EARSHOT – AN INTERVIEW WITH WIL MARTIN
Earshot is a genre bending five piece that delivers dynamic hard rock with a moody edge. The band is comprised of Wil Martin (Vocals/Guitar), Aaron Fink (Guitar), Andy Stafford (Guitar), John Novak (Bass) and Michael Sylvia (Drums). Earshot just dropped their explosive new single entitled “You + I”. The song is a fiery banger that powers through sublime vocals and tenacious riff driven guitars. “You + I” exhales rampaging dark textures and cinematic intensity.
Speaking about “You + I”, vocalist Wil Martin expounds:
“When I first heard the guitars in the verse for ‘You + I’, it instantly conjured up thoughts and feelings that remind me of the emotional rush and mental obsession that typically happens between 2 people in the beginning of a new relationship, and I went with it. It all came together very fast and organically”.
Earshot was formed in 1999 and have three full lengths and multiple singles under their belt. Warner Brothers released their debut album, Letting Go, in 2002. The record label then released their sophomore disc, Two, in 2004. Two received immediate critical praise. The record also yielded a forceful single, “Wait” which reached #9 on the U.S. Active Rock Radio chart.
After a nearly decade long hiatus, Earshot returned with an anthemic EP entitled Aftermath which surrendered the audacious single “Now That It’s Over”. Through the epic highs and lows of the music industry as well as life in general, Earshot once again resurfaces with their current line-up in 2019. Original member Wil Martin as lead vocalist. John Fink on guitar was the former lead guitarist for Breaking Benjamin. Bassist John Novak came from the alternative rock band, Down To Six. With Mike Sylvia on drums and guitarist Andy Stafford, Earshot is ready to create music that resonates with their fans at the deepest level.
The following is an exciting conversation with lead singer Wil Martin.
AMP: Earshot has had some huge successes and several rebirths. What makes the current situation special?
MARTIN: The thing with this band and for me is that we create and write material when we want. We don’t ever feel forced to sit down and be productive. So I think, speaking for ourselves, every time we release new music it becomes a moment. We all get in an exalted state of inspiration. Also, as a writer and lyricist, it’s all about the honesty. We take pride in being genuine and keeping it real. That’s what makes Earshot exceptional.
AMP: The band has a captivatingly unique sound. How would you describe your music?
MARTIN: Heavy but melodic. The vocals are also melodic but with a tense edge. Thought provoking in terms of how we look at things. People have compared us to a lot of different bands throughout the years, especially Tool. It took me a long time to accept these comparisons as a compliment. The band that has hugely influenced me vocally is Live. And Quicksand. I’m a big Quicksand fan. Obviously, bands like Alice In Chains and Soundgarden were personal favorites but Live and Quicksand were the two groups that rattled my soul.
AMP: How does the band’s songwriting process work?
MARTIN: It works a little bit different now because of the pandemic. Typically, we would all meet at a studio and comb through ideas and then decide what to work on. But when Covid hit, we had to lock down like everyone else. We had to figure out how to pivot and adjust. That’s when we had to start leveraging technology. High speed internet and Dropbox were a staple.
We all have our little studios. Lately, it’s usually Aaron, Andy or myself that comes up with a song idea. Then it gets passed to me to see if it inspires me vocally. If it does, we start tracking the music. Michael puts the drums down in his studio. It slowly goes down the chain. Bass, then guitars and it ends with me. Now that things are getting somewhat back to normal, we will probably return to our old songwriting process but the new technology is here to stay. It offers another option to create and hopefully, it will allow us to put out more music.
AMP: Your recent singles have a strong compelling vibe. In term of musical style, do you feel they are different from your previous releases.
MARTIN: In some ways,yes. I think that is normal and healthy. I think it would be boring to write the same song over and over. I’m a Led Zeppelin and Beatles fan. The thing I most admired about both bands is the fact that they constantly evolved. The Beatles started as a pop band. Eventually, they were writing songs like “Strawberry Fields” and “Sargent Pepper’s”.
It all comes down to the musicianship of the band. Good musicians can start breaking down barriers. A modern day example would be STP. They started out with a grungy style. They later morphed into a 70s sounding rock band. STP evolved. Earshot is similar in the fact that we are willing to go outside the lines.
AMP: How have your fans reacted to your new material?
MARTIN: Very positively, knock on wood. I haven’t heard any negative feedback. Conversely, we have had a lot of encouraging responses from our fanbase. I learned one thing a long time ago. It’s impossible to make music everyone loves. You have to create music that you love as an artist. Then hope and pray that other people can connect to it as much as you do.
AMP: Earshot has been around since 1999. What are some of the major changes you’ve seen in the music business?
MARTIN: The obvious one is streaming. Streaming has changed the way the game is played. Not only in the way people consume music but, also in the artist’s monetary compensation. It’s a lot tougher now. Another thing is the fact that people have to sift through a lot more music to find artists they enjoy. Anybody can put out music now. It’s relatively easy. This is a seismic shift in the fabric of the music industry. On a positive note, it’s made it easier to listen to music. You don’t have to lug around a bunch of physical devices. There’s definitely pros and cons. It’s the biggest change, hands down.
AMP: How does the band stay musically focused?
MARTIN: We just keep playing and writing. We just stay with it. I wish I had a more profound answer but Earshot survives because we are determined to persevere. That’s what keeps us focused and motivated.
AMP: Any tours in the works?
MARTIN: Right now there is nothing on the board. We are currently looking into it. Something may happen in the fall. What may end up happening is a series of one offs this year and a more extensive tour in 2023.
AMP: What does the future look like for Earshot?
MARTIN: As long as the five of us want to crank out new music, we will continue. We hope to write new songs that reverberates with our fans. Hopefully more people will listen to our music and attend our shows. Earshot has a brilliant future. We are relentless.
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I like their pure, hard-driving rock sound.