A Dirty Dozen with PAUL MARTIN of DEVILSKIN – February 2020

According to a recent press release: “The unstoppable DEVILSKIN unveil “CORRODE,” a monstrous new video, single and details of their long awaited fourth album. The New Zealand four piece–who have toured with the likes of Slash, Halestorm, Motley Crue, and Disturbed–have announced their new album, titled RED, which will be released worldwide Friday April 3 on all formats across all platforms. Devilskin formed in June 2010, they already have guts, class, kudos and confidence. The sum total of a determined and accomplished group of musicians who know what they want, the music is organic, dynamic and real.” We get bassist 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?

I think this is our deepest and most complex album yet. We wanted to make it as much of an ‘immersive’ experience as we could with the track order and interstitials. As always we write ‘for the listener’ so I think people will find the more they listen the more gems they will hear. It’s all hidden in plain sight.

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

Hearing Louis Armstrong play trumpet when I was 5 switched a fire on inside me. I grew up with my parents and older siblings’ records, everything from American Graffiti Bill Haley to Uriah Heep, Zeppelin, Allman Bros. I really enjoyed the Ramones and Sex Pistols, in fact the Ramones were my first ever gig, that turned the flame up higher and I think when I heard Black Sabbath for the first time I knew I wanted to play and write music.

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

As I mentioned, seeing the Ramones at an early age was a real catalyst for change, the next show I saw was Cheap Trick so both bands set the bar pretty high. I’d have to say Black Sabbath (all of their material) had a profound influence on me, as did Led Zeppelin. I discovered songs could go deep!

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Black Sabbath, T Rex, Sex Pistols, Judas Priest, and Led Zeppelin.

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

Glenn Hughes because he’s a lovely guy, magic bassist and incredible singer. I’d love to hear him sing one of my songs!

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?

These days everyone is so preoccupied with genre-lising, pigeon-holing and putting everything in a well-ordered basket. We have never subscribed to ‘chasing one sound’ or writing for any other purpose than to give the song at hand the best we can give it. I’d say we are a rock band with heavy influences but we often get labeled as metal, alt-metal. It really doesn’t bother us at all.

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

Making music that other people ‘get’. Touching peoples hearts and souls with your songs and evoking change.

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?

Our manager is arguably the best cook among us, Nail usually gets the drinks in and has a guitar handy all the time. We have banned him from singing certain songs at soundcheck though.

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

A few days ago I was speaking to David Coverdale who was an absolute pleasure to interview, I was def start struck, Ross The Boss when he and his band came through NZ  a little while ago, meeting LJ from Sevendust was also surreal.

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

Test riding motorcycles or maintaining firebreaks in the bush.

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?

I guess being in bands there are always hundreds of ‘missteps’ but they are there for a reason and if you learn from it and harden your resolve you can overcome them. Every situation, good or bad shapes who we are today. I regret nothing.

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?

Today my answer would be T-Rex and the album Tanx. It has such a crazy vibe, deep and emotional. I think Marc Bolan was an absolute genius and he really bared his soul on that record. Close contenders would be the Sex Pistols Never Mind The Bollocks, Vol 4 from Black Sabbath and Led Zep I!!!”

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