Everdying Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?

I sure can! Basically, when I first got into metal and got into a band I had always wanted to write stuff that was a cross between In Flames and God Dethroned. Keep in mind that this was back around 1999-2000 or so, when those bands were at their prime. These days I definitely lean more towards the heavier/brutal end of that but still try to retain the melodicism. I'd also like to take this time to point out that yes, I'm playing an 8 string guitar tuned down a half step and NO, there is and will NEVER be any djent or core related anything. I'm trying to break the stereotype I guess. I think my official bio sums it up pretty nicely: Imagine, if you will, an orgy comprised of pre-'Clayman' In Flames, God Dethroned, Dark Tranquillity, and Hypocrisy while Opeth, Dissection, and Mithotyn are jerking off in the corner; everdying is the resulting 8 stringed bastard child.

2.In March you had released a new ep, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the new recording and also how does it differ from the release you had put out 5 years ago?

I'd say that everything all around is better! Really though, I've upgraded almost all of my gear since then and didn't want as much of a raw sound as I had before. When I recorded December's Rainy Day in 2009 it was exactly how I had wanted it, and now looking back on it I wish that I had done some things differently but I think anyone who has ever released an album before can say the same thing! Musically, The Journey Ahead is a bit more varied in style, from melodic death to black metal to the brutal death gurgle vocals in the middle of I Will End You. Basically, I had decided that going solo would also mean that I get to not confine myself to one genre and just write whatever I feel like and put that out for everyone to hear. Initially I was a bit worried that people might think it was all over the place, but I've gotten a lot of positive feedback so I'm just going to keep on keepin' on! Funny thing though, all of the songs on They Journey Ahead were actually written prior to me recording December's Rainy Day. That's what happens when you've got a side project for so long that you never planned to end up being a main thing.

3.This project has been around since 2002 but so far has only had 2 releases, can you tell us a little bit more about the gap?

Yeah, Everdying had always been a side project of mine after the first melodic death band I was in broke up. I was part of Cardiac Arrest for a while, then D.O.T.A.C., then back to Cardiac Arrest briefly and then I finally settled in with Rellik for a number of years until our drummer quit and we decided to break up in 2007. After that I went to recording school in Arizona, moved back here to Downers Grove, got a studio setup in my apartment and started recording December's Rainy Day in 2009. I also spent time trying to get Rellik going again, but some shit happened and I quit, and then they broke up. I ended up taking a year or two off from doing metal and starting playing my acoustic guitar all the time, and then a couple years ago my friends in Withering Soul contacted me about joining them as the second guitarist so I thought it would be a good way to start to get back into the scene. Eventually though after about a year, I realized that while I love that band and love those guys that it just really wasn't what I wanted to be doing musically as they're more of a gothic-themed symphonic black metal band. At that point I had gotten an Axe Fx II and an 8 string guitar and decided that the time was right to head out on my own and make Everdying a full time thing, for the first time after 11 years. I really wish I had done this a lot sooner, but it just wasn't my time yet I suppose!

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Everdying'?

It's taken directly from the In Flames song off of the Subterranean EP. Honestly it's very tough to come up with a name for a band, even 12 years ago when there were waaaaaay less bands around. I just went through my CDs and started looking at song titles of bands that I loved and In Flames was one of my favorites and that song was one of my favorites also! Good melodic death with acoustic interludes, that pretty much sums up how I've wanted this band to be.

6.So far you have recorded everything solos with this project, are you open to working with other musicians on this project?

I'd like to say that I am, but I am absolutely not actively looking for other members right now. If there ever are any musicians added to the lineup in the future, they will be the absolute perfect match to what I want to do. I've wasted way too much time being in bands with people who weren't on the same page and I'd rather just be the only one who is held accountable for everything. If I fuck something up, it's no one's fault but my own and I'm the only one to rely on. Also, it's a lot cheaper! I mean, I can wake up and roll out of bed and practice my live set if I want to. I recorded and mixed the entire The Journey Ahead EP sitting cross-legged on my bed, no joke. It's just so much easier for me this way and right now I honestly can't imagine having to deal with anyone else being a part of it, especially after doing it on my own for so long.

7.On the new ep you had an In Flames cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?

Well, my first band Eve's Bringer used to cover Episode 666 and that was a lot of fun but there's always been something about Worlds Within the Margin that I just loved! I had always been back and forth on doing a cover of it for years, even if it was just for myself and not to be on an actual release but then I just decided to go for it and then it happened. I'm still not sure if I'll ever play it live, although I probably will at some point at least once. There are so many songs that I've wanted to cover in all of the bands that I've been in and now I have the chance to do it so don't be surprised if you see me doing more in the future! Don't worry though, I won't pull a Children of Bodom and do shitty covers of everything under the sun. Most of mine will be done live I think. I keep going back and forth on doing a cover of Everdying actually, so maybe that'll happen someday too.

8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

I'm not actively looking for a label right now. I do have The Journey Ahead being distributed by a netlabel called Stillborn Twins Records, and Steve is a really cool guy who is trying to get the other bands on there more exposure so you guys should go check his site out! https://archive.org/details/stillborntwinsrecords

As far as a label in the traditional sense, I have not received any interest. Unless someone comes along with a really good deal I would rather just keep doing what I'm doing, on my own terms. All of my music will be offered as a free download with the option to pay if you choose to, as well as having physical copies for sale. The way labels are going nowadays I think a lot of bands could do most of the things on their own if they know what they're doing. Yeah it would be nice to have expanded promotion and maybe do some awesome tours but I'm still working up to that so if it happens, it happens.

9.When can we expect a full length album and also where do you see yourself heading into musically during the future?

Probably sometime next year for a full length, although that may change and I might end up doing another EP. It all depends what kinds of songs I get written and how long it's taking. It seems that nowadays people need shit faster or else they lose interest and forget about you and the EP route might be the best way to go for me I think. I do have about 5 songs finished for whatever I release next, as well as 3 for something that will be announced sometime in the next few months. I've probably got another 2 or 3 starts to songs, and I just found a bunch of old riffs on a hard drive that might end up finally turning into something too. Musically I think I'm heading towards heavier with better solos. Having the 8 string has definitely had an effect on how I'm writing now, there's just so much freedom with it it's crazy! In the past I hadn't ever really tried to write a lot of solos that were set in stone and that's something I've definitely been working on. I'd usually have some parts that were and then have some other parts that I'd improvise, but you know those guys that just move their right hand real fast and their left hand real fast and don't take the time to be accurate about what they're playing? Yeah that used to be me, but not anymore.

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

All of the bands listed in my bio, obviously. Apart from that though I'd say Allegaeon has been a big influence lately. I first heard them a couple years ago and I was amazed at what they were doing with 7 strings, and then 8 strings on top of that. That band directly influenced my Ibanez rg8 purchase. I don't think that I really sound anything like them, they're all way better musicians but they got me into 8 string stuff and then I evolved from there. Their new one Elements of the Infinite is absolutely killer, anything Devin Townsend has ever released is just about perfect, Alice In Chains have pretty heavy rotation, I dunno I deliver pizza so I listen to a lot of shit all the time. Let's see, the new Wretched is pretty badass, the new Son of Aurelius is really good too, Alterbeast put out a pretty good one, I just found out about King of Asgard and they're the missing link between Mithotyn and Falconer, the new Inferi is fucking awesome, I listened to some Pennywise the other day, the new Gorgasm is pretty sick. I got down on some Assemblage 23 and Bella Morte the other day too, I listen to a pretty good variety of stuff I think. Also, Oingo Boingo.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

I taught myself how to screen print when I tried to make some patches on my own, and that led to me making all of the shirts and patches that I sell, I wish I could do it more but I also like just doing it for myself. Mainly because if I fuck stuff up because I'm still learning I don't lose too much money and no one is pissed at me haha. I got really into building guitar pedals a couple years ago before I got my Axe Fx, basically just building stuff that I'd use for my rig. I started with some kits and then eventually got into etching my own circuit boards and shit, it's a lot of fun. I'd really love to get into building guitars and general woodworking really, I've wanted to do that for years but it's just more money than I have right now so that one will probably be on the backburner for a while. Shit wait those are all mostly musical interests aren't they? I'm really big into DIY-ing anything I possibly can. I also love Back to the Future. All of them. All of the time. Oh and your mom. All of you reading this. Your mom. Unless I'm related to you, because no. Does growing a beard count? I did the Whiskerino thing a few years ago and that was a blast, shaving sucks and I appreciate a good beard.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Yeah social media can go fuck itself, go to www.everdyingofficial.com and sign up for the email list! Also, Kanye West is the biggest piece of shit ever to exist and every single time I play I Will End You live it's dedicated to his worthless fuckin ass. Also I’m sorry for my tendency to ramble. My music is NOT the same way hahaha.

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