In this interview, Solitary frontman Rich Sherrington delves into the intense themes and innovative elements of their upcoming album, "Embrace The Darkness."
1. Congratulations
on the upcoming release of "Embrace The Darkness"! How does this
album differ from your previous works in terms of musical style and thematic
content?
Thanks. On
the whole I don’t think it’s massively different musically than our previous
albums; that said we do have strings and choirs on the 3rd verse of the title
track and we’ve not done that before. The songs are all pretty intense in their
own way - be it musically or the lyrical themes. I have stuck to my usual
approach to the lyrics just making sure that I narrate the story in a way
that’s interesting and thought provoking.
2. The
album opener ‘III.XXIII.MMXX’ reflects on the days of lockdown. Can you
elaborate on how the pandemic influenced the writing and recording process of
this album?
In all
honesty it didn’t really influence either. We actually wrote and recorded it
once it was all over, but obviously it was a unique period for the human race
so it’s natural to write about certain elements or impacts. None of us are anti
vax or Covid conspiracists, but I don’t think anyone will disagree with our
take on the political figures in power at the time.
3. "Embrace
The Darkness" tackles some heavy themes such as abuse and societal decay.
What motivated you to explore these issues through your music, and how do you
hope listeners will respond?
I think the
album title really encapsulates the 2020s to date; these are sinister times
where abhorrent behaviour seems to be popular within certain aspects of
society. I suppose this has always been the case but it’s more
prominent and visible due to reach of social media. I hope to god that no one
can relate to the themes though - and if they do they have to find the help
they need.
4. The
song ‘Settle Scores The Old Way’ showcases ultra aggression. Can you tell us
more about the inspiration behind this track and its significance in the album?
It was
actually the last track we finished in terms of music and at that point it was
one of those “Yeah we think it will do” things. When Andy tracked the guitars
we felt something was missing from the intro so added the lead part and it
really enhanced it. Lyrically it’s about unlicensed bare knuckle boxing and the
fact that over the years the best way to resolve things was via a
'straightener' and not much has changed in certain circles.
5. Working
with producer Simon Efemey again must have been an exciting experience. What
did he bring to the production of this album that helped shape its sound?
Yeah it’s
always good fun having Simon involved and this time around he’s been much more
hands on than he was with The Diseased Heart of Society and The Truth Behind
The Lies. Simon actually stayed at my house when we tracked the
drums, so we had the opportunity for face to face pre production rather than
remote as we’d done on the previous albums. We recorded the drums in Jan 2023
and because of schedules and a variety of other factors, I had ten
months to prepare to record the vocals. We also used a different
studio for the mix which has different gear to Foel which gives the album a
different sound.
6. Koot's artwork for "Embrace The Darkness" is striking. How did the collaboration with him come about, and what was the vision behind the album cover?
Like with
Simon it’s the third time we’ve used Koot’s talents. The lyrics of the title
track inspired the design and I think Koot has really captured the fact
that the demon of eating disorders professes to be beautiful in the sufferer’s
mind as the body wastes away.
7. The
tracks ‘The Disappeared’ and ‘Section 21’ are described as having absolute
savagery and incendiary energy. What was the creative process behind these
songs, and how do they contribute to the album’s overall impact?
We wanted
to write a shorter song, similar to 'Unidentified' on The Diseased Heart Of
Society, so we just used that template of keeping things simple and didn’t
bother with a middle 8 and the end result was 'The Disappeared'. 'Section 21'
is more involved but has a similar impact. It’s definitely going to be good to
play live. It’s not for me to say how they contribute to the impact - that will
be down to the listener I suppose.
8. The
album finishes with ‘Filtering Hindsight’, a critique of post-Brexit and
post-COVID society. How do you see your music as a form of social commentary,
and what message do you hope to convey with this track?
It’s really
all about the UK during Covid and the shocking behaviour of the people in
power. The furlough schemes were essential for many, but as with everything
they were exploited by people without any consideration of the future impact.
9. With
30 years in the music industry, how has Solitary’s approach to songwriting and
performance evolved over the years, and what lessons have you learned along the
way?
A lot has changed over three decades but who would have foreseen the return of Vinyl! We obviously use more technology now; gone are the days of hours in a rehearsal unit trying to conjure up ideas. But I think so much more is expected of you business wise that you no longer have the time to spend taking that approach anyway - you have social media to manage and all the other things that entails. I'd say what we’ve learnt is to be grounded and happy in the moment, to have ambition but don’t let it spoil what you have today.
10. You’ve included exclusive physical format tracks like ‘Divided And Demented’ on the vinyl and a cover of The Exploited’s ‘Beat The Bastards’ on the CD. What was the decision process behind these additions, and how do they enhance the album experience?
Ideally it
means that people who buy the physical products get rewarded with an extra
song, versus the people who listen on the streaming platforms. As good and
convenient as that format of music is, a physical sale will always do more for
the band financially.
11. For
fans who are eagerly awaiting your live performances, what can they expect from
a Solitary show in support of "Embrace The Darkness"?
I suppose
really what we’ve always attempted to deliver - a slick show with songs that
work well together. We’re playing quite a chunk of the new album and we’ve also
dragged out 'Bitterness' off Nothing Changes which we’ve not played since the
'90s.
12. Looking
ahead, what are Solitary’s plans for the future after the release of
"Embrace The Darkness"? Are there any upcoming projects or tours that
fans should be excited about
We need to
get through the first set of dates really. We’re discussing 2025 but as yet
there’s nothing firmed up. We will definitely be heading out to Europe again as
we’ve not had the time this year, hopefully we’ll make the right impression
with this album and it will mean we can spend a couple of years touring it.
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