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 SoiL. You still might not recognise this band's name and know who they are but if I said, 'Halo', I would like to think you would know who I was talking about, from a dance floor somewhere near you around 2001. It's certainly time now for you to sit up and remember their name. They have just released their 5th studio album, “Picture Perfect” and I caught up with them when they played at The HMV Forum in Kentish Town with Shinedown. I sat down with Adam, Tom, Tim and AJ to talk philosophy, music, and the complete change of direction on the new album...
Would you agree that sound wise, you’ve gone backwards to move forwards on your new album ‘Picture Perfect’?
Adam: Yeah...
Tim: In a lot of ways what we tried to do were take the aspects that everyone enjoyed of SOiL, the Metal aspects, and go back to the roots of why we started the band. We were originally formed around Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Metallica, more Rock based bands. If you listen to it, you can hear a lot of elements of throwbacks to anything from Aerosmith to Alice in Chains, going back to the classic styles that we always wanted with the SOiL style and tunes. In essence you are right, we took a step back to where we came from but bringing it forwards to where we are at now.
Reading over various reviews of ‘Picture Perfect’, the media seem split in their opinions with one reviewer saying, “It isn’t Vanilla Ice level of abomination but it is very, very far from being good”. What are your thoughts and comments on less than awesome reviews? (everyone laughs).
Adam: Basically we didn't want to keep on putting out the same kind of record. So many things have changed internally with the band and truthfully, we just needed to do something for ourselves. Honestly, with this record we grew together more as a band than we ever have in a certain kind of way because we were liberated by not having so many cooks in the kitchen or having … we struck away from living up to the standards that we had set before because honestly, we had done all that so many times and we wanted to try things out for ourselves and this time we were all writing riffs and stuff... It wasn't like we write a riff, we all play it the same way and it's the same thing, same guitar and same other guitar. This was much more individualised. One guitar player, one bass player and one drummer and everybody did their thing. I think that has a lot more to do with the classic style of SOiL, everybody goes off on their own... well not tangent as it were because we're not prog players or anything like that... but everyone had a lot more freedom to do stuff.
[Tom's mobile starts ringing and he gets up to walk out of the interview with Adam saying, “Oh man, why don't you bury that thing?”]
Adam: With regards to the views on the mixed reviews, it's not a safe album, it's not a “by the numbers” album and it's not the kind of album that you would expect more or less just coming down the pipeline from a SOiL record. I think the mixed reviews reflect the fact that it surprised a lot of people and in some ways, that is a good thing.
[AJ walks in, gives me a big hug, and then joins the discussion.]
I kind of liked reading a mixed bag of reviews on this album. It's great that every reviewer doesn't have the same opinion and its shows that you can't please everyone because if you did, you may as well just give up. Do you guys manage to keep up with the reviews that have been written?
Adam: If we do come across them we do read them.
I did have a good laugh at one of the reviewers that said he was given the album to review and didn't know anything about SOiL so researched the name and found out that you were the 'Halo' guys and that your band was his favourite band in the 90's. Favourite band in the 90's? He surely would've remember your name then so I guess he meant it was his favourite song but in the 90's? 2001 is obviously what he meant. Fuck, he really got that all wrong didn't he?
Tim: (laughing) That is kind of funny. Sometimes, when you have a song that is as big as 'Halo' people don't know who its by (laughs). I think some people probably think that we are just covering it now!
In all honesty though, if you find a song that you absolutely love, would you not go and find out who the band is and listen to all their other songs then too?
Tim: Most normal people would.
In what order would you rate all the SOiL albums?
Adam: You mean grading it, which one is the worst and which one is the best? I can't do that!
Of course you can.
Tim: I could probably do it...
Come on then!
Tim: I would probably say Number 1 is 'Picture Perfect', Number 2 is 'Re.de.fine', Number 3 is 'True Self' then 'Scars' and 'Throttle Junkies'.
That's not bad for an off-the cuff answer!
Tim: No, I think about it every day (everyone laughs). The new one just reflects the whole emotion and mood of a team and it's just where we are at and it's almost like this is our first record again because we went back to the basics, went back to the beginning again and started from there. We took all the stuff that happened in between and just chucked it out. Why did we start this band, what was our original goal in making this band and where are we at as musicians and people now and we merged the two together and cut out everything in between, basically.
What is SOiL’s musical philosophy?
AJ; To express yourself honestly through awesome music. To be true to the music and write what you feel and whatever comes out, comes out. That is one thing about the record, it has such a variety of flavours and emotions and I guess that each song is a little baby. There is no one-dimensional record here, we didn't want to write a one-dimensional record, we wanted to let everything out. Music is all about emotions for me and lyrically, I'm not ready to rip everyone's face off with a song like, 'Like it Is', or a song that is more aggressive, sometimes you have to go a little bit deeper than that.
Your track 'Anymore' is incredibly emotional for me... I love the whole album, to be honest.
Adam: Why, thank you!
Tim: Even when it came to making the moodscapes, there were actually a lot of songs that were written for this record and there are a lot of other different moods that nobody got to hear but we definitely picked the ones that suited us, the best ones and a good record was made.
So if I was in the 'SOiL boys club for men' [a joking term the band used for their writting sessions for Picture Perfect] would I be able to hear all the songs that didn't get onto the record?
(Everyone laughs) Adam: Yeah, you have to be in rehearsal and get really drunk with us then.
AJ: Getting drunk helps (everyone laughs).
With the way musical trends seem to come and go, do you think SOiL has something fresh to offer music fans in 2010?
Tim: Most definitely. There are so many bands today that are so cookie cutter, just living for the moment and they're not timeless, there are no more hero's left. You used to be able to count on a band to make 5, 6, 7 records and now a band comes out, makes a record and before they can make a 2nd one, they lose hope and passion and they leave. A band like us has withstood the test of time and withstood all these boundaries and these obstacles for a reason and that is because we have that passion and I think people can somewhat feed off that and see that. Music today, it's just so easy for anyone to make it, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's good - so you really have to write from the heart, you really have to take your time and put a lot of effort into it to make songs into great songs.
AJ: We are not reinventing the wheel but the true test is that we are still here and we are still doing it and we are still writing from the heart and getting this music out. People want to come along and grow and change, that is what life is all about and that is what music is all about. They don't want to hear the same record from a long time ago.
Adam: That is what we are all about. We are growing as people and as musicians, ideals and things change and we are moving forward.
Where do you think SOiL fits into history?
AJ: We are still making it.
Cool, you guys aren't going anywhere in a hurry I hope. I've got kids to still have and they need SOiL too!
Tim: (laughing). We are seeing people that were fans of SOiL when we started and now they are bringing their kids.
Second Generation?
Tim: We have actually made it long enough to see a second generation of fans and it's freaky. When we started this band, we didn't know if it was going to crash and burn, we didn't know if it was going to do anything. It is just persistence and honestly the fans kept us going because they wouldn't let us give up as much as we didn't want to give up. Who knows how much longer it will last, it could be tomorrow or in 10 years from now. We are just going to do what we do and do it for as long as we possibly can and that has always been our motto, “Do what we do and do it for as long as we possibly can”, and we have a lot left to give.
What factors do you consider when putting together your set list and and what point will you consider not playing ‘Halo’ at every gig?
AJ: I would consider it right now.
Adam: 'Halo' is specifically for the fans. It is not for us. We don't go to rehearsal and play 'Halo' and high five each other. It is strictly for the fans.
What other considerations go into the set list decision? I know you on have a 35 minute set tonight and obviously with the new album out, you will play a good break down off it and the other albums. What is your gauge essentially on “Picture Perfect” and how you work out which song to play?
Adam: The record is still rather new and we were going off opinions of songs we had let people previously hear along with the opinions of fans. You can tell a lot by comments on Myspace that come through as to what the favourites are, what the top 4 are. Once again, we are a band of fans because we are fans of music too so we like to give back what we like bands to give us. A live show is … of course it's us doing what we do while we are performing but it is an interactive thing and we have got to have the people interact with us as well. We have to have peaks and valleys and keep it interesting and not just in terms of old catalogue, just tempo wise and all that stuff. You have got to keep it exciting.
AJ: The new songs that are on our set list, all 4 of them have a piece of what the whole record is all about. 'Surrounded' has the lighter stuff that is covered, 'Picture Perfect' has the deeper stuff covered which kind of casts what 'Last Wish' and 'Anymore' and 'Calling Out' has so 'Picture Perfect' covers that and 'Lesser Man' gives you the classic rock feel and vibe and then you have 'Like it Is' which is just a head crusher. We are giving everything of the record right there and we can interchange the songs with 'Calling Out' and 'Anymore' at some point.
Tim: As the songs surface we will get more into the record. On the perfect day, “Picture Perfect” will sell more than any record has that we have put out and we won't even have to talk about 'Halo' anymore.
I did read somewhere that 1500 copies were sold in the first week – nice work!
Tim: That was on Blabbermouth. It would've been nicer to have sold a lot more but with the state of the record business being what it is you could enter the billboard charts with that kind of number whereas back in the day you had to be selling five figures just to get into the charts. Downloading has really broken the back of the music industry and shit rolls downhill and we are at the bottom of the hill, musicians are anyway.
Now that AJ has endured 2 albums and sometimes fills in on guitar duties, is SOiL set to remain as a 4 piece or are there ever going to be considerations for another guitarist?
Adam: We are unequivocally going to stay that way.
Tim: It's really comfortable from the aspect of a bass player because as a bass player, when you have a 5 piece you're swirling around on both sides and the middle somewhere... I have always loved the classic 4 piece line-up when the guitar player has a side, the bass player has a side and you put a wall of lamps on each one. Since AJ is able to play guitar it is cool, not only a new dynamic which adds something visually too. Instead of the singer just running around, he can pick up a guitar and people are like, “Oh wow, he's picking up a guitar for this song, or he's doing that for that song”. It adds a more visual stage show too. It's just kind of fun that I can walk over to and rock out with him. For me, it's my favourite line up because I now have my own dedicated side (everyone laughs). It's a cool mix up and I like it better this way.
What is one record that you would’ve loved to have played on?
Adam: I don't think I would've like to have played on any other record because it would've changed the way it was.
(Looking at Tim). Which Motley Crue record would you have like to play on (everyone laughs).
Tim: I would say Dr Feelgood because the song writing in that record was just awesome.
Tom: Deep Purple
Tim: (laughs) What Motley Crue record? You know me so well...
Adam: I think I just played on the record that I really wanted to play on. It just came out.
Aaw, that is so lovely to hear.
AJ: I would like to have played drums for anything Chris Cornell is doing right now or maybe on the back of Soundgarden days. I like to play drums a lot but I wouldn't want to sing on anything and ruin anything.
You couldn't but there does seem no end to your talent Cavalier! Adam, you cant pick SOiL cause you're already there!
Adam: I don't know, lets say Master of Puppets.
Finally what can we expect from SOiL in 2010?
Adam: Lots of shows.
Tim: More touring. We are going to tour more on this record than we have on any of the other records. The days of just releasing a record, touring a little bit and getting back into the studio just to throw records down the pipeline are over. When you put out a record, a great record nowadays you have to stay on it and work it, and work it, and work it because nobody is giving out free meal tickets and its harder than ever now so you just have to push and stay with it. I think we can all agree that this record has more heart and soul than anything we have ever done.
Adam: There are a lot of important songs on this record to us and we want to do our best and if anyone wants to hear it we want to make sure that they get their chance. We are going to tour our asses off on this.
Tim: Peroni beer sucks by the way. You need to write that down by the way.
I will do.
Tim: Man, it tastes like a sock.
Adam: But you're still drinking it.
How do you know what socks taste like?
Tim: Because we've been living in a pile of them for the last few weeks (everyone laughs).
Adam: Socks and underwear (everyone laughs).
The joys of touring! And you're planning even more! Thanks for talking to me tonight and have a great show.
(Hugs and kisses all round, then I leave to grab a beer and wait to be entertained by one of my favourite bands).
TAZZ STANDER
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