A Dirty Dozen with WIL MARTIN and AARON FINK from EARSHOT – May 2020
According to a recent press release: “Billboard-topping hard rockers Earshot, who have just released their first single in five years. Reinventing the Alanis Morissette Grammy Award®-winning hit “Uninvited”, the dark and hard-driving version of the 90s classic is currently available on all DSPs. According to Lead Vocalist/Guitarist Wil Martin, the band had always revered the song for its haunting sound and moving melodies but were recently inspired to record the track “for the fans as a way to hold them over until the new EP is finished.” “We are currently working on a new EP, which we hope to release sometime this year,” said Martin. “But in the meantime, we wanted to surprise fans with an unexpected cover. When Aaron [Fink/Guitarist] suggested recreating ‘Uninvited’ we knew it was the perfect opportunity to pay homage to one of our favorite artists while putting our own mark on the song.” We get Wil & Aaron 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?
Wil: We had a lot of fun re-imagining this track. One thing that no one would probably ever guess is that Aaron [Fink, guitarist] arranged, came up with and recorded all of his guitar tracks, a sitar track, a piano track, a synth track, AND created a loop that he cleverly referred to as “the doom drum” ALL before anything else was recorded. For those that don’t understand why any of that is significant, it’s because normally a band starts the recording of any given song with recording the drums and bass first and then everything else on top of that after. In this case, the drums and bass were recorded AFTER all of that. And, yet, the song still turned out to feel so fluid and natural throughout. I think it’s a testament to the musical ability of this band.
2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?
Wil: I got into music when I was 4 years old when I discovered that singing along to Kenny Rogers’ “Lucille” at the top of my lungs made my great grandmother laugh hysterically. It was literally showtime anytime I heard that song come on the radio.
3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?
Wil: About eight years later, I discovered Cinderella’s Night Songs album. It was the first metal album that I’d ever laid ears on. I got it from an older cousin of mine. I was instantly fascinated. Very soon after, I also discovered Motley Crue, Deep Purple, Def Leppard, and Metallica. At that point rock was a lock for me.
4. Who would be your main five musical influences?
Wil: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice In Chains, and LIVE.
5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?
Aaron: Robert Plant, he not only has a golden voice but he also has a great and worldly taste in music.
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?
Wil: Our sound is definitely moody and a bit dark at times. But sometimes simple and straight forward. Heavy. But still melodic. Emotional. Introspective and retrospective. When “Get Away,”” our first single off of our first album LETTING GO, came out we constantly got the comparison to TOOL. There was a time that I used to take artistic offense to that. Not because I’d had any sort of dislike for the band or their music per se. And as time wore on, I eventually realized and accepted that MOST fans meant the comparison as a compliment and not a dig and I accepted it as such. But then one day after coming across a snide comment that Maynard had made in an online interview talking about bands like EARSHOT and CHEVELLE, I just said you know what – F**K TOOL. I don’t have time for that kind of petty arrogance and elitist attitude.
7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?
Aaron: Having somebody say they LOVE a song you created.
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?
Wil: I’m a good cook. I think Andy [Stafford, guitar] is as well. Aaron [Fink, guitar] would probably be the first to get out a guitar, and Mikey [Sylvia, drums] would happily provide comedy relief.
9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?
Aaron: A while back I did a TV show and Paul Newman was the guest. He was THE man!
10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?
Aaron: An architect.
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?
Aaron: Lack of communication can sometimes sour otherwise good relationships…
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?
Wil: These kinds of questions are really tough for someone indecisive like me to answer. It’s like having too many options on the menu when you’re hungry and everything looks good. But off the top of my head, if I have to choose one, I’d have to go with Led Zeppelin’s IV album. Not only because I rank it as one of the best albums of all time that they released, but “Misty Mountain Hop” was the very first songs that I learned on guitar when I was 13.
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Category: Interviews