SHALLOW SIDE – AN INTERVIEW WITH ERIC BOATRIGHT

By Ralph Beauchamp

Eric Boatright is the dynamic lead vocalist of the explosive Shallow Side. The group is comprised of Boatright, Heath Fields (Drums/Backing Vocals), Codey Red (Guitar/Backing Vocals) and Sam Bower (Bass/Backing Vocals). The band, based out of AL, is tearing up the hard rock charts and destroying the airwaves with their new single, “Filters” that features a collaboration with the propulsive Elias Soriano from Nonpoint. It’s Shallow Side‘s first ever collab and the song is a ferocious banger that delivers crushing vocals, brazen guitar riffs and a Soriano super weapon. “Filters” is off their upcoming new album, Reflections out 7/19 via Thermal Entertainment.

“Filters” is the follow up to “You’re The Reason” released in 2023 which brought Shallow Side more radio success. The song charted here in the United States at #30 on Billboard; #33 on Mediabase; #14 of SMR; #29 on Auxio charts. Every track Shallow Side releases carries explosive charges. Boatright’s vocals are constantly brazen and forceful. Shallow Side‘s rhythm section is ruthless with their driving backbeats. The guitars wail with fiery intensity. Their songwriting and arrangements distributes textures full of melodic savagery. At this rate, Shallow Side will devour the musical universe in the very near future.

Eric was kind enough to sit with AMP to discuss everything Shallow Side.

AMP: Can you give us a brief history of the band?

ERIC: We formed Shallow Side in a shop like garage in a small town in AL about 10 years ago. Like most kids out of high school, we just wanted to play music and figure out life. We started to release songs and soon afterwards, we began to chase cities. Weekend gigs turned into playing every night. Fast forward a decade and now we are getting radio airplay. It started with humble expectations from some misplaced youths. Now we understand a little better our musical position and can swing sword with the best of them.

AMP: Your new single, “Filters” is imposing. Can you give us a little insight into the song?

ERIC: We started the song in Nashville and finished it in Wichita with Chris Dawson. The song was written about the choices one has to make between up or down and left and right. It’s about what is real and unreal. How to deal with a world that expects too much of you all the time. In order to cope, one need to put on some kind of face, fake or real, in order to survive. Therefore, you need some form of filter just to seem normal.

When we finished recording, we all felt that something was missing. We felt that this song could elevate Shallow Side to the next level but we needed something more. We never had someone else sing on one of our tracks before but this seemed like the perfect spot for a collab. For awhile we discussed who we wanted and by mutual agreement we landed on Elias Soriano from Nonpoint.

It seemed like a perfect fit. We hit him up and sent him the song. In a day or two, he hit us back up with his track completed and asked what we thought. It was spot on. We knew he would kill it. He knocked it out of the park, In addition, he’s a solid dude.

AMP: What is your creative process like?

ERIC: It kind of starts with a hum, a melody or a lyric accompanied by a couple of chords. We start to build the house from there. Then we throw everything else at it. All of a sudden, the structure becomes more apparent and the colors start to shine. We normally bring our ideas into the studio where we all sit back and start making the magic brew. Once the framework becomes sturdier we can tell if we have a monster or a dud. Our whole process is like a magical whirlwind.

AMP: You’ve collaborated with Elias. Are there any other artists Shallow Side would like to work with?

ERIC: We would love to work with a bunch of musicians. Our biggest joy is writing and creating music and we would love to share that excitement with any number of other artists.

AMP: For any band, dynamics is an important key to grab an audience. What do you feel is the main ingredient in Shallow Side’s dynamic?

ERIC: Harmony! There’s four of us and we all sing. It’s really cool for me but it also puts me in a position where I have to be always on my game. That harmony works both on and off the stage. There’s a certain camaraderie that we own. We are more than just a band or four friends. Shallow Side is not just music or a business but a family and we treat each other that way. Thankfully, our differences are usually minor. Like brothers we have our squabbles but we are strongly bonded together.

AMP: Your new album drops this summer. Do you feel it’s an evolution in musical style from your previous material?

ERIC: Yeah, there’s definitely growth. For one thing, our bassist Sam wrote some of the material on the new album. The record felt like we had a new birth. The process felt freer and more inclusive. We allowed more to come into play. We took a plunge and that gave us an opportunity to grow and expand our sound.

AMP: What kind of themes do you embed in your songs?

ERIC: My experiences in life, liberty, justice and injustice. Things I’ve gone through and at the same time, things I put others through. By exposing my choices in life, both good and bad, the music has helped me unburden. Shallow Side has become my personal therapist. Hopefully, these observations helps someone out there who is going through something similar.

AMP: What’s next for the band?

ERIC: The album drops in July. That’s our second full length. We start touring in the fall. We also have a rock cruise booked which is pretty exciting. It will be an crazy time.

AMP: Any last word for your fans?

ERIC: We are ready to get back to work. Thankfully, we have some of the best fans around but we need to get out there to grow our army. World domination is around the corner.

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