Satyr is a post-hardcore band that began as a bedroom project in Atlanta, Georgia between two friends in college who wanted to create music that blended technical proficiency with strong melodies and structure. After many months of member changes and songwriting, Satyr grew into a well-known, thriving act in the southeast U.S. music scene. With a solidified lineup and an impressive debut EP titled “Neutrino!“, Satyr has been making a name for themselves in the world of progressive music. A combination of relentless touring, songwriting, and overall desire to improve has led their fanbase to grow rapidly. After recently premiering their new lyric video for the track “Escapism” here at The Rockpit, we grabbed a few words from guitarist / vocalist Michael Campbell to find out more on the band and the new EP.
Talk us through the writing and recording process for the new EP “Neutrino!”
The writing process was basically myself writing songs alone in my bedroom. Eventually as I gathered the other members to create the full band, they added their own flair to their parts as they learned the songs. We recorded the EP with our good friend Corey Bautista at his basement studio in Snellville GA. It was a blast, very comfortable and creative environment, great place to perfect the songs.
What were some of the things you wanted to achieve with the EP? Do you enjoy the process of creating? Are you someone who continually writes or does the best come out under a little gentle pressure?
We wanted to release something that people could jam along to, something that people enjoy listening to. We all love creating. We constantly write new stuff. Our best material tends to come out of nowhere.
What does it feel like as an artist waiting for the songs you’ve lived with for some time to get released to the fans? Is there a sense of excitement or a little panic in there too?
We are always very excited when we release music to the world. It takes a bit of time to get a full sense of what people think of it, but we wouldn’t release something we aren’t happy with. If people like it then great, if they don’t that’s their loss [laughs].
What were the lyrical themes of the songs?
The lyrics of this EP all deal with personal relationships and how to deal with struggles that arise from them, specifically family, lovers, and oneself. Escapism is about my partner’s relationship with her father, and the struggle she experienced when deciding to move away from home in order to gain freedom and sanity at the cost of financial security.
What were the main inspirations for the EP and do you have any favorite moments or songs on the release?
Our main inspirations stem from Prog/math stuff like the Fall of Troy, Chon, Animals as Leaders, etc to more mellow emo and traditional post-hardcore like Algernon Cadwallader and At the Drive In.
My personal favorite song is Escapism. I feel like it hits the hardest and has the biggest payoff.
Did you imagine how these songs would play out in a live situation?
We try to write everything to be able to be played live the same way it would be recorded. I’ve never been a huge fan of bands writing songs that would be difficult to pull off live.
What can people expect to see at your live shows?
With our live shows, we like to give people a good mix of proficiency and technicality mixed with personality and a touch of humor. Our setlist has been the same for a while. We only have nine 100% finished songs right now, and we play the same seven each night. Once we finish more for this full length we are writing, we will begin to alter the setlist probably every night.
What has the live experience been like for the band so far? Any favorite moments or highlights?
Playing live is always very rewarding. People always enjoy our music and I feel like we are able to entertain crowds and keep people interested. My favorite song to play live is our instrumental track Jumbotron and our favorite spots to play outside of Atlanta so far have been DC, Tuscumbia Alabama, and Memphis Tennessee. We’ve had really great shows at all these places.
How did the band get started and what kind of challenges have you faced?
We completed the lineup after a while of rotating through members back in September of 2017. It started as just myself writing songs and showing them to some friends who encouraged me to continue. Our greatest challenge was finding a solid lineup that was going to stick around haha. We had a lot of abrupt quittings and members having to move, etc.
From what you’ve learned so far what is the most valuable advice you’ve been given as a musician?
The most valuable advice I’ve been given is to know what you are and what you can provide, and find where there is demand for your kind of art.
With technology changing so much over the last few years and seemingly not slowing, and TV force-feeding us the lowest common denominator, what hope is there for rock & metal music?
Rock and metal music just needs to keep at it. While it might make sense to try to reach that lowest common denominator and appeal to the masses, I believe that people respond strongly to authentic and real art that the artist genuinely wants to create. The real strategy is finding the best way to market and promote your art.
How do you feel about the current music scene right now?
The current music scene, while it seems to have dwindled in recent years, is still thriving. There is a ton of work to be done to revive the scene in general, but all I think we need is to revamp marketing and promotion. We just need to get non musically inclined people more interested in less “mainstream” styles of art.
If you could be a fly on the wall for the recording of any album in history, what album would it be?
I’d be a fly on the wall for the recording of “Wake” by Hail the Sun. It’s my favorite album, definitely the piece of music I am most influenced by, and I’d love to see what the full creative process was.
What is the meaning of life?
The meaning of life is to write sick jams.
NEUTRINO TRACKLIST
Driveway Conversations
Escapism (Filament)
Duple
Andromeda
Jumbotron
Monster
More info: satyr.ninja
www.facebook.com/pg/satyratl
Buy Neutrino! HERE
