A Dirty Dozen with JONATHAN PRUITT and PAUL LAWRENCE from SAY NEVER – August 2019

According to a recent press release: “Heavy Rock Band SAY NEVER has released the official music video for their single, “Do it Again (featuring Billy Grey).” Veterans of the thriving Atlanta, GA. music scene, Jonathan Pruitt and Paul Lawrence teamed up to form Say Never. An energetic stage show coupled with crafting powerfully relateable songs that contain strong melody and hooks rooted in rock, grunge, country, and metal. Rick Gatheman and Ben Sumpter have joined the ranks and solidified the bands lineup.” We get Jonathan and Paul to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Jonathan: The guitar solo features Billy Grey from Fozzy.

Paul: Oh yes! Billy Grey tore up the solo on our latest single called “Do It Again.”

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Jonathan: When I received my first guitar at 12 I instantly knew.

Paul: I saw Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble on the TV show Austin City Limits when I was a kid. I found myself playing air guitar and I had no clue what I was doing. The seed was planted right then and there.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Jonathan: I Love so much of 90’s grunge it’s tough to pick just one.

Paul: I remember watching Headbangers Ball. You know, back when MTV actually showed music videos. I would watch those larger than life musicians and I can still see some of those videos in my head when I hear those songs today.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Jonathan: Seether, Silverchair, Nirvana, Deftones, and Rancid.

Paul: Guns n’ Roses, Charlie Daniels, Alice In Chains, SRV, and Motley Crue.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Jonathan: Sean Morgan (from Seether) because he is a badass singer and writer.

Paul: I think it would be cool to collaborate with Rob Zombie. Rob has a distinct style with a edgy flare for theatrics. I find his music to be very visual.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Jonathan: 90’s Influenced rock n roll. Pearl Jam.

Paul: I think that Say Never sounds like Good Post-Grunge Radio Rock Band. Someone once said that they thought that we sounded like Disturbed. I don’t see that at all.

7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Jonathan: The freedom of expression is the best thing.

Paul: Being able to create a song or a lyric that has a positive effect on someone else’s life. That’s really cool.

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Jonathan: I love to cook and drink and play acoustic. So it’s me. lol

Paul: Yeah, Jonathan likes to man the grill and spontaneously start singing whatever song is in his head at that particular time.

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

Jonathan: Rich Ward (Stuck Mojo, Fozzy) working with us.

Paul: We opened for the legendary Artimus Pyle from Lynyrd Skynyrd a few months ago and he was extremely cool to us. A very gracious and humble guy.

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

Jonathan: I would probably own a restaurant.

Paul: A Disney imagineer.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Jonathan: Yeah, starting it all sooner.

Paul: I agree with Jonathan. The music industry is vastly different today than it was 25-30 years ago.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Jonathan: I would of liked to play on the Eagles song “Hotel California.”  That song has the best solo ever.

Paul: Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The iconic album changed the game and set the music and music production bar very high in my opinion.

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Category: Interviews