SOiL
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 23rd November 2009.
SOiL are best known for their 2001 track 'Halo' from the hit album Scars. Unbeknown to a lot of people they're still going and getting stronger all the time. New album Picture Perfect is a blinder and proves they can still do HEAVY when they need to, but there's a depth to the sound that wasn't there before.
We caught up with them before their recent London gig supporting Shinedown. The interview was recorded in their dressing room with the guys coming and going throughout, although guitarist Adam was what you'd call the main spokesman.
Hi guys, thanks for this little chat. Let's get straight down to business. How's the tour going so far?
Adam: Awesome.
Enjoying it, loving the crowds? I hear last night (Wolverhampton) was quite a good one?
Adam: Yeah!
Is that the best one so far?
Adam: You know, it's hard to put a gauge on that. The first night we were on with Shinedown was Manchester. that was a great show too. When it explodes like that it really sticks out in your memory but, yeah, they've all been good.
Is it right the tour with Shinedown has only been in the U.K. so far, then you're going over to Europe after this?
Adam: Yeah, correct.
And tomorrow you've got a headline gig? Is that with support or just you guys?
Adam: Er, yeah, The Defiled are playing and, I think, Forever Never.
Are you looking at coming back next year for a proper headline tour?
Adam: Yeah, we'll be back. I mean we're not sure yet, we're still working on it right now.
But you want to...?
Adam: Oh yeah, we'll be back for sure (laughs). That's the motto for this record; it's tour, tour and tour some more.
Have you got a timescale for how long you're going to be touring for or is it just until you get bored?
Adam: This record is so important to us - we put some much time, heart and soul into it - we just want to make sure that everyone who wants to listen to it gets a chance (laughs). And it's important to us we get the chance to reach those people. So we'd really like to be out for longer than we ever have before.
You know, we feel as a group there's so many more important songs on this record that we've just got to get them all out there.
And you're really pushing the new record in the live sets at the moment?
Adam: For sure. Yeah.
Playing with Shinedown and the support act Counterpoint...you're all quite different styles. Counterpoint are kind of rock 'n' roll, Shinedown and very modern, you're quite heavy Southern rock... Do you all compliment each other, and do each other's fans dig what the other is doing?
Adam: Yeah, it works out good for everybody. I don't think we are that much of a departure. That's one thing I've always liked about the band (SOiL). We draw off aspects of all those types of music. What the band has always been known for is the metal edge. When we've been describing this record, we say it's a sort of retroactive refresh to where the band originally started and where we were originally going.
The first record Throttle Junkies, which not a lot of people have heard or know about was heavily rock influenced and even Southern rock influenced. Band's like Corrosion of Conformity were what we were loving at the time, and that's what inspired us. There were always classic rock elements too.
I think, for this one, we wanted to totally bust the mold and, I guess, stop the one way street that we've been going down, in a sense. We wanted to expand a little bit, you know, and see what we were made of and what we could do.
We didn't have any rules when we were writing the record. We just went to rehearsal. If we had a vibe we went with it. We wrote a song. We moved on. We catalogued a lot of music, a lot of it stylistically is in places we've never been before. I think it makes for a record that offers more diversity when we go to play with any kind of band. We can go out with some heavy metal bands, or we can go out with lighter rock bands. It makes it even more exciting for us because we can play to that many more kinds of people.
Do you tailor your what you're playing, how you are playing it to who you are playing with?
Adam: Sure. If you have something that's going to appeal to this crowd or that of course you're going to throw it in the set.
On a similar note, you're now four guys rather than five. Do you play that bit louder and put more effort in to make up for the missing man?
Adam: Actually, there's a lot more freedom in what we do individually. Before, there was a strong section and we all did one thing - full blast all the time - which subsequently led to what I was saying about the one way street the band was going down. Now we've released the chains of that, everybody has their piece of the pie and we have this freedom that we kind of didn't before. There's much more defined flavours that come from each of the points of the band.
Tom: Before there was some noise or squeal in every little space, whereas now it's more real and fresh sounding.
You've got no intention of going back to the five, you're quite happy where you are?
Adam: Honestly, yeah, we are. Even going back to our roots, bands were more about that core unit.
It'll be interesting to hear what you sound like tonight. I've seen you once before down in Portsmouth probably just after Scars came out. That was a, er, loud gig so it'll be good to compare.
Adam: I think it'll be loud (laughs)
I hope so!
AJ: Two guitars doesn't make it louder, it just makes it sloppier! (laughs)
Obviously, a lot of people know the song (Halo). You had a lot of fame back then. Do you feel you're back to square one - are you almost building back up as a new band?
Adam: I think we do feel that way. We welcome the challenge. It's kind of exciting. I mean, it would obviously be nice if you didn't have to do anything and your song was all over the place but, you know, at the same time...we have respect for the song, and we even use it as a vehicle to get what we love to put out, what we think is our best material, and put that in front of people.
We've still got all the respect in the world for the track but, as I think we said earlier (to another interviewer), it's not like we go over to practice, play Halo and high-five each other! (laughs) We play it for the fans, and they love it. They've stuck by us for so long...as long as they want to hear it they'll hear it.
Have you got a solid, continuous fan base?
Adam: Yeah, it's good. It's a good core fan base. We've done some headline shows while we're here and they've all gone great. You know, when you're doing a support set it's tough because you get maybe half an hour, forty five minutes...
Yeah, I couldn't believe how little time you get...!
Adam: ...I mean, we're fine with it. there's a lot of people who haven't heard us before or for a long time, and those are great things that we need to do. But, we do get to have the freedom when we go and play a headline set. We can stretch out, play songs we otherwise wouldn't, have fun with the crowd...take it easy and really have a good time and get in there with our fans. They're still, to this day, awesome.
I think the last time I saw you, your support was some all female group who did a heavy metal Britney Spears cover, which was quite random...
Tom: SugarComa?
Adam: SugarComa, yeah. Man, that was a while ago!
Yeah, it must have been 2002/2003?
Tom: I think Skinlab played there too.
Yeah, yeah, that sounds familiar. Onto the new album, you're obviously very proud of what you've done?
Adam: For sure.
Happy with the reviews and everything so far?
Adam: We've seen mixed reviews and we totally expect that. When you're known for one thing and you come out with something slightly, or in some people's opinions very, different you're gonna catch flack for it. But, at the same time if we just kept on putting out the same thing - if we just kept trying to recreate Halo - it would never be as good as the original.
Absolutely, I know what you mean.
Adam: AC/DC is never going to make Back In Black again...
They're trying! :)
Adam: (laughs) But, yeah, they're awesome and they're not going do that exactly. There are some things that are just classic. If you try to rehash it, it's no longer classic it's just beat to death. We're ecstatic and proud that we're able to come up with something different but, as far as the fans are concerned thus far...and a lot of the reviews seem to be saying, people are getting it real well.
I have to be honest, I kind of lost touch with you after Scars. I've come back to you with this one, I actually think this is a better overall album.
Adam: Thank you.
And you've done, what, two other albums in between? How does this compare? Were you following the same sound and then changed completely for this one, or have you just evolved over time?
Adam: There's been a lot of internal changes with every record, so there's that to factor in. Then there's the natural musical progression. We're done this so many time's we don't want to keep doing it over and over.
AJ: The last record, True Self, had songs that showed where we could go, but it was also very close minded and it wasn't as free as where we are now. There were pieces like 'Let Go' and 'One Last Song', songs like that you could see we could write things that were very musical. We could still write things that were very heavy like 'Fight For Life' and whatever. Heavy's easy to do though, I could do it all friggin' day long. To write a good song that's memorable, that's the hardest thing to do in the world really.
Yeah, I agree. That's why this new album is so good because it does sound like it's properly written.
AJ: True Self was my introduction to the band too, so I kind of felt out what I could do and where we were going to go. Once we wrote 'Let Go' I realised, "Wow, we can really go places with this band." Picture Perfect, now with only four members, there's a complete freedom to the writing in all senses of the word and I think the record reflects that really.
What happens with the writing...is it all of you, as in 'SOiL' writing, or just one of you?
Adam: We've always had a thing where the band has gotten together. Even back with Ryan we got together a lot, at least three to four days a week. It wasn't like it was militant...we actually wanted to be there so it was fun. We had a great time with it.
AJ: The writing process (for Picture Perfect) was: they wrote the music in the studio in Chicago, I lived in New York so they sent the music to me, I would load it in my computer, sing on it, write lyrics, melodies and harmonies, maybe throw an arrangement idea in there, and I would send it back via computer. And that's how we wrote the whole record.
Okay, so it's not just one of you writing and everyone performs. It's a band.
Adam: It's always been a group effort, and that's just kind of the way it is.
Do you sometimes do the whole 'jamming' thing?
Adam: Sure. Yeah, we've had that. Sometimes you'll have an idea and it'll evolve into something else and you'll shit-can the original idea.
Do you have a favourite moment on the new album?
Adam: I certainly like the track 'Anymore' a lot. 'Too Far Away' is a song that I actually had the music written for for a very long time and it didn't feel right to bring it to the band. Once again, we've got that air of freedom now so, you know what, I knew this was the right time. When AJ returned the lyrics I was taken back. I'm not a lyrical person. I can sit there driving my truck singing songs from the 70's, and it'll suddenly dawn on me what they are actually singing. I'm more a musically emotional person but, yeah, when I heard that it really set me back. It was amazing, I really felt we'd nailed something. We all knew when we heard it it was going to be on the record.
Are you playing that one tonight?
Adam: No, we aren't unfortunately.
I hear you aren't doing 'Anymore' tonight either...?
Adam: No. It's not that we don't want to but the opportunity isn't there to stretch out all the songs. The record is 45 minutes long, we've only got 30 tonight and we've got to play some of the older songs the fans want to hear too.
Have you made any videos for any songs off the new album yet or are you planning to?
Adam: We haven't but we're not saying no. At this point in the game, you guys have a lot more availability for videos.
It's better over here?
Adam: In The States, if you make a video you might as well make a snowman and look at it in your front garden. It's that useful.
Tom: MTV doesn't play videos anymore.
Adam: They play top 40. There are some cool programs like Headbangers Ball, which is on MTV2 and not everybody gets, and it's only like an hour long once a week. You have every metal and rock band in the world trying to get seen on there so you're lucky if you get one spin or something.
There used to be something called MTVX. When we were first getting started countless people would come up to us and say they'd seen us on MTVX and how much they loved the station. There was nothing but cool metal bands. But, for some reason, when something works in America they get rid of it. (laughs) Like, oh shit that's working too good, let's get rid of it!
How about radio, have you released a single?
Adam: I believe 'Like It Is'. I'm not sure if it's been released over here.
What about labels. You are obviously on AFM over here, do you have a different one back home?
Adam: Yeah, we do. It was important for us to actually have accountability and the personal ownership to be here, and then one in The States. Because, honestly, there aren't a lot of labels out there who actually have great coverage in both territories.
We've had good success with AFM. Even with the True Self record they distributed it so that's how we had the working relationship. So when it came to this record we talked to them. It worked last time so let's try again...
They've got a great booking agent too, a real great booking agent who does favours for you... (winks)
Does favours with a wink?! I hope she's pretty...!
Adam: Oh she's cute. She's got a beard and balls.
AJ: Really hot!
That might be a road we don't need to go any further down...
Adam: (laughs)
I was going to ask you if the cover art from Picture Perfect is typical of the SOiL dressing room but, er...?
Adam: Yeah, look around...
Tom: There's only one none band member here and he ain't that hot.
I mean he's not bad from the back.
Adam: Yeah, he brushes up nicely.
Shame about the beard...
(laughter)
I know you aren't going to get chance to do it tonight because you're having to leave early, but do you still get chance to do the whole rock 'n roll partying thing. I'm asking this question to a man with a beer in his hand...!
Adam: (laughs) We're not in a church group or anything.
You're not sensible family men or anything yet?
Adam: Well Tom here's married.
Is he sensible though? :)
Adam: Not so much on stopping the beer tipping into his mouth sometimes but, er, I've not got room to talk there...
That's all right. It's only a small one. It's just how many of them that matters...
Adam: Exactly, When there's 16 or 17 of them...then we have a problem.
AJ: (gesturing at Tom) Or you get someone trying to clean the bus at 3 or 4 in the morning.
Was the man walking round with his vacuum cleaner then?
AJ: He got fed up with the bus last night. He drank a bunch of stuff then decided to clean everything. He was like, "Look at this, see how clean this is? This is how it should be. And see this fruit? Everyone in the morning should have some fruit." He was just going on...
The man was thinking about your health.
Adam: And this morning it was quite lovely. (laughs)
You're so posh...
(laughter)
Right, what's your take on reality shows?
Adam: I really shouldn't but I love that garbage. I like the celeb reality ones, just because it's so often a train wreck. I don't like the 'Idols' of the world so much, but I do like 'The Rock Of Love' and the spin-offs of those train wrecks. I know I shouldn't admit it.
AJ: I'm trying to picture you sitting watching Rock Of Love! (laughs)
Adam: It's our stories man! They come on every Sunday...
AJ: Our stories...?
So are these guys happy being put under the same Rock Of Love umbrella?
Adam: Oh, this is just me... (laughs)
What's next once touring is out the way. Will you be straight in to do the next record, or is that not even on the board yet?
Adam: Not even on the board.
Are you not guys who get one record done, and then start writing the next one as you are touring?
Adam: Well, you should never stop writing. As a musician you should always be doing something. But, no, we're not actively seeking anything. It's the same as writing Picture Perfect. There was no timeline. We didn't want any presumptions about when the record would be out. The same goes with the touring. Once we are exhausted and have put every last effort into getting our music our there, that's when we stop. Not any time before.
And on that note, thank you very much sirs!
Adam: Thank you, Cheers for coming down.
The new SOiL album, Picture Perfect is out now on AFM Records. Check out the Rock Realms review here for further details...
Thanks again to the guys for their time, and make sure you check them out on tour in 2010.
