Exclusive Interview: 20 Questions with… Solarhead!

“The Mourning Bride“, a poem by William Congreve from 1697 contains the phrase “music has charms to sooth a savage breast”, one often mistakenly quoted as Shakespearian and famously reworked unintentionally by The Offspring to “music soothes even the savage beast” which in this Metal life seems far more appropriate. If we are the savage beast then the music to soothe comes from Indiana’s Solarhead, a band celebrating their debut full length album “Shadow Synthesis” after two well received EPs. So here’s 20 questions with vocalist Jason “JJ” Emry, multi instrumentalist Bob Hamilton and drummer Peter Stotle to give them another dimension…

Q1. What’s your poison?

Beer

Q2. What’s your habit?

Poison

Q3. After a pair of EPs in “Orbital Decay” and “Repulsar“, how does it feel to have released your first full length in “Shadow Synthesis“?

Like knockin a big clod of mud off your boots. We’ve got so much unreleased material, getting a full-length album out was a load off. Stay tuned… there’s plenty more to come!

Q4. The new record saw you joined by a flesh and bone drummer for the first time in Peter Stotle. How did him joining the group come about?

Person, woman, man, camera, TV, polymaths, birds, bees… how does anyone *strokes hand gently across cheek* meet? But to answer your question, Pete reached out to us on zuckerbook after finding our ad on craigslist so, to be honest, there was a small amount of cyber stalking involved. So let that be a lesson, kids: Persistence in the face of doubt.

Q5. What would you do if you saw a snake on a plane?

Calmly inform a stewardess, as it’s likely a non-venomous pet in need of veterinary attention.

Q6. Someone puts laxatives in your coffee as a prank. How are you getting them back?

I don’t drink coffee for exactly this reason.

Q7. The vocal layering on the new album is incredible! How did you come up with so many ideas for different voices?

JJ: Why thank you. Welcome to my inner mind. I’m kind of “haunted” by arrangements. What you’re hearing on SS is the culmination of two decades of experimentation. I’m a bit of a tinkerer when it comes to vocal sequencing, and there is never any shortage of raw material.

Q8. You find Aladdin’s lamp and bag yourself three wishes. What are you wishing for?

I’d use each initial wish to wish for another lamp, then reserve a branch of lamps for wishing for other lamps, while using the bulk of the lamps to start a wish-selling business.

Q9. One of your bandmates has a beer thrown at him during a show. Are you diving in and starting a ruckus or letting him sort himself out?

What kind of beer?

Q10. What was the last record you listened to; what’s your go-to album and what is your guilty pleasure?

JJ: “This Way Lies Madness” by Bleed The Sky, “The Alpha/The Omega” by The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza, and Hansen.

Q11. You walk into a bar and realize that one of your tracks is playing on the Jukebox. How do you react?

Like Paul Hogan in pre-woke America: By grabbing the nearest bra-less pixie and rubbing my gator against ‘er fanboat.

Q12. How brave are you? One Chip challenge, Ice bath or throw your bullets in the fire and run like hell?

Drinking contest

Q13. You’re having a quiet drink with a couple of mates when you hear someone at a nearby table in the pub trashing your band for reasons that are frankly bullshit. Are you having a word or letting it go?

No news is bad news. They’re talkin’ about us.

Q14. What’s your hangover remedy?

Hair of the dog

Q15. Do you have any plans to get a bass player on board and play these songs live?

As a matter of fact we’ve got a bassist we’re practicing with now. Details TBA soon.

Q15. An ex-girlfriend threatens to talk nonsense about you on social media to ruin the band if you don’t give her a starring role in your next music video. Are you giving in to her demands or not standing for any nonsense?

We could easily write a song called “Millennial Whoredragon” or something for the occasion. When life hands you lemons… 

Q16. If you see a Gorilla riding a Rhino down the road in front of you, are you following to see what the fuss is about?

Clearly a JJ Abrams production in progress. We’ll, respectfully, wait for the theatrical release.

Q17. Pizza and beer is a sensational award winning combination so what are your favourites?

JJ: Tabasco and anything

Q18. You get offered a cameo in a Stephen King movie and a song on the soundtrack but in order to get it you have to pay the devil his due. What are you prepared to give?

Who’s the devil in this scenario? Satan, or King? Fuck it. I’d suck both their dicks if I could unwatch Doctor Sleep.

Q19. What does Sunday morning look like?

A countdown to noon (Sunday sales)

Q20. Who are you thanking in your Grammy Award Winning speech?

A thriving patriarchy

“Shadow Synthesis” by Solarhead is out now!