Christopher Hall from THE DREAMING took some time to tell Rock Revolt more about the latest 10 track LP Rise Again due to release February 10 via Metropolis Records. He discusses THE DREAMING’s sound, technology, and tour plans. This is their third studio effort after Etched In Blood (2008, Dream Corpse) and Puppet (2011, Epochal, FOF). THE DREAMING is a reunion of American industrial rock band Stabbing Westward’s founding members Christopher Hall (lead singer) and Walter Flakus (keyboards, programming) along with the one-time Stabbing Westward drummer Johnny Haro. The band is rounded out with Deadsy / Orgy guitarist Carlton Bost and bassist Brent Ashley from Static X.
What inspires you to write?
Music is my language. I hear music everywhere all the time whether it’s the sound of construction or tapping a drum beat in time with my turn signal. It’s always there in my head yelling or gently humming to get out. I think I would go mad if I couldn’t write. But I am inspired by all the things around me and inside me. I watch the drama of the lives around me. I squirrel away my every day fears and feelings of insecurities and anger and doubt and let them grow like mushrooms in the dark until they are ripe ideas ready to pluck.
How would you describe your music?
It’s been called industrial but I think that is very inaccurate and only based on Stabbing Westward being called industrial which was even more inaccurate. We are dark but not Satan-worshipping dark. It’s more emotionally dark. Musically, we use heavy synths and heavier guitars. Our guitars tend to be big power chords or esoteric melodies and ambient textures. The vocals are sung and are usually very melodic.
Which genre would you use to describe your sound?
I don’t think our genre exists yet. We would fit in with bands like the Birthday Massacre, muse and if the Cure mixed with early NIN.
Rise Again album coverHow has your new music changed?
I hope it gets better the longer I do it. I try really hard to always improve my writing and my singing. The biggest change has been inviting Stabbing Westward keyboardist Walter Flakus into the band as a co-writer. He has brought back some of the sound of Stabbing Westward but with a more mature style. (I’ve had 13 years and 3 albums of songwriting since they broke up.)
Regarding to keyboards, do you use vintage or modern gear?
We use both. Most of our programming is done in ProTools or Abelton live. I use a Massive, Absynth and Hybrid a lot. Walter uses similar programs and has a Nord lead. Rhys Fulber who mixed the album had a huge modular synth is the studio and every time we needed a sound for the record he would just patch in and start twisting knobs until we got a cool sound. It was epic. We also used a Sequential Circuits Pro 1.
Regarding to guitars, do you use vintage or modern gear? How has your rig changed?
We tracked a lot of guitar on a couple of different Gibson Les Paul (mid 90’s) and a 90’s Ibanez bass and a music man sting ray. Carlton used some other guitars as well. We tracked guitars through a mesa Dual rectifier and also used various ProTools plugins. Carlton uses a line 6 HD500 pedal board live as well.
Explain the art work on your album cover. What is the inspiration?
The album is called Rise Again so we were looking for a “phoenix from the ashes” sort of symbolism. We didn’t want to use anything literal and thought it would be nice to have a clean album cover for a change instead of a super busy photo or illustration. The logo on fire seemed to fit the bill nicely. Our art director and friend Aaron came up with it.
What is your favorite song on the album? What is your favorite song to play?
‘Still Believe’and ‘Alone’ are my 2 favorite songs. I think they capture exactly the right feeling for the message of each song. We haven’t started playing the whole album live yet so I’m not sure but ‘Alone’ is pretty cool live.
The Dreaming – Alone (official video)
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Where is your favorite place to play?
Anywhere there are excited fans anxious to hear us and not texting. I prefer smaller intimate dirty rock and Goth clubs over bigger fancy theaters. Some of our favorite cities are Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Chicago, NYC and LA.
When are your plans for a tour? Who are you touring with?
We are doing the west coast in March with Die So Fluid, and then we have to take a break while Carlton tours with Orgy then we will be back out on the road doing the rest of the U.S. in June.
Any inspiring words for future musicians?
It’s so hard right now with so many bands out there and so few labels putting out records. Utilize social media. Make a true connection with your fans. They are your life blood. Make the music that you believe in, and then find the audience that loves it. Don’t try and do what you think people want you to do. That’s it. Good luck.
Read Rock Revolt’s review of THE DREAMING’s Rise Again here!
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