Interviews: Ashes Of The Sun

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Metal solo project Ashes Of The Sun from the USA. Check out the interview and follow this music project.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it or did it just come out like that?

Typically, I have bandmates with me, and we throw some ideas around for a bit before we settle on something. ASHES OF THE SUN could go along with me when my kids were young and talking about starting a band of their own. I have triplets, and I thought it was cool they wanted to start a band. One of them said Let’s call our group ASHES OF THE SUN. I was like, sounds like a screamo metal band from the early 2000s. I said to myself, if I ever start a band like that, I’d use the name. Ashes of the Sun isn’t like that, haha, but I feel it works all the same and is something special to me.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

I didn’t necessarily pick the genre. I just wrote these songs over the years and felt they could work together. Some were songs for other projects that didn’t fit or random hard rock songs I didn’t know where to place. Eventually, they came together, and I recorded them as an album. I have been doing variations of metal and hardcore over the years with Freya, The Last Season, and currently with Void Emperor, so I wanted to break away a little and just sing these songs. It kind of reminds me of Megadeth or Metallica at times, with a grunge influence in there like Alice In Chains or Sound Garden. Maybe even STP. I’ve never listened to an STP album, but I have heard them. Passing and like a couple of songs. But not really an influence on my writing or style per se. I just thought a good, solid, hard rock, metal album was a cool adventure once it came together.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Yeah, kind of, lol kidding. So I’ve been writing music for my bands for years. I’ve always been an overachiever and would do full demos for my bands. A lot of times, I record drums, guitars, bass, and sometimes vocals to show the rest of the guys my vision. Didn’t always fully influence their writing, but sometimes it would make the cut. I wrote and performed this album at my home studio over the course of the past 2-3 years here and there. I really wasn’t planning on doing anything with it, or what I would do. Once I had the songs and it felt like it worked, I had my friend Jason JOCKO Randall at MORE SOUND out of Syracuse, New York, mix and master the album. I think it came out great and just really liked how it sounded overall.

4. Each band member's favourite band and who or what inspires you to write songs?

This is gonna be a short list haha. So my go-to bands are typically SOUNDGARDEN, METALLICA, ANTHRAX, old PRIMUS, FAITH NO MORE (after the epic hit, not a huge fan of that. King for a day and beyond) Because I'm the only member as of now, I’d like to add some honorable mentions. Guns N’ Roses' appetite for destruction. Not anything else by them, just that album. Forbidden twist into form. Absolutely love that album. One of my faves. Any slayer. Anything Slayer. All slayer.

6. Where was your last gig?

Idk my last gig, but one of my last gigs was the Muddy Roots Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee, with Freya last year(2024). I have an upcoming show with VOID EMPEROR in Syracuse, New York, on August 19 at the Lost Horizon with CROBAR and EYE HATE GOD. That should be a good show.

7. Where would you like to act?

I have had a pretty good run with my bands over the years, I guess I never really thought about a dream venue. My first big show with Freya was CMJ Fest at CBGBs back in the early 2000s when we were on VICTORY RECORDS. That would have been on the list. Haha. Maybe Madison Square Garden. Home state, home turf, just sounds like a win if you played there.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

METALLICA, of course! Look at those shows, amazing. I guess I haven’t really thought about it. For ASHES OF THE SUN, I don’t know. Years ago, my band THE LAST SEASON played a show with MASTODON at the Lost Horizon. They were cool as shit and love their style. Heavy, hard, hard-rocking metal. I’d like to do something with them or GOJIRA.

9. Whom not?

I guess I don’t know. I own a tattoo shop and listen to Apple Music all day. It just plays suggestions, and I love hearing new stuff. Aside from some articles or gossip I would have heard( nothing I can remember,) most of my experiences have been awesome. I’ve met some really cool people over the years and would play with just about every one of them again if I had the opportunity. Any of these new bands, house parties, backyard shows, small clubs…I don’t care. I just dig jamming.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

I don’t remember if I have ever suffered from stage fright, but I’m assuming that at some point I did. But since I can remember, I just loved doing this. My advice would be, odds are the people in the crowd have never even picked up a microphone or instrument before. Whatever you play, as long as it’s coherent, they are going to enjoy what you’re doing. Do a couple of jumps, act like you own the place, and they aren’t going to think otherwise. You have been putting the time in; now show them.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

This kind of falls back to my picks. I’d say Soundgarden, Metallica, Alice In Chains, Anthrax, Nirvana, Primus, Slayer…that’s the soundtrack of my youth. That’s what fed my brain.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

I don’t know, but I did have an ex-girlfriend a long time ago say she wanted to cut off my face and keep it in her shed. Does that count?

13. What do you think of your fans?

Anybody who likes what you're doing and supports you is okay in my book. Wouldn’t be doing anything if they weren’t here cheering you on. Love it.

14. What do you think of our site?

It’s great. I follow you on Instagram and love seeing the stories. So many bands out there these days, we need good sites to share the word.

15. Something to add?

I pretty much say the same thing all the time. I appreciate you taking the time to check out my stuff and other artists and bands like me. Spread the word and support local music, art, and film. If you want to check out more content, you can go to ignoranttouristproductions.com