Outworld interview!
Written by Tuno Monday, 17 April 2006 it´s time for the interview with the band Outworld! thanks guys!
Here´s a nice pic of Rusty in action!!
Tuno PerfecProg.com: Ok guys, thanks for this interview OUTWORLD in the name of all PerfectProg.com Team!
1.- First of all, we must say, you guys have an amazing sound, can’t wait to hear your new album. Can you tell us How Outworld was formed?
In the year 2001, Rusty and myself were wrapping up the recordings of Rusty's instrumental CD. For months leading up to the finishing of Rusty's CD, there was talk about continuing the band lineup, but to add a vocalist to the mix and start writing songs with vocals in mind. We knew Sundown(Kelly) would be a perfect sound for our style metal we had in mind. However, we had heard that Kelly moved out of town, to another state even. The search went on and on, never finding the right vocalist for the band, until one day Rusty ran into Kelly in a local record shop....he moved back in town! Rusty had mentioned Outworld wanted him to be a part of Outworld.....and over the next couple of weeks it all came together.
2.- Where are you guys originally from?
Rusty, myself and Kelly all pretty much grew up around the Houston area. Matt just recently joined the band, coming all the way from Seattle. Shawn is originally from Louisiana, but had moved from Atlanta to be in Outworld.
3.- Why did you choose the name Outworld?
The name Outworld fit perfect with our musical mentality. We think of Outworld as an escape from the norm, a place more advanced morally and mentally. Our cover art can explain it better....it shows a claustrophobic, dirty, corporately overhwhelmed scene, with a young man standing there wondering how to deny it all. In the distance you see a portal, which would enable this young man to leave this world, and escape to the Outworld.
4.- Who are your main influences?
Keeping all members in mind, I would have to say our influences include but are not limited to:
Pantera, Dream Theater, Helloween, Angra, Iron Maiden, Shawn Lane, Racer X, The Beatles, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc.
5.- In our website PerfectProg.Com we have several polls, can you tell us where your votes go on each one?
Well, those polls are hard to vote for.......we like a lot of people on there. :) But I personally just voted for Stephan Forte and Richard Andersen from the list.
6.- We know your album is coming out soon, what can all the fans expect to hear?
It's a Metal Meltdown of Insanity. If you love intense stuff, you will like our CD. It's "in your face" style Metal, but still retains a lot of focus on melody and deep lyrics.
7.- Can you tell us a little bit about the concept of your new album?
See number 3 above. :)
8.- How do you come up with writing ideas for songs, do you get together as a band to write music? Tell us a little bit about the writing process.
Usually the way it works is Rusty comes up with guitar riffs, and we as a band we starting jamming to them right on the spot. Most of the time Rusty, Matt and Shawn will jam on the riffs and feed off of each other. Kelly and I usually just observe and comment along with the other members on where we think the riff should go, how many times, etc. Typically I like to absorb the song over a few days before I come up with keyboard parts. Matt will create his drum patterns and Shawn will either follow Rusty's riffs or develop his own patterns around what Rusty is doing on guitar. All 5 members are a part of every song, there is no one person that is soley responsible for writing and arranging an entire song. For every song you hear of Outworld's, you are guaranteed that it is a product of all 5 members.
9.- What about the recording process?
First drums, scratch guitar, scratch bass and scratch keyboards. Once the drums are done, we go back and do either guitar or bass, then keyboards, then along comes Kelly with the vocals. I like to record my own keyboards at home, then bring them over digitally to the main studio to mix in. On the next CD, we are thinking of recording here at my studio to help have an easier time scheduling.
10.- For Rusty Cooley: you are an amazing guitar player, when did you first started playing guitar?
Thanks! I started playing on my 15th birthday
11.- Who is your favorite guitar player?
Well I don’t think I can give that title to any single player so here’s a few Shawn Lane, Allan Holdsworth, Malmsteen Becker.
12.- What kind of gear do you use?
I have a bunch of stuff: Ibanez 7 and 8 string guitars, a Conklin 8 string, Rocktron, Bogner, Boogie, VHT, EMG, TC Electronics, Eventide. Morley, GHS.
13.- We know you often play with a nine and eight string guitar, and I have to say I was shocked when I had the opportunity to see you play live at the Pre-party in Atlanta last year! Absolutely amazing! What can you tell us about that, how did you experimented playing with nine strings?
Well I don’t have the 9 string anymore I didn’t like the way the guitar turned out and plus there where other things involved with me getting rid of it. The 8 string seemed very natural to me I’m very much into violin and piano composers and a lot of that music has the higher range so to play inspired lines like that you have to have more strings. I have two versions of 8 strings my Conklin is strung high A to low B and my Ibanez is high E to low F#.
14.- Do you have any instructional video on sale or you are planning to make one in the future?
Yes I have 4 instructionals available on DVD, CD ROM and VHS. The titles are Shred Guitar Manifesto, Extreme Pentatonics, The Art of Picking and Basic Training. I also have two Performance/Clinic DVD’s as well. You can get them all online at www.chopsfromhell.com
15.- Does the band have any touring plans?
No specific touring plans to date, but always in the works.
16.- In what other countries have Outworld played?
Only in the USA so far....but that should change soon.
17.- What about México and latin America, the metal scene is very huge there?
We have a gig lined up in Mexico soon, but we aren't allowed to announce it quite yet publicly. We sincerely believe Mexico and the entire South American region will be a big fan base for our style of music.
18.- Last year, Outworld played at the pre-party at Atlanta Progpower USA VI, what was your impression of that gig and the reaction of the public?
That was a very hard gig to play for several reasons that we won't go into. However, the crowd response seemed decent. Most didn't know our songs since the CD hasn't been released yet.
19.- What is your vision of the metal scene in general today, what is your opinion of people telling that metal is over?
People are always saying Metal is over and dead......but because of interviews like this one, we are still alive and well. :)
Metal lives because it's more about writing the music that invigorates you, not what might sell good on the mainstream radio stations. And even though Metal bands don't typically have a lot of money these days, we continue on. When it's not about the money and you keep going for it, then it can never die, and the money often will follow.
20.- Why do you think the metal scene in the U.S., isn’t as big as it is in Europe?
That's a question I wish I knew the perfect answer for, but it's hard to answer! One thing might be because of the huge communication companies who can control what is played on the radio stations, and they are putting all the smaller radio stations out of business. Maybe those corporate leaders don't like Metal......it's really hard to say. I think the USA is more about fads, and Europeans typically aren't afraid to show their personalities and their likes, even if it's not the latest fad.
21.- What is Outworld advice to all those bands that are starting in the metal scene?
We would say if you want to make something of yourself you will have to go for it all, or don't bother........because it's a TOUGH market to make it in. You have to dive in head first if you ever expect to see some success. It's a long road to get somewhere as a Metal act, but it's fun along the way.
22.- Well, thanks a lot for your time Outworld, we really really appreciate it!!! This means a lot to us, to have the opportunity to interview an amazing band!!
Thanks so very much Tuno.......we hope the rest of the world agrees with you after our CD is released! :)
Bobby Williamson and Rusty Cooley
Don´t forget to check out the official website of Outworld at:
And also Rusty Cooley official website at:
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