From a small town outside of Birmingham, Alabama, Rock band Ensul is on their way to being the next staple in music history. From their work ethic and their dedication to their crafted sound, they are ready to take the world by storm when their sophomore album, Endure, is released next year. They released their newest single “In Trip A Newer” on Halloween for free. Here is RockRevolt’s insightful interview with Ensul, our Indie Band of the Week.
Who are you and what is your role in the band?
I’m Stephen Jones. I am the singer and guitar player for the band Ensul.
I’m Tristan Bunn. I play bass and piano, when they let me.
My name is Austin, or Wesson, or both. I play the guitar and the wah pedal.
My name is Adam Ragsdale, or Ragsdale or Ragsdaddy and I play the drums.
How did the band get started?
SJ: It was all an accident. I had pretty much tried to hang up my music career. After a good deal of success with my previous band, Wolfcreek, it was just difficult to accept the fact that I would have to start over again from square one. But after some serious depression, I decided that I needed to get back into music to deal with my problems the way that I have done so for many years before. So I made a Craigslist post and that’s how I met Tristan. From there it was just magic how everything came about. It was like evolution, the traits that were failures were quickly killed off and the good traits quickly dominated. I’ve never been a part of a music project that, where everything that needed to happen, happened so quickly.
TB: The band got started after my old band broke up and I got the itch to start something new. So I browsed the men seeking men section of Craigslist and found Stephen Jones. We hit it off and got to jamming and haven’t looked back.
AW: I joined the band almost 2 years ago. Tristan and I were in a band before Ensul, so he knew I could play a few chords. Not to mention I was already pretty interested in Ensul and the sound they were going for. Tristan called me up and asked me to start filling in for Zach when he couldn’t be there. At first I said no, because Zach is still one of my best friends and I didn’t want any negative feelings between us. The second time he called, he convinced me. I showed up to practice, then it was on from there.
AR: I joined the band around two years ago. This band is my first band, so unlike the others I didn’t have to go through the bullshit of other band shit. I joined the band through an old member, Zach Pendergrass, showing me some of Ensul’s recordings he had and he mentioned that they were looking for a drummer. As soon as I could, I came to Steve’s and jammed. It was an easy fit.
What does the name mean?
SJ: We have yet to have an interview where this question doesn’t come up. [Laughs] But the name is something that represents the idea of our band. The name means whatever it means to YOU. Our sound, our logo, etc. all of it is intentionally done so that our fans can have something that is special between our music and the listener. Everyone has voids in their life. And we want our music to fill whatever that void is for you.
TB: To me, the name means whatever you want it to mean. I don’t even wanna say too much about it because I like the secrecy and the discussion it creates. It’s unique like our music tries to be and oddly represents us.
AW: People ask me this question every single day, no lie. My reply is always, “I don’t fucking know.”
AR: I have no fucking clue. Everyone asks me this, usually after I have to spell it for them, and I just say I have no clue and probably never will.
Who are your influences and how do they play a role in your sound?
SJ: I am a HUGE Radiohead and Nirvana fan. Those two bands are HUGE influences for me. The other major influence for me is my brother, Josh Jones from Beitthemeans. Most people are shocked when they find out they we are brothers because we look nothing alike. But it’s impossible to NOT be influenced by such an amazing artist.
TB: Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, Shinedown, Big Wreck, Stereophonics. They give me a different way of looking at things and let me know it’s okay to try things out of the ordinary. I like bands that try different things and push their boundaries. I also like really off the wall stuff like Five For Fighting. They have one of my favorite albums ever made “America Town”.
AW: Slash, David Gilmour, and more recently Jonny Greenwood would be my main influences. I also love John Williams, the score composer. I like to keep my musical taste very versatile.
AR: Some of my greatest influences are Taylor Hawkins from the Foo Fighters, Anika Niles who is a Russian solo drummer, Dave Douglas from the early years of Relient K, my own brother Matt Ragsdale, and last but not least John Bonham. I feel that what you listen to and what your mind takes in is what you put out. So from listening to the Foo, Zeppelin, and countless other rock artist, everything I sound like, I owe to them.
Has being from Alabama influenced your sound or the way you play?
SJ: Absolutely. Being from Alabama has had a HUGE impact on my songwriting. My father was a preacher and I was raised in church so religion and southern culture is forever embedded in my vocabulary and song writing.
TB: Absolutely, 100%. I love Alabama and I love being from the south so I can only hope it seeps into my music. It has shaped who I am as a human and it represents me and the environment that we build this band in is very important to us. James Hall made sure to hammer this home to us and I’ve taken it to heart ever since I met him. Be proud of where you’re from because it has total control of your sound.
AW: Not at all, I would say. I’ve never been big into the Southern way of life. I catch myself writing southern rock riffs every now and then, but other than that I wouldn’t say it has influenced me in the least bit.
AR: In no way has being from Alabama influenced my sound. With drums it’s a little different to have a Southern sound, but for me, no it hasn’t.
What has been your most meaningful experience being in this band so far?
SJ: Every bit of it. I know that sounds cliché but this band means so much to me. Every show, every practice session, every song we write together brings us closer as a family. I came from a broken family, my father died when I was young and from there things just got complicated fast. I never really felt like I belonged anywhere or with anyone. Music has been the only thing that I’ve felt apart of something, and Ensul in particular has been my family. I can’t make this point clear enough just how much Ensul means to me.
TB: Most meaningful… probably the loyalty of my band mates. When we added Austin and Adam, I was just so shocked at how amazing the chemistry was. I’ve never seen anything like it and I know they’re looking out for me. That means more to me than anything. We’re in this together.
AW: We wrote a song called “Just Because I’m Young” with the underground legend, Mr. James Hall; whom after the fact I learned was one of Duff McKagan’s main choices for the role of Velvet Revolver’s lead vocalist. So that was pretty special to me, with me being the GN’R fanatic that I am.
AR: The most meaningful experience being in the band is every ride back from a show. Countless times of laughs and insane stories told are the best memories I can think of.
Favorite memory from a show you’ve played or a place you’ve travelled?
SJ: I’d have to say our first show in Atlanta, was special. It was a situation where we were absolutely fucked by EVERY SINGLE OTHER BAND THERE. However there was ONE group of people actually did was musicians are supposed to do and that is listen to other bands when they’re playing a show together. That group has now become some of our closest friends and our biggest fans.
TB: Probably headlining The Masquerade in Atlanta. It wasn’t the greatest show, but we banded together and had an amazing time. We also made some die hard fans and met some of the greatest people I’ve ever met, our friends Anthony, Yoatzin, Nick, and Rony. Those guys mean more to me than I can express. That show is real special to me.
AW: This is a tough one. To be honest, I don’t remember a lot of it. There’s Adam walking into a gas station at 2am in his underwear in Atlanta, playing at the Masquerade on the same stage that the Foo Fighters played one many years ago. But I think I’ll go with Adam, Steve, and I walking around some town in South Carolina looking for food, and Steve rearranging a sign to say, “Coming soon, Fat Ass Island.”
AR: One time we played at the Masquerade in Atlanta. It was an amazing feeling to play on the same stage as the Foo Fighters, Avenged Sevenfold, and countless other remarkable bands.
What do you hope to accomplish with your music?
SJ: I just want to play good music. That’s my one and only goal. I can live with the fact that I’ll probably never be famous. I just want to stay true to my art, never do anything that I don’t believe in. And never be afraid to write music that others have never done. Being original in this day and age is extremely difficult and that’s one thing I believe Ensul has done well.
TB: Make people listen. I just hope someone hears it and it brings them something they need. Whether it be joy or a shoulder to cry on. I want someone to have my music be there for them. To connect with it.
AW: I want someone to walk up to me and tell me that I’m the reason they picked up the guitar.
AR: I hope to not only push myself as a musician but others who come to see us play will be inspired to pick their instrument back up and give it another try.
Something about you that no one knows?
SJ: I come from an extremely poor family. I’m talking so poor we didn’t know if we were even going to eat sometimes. It was very tough growing up. My brother and I were from the wrong side of the tracks. Racial tension was a daily for us. I remember being scared going to school many times for fear that I was going to get my ass kicked.
TB: I don’t have a lot of secrets actually. I’m a worrier. I worry about every thing. That’s not really a secret but that’s the best I got.
AW: There is not a single thing about me, for better or for worse, that either the other members of this band or my girlfriend doesn’t know, so I’m afraid I can’t answer that one.
AR: Well that, that’s against the code.
What is next for the band?
SJ: Right now we’re heavy at work recording our new album “Endure.” We’re working so hard to do our very best to make this record the very best that we can do. It’s taking longer than we wanted. But even if it takes another year we PROMISED ourselves that we would not let anything stop us from make this record our very best.
TB: Finishing up this new album, Endure. And I hope people enjoy it and it does something for them. We will see if people get behind it. And just play. Once the record gets done, we are gonna play as much as we can to promote it.
AW: Right now, it seems our main focus is getting this album done. We have all put a lot of work into it, but I speak for myself when I say that I have learned a lot about myself, playing wise while working on this thing. It’s been a process of me trying to find new ways to do things, and to do things I’ve never tried before. Which is always fun. It’s been a year so far, but things are really fleshing out, I think. I know when it’s done, it will be something that all four of us are very proud of.
AR: Finishing the album, Endure, is next. It’s the main priority. We are making sure to not cut corners and take our time for everyone who is looking forward to it.
Anything else you want to add?
SJ: Just listen to Ensul with an open mind. It won’t sound like anything you’ve ever heard. Come to a show. We’re a live band for sure. Close you eyes and let the music carry you. Forget about whether or not it sounds like what’s on the radio.
TB: Thank you so much for this interview, Kinsey. And thank you for doing more for Ensul than we can ever even express. We love you so much.
AW: If you ever want something really great to snack on, those birthday cake Oreos are cool.
AR: No drums, No life. Know drums, know life.
Download their newest single “In A Trip A Newer” HERE!
