A Dirty Dozen with SHEA STRATTON from STATE TO STATE – April 2020

According to a recent press release: “Acclaimed LA rockers State To State (STS) are back with a howling new single that they describe as “a dirty, high-energy song about love and lust.” Undead Love, which is the band’s fourth official release and the second from a new collection of songs, is available starting today on all DSPs and will hit radio April 21. To create the singularly synergetic sound, the critically-acclaimed LA quintet, once again, joined forces with Grammy-nominated producer Johnny K (Disturbed, Plain White T’s, 3 Doors Down) to record the latest material. According to frontman Shea Stratton, Undead Love was written in spurts over the course of about three months, leading to its frenetic albeit interconnected tone.” We get lead singer Shea 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?

Undead Love was written over the course of about 3 months in teeny-tiny increments.  Not the usual method at all.  There are lots of hidden gems in it, but if I pointed them out it would take away the fun.  Like a magician showing you how it’s done. Just listen closely…

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

Music has always been there for me, but didn’t become apparent until I was about 13 or 14. I saw the movie La Bamba and knew that I wanted to be a musician. A plane crash didn’t appeal so much, but I figured it was worth the risk.

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

For me it started with U2’s War album followed by The Beatles, Prince, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, and The Beach Boys. Once the 90’s came with Nirvana, Radiohead, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, STP, NIN, and much more, I was hooked.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Beatles, U2, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and Soundgarden.

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

Weird Al.  I’d let him do the heavy-lifting.

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?

I tell people that we are Atmospheric Alternative-rock. Like if Radiohead, U2, Queens of the Stone Age, DragonForce, and Amy Grant had an ugly step-child. I kid, I kid.  We just sound like Amy Grant.  Someone once said that we sound like Slightly Stoopid.  What??

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

The pay… oh, wait…

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?

We generally let Pizzanista do the cooking when we hang.  I used to drink enough for the whole band and then some, and then would chase Patrick around the room with an acoustic guitar.

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

Leo DiCaprio at a Muse afterparty. Haha, I just called him Leo.

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

I wanted to play second base for the Detroit Tigers when I was a kid.

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?

Everyday.

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?

I’d go back to the day in studio with Steve Perry.  Bucket-lister for sure.

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Category: Interviews