the last thing on my mind when 'resting'. As well, I constantly need to recharge my voice for studio things so I try to keep a low profile really.
What question do you hate being asked? Have I avoided it?
JSS: You've done great thusfar! I don't mind any questions really, it's just when they become standard and generic, I feel like a broken record. I did a press tour once many years ago where journalists from all over the world were invited by the label to one room. They all asked the 'general' questions which had been written down to ask. It was great, knocked out 25 interviews in one fell swoop!
Any question you love being asked that I’ve missed? If so, what’s the answer?
JSS: My favourite is "What was it like to work with Yngwie Malmsteen?". Answer, "I don't know, I only know what it's like to work FOR Yngwie Malmsteen!" :) Very cheeky of me, eh?
What are you up to once you’ve finished answering these questions?
JSS: Time for dinner & Caipiroska (Brazilian vodka beverage)!
Thanks for your time :)
JSS: My pleasure!
The new self titled W.E.T. album is out in November. Keep an eye on Rock Realms for a review soon.
Thanks again to Jeff for his time.
http://www.myspace.com/wetrocks
http://www.trans-siberian.com/
