Interviews: Everfelt

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Psychedelic Groove Metal band Everfelt from the USA. Check out the interview and follow this band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Stirring to Wake has a strong sense of atmosphere and mood. What was the headspace you were in while writing this album?

The best way to describe the headspace we were in when writing this is that we were more in a soul space than a heady one. When writing and then recording this album, we have found a way to truly tap into channeling what the music is asking for together. A very fluid soul process, more than a heady one.

2. The record blends psychedelic textures with heavy groove. How did you go about balancing trippy vibes with crushing riffs?

The credit for the balance between our heavy groove and psychedelic textures all belongs to Ryan and Corey because Corey has a natural psychedelic feel to both his rhythms and leads as he is very David Gilmore influenced, and Ryan is very Tool inspired on the bass, so it was a match made in melodic metal heaven.

3. Tool, Alice In Chains, Sabbath, and The Doors are all name-dropped influences. Which of those spirits do you feel came through the strongest on this album, and where?

I think that these influences came through on various songs throughout the album, but the ones that came through the strongest are the four bands mentioned here, because there are influences of music even beyond these four legend,s but the songs I feel really contain these influences are Medicate, Tombstone, Silhouette, and Inside My Mind.

4. Was there a specific moment or song during the writing process where you realized, “Yeah, this album has its own identity”?

I think that it was when we finished writing Epic One that we realized that the album had an identity and that we were going to be transformed through the process.

5. The album feels like a journey rather than just a collection of tracks. Did you approach the track order and flow with a concept in mind?

We were hoping to create a journey-like experience with the album, which is why we chose to place the songs in the order they are in. We had in mind to create an immersive roller coaster type of experience that truly draws the listener in.

6. Adam’s vocals and lyrics have a haunting, introspective feel. What themes or personal experiences shaped the lyrical direction of Stirring to Wake?

The lyrical direction of Stirring to Wake is driven by the philosophical concepts of self-discovery and the realization of the soul that really began for Adam at a young age as he faced a very difficult upbringing.

7. Corey’s guitar work moves between thick grooves and spacey textures. What gear, tones, or effects were key to getting that psychedelic weight across?

If you ask Corey, he will tell you that there is no gear that can create tone, that it all comes from the fingers and soul of the player. Although on the technical side, he uses the Keeley Halo Reverb, MXR Phaser 90, Morley Wah Pedal, Boss Super Overdrive, and Boss delay. The guitars and amps he uses are Marshall 100Watt Silver Jubilee,  Gibson Goldtop 50’s, and a Gibson 70’s reissue Flying V.

8. How did working with Shelby Preklas at Loud and Clear Studio impact the final sound of the album? Was there anything in the studio that pushed you outside your comfort zone?

Shelby Preklas and Loud and Clear Studios are amazing and made the recording process so effortless. At his studio, he creates an environment that is both welcoming and much like practice at home, so this really set us at ease. I would say the most effective impact Shelby had on this album is his ability to truly listen and then deliver on what the band wants for the album during the editing and producing process.

9. As a self-released album, what were some of the biggest challenges you faced getting Stirring to Wake finished and out into the world?

Some of our biggest challenges would have to be figuring out how to metatag everything, who to work with to push the album with us, how to get these songs in front of people who can help us grow, and most importantly, what is the best strategy to get our music to the masses.

10. Which track on the album best represents EverFelt’s sound right now, and which one surprised you the most once it was finished?

The track that I feel best represents our sound would have to be our song Stranger, and the one that most surprised me is Sludge because we finished writing the structure of that song days before we went into the studio.

11. EverFelt was formed in 2022. How do you feel the band has evolved between your early material and this album?

The evolution since our debut EP has been quite significant, as we lost three members of the band right after we put out our self-titled EP. When that happened, Corey took over both the rhythm and the lead, and we had Ryan and Danny join the band, which solidified our psychedelic metal sound that much more.

12. If someone is hearing EverFelt for the first time through Stirring to Wake, what do you hope they take away from the experience?

We hope that the listener is truly captivated and taken to a place outside this realm, and hopefully, this helps them discover the path within themselves through the music.

13. How do you plan to translate the album’s layered, atmospheric sound into a live setting? Any plans to expand your stage presentation?

Yes! So, we have now implementea d visual representation of our album to show behind us during our show, and we have also created a Spoken Word trippy intro to our show. We plan to continue implementing psychedelic themes and artwork as we build.

14. Psychedelic groove metal is a pretty wide lane. Where do you see EverFelt pushing your sound next after this release?

We are already writing and forming the next album, and the evolution of sound so far is heading in an even more psychedelic but grungy melodic direction, with what we like to call soul metal involved. It’s early, but I’m thinking the next album will be titled Nematocyst. We wanna get in your hearts and minds and never let go!!

15. What does “Stirring to Wake” mean to the band as a title, and how does it reflect where EverFelt is at right now?

Stirring to Wake is a title that reflects what we hope the songs within will inspire in the listener. The title is also an example of that place one goes when they are between waking and dreaming, which is a place of imagination and true magic. We hope that our music takes the listener to such a place where they can truly find themselves and seek purpose beyond the here and now. What it means for where we are is that the music that is channeling through us also invokes a feeling or reality that we, too, are Stirring to Wake.

16. What has the reaction been like so far from fans and listeners who have heard the album?

The reaction to the album has been phenomenal so far, as we have garnered many reviews, interviews, and radio play to this point. We are really thankful that those who have listened seem to really get the message and find themselves captivated in exactly the way we had hoped for. We hope to continue pushing the album and bringing the songs live to the people at our shows coming up in 2026.

17. If you could put Stirring to Wake in front of one artist or band you respect, who would you want to hear it and why?

Man, what a great question! This is a difficult one, but I think the band I would want to hear our music would be Tool or A Perfect Circle. The reason for this is that we are all greatly influenced by these bands, but more than anything, our sound resonates with what they are doing so much, and the opportunity for them to hear the music is an opportunity for us to potentially open a show!

18. What does success look like for EverFelt at this stage in your journey?

We have a pretty decent live schedule lined up for 202,6 as we just secured a headlining act at The Sovereign in St Louis on April 11th, which we are very stoked about, but success for us at this stage is securing a serious manager with the actual ability to help us get where we are going, which is stadiums and arenas!

19. What is one thing people might not expect about EverFelt after hearing this album?

One thing people will probably not expect is that Danny, our drummer, is technically a speed metal drummer at heart, and our bass player, Ryan, loves music way heavier than what we play!

20. Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of Breathing The Core Zine about the band or this release?

More than anything, we want the readers to know that we are humbled and eternally grateful for the opportunity to take the stage and perform our passion, which means so much to us, and we could not do this without all of you. The very fact that we get to do what we love and you show up to love our passion with us truly means everythin,g and we will never forget it! We love all of you!!