Interview — Our New Earth

Skratch Magazine

Our New Earth, or ONE is made up of Classic rock throwbacks mixed with progressive and punk influences. The current line-up, which is subject to change, is Kevin (vocals/guitars), Roger (bass /guitars/vocals), Tony (drums/vocals), Bruce (guitars) and Jamie (keyboards) making fro a bit more aggressive sound that boys say, starts out like a "Pink Floyd" spacious sound, grinding into a "Nine Inch Nails" undertones, with classic eclectic "Black Sabbath" arrangements, aspiring for some full on Zeppelin sounds.”

Skratch: Describe your sound:

ONE: Okay, first of all we do rock hard, but we still have great dynamics. We utilize a classic rock format & more involved arrangements with really album oriented rock sensibilities. We bring to bear a full range of orchestration and dynamics with some alternative / punk / grunge / industrial sounds to bring it to a boil. Anything goes, if it feels good then it must be good!

Skratch: How did you become interested in music?

ONE: Music is in my blood. My grandfather, uncle, and two cousins were / are also band leaders. My earliest memories are lying in bed at night listening to music as a kid, blues, jazz, classic rock, Hendrix / Joplin / The Doors. Hearing the wisdom in the words, tripping on the music, early tripping even before the psychedelics kicked in. Really though Music, independently distributed may be the last great vestige of real interpersonal communications that touches on any mainstream media network. To really communicate unfettered by those major distribution groups that are driven by an old school profit hungry machine, independently distributed music is really for the audience for the people, musical socialism if you will.

Skratch: What is your song writing process like?

ONE: Often times the music comes first, although I am constantly writing poetry, verse, lyrics. I can usually come up with three or four related progressions, a concept, some verses, some hooky riffs, some main theme turns into a chorus, and the band jams on the extended B section, or solo section. Or whatever. When it is working best music and lyrics can all come at once. Roger our bassist / guitarist writes some really heavy themes and some incredible classical pieces and we splice those together with some apocalyptic lyrics and feel we are really onto something new there - powerful stuff.! But Sometimes, you take off with the music, jam and improvise by the seat of your pants and try to pay attention (or record it) so you can do it again and incorporate the new rock out extended B section into the arrangement. Bruce on guitars is as proficient and talented as a guitarist can be! He has written some great progressive grooves, edgy riffs, and we are in the process of adding all of that into some of the new material too.

Skratch: What artists or musicians inspire you?

ONE: I am inspired by any and all extreme, talented, and unique artists that push the envelope for music, art, writing of all kinds. I was inspired by classic rock bands and artists and their music from the sixties into the seventies that set the bar at a very high level for creativity, sound, lyrical content, and production levels for the next few decades i.e. Led Zeppelin / Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, etc. Although every new generation has their standouts and underground geniuses. It does seem that today there is a resurgence or a retrospective where the younger listeners are again reaching back to those earlier purer influences for inspiration.

Skratch: Where do you take musical inspiration from? Your environment? People? Explain:

ONE: I am inspired by life itself. It is an amazing profound process, that while my spirit drags my physical and emotional "bodies" through the lessons of life for transformation, realization, and growth as a Human Being, I am amazed. I am inspired. I am humbled by nature and the universe and the powers that be, the sun, oceans, mountains, wind, and rivers, and life. A Native American Medicine Man once said "What is missing from the world today is reverence for all things." Reverence for all things. That is a good place to start, everything else will follow.

Skratch: What is your musical background?

ONE: Raised on Classic Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Chicago Blues, and Progressive Rock from all over the US , Canada , the U.K. and Germany . I was always digging through my father's friends record collections, listening, and learning. I was always tripping on the old school Classic Rock and Progressive Rock stuff using that for inspiration or a general direction to move in, while writing, playing with friends, gathering momentum. I joined my first band at 15 playing some rhythm guitar, joined another band and did percussion and background vocals, writing and playing I have been the front man for some half dozen bands over the years (The Corporation, Electric Pony, The Danger Zone, Divine Vengeance of Love, ONE, etc.

Skratch: Tell us about how you got started as a band.

ONE: I had all of these songs see, I am always writing and doing some band stuff, some solo acoustic stuff, and some "happening" spoken word stuff, and I was hanging with Roger and Tony and I said, hey man, plug in and let's jam, and then Roger said "Roger that!" And Tony said hey let's take this up a few notches and brought in his double bass kit moving us into a more driven Nine Inch Nails / . And then Mike came by and jumped in on bass and a few other guest artists jump in from time to time. And Roger has some heavy material for me to write with him doing some lyrics and vocals, moving into a Sabbath / Zeppelin / Metal direction and Mike can play and write too. And Tony can play with anyone, so we are all strong.

Skratch: What is the most rewarding part of playing in a band?

ONE: Hard to say, I love the creative process putting the music together, hanging with the guys before, during, and after rehearsals - "The Work", although we live for LIVE performances, tripping with the audience. Every time is different. We play off of each other, give and receive from the audience, it is a divine ceremony of life, and we have a great time!

Skratch: What challenges have you faced as musicians?

ONE: Many challenges, everyday life, working and getting together with the guys, and dealing every manager, promoter, and gig that brings their / its own challenges and obstacles, to be moved through around, over, under. Some of the challenges these days are big huge earth / environment / economic challenges, others are the changing and diversified music scene, and just being true to yourself, keeping in touch with your heart, and being truthful in your music, songs, and lyrics. I guess it is just staying in touch with the best part of yourself and others despite whatever is going on in the world around you.

Skratch: What would you say is your best song to date? Why?

ONE: Let's see, best song. I don't know sometimes you get high off of a performance and you think that is your best song. And your new song, lyric, guitar riff, compositions, arrangements, whatever it is that you are currently working on you should always believe is going to be your very best.

Skratch: Do you remember the first album you ever brought? What was it?

ONE: I vividly remember when I was a little kid around ten, I was hanging with some older friends and they turned me on to their music, and I spent hours and hours listening to getting Led Zeppelin Housed of the Holy, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, and the Doors Riders on the Storm,

Skratch: Where do you see your band in five years?

ONE: We should be riding the next big wave. There is a great big void out there. Kids today are listening again to Zeppelin, the Doors, CSN, Hendrix, etc. and that's because it was pure before the "Industry" got hold of music and watered it down.

Skratch: How has your band evolved since when you first formed?

ONE: We are continuing to evolve with three different writers in the band, new material, jamming, playing live in front of people, seeing what works.

Skratch: How often do you practice?

ONE: We practice / rehearse / write almost everyday. Either two or three or all of us get together. We usually rehearse some #3 nights a week depending on gigs. Rehearsal time is whatever it needs to be, run through of a set list, new material being worked, or just dialing in sounds / parts / writing sessions. Ad hoc with a purpose.

Skratch: What would you say is your band's motto? Explain.

ONE: I guess it would be "Be for Real" / "Let Go" / "Push the Envelope" if we had one, the reality is we all have a "trip" and we all have very different

Skratch: What shows/album releases/plans do you currently have set up?

ONE: We are putting the new line up in place, some of the older material some new material, pushing it further. We have some casino / club dates in the works for September / October and we will definitely post those on our pages. Tell us about them.

Skratch: Where have your performed?

ONE: I have played everything from the coliseum to clubs, and biker rallies, and county fairs, and hemp festivals from here to Chicago. The other guys have extensive touring experience, too. World tours, national tours. All of us have been gigging around Los Angeles for a long time. I guess the experience is doing it again and again, stepping on stage and delivering, no matter what, the best show you have in you.leaving it all out there, giving it all away, sweat, energy, song, blood, heart, and soul, everything.

Skratch: What sets your stage show a part from all the other bands making the rounds at venues?

ONE: We are a full on classic rock show, great songs, extended jams, great musicianship, old school is way cool like that!

Skratch: Anything else you think we should know about the band?

ONE: Yeah, keep an eye out for ONE - we are the real deal, always have been!

For more on Our New Earth, go to www.myspace.com/onespiritmusic

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