Soil Interview with Original Member Shawn Glass in support of their 2006 release, True Self
by Dixon Christie
PunkTV.ca: Hey Shawn, what's up?
I’m actually out and about running around, we have a day off today.
PunkTV.ca: Good times. What are you doing?
Ah getting some lunch my man and I was actually gonna go into Best Buy and actually the bus is parked next to the hotel. Just kicking it in the middle of Iowa, on the way to the next show.
PunkTV.ca: What is Iowa like?
Grassy, green and hot. It’s nice and warm out so I can’t complain.
PunkTV.ca: Nice. Let’s get into it. Your new singer A.J.Cavalier was recommended by Wayne Static and Damage Plan’s Pat Lachman. How has he been working out for ya?
He’s been amazing man. I think Agent’s everything we’ve wanted and more in a singer. He’s talented on so many levels but also he’s very serious about what he does; takes care of his voice, he warms up before shows and he’s a great front man besides from being a singer. And artistic wise he fits with for us on the level that he knows what the song calls for. We write the music and then when the music’s done he knows where, you know, pretty much he has a great grasp and a good feel for what the song needs. When it’s intense and still heavy he wants to make sure its heavy and stuff but the melodic stuff is very beautiful and still intense and catchy. His lyrics and his melodies are great.
PunkTV.ca: Comments from the kids about the vocalist change have been varied as they always are in this sort of thing. Tell us about some of the major obstacles that a band faces when going through this kind of line up change.
I mean, it’s hard for me to just say that I’ve seen it or feel it because I’m in the band. Most people come to me and fucking are raging about A.J., especially after they see us live. But I think that the only thing I’ve ever heard is people come up to you and ask what ever happened to your old singer. That’s the main thing I hear is what happened and people want to know why, ya know. Is that the only thing they care about, why it happened and what happened? I think that ah, I don’t know how to say it, I think that Agent is pretty accepted by the fans.
PunkTV.ca: I think so too. I was reading on Amazon, you know your always gonna get kids that are loyal to your old guys and then there’s gonna be other kids that come along and say well you know this guy is much better and this is why. So there’s a little bit of debate that comes on. But for the record, Ryan left to join Drowningpool…
Well that’s incorrect actually. Ryan left the band to be home with his family. He told us he was done with music and wanted to be home with his family. And we began looking at singers and obviously both Wayne and Pat referred Agent, like you had said previously, and all of a sudden we had a new singer writing a new album and bam all of a sudden Ryan wanted to join a band. It’s kinda weird and I think there was some hidden agenda. Honestly, we’re just really glad that he’s not in SOiL.
PunkTV.ca: Well ya gotta move on and try to stay pleasant with your past colleagues and stuff
Ya, we don’t really talk to him but, you know, its better that we have Agent Cavalier as a singer as well.
PunkTV.ca: Ya, I like it too. What happens when he’s playing the old songs, how well has A.J. adapted because the singing styles are quite different. I think A.J. is a little bit more versatile, am I right? A little bit heavier?
He can sing the heavy stuff but he can also sing the melodic stuff. If you look at a song like “Forever Dead” or “Fight for Life” those songs are really heavy but its the harmonies with Adam’s background vocals that have that like Alice in Chains feel that we always embrace. But he sings “Halo” and “Break me Down” and “Redefine” perfect every night. Even the guys on this tour that were always on, Mushroomhead, they were just like ‘man you can’t even tell there’s a different singer on the old stuff’. And that’s good, A.J. does grab the natural feel of those songs for the live show. And that was something when he tried out, even before he came out we told him to learn about 3 or 4 old songs off the “Scars” and “Redefined” albums. That was important that he could be able to sing those songs cause that’s a part of SOiL that we’re never gonna get rid of. Obviously, those were albums that made our fan base.
PunkTV.ca: And he must be on top of the world after joining a band like you guys with so much momentum. Just got your DRT record deal, A.J. must really be proud.
Ya, I think he’s getting his name out there and that’s what’s important you know, for people to really know the name A.J. Cavalier. That’s the first step becoming a proper professional musician I guess.
PunkTV.ca: It’s quite a name: A.J. Cavalier. Sounds like a rock stars name, or an actors name
It’s pretty rock star ya. He could be on fucking ah…Dancing with the Stars
PunkTV.ca: He could be on a soap opera too. (hahaha) Let’s talk about some of your shows and then we’ll get to the album. You just returned from a tour opening up for Staind. How’d you get along with those guys?
Amazing man. Again, those are some of the coolest guys I’ve ever toured with. And Staind musically are a band I really love so it was great you know, to tour with….Achoo, excuse me...sneezing fit.
PunkTV.ca: Bless ya.
Excuse me man. The tour was amazing. Oh man, I’m fighting a cold here.
PunkTV.ca: Oh geez. And now you’re on the road with Mushroom head. How’d that tour come about and how’s that been going for you.
Good, it’s the first week of the tour and those guys are really cool and they’re from the Midwest so being Ohio boys we get along really good, them being from Chicago and all. So it’s cool, I mean, and the best thing is musically it’s different. Mushroomhead definitely are very known for their image and the whole trip that they have. But musically for man, to me, they’re just a brutal, heavier Faith No More.
PunkTV.ca: Actually, that’s the next thing I was gonna say. For me personally, I was just gonna say, aside from the outrageous outfits and makeup, to me not so different. I mean you got the heavy points and the light points. Kind of similar to what you guys are doing.
Musically not too far off, our bands.
PunkTV.ca: Ya they’re good singers. Good quality, well constructed songs, a lot of heavy metal, a lot of guitars and a lot of melodic counterpoint.
Uhuh, they’ve got keyboards, they have that kinda…but Jeffery and Weiland are really good singers. Coolest dudes man, we’ve toured with them before, on “Redefined” we did some touring with them, and got along great with them there. It’s cool because it’s two different styles of bands to the average eye I guess but it’s really not too far off if you listen to the music.
PunkTV.ca: It’s not like putting an emo band out there with you guys. It’s two different kinds of distinctively metal bands so…
Ya I don’t wanna tour with that kind of bands. I don’t like pink belts and white tight shirts and girl jeans on guys.
PunkTV.ca: You don’t own a pair of Seven jeans?
Nah, I’m not feeling that dude (chuckles)
PunkTV.ca: Alright, your bassist, Tim King, has said that, ‘the whole premise of this new album was to take the elements that our fans knew and loved and to bring them to a new level’. Can you tell us about what this meant and your new album, “True Self”?
Well I think that this album really everything is up a notch. Where there’s melodic songs or even more melodic songs like “Let go” or “Hear Me”. And then the heavy songs are even more heavier than anything that was ever on “Scars” or “Redefined”. I think that the hooks are still there from the past but I think that they’re really even more infectious. And musically this album shows some new elements. I think that a song like “The Last Chance” is something that is totally a little different from anything that was on “Scars” or “Redefined”. I think we’re expanding a little bit on the musician ship side and also the other guitar player, Adam Zadel, there’s a lot more lead work on this album and that’s something we always wanted to have and then for some reason in the past just got kinda shunned on. I think now we’re showing on this album a lot of more musicality and heaven solos and more intense drumming. A song like “Pick me up”, which is one of my favorites on the album, has all of the elements of our sound, you know.
PunkTV.ca: Ya. Ok, so tell us about…or this is your third album and your first with DRT. Tell us how you met up with them.
We were talking to labels while we were writing the album and were officially off of J records and DRT got in tough with us, a couple labels were talking to us. And they flew out and had a really good meeting and came to a rehearsal and heard probably about half the new album live in the rehearsal spot. And Derrick Showman we knew his history…can you hold on one second?
PunkTV.ca: Ya, go ahead.
Ah shoot, there we go sorry. I keep losing signal. And Derrick Showman we knew his history at Road Runner so we thought, ya know, why not check out his label. We knew he was well knowledged in rock and metal.
PunkTV.ca: Ya, they just signed Gwar as well which I though was a no brainer I mean considering what shameless self-promoters Gwar are.
Ya they tour hard too you know.
PunkTV.ca: They don’t stop.
That’s good.
PunkTV.ca: Would you play on stage for an hour in a costume like that? (hahaha)
Ya I don’t know about that
PunkTV.ca: It’d get pretty hot.
But I would definitely tour with them. That’d be fun. You never know, I mean you tour with everyone. I mean look at our career; we’ve toured with everyone from Ozzy, Rob Zombie to Sevendust to Mushroomhead to Staind. So we’re pretty open minded with who we tour with.
PunkTV.ca: Tell us about choosing the title track for this album, “True Self”, and why it was a profound decision for you guys.
I think once that song was finished and with the lyrics and all we really thought that was a cool new edge to the SoiL sound but also it…um...the lyrics really have a good meaning: be proud of who you are, be true to yourself and have perseverance and march on. It’s kinda how we felt, you know, with what was happening with the changing of the guard singer wise and the label. We knew that we’re the heart and soul of SoiL and we knew that we’re not gonna just give in because of one little bump in the road and that song really fit the whole general vibe of the album and it’s one of our favorite songs on the album.
PunkTV.ca: What do you think is happening in music where bands are…with melodies and metal seem to be coming back around again.
I think it’s good, man. I mean, granted the metalcore scene is definitely a bit too much right now, hopefully it will die out. I think there’s too many bands that all sound alike right now but that comes and goes with any trend. I’m glad to see that the heavy stuff is coming back in and that there is more and more musicianship being shown on these albums which is important you know. I just think that kids want real stuff. Not every kid wants to listen to Janet Jackson or whatever, Clay Aiken. Kids want something that is real and has substance. Most rock and metal bands have something more real to offer.
PunkTV.ca: How many videos did you guys do for this, or how many videos have you guys done for this album?
We’ve only done “Give it up” right now and hopefully in the new year we’re gonna look at shooting a new one.
PunkTV.ca: So for kids who haven’t seen “Give it Up” and like to see chicks kick ass there’s a pretty good video of some sexy young, sexy little thing kicking the ass of a business guy.
She’s getting picked on at work and she’s not gonna take it and you know what, she get out and goes lets her frustration out at the fight club. She’s definitely a good-looking girl and can hold her own and kick some ass. That’s the best thing about it, girls can identify with her, ya know.
PunkTV.ca: She takes a couple shots, the guy doesn’t have any problems giving her a couple good shots.
Nah, it’s a good match. They definitely fight it out, ya know.
PunkTV.ca: So how does “Give it Up” relate to the song? Obviously it’s a message of empowerment for everyone…
Ya, I mean the video’s not 100 percent coinciding a bit with the lyrical content. But it shouldn’t be. I mean, does a Tool video have anything to do with what Maynard’s singing about?
PunkTV.ca: Never.
Ya I think that those days are gone. Maybe it was cool for Twisted Sister in the eighties but whatever. I think that people should adapt a song. And that’s one thing ya know, like I do like having the lyrics with the album cause I like reading them but I really don’t wanna know what a song’s about. I think that everyone should identify with a line in a song with what’s going on in their life and that’s what it’s there for ya know. It’s art, it’s freedom.
PunkTV.ca: Rather leave it ambiguous and let people figure it out for themselves.
Ya totally, I agree.
PunkTV.ca: How did you come up with the treatment, or who came up with the treatment? Did they bring it to you, did they bring a couple different treatments and you pick one?
It’s kinda actually some people in our management and a couple people were involved but Noah, the director, he came up with some of the ideas too so it’s a combination of a couple of people that had it. We just wanted something a little different you know, something that wasn’t so A-typical of your traditional video on Headbangers Ball or whatever. And we just wanted to make something that was a little fresh but yet youknow, fun but yet fits the song. We’re not all gonna be sitting there eating ice cream or going bowling.
PunkTV.ca: Would there be a video, talking about image and everything, would there be certain videos like you said Twisted Sister or there’s a new video by…oh, I can’t remember the name of the band…but it’s kinda like a Twisted Sister take where the guys get off the bus and they go to this swimming pool…
Oh Lamb of God for Redneck. Ya, that’s a good video.
PunkTV.ca: It is a good video, it’s a funny video but after you see it a couple times you start thinking to yourself, ‘would we ever do this video?’. Would SOiL do that video?
No we wouldn’t (laughs) but you know what, as a video people will remember it. I mean Lamb of God man, Randy the singer is a friend of mind, so that’s cool. But I think that…what’s it called…”Give it Up” the video we did for that kind of song, it fits. It’s in your face or intense and fun but not too cheesy. We’re not a band that really likes like comical humor videos. We’re goofballs off stage but like when we’re onstage, with the whole imagery, we’re a little serious ya know.
PunkTV.ca: But Lamb of God, that’s the irony. The ironic juxtaposition between the heavy intensity of the music, like the unbelievable intensity of the music then along comes this video where they’re kinda doing like a Twisted Sister birthday party kinda idea. So that’s why it’s funny I think, eh. Ok so we’ve got, oh, two more questions. Johnny K had produced a couple of your albums, who did you get in for “True Self”?
We worked with all Rick Wild that did Static X, Breaking Benjamin. Oh man, he’s worked on Deftones to Pantera, he engineered on Great Southern Train Kill. So we knew he was well versed in hard music but we wanted someone with fresh ears to kinda listen to our sound and, you know, just a little bit of a different angle and I think that it worked out. And obviously we knew our sound and our tone, the sound of this band but just having a different producer/engineer is always gonna makes things sound a little different and plus we knew we had a new singer so we didn’t want to make, you know “Scars” or “Redefined” with a new singer. So I mean sure he’s just a new engineer/producer, nit it showed a little bit of freshness to the band.
PunkTV.ca: And you don’t want to have the same guy doing it every time either, eh?
Nah, I don’t think that’s smart for bands to stick with the same guy. I mean I love Johnny K and I’m proud of both those albums but I think that there’s a time to move on man. It’s like a relationship you know, you gotta move on sometimes.
PunkTV.ca: Did he do all of Disturbed’s albums? I think he did, eh?
Yup
PunkTV.ca: Ya, what’d you think of the last Disturbed album “Ten thousand fists” compared to “Believe” and “the Sickness”?
I like it man. I think “Ten thousand fists” is better than “Believe”. I like “Sickness” and “Believe” was alright. I think it’s more experimental. I think its like Queensryche I guess, good times. I think that “ten thousand fists” is more in your face and a little heavier.
PunkTV.ca: You didn’t find it got a little bit on the processed end?
Protest?
PunkTV.ca: Processed. Like did it seem a little compressed? I’m just wondering if the more he got into producing that band over three albums it didn’t get more and more radio like. Hello?
Eh yeah. I think Disturbed has their ingredients, their trip and their formula. I do think that all three Disturbed albums sound a little different though. I’m more of a fan of a new album than the second album, “Believe”.
PunkTV.ca: And I think I like “Believe” better myself. Ok, then let’s talk about this, we got two more questions for you. Oh, one more question about the studio. Tell us about your recording rig for your guitars.
My rig I used on the new album, the Randal T2 and the new Randal 2XL cabinets and also I used some Line sync stuff for effects. And I’m really happy with the guitar tone I got on this album. And I use all Washburn, my own signature series called the Pulverizer. It’s a baritone guitar which I used to use in the past Peavey, but I switched over to Washburn cause they give me my own line. (haha). It’s awesome man, I love it. EMG pick ups, J1 and Dunlop picks, tortex and that’s about it.
PunkTV.ca: And basically one track of guitar per song?
Nah Soil does two tracks each. Me and Adam both do two on our rigs. So it’s four rhythm tracks everywhere.
PunkTV.ca: One direct and one in the room or one direct through one cab and one through another cab?
Nah same rig on top of it. We just layer two tracks each guy. So Adam uses Mesa Boogie and he does his two rhythm tracks and I do my two rhythm tracks.
PunkTV.ca: And you do one track after the other instead of like recording one cab in one room and the other cab in another room?
Nah, we don’t do any of that fucking stupid stuff.
PunkTV.ca: (chuckles) Why is it stupid?
Ah, we don’t really see a point in changing the room. If you’ve got a tone and got a good tone why mess with it? To us it’s about layering and just making it as big as you can without losing the definition.
PunkTV.ca: Got it, got it. And then when you play your first rhythm part and then you play the second rhythm part the subtle nuances from one to the other is what’s gonna fatten it up and get that monstrous SOiL guitar tone.
Ya, ya. We try to play as hard as we can with each other and obviously you know it depends on who wrote the riff and the song, the moment. But me and Adam pretty much play really tight with each other.
PunkTV.ca: Got it. Ok, two more questions. Which of the following have you experienced: have you had a brush with god, have you had an alien experience or have you had a paranormal or supernatural experience?
No man, sorry.
PunkTV.ca: (chuckles) Not at all?
All three of those I can’t think of have happened, so I failed your test.
PunkTV.ca: No man, that’s alright. Ok, last question: what would surprise kids most to learn about SOiL?
What would? Excuse me, repeat that.
PunkTV.ca: What would surprise kids most to learn about SOiL?
We’re really not a drug-orientated band or you know like the stereotype that some people think of music. But we’re pretty chill you know, we’re serious about what we do and we work hard man, we just really we work hard and just tour a lot and love playing music man and just creating and going on stage and fucking blowing everyone off.
PunkTV.ca: Nice. Well listen dude, it’s been great talking to ya. I really wish you all the best on this album. I think it’s great.
Thank you. Thanks for your time with us and I’m glad you like the new album.
PunkTV.ca: It’s good. Peace bro. We’ll see you when you guys get to Edmonton.
Excuse me?
PunkTV.ca: We’ll see you when we get to Edmonton, Alberta. It’s like Iowa.
Ya I hope we get there with In Flames in December
PunkTV.ca: Alright we’ll come see ya, we’ll do a video interview in person.
Awesome. Thanks for having me on your show brother.
PunkTV.ca: You bet brother. Peace.
Peace.
PunkTV.ca: That was SOiL and we just finished speaking to Shaun Glass, guitarist for SOiL.
