A Dirty Dozen with PISTOLS AT DAWN – SEPTEMBER 2024

According to a recent press release: “Atlanta foursome PISTOLS AT DAWN — Adam Jaffe [drums], Will James [lead guitar], Gabriel Cuevas [bass], and Jon Sookdew Sing [lead vocals]— are entering their unapologetic era with their new single “Not Sorry.”Pistols At Dawn craft the kind of rock music that doesn’t just reach the rafters; it breaks through the ceiling. Sky-high hooks stretch into the heavens, a powerful low-end rumbles without apology, and riffs roar at all the right moments. Thus far, the Atlanta band have emerged as a phenomenon. The quartet canvased the world throughout 2022 and 2023. Upon returning stateside, they opted to decamp to Los Angeles in order to assemble new material. Stayed tuned for more, because Pistols at Dawn are leveling up.” We get the band to discuss new music, influences, and 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 you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

We all have crazy, toxic people in our past who try to manipulate and intimidate us. The only way to deal with them is to unapologetically tell them that they are most definitely the problem. Not Sorry was inspired by previous relationships, both romantic and otherwise. The people who suck the energy out of you and who need all the attention to be on them to thrive. The ones who make you question why you put yourself through spending even a fraction of a second dealing with them. This song is an anthem for anyone that has ever dealt with that! Because as you’re grooving and singing along, you can look them in the eye and tell em you’re not sorry, but they will be!! There are so many hidden nuggets sprinkled throughout the song and you will find that with each listen through, you start to discover more and more guitar parts, electronic sounds, and hidden vocal lines that make up the vast soundscape! It’s up to die-hards to determine which parts were played by who!! 😉

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

Collectively, we all grew up with parents who put music in front of us from a young age. We all, at various stages were exposed to instruments, some of us lessons, some not. And for us it just stuck and became a part of who we are as people! Not just a musical identity or hobby. Adam was gifted a drum set as a kid and went on to a career in law, but it was always a part of him in some form and with various bands. Jon and Gabe, kind of the same thing, it was just a natural part of life, that need to have music and create it, and they formed their friendship through music! For Will, he played Guitar Hero as a kid with his sister. She passed away when he was 11 and the music became his therapy and filled those cracks in his soul as he progressed to real instruments. The common ground for all of us is simply, music is our soul and it’s a NEED in our lives, not even a choice really!

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

We all love so many different artists and have taken influence from each of them. From AC/DC, Van Halen, Metallica, and Queen to Shinedown, Blink 182, Muse, and Sleep Token, our influences vary WIDELY from a stylistic and LIVE point of view! But somehow they all come together in a beautiful conglomerate known as Pistols at Dawn.

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

Honestly, it would have to be a toss up between Haley Williams (Paramore) and Amy Lee (Evanescence)! We are really itching to collaborate on a beautifully emotional ballad we had written some time ago and we would LOVE to have either of these female powerhouses bless the song with their divine voices!

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

We enjoy the little and big things in life so much! When we’re not on tour or in the studio together, we take the most amount of joy in being with our families more than anything! Of course, we have to include unwinding with our pets, constantly writing new music, and always having a guitar in our hands!! We can’t deny hitting our favorite local food spots either!

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?

If we had to describe our sound for the first time to someone, we would try and paint a picture with words. Imagine, the lights go out and the atmosphere of 20,000 fans just explodes with pure energy!! Everyone is cheering and screaming their hearts out and then BOOM!! The band erupts into their first song with the sound waves crashing over your whole body! It’s almost an earthquake of sound yet so pure at the same time. Pure energy, sheer power, driving force, and a show you’ll never forget!! Pure ROCK AND ROLL!! I can’t say that we’ve ever read or heard someone make a comparison that has made us cringe haha! The beauty of music is that it can be perceived in SO many different ways and we truly believe there’s no wrong way to describe it or compare it! I think our new music is a lot about life. The hard stuff, but edged with hope!

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

Can’t deny that we all have DoorDash and UberEats on speed dial haha!! Definitely Gabe for busting out the drinks as well! (A Dr. Pepper for Will please!!) And he ALWAYS has a guitar in his hands no matter where we are!

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

When we got to tour with Alter Bridge and Mammoth WVH, it was a life changing experience! Those dudes are top of the line in EVERY single regard and we are still in awe!! We’ll also never forget meeting Lajon Witherspoon from our ATL brothers Sevendust at our gig in Kansas City as well! Absolute gem of a human being!!

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part of being a musician is being a musician. It’s really that simple. And as for a dream job outside of it? There are none that compare to the dream of music!

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? A: In the words of Van Halen, “standing on top of the world”!! And as for the second part of that question, maybe being asked to describe our music. We want people to listen to it and make it their own. Love it or hate it, we don’t want to lead you into seeing it from any viewpoint, other than how it makes you feel. Will often says, “music should always be an experience”. It’s personal for everyone!

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?

One of our most favorite things about the world of music is that you’re able to truly be your own self, no matter where you’re from, or what your background is. I really feel it’s those missteps or not-so-ideal situations that really shape who we really are and especially who we become!! We most definitely would not be who we are or what we are today if it wasn’t for those learning experience!! So we wouldn’t and couldn’t possibly change a thing about this beautiful journey so far!

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 know we all would absolutely KILL to go back in time to be a part of the recording sessions for ANY of Metallica’s first 5 albums… personally I’m going to have to say the Black Album due to its IMMENSE significance in our inspirations and musical mindsets! That record will forever hold a special place in metal history and our hearts!!

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Category: Interviews