THE EFFECT – AN INTERVIEW WITH NIC COLLINS AND TREV LUKATHER
By Ralph Beauchamp
Not often does one throw out the word “supergroup” when discussing a new band but The Effect defy that statement. Even though the band is young, the members are all seasoned musicians with a ton of experience both on the road and in the studio. Guitarist Trev Lukather is the son of Toto’s Steve Lukather. Drummer, Nic Collins is Phil Collins’ offspring. Steve Maggiora on keys has toured extensively with Toto and newcomer Emmett Stang is a powerhouse vocalist.
The Effect formed at the most opportune of times. The pandemic had ended and each member was looking for a new outlet to express themselves. Their sound incorporates a sonic intensity with a hard rock appeal. Trev’s guitars flash with a brazen excitement. Steve’s keys throb with a divine vigor while Nic’s percussions deliver an avalanche of decadent intonations. Emmett’s forceful vocals are bold with a cinematic appeal. His range speaks volumes. Emmett’s voice is profoundly emotive and melodic with a propulsive edge.
Nic has toured with his father, Genesis and Mike + The Mechanics. Trev has toured with a bevy of high end artists as well as producing the likes of Dorothy and Halestorm. Steve is another touring master while Emmett adds flair and imposing vocals. The Effect have released their first single, “Unwanted”, to critical acclaim and fan applause. This is an ensemble about to explode.
Nic Collins and Trev Lukather were kind enough to sit with AMP to discuss all things band.
AMP: Can you give our readers a brief history on how The Effect was born?
TREV: In all honesty, I thought I was never going to be in another band situation after my last band experience. It just happened that I was in Miami shooting a pilot for a show featuring classic cars and musical gear. Almost immediately, the director and producer were at each other’s throats and the whole thing was cancelled. My wife, Madison, and I are now stuck in Miami and we really didn’t know anybody.
A friend, Amy Keys, who played in both our fathers’ bands mentioned that Nic and I should meet. I had seen Nic play the Forum on the Phil Collins tour in 2018 and I was totally impressed. We got in touch via Instagram. I told him we were in Miami and sure enough we were having dinner with Nic and his beautiful girlfriend Isabella. Instantly, we hit it off.
Since the pandemic, I’ve been producing. I definitely didn’t know what the future had in store. Then Emmett came across my Instagram feed and we started connecting. I began to realize that this could be leading to a “dream team” group because Steve Maggiora, who plays keys in Toto and I’ve known for years, has always wanted to put a band together with me. So, I did want I thought I would never do and I hit everybody up. I said, “what if we put something together and see where it goes. Let’s experiment and have some fun.” “Unwanted” was born from that enterprise.
NIC: Like Trev said, nobody had any expectations where this was going. I didn’t know this would turn into a band thing. I thought we would have some cool sessions. Trev threw out the idea while I was on tour with Mike + The Mechanics. I’m really not sure how it all actually started. The more songs we collaborated on, the more we began to believe. The crazy thing is the fact that we had written and mixed three songs before we all met face to face. Immediately the vibe was there. Here we are, less than a year later and the album is done.
TREV: I skipped a little bit concerning Emmett. Emmett and I would go back and forth discussing my guitar bits and his social media covers. I finally called him and that turned into a three hour conversation. He is such a spiritually beautiful person. You always fear the lead singer disease (LSD -laughing). I couldn’t do that again due my last band experience. But Emmett plays multiple instruments and is truly a “band” guy.
That pushed the envelope even further. Add to that, Nic and Steve are awesome individuals. I knew this would be fun. Whether it worked or not. After we wrote those three songs, we all got together and jammed in a room. We all bathed in the wonderful vibe. It was like bandcamp at the house. It just felt right.
AMP: How would you describe the band’s internal energy?
NIC: First of all, I think we are all good friends. We all enjoy the hang. What’s really great is there aren’t any big egos flying around. Everybody is working in unison in order to accomplish a common goal. We are lucky that everyone in the band has worked in the business in different capacities which leads to a shared professionalism. When it’s time for rehearsal, we are all prepared. We understand what we want to achieve. And afterwards, we all hang as friends. We truly enjoy each other’s company.
TREV: It’s a band truly in the classic sense. A band of bros just hanging out. Like Nic said, we enjoy the company. It’s just as important that we have fun together as a group. We are going to be around each other a lot, so it’s imperative that we all get along. I feel we gel real well. Just as an aside, Nic is one of the funniest MFs around.
AMP: What do you feel makes the band unique?
TREV: I feel that everyone is unique. Everyone is a rock star. Doesn’t matter if you do music or not. Ralph, you’re a freaking rock star. Everybody has a special quality about them. Concerning the band, I feel Nic is one of the most unique drummers around, Phil Collins’ son or not. He’s not his dad’s clone. When Nic approaches a song, the process is so special. It’s in a whole new ballpark. His style of drumming definitely keeps me on my toes, both musically and production wise.
In addition, when we write our song, the creativity is always hitting me with a side punch. When Steve comes in with his parts, everything gets better. He brings the song to a whole new level. Now we have to rethink the melodies and maybe the chorus because his tones makes the tune rise. And Emmett’s melody approaches are out of the box. That’s why the production side is so easy. Everybody brings everything they got to the table. So much so that I’m kept enthralled even as a listener. That’s the beauty of The Effect. Each band member just kills it, individually and as a team player.
NIC: From song to song we are never sure how it’s going to turn out. We keep surprising ourselves. We never discussed what we wanted to sound like. It’s just the four of us writing tunes. Everybody brings their own personality and A-game to the writing process which in turn creates our unique signature.
AMP: I don’t want to go here but I will. You both come from rock royalty. Is it a blessing or a curse?
TREV: It’s a double edged sword. By growing up in the business, there are doors that open for you. But it’s us walking through them, not our dads. You still have to own the room. It gets hard because you are instantly compared to something instead of people just listening to your music. We are constantly being critiqued due to our fathers’ fame.
I don’t feel the pressure anymore. I let that side of my personality go. My story is my story. Dad’s story is his. Nic and Phil have their own paths. Just like you have yours. We definitely were influenced and inspired by them but we have our own road to travel. The fact is, if you put in the work, you’ll succeed. If you don’t, when you walk through that door, you’ll get your face melted off.
NIC: I feel pretty much the same. Like Trev, there have been times when I would get worked up about it. You have natural insecurities both as a person and as a musician. But now I realize it is what it is. I’m proud of the career my dad has but I’m a completely different person with my own style of playing. There are many pros and cons to the situation but you still have to prove you are your own man. Just put the cons aside and live your life.
TREV: Also, it’s up to us to give it power. It’s really how you approach it. If you give it power, it has validity. We don’t. All we want to do is play our songs and continue down our path.
AMP: What would you like your fans to take away from your music?
TREV: Connection and escape. The whole purpose of being an artist is to give your audience a part of your soul in order for them to possibly forget their trials and tribulations even for a short while. Everyone needs an escape and music provides that. Every song on our record is personal to one band member or the other. What we have gone through and what we write about is real. If we can connect with people and deliver them some relief from aggression or offer some sort of enjoyment, even for five seconds, then we have done our job.
AMP: This question is for Nic. You’ve played arenas with Genesis and other bands. Does it feel strange to play smaller venues again?
NIC: I’m used to it. I simultaneously would go from arenas to playing small clubs with my old band. I’ve always realized that playing arenas is one thing and smaller venues is another. What’s nice about The Effect is the fact that we all have lived both lives. We all have been on larger tours but that is where the professionalism come to play. We all know how to perform on many levels.
I love the change. Each one is a singular experience. Playing clubs offers you an intimate milieu. Our shows with Steel Panther were cool. You’re opening up to a new audience that really doesn’t know the band. Getting that positive response feels great. Just as awesome as playing large arenas. Both setting are so different and I treat each one with eager anticipation.
AMP: This question is for Trev. You’ve been a producer and songwriter for other artists such as Dorothy and Halestorm. How does it feel to be on the other side of the glass?
TREV: Just a few moments with Nic’s last question. I’ve had similar experiences. I was touring with this huge producer/DJ named What So Not. We played Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and larger arenas. I even had a tech. From there I went directly to playing super cool smaller clubs with my old band. I loved the dichotomy.
As to the production side, it’s great. I got into production during the pandemic when everything was closed down. I had to rethink on how I was going to make a living and still do music. Dorothy was the first artist I got into a room with and that experience changed my life. That led to more production gigs and I truly fell in love with it. But the whole reason I got into music to begin with is to play on a stage. I love being in a band and connecting with the audience. It’s an amazing adventure. You can’t beat the adrenalyn rush. It feels really good playing live, especially with these guys.
AMP: Name a record you wished you had written and why?
TREV: Peter Gabriel’s So. So is one of the best albums ever recorded. What makes it so cool is the fact that every song has its own life yet they all work as a cohesive unit. The groove, the pocket and its funk makes it universal in scope. So has an abundance of hooks but then you listen to “In Your Eyes” and “Don’t Give Up” and you get these super emotional tugs. Each song just blows you away. So hit me like a ton of bricks and I’ve been extremely inspired by it. I truly wished I had written that record.
NIC: Trev knows my answer. It’s always Tool related for me. As a band, they changed my life. The idea of making a record like Lateralus has become an obsession. As a drummer, just trying to learn their drum parts has been all consuming. I would listen over and over just to figure them out. The drum inflections and production on Lateralus are unbelievable.
AMP: What’s next for The Effect?
TREV: We’ve mastered our album. Not sure as to the release date but it’s fully done. We are trying to build up awareness by playing some shows. In addition, this summer we will set up an more extensive tour. This will be an engaging year.
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