Interview with Sinner's Row
Members answering: James - Vocals & Lead Guitar, Steph - Rhythm Guitar, Gordon - Bass and backing vocals, Leo - Drums
First and fore most who came up with the name:
That's
a funny story because we were stressing about it for weeks. Gordon and
myself (James) had gone back and forth with 100 different names. We were
at lunch with my girlfriend Ashley one day and we were like.. Saints
and Sinnners.. no that's taken.. Saints Row is a game.. then Ashley
piped up "Sinner's Row?" and Gordon and I looked at each other like..
hmm.. maybe? So we slept on it for a day and it still felt right so we
went with it.
How would
you describe your music?
Gordon - Old school thrash/grove metal with a modern
edge to it
Leo - I think its heavy,
melodic and full of groove. The drum sound is very important to me as it is the
foundation of the band. If my drums aren’t tuned properly, the overall sound of
the band is affected in a negative way. We want our audience to not just hear
the music, but we want them to feel it as well.
James – I always say it’s just old
school metal.. Big-4-influenced thrash.
Take us
through the writing process. Does everyone contribute?
Gordon - Lyrically it’s James
and myself, my writing style is more of a story and then James and I work the
lyrics into the proper cadence so it fits the music. Musically it’s everyone in
the band working together as a team.
Leo - I
don’t really contribute to the lyric writing process. I pretty much stick to
writing the drum tracks for all of the songs. My current schedule doesn’t allow
me to contribute at this time. Just really busy with other stuff.
James – One
of us will come up with an idea and bring it in. For lyrics thus far it’s been
Gordon or myself, or our old buddy Anthony working with us. Gordon usually
starts with a stream of consciousness idea and lets the words flow, then we
massage it into the music we think matches the feel. Me, I start with a melody
or vocal cadence in my head and work from that.
Something in your
personal music collections that fans might not expect?
Steph – Wham
Gordon - NWA,
Ice Cube, Alabama, Kenny Rogers, Enya and Lorrena Mckinnett and Irish Folk
Music, just to name a few.
Leo - A few Jazz, Blues, and Country albums. I
grew up on Country music and later Rock. I really got into Jazz in high school
due to the odd time signature’s and timing, and with Country music I learned
how to play with finesse. Then I heard YYZ for the first time, and
it all came together.
James – Panic! At the Disco.. I’m a big fan of Urie’s
vocals and writing. Bob Schneider, another great songwriter from Austin.
What has been the
most challenging aspect of being a musician
Steph - Being
unique
Gordon - Since I have only been
playing bass for 3 years, its been getting better at playing, understanding
what I'm playing and why the chords work or don't work.
Working a full time
job and playing gigs can be challenging at time as well.
Leo - I think balancing the different genres and
styles of music that I enjoy playing. I’m a fan of music, and I will try to
play just about anything on drums and make it sound cool!
James –
Music/Work/Life balance for sure, and trying to constantly improve and evolve.
Stagnation is death in my view. So I’m always working on what can I do to level
up.
What makes a
perfect song for you? What are the elements for your ears?
Steph - Incorporating
the melody of the song. Anyone can play fast, but the beauty of music is when
you are able to make it melodic
Gordon - It's a
song you can feel not just hear, when the lyrics and the melody match up and
you have to song along.
Leo - I’ve never really thought about what makes a
perfect song for me. A good song for me is one that tells a really good story,
and I can hear all of the instruments involved in their own unique way through
the emotional 10 minute high!
James – Storytelling and being memorable. You have to
balance inspiring emotion through your story and that little special something
that makes it stick in the mind. It’s not easy. I aspire to that one day. Chris
Stapleton said in an interview once that if writing a hit song was easy, cuz it
pays well, everyone would do it.
Favorite local
club to perform in?
Steph - BFE
(Only one i've done lol)
Gordon, Leo, and James – Acadia Bar & Grill in North Houston,
Tommy is one of the best sound gurus in
Houston!
Name one band that
you would love to tour with?
Steph
and Leo – Metallica
Gordon - There
are so many, but one I know for sure is Amon Amarth since Slayer is retiring
James – Testament. True legends and seemingly such down
to earth dudes.
Strangest thing
that ever happened at a gig
Gordon - Nothing
really strange has happened yet, but my strap came off my bass and I had to
play the rest of the song holding it, not strange but embarrassing
Leo - When
I was with The Badd Boys From Houston Tejas back in 94, we opened up for a
touring band at Headbangers. Well those dudes were stoned out of their minds
and were playing like shit! So the promoter shut them down, and asked us to
finish the show.
James – We
were playing a show in Beaumont and we blew a breaker mid-set. Had to move
everything over to another circuit.. that was pretty funny.
Is social media a
positive or negative impact on your music?
Steph - Positive.
Social media is a way to get our music heard and recognized by the metal fans
out there
Gordon - Both,
getting your band out there to the masses is always a positive thing, but
having to live within the constraints and rules they have can be a
problem. You live or die by what is seen or heard on your page, but
that's a very small part of your total works. If they don't like what
they hear it likely they won't listen to anything else the might fall in love
with.
Leo - I can’t really say, cuz I’m really not into
social media. But I think it can only be positive if the music is really good.
I think it’s negative when drama and rants get involved.
James – Good for indy musicians overall. You can
promote yourself and get your music out there, the hard part is standing out
among the flood.
Any subject matter
you will not write about?
Steph
and James – Politics
Gordon - Me
personally no, I have no issues writing about anything.
Leo - My family! We are very private and we like
it that way!
Anything you would
like to say to your fans?
Steph - Thanks for supporting Sinner's Row and rock on
Gordon - Thank you from the bottom of my heart, without
the fans there would be no reason to play. I am always humbled by the
fact that someone is into what I have had a hand in creating and I will forever
be grateful.
Leo - We
are dedicated to writing and recording the best material for everyone!
Unfortunately that takes time, but time is what we have.
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